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NRA High Power equipment question.

DngBat7

Silver $$ Contributor
So my club only has a few benchrest matches a year and I want to get involved in more competitions. My club holds new high power matches every month and looks like fun. I have the gun, but I need jacket and sights. I don’t feel like spending a ton of money seeing benchrest has already bankrupted me. Who makes a good jacket that’s not 400. Or 600 for sights. I just don’t want crap and want to get my feet wet in this. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thank you
 
X-47B said:
So my club only has a few benchrest matches a year and I want to get involved in more competitions. My club holds new high power matches every month and looks like fun. I have the gun, but I need jacket and sights. I don’t feel like spending a ton of money seeing benchrest has already bankrupted me. Who makes a good jacket that’s not 400. Or 600 for sights. I just don’t want crap and want to get my feet wet in this. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thank you
Click to expand...
You mean you have an AR and want to shoot Service Rifle?

If so you probably want a 4 or 4.5x scope.
 
X-47B said:
reduced
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You could probably get by with any 4 power that's not junk then.
Good chance you'd end up replacing it eventually, though.
The SR guys will be along with the good options.

Do you have a variable that adjusts down to 4?
Not strictly legal but local clubs will sometimes let it slide especially for beginners.
 
Usrifleteams.com has the national match forum, good place to put an add. I bet someone has a used one to sell to get you started before you invest a bunch of money in a new creedmoor coat.

Where are you located?
 
For local reduced course matches most match directors will let you shoot about any safe rifle. No muzzle brakes are allowed. If your scope is more than 4.5x you would be in match rifle rather than service rifle. That is ok. You are there to learn. You can shoot without a coat. A sweatshirt and some elbow pads, a leather glove, and a sling will let you shoot. There will be a lot to learn, go slow, and enjoy the ride.
 
Leupold makes a 1.5-4 scope with adjustable turrets for about 250 bucks that would work fine on a service rifle. For match rifle, even a 3-9 would work. Few people are buying iron sights anymore, especially match type ones.
A cloth coat brand new will run about 150 and will easily get you in the game.
Talk to the guys at the matches, you might even be able to borrow a coat.
 
I would suggest a "canvas" coat from Creedmoor Sports (https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/deluxe-canvas-shooting-coat/shooting-coats). When I was seriously shooting HP I had a Creedmoor "hardback" which was a wonderful coat. After quit and came back to HP 20 years later it had shrunk terribly in the attic, so I sold it and bought a canvas coat - works good. I had a Bushnell 1X-4X-24 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABP5UXG/?tag=accuratescom-20_ $200 and was very pleased with it for the cost - is it a Nightforce?, no, but it's only $200. My opinion for what it's worth.

One thing you don't want to scrimp on shooting the reduced course is a spotting scope - you have to be able to see the bullet holes. When I first started shooting HP most of the matches I shot were reduced course. So I stepped up and bought a Kowa and I've never looked back!
 
As you know with Benchrest shooting: buy once, cry once. I'd take @Walt Krafft 's advice seriously. You really only need a sling, glove, and sweatshirt. Ask to share a mat with someone on the opposite relay. Let the match director know that youre new, and thinking of trying it out - usually they'll pair you with an experienced and (hopefully) understanding competitor. We were all 'there', once!

Best of luck!
 
On spotting scopes - do the reduced distance courses have pits with someone marking the targets? If so, just about any spotting scope will do - you just need to see the shot marker.
If it's walk and paste, do they have something behind the targets to reflect light through the shot holes? Again, if so, a high end scope is not needed.
In any case, I have a Konus 80mm scope I'd be happy to let you have for the postage.

On scopes, in line with Walt's points, I have a Nikon 3X9 and an Anschutz/Hawke scope that I'd also let you have for the postage. The Nikon is a duplex. The Anschutz/Hawke is a KK50 - the reticle is just a circle. At 9X it works wonderfully for off hand and sitting - there's a couple moa around the black bull. For prone slow, it works but, I think, is a little large to get completely within your focus. I shot with it and did ok, but had to work more on focus than I wanted. With all that, I think it would make a great one to start with.
Of course, neither are Service Rifle legal, but both would get you started and give you an opportunity to learn what you would want if/when you decided to stick with it.

And, on gloves. I have an Anschutz Top Grip 101 that would work in all positions - for the cost of shipping.

PM me here if you're interested in any of these.
 
Do not be concerned too much about service rifle vs match rifle configuration. Just start with what you have and have fun and let rifle categories work out down the line.
 
X-47B said:
So my club only has a few benchrest matches a year and I want to get involved in more competitions. My club holds new high power matches every month and looks like fun. I have the gun, but I need jacket and sights. I don’t feel like spending a ton of money seeing benchrest has already bankrupted me. Who makes a good jacket that’s not 400. Or 600 for sights. I just don’t want crap and want to get my feet wet in this. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thank you
Click to expand...

lOOKS LIKE YOU ARE REALLY LOOKING TO SHOOT SERVICE RIFLE ACROSS THE COURSE - HAVE FUN - I TRIED THAT AND LOVED IT 'TILL I MET F-CLASS.

IF YOU ARE A BENCHREST SHOOTER AND YOU ARE SHOOTING HIGHPOWER BENCHREST YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED TO SHOOT HIGHPOWER F-CLASS - RIFLE, FRONT REST, REAR BAG, SPOTTING SCOPE AND A SHOOTING MAT - NO NEED FOR A JACKET OR GLOVE... AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO START OUT SAVING A BUCK OR TWO IN THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN AT LEAST GET STARTED AND BEGIN LEARNING THE F-CLASS GAME SIMPLY USING THE SCOPE ON YOUR RIFLE AND SAVE THE INVESTMENT IN A SPOTTING SCOPE UNTIL LATER....

JUST A THOUGHT....

AND IF YOU ARE A SMALLBORE BENCHEST SHOOTER, THEY NOW HAVE SMALLBORE F-CLASS - BUT MAYBE NOT AT YOUR RANGE.

EITHER WAY - WISH YOU LUCK... AND HAVE FUN, THAT'S WHAT ITS REALLY ALL ABOUT...
 
I really want to thank everybody for being so supportive. It’s why I really love this forum. And a few of you even contacting me to help me out in this. Your all great!
 
DE-F-Open said:
lOOKS LIKE YOU ARE REALLY LOOKING TO SHOOT SERVICE RIFLE ACROSS THE COURSE - HAVE FUN - I TRIED THAT AND LOVED IT 'TILL I MET F-CLASS.

IF YOU ARE A BENCHREST SHOOTER AND YOU ARE SHOOTING HIGHPOWER BENCHREST YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED TO SHOOT HIGHPOWER F-CLASS - RIFLE, FRONT REST, REAR BAG, SPOTTING SCOPE AND A SHOOTING MAT - NO NEED FOR A JACKET OR GLOVE... AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO START OUT SAVING A BUCK OR TWO IN THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN AT LEAST GET STARTED AND BEGIN LEARNING THE F-CLASS GAME SIMPLY USING THE SCOPE ON YOUR RIFLE AND SAVE THE INVESTMENT IN A SPOTTING SCOPE UNTIL LATER....

JUST A THOUGHT....

AND IF YOU ARE A SMALLBORE BENCHEST SHOOTER, THEY NOW HAVE SMALLBORE F-CLASS - BUT MAYBE NOT AT YOUR RANGE.

EITHER WAY - WISH YOU LUCK... AND HAVE FUN, THAT'S WHAT ITS REALLY ALL ABOUT...
Click to expand...
No 200 yard Fclass in ct. LOl. Hopefully next year will be in the Midwest. The. Fclass for sure.
 
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