Ray....ur rite....they better be small....!!!
Just yesterday I was talking with Hobie Bond..,Eastern Regional Director--NBRSA)..and the subject of rules changes came up!!! I tossed out my idea of allowing the use of 17lb and under rifles with flat bottomed stocks in either the Heavy Varmint,HV) or the Sporter class....it would require a simple rules change on weight and removal of the criteria about stock drop at heel etc...this would not negate or eliminate the use of 10-1/2 pound ppc's in the class ...but would allow the use of a heavier,,up to 17lb)) gun and one with a typical 1000yd,Shehane-Master Class-Kelbly) stock...
This would allow the long rage,,,hhahah range))) shooters to shoot in short range events with their existing equipment,,all under the umbrella of NBRSA)) and do some serious load development and work on gun handeling skills in a tournament situation ....then we could all see just how small,real world) groups that our 1000yd light guns and chamerings are capable of ....it would of course allow the use of a 17lb. ppc!!!! That should shake up the record books,,,it would do much for the shooting community and BENCHREST as a whole,,
I bring this up because of all of the wonderful,great shooting, 1000yd light guns,LG-under 17lb) that folks have, and are only able to shoot them a limited number of 1000yd events....NBRSA should,as a sanctioning body, allow these fine guns to compete with the short range,100-200,,point blank) guns,,,,it would bring more shooters out to the various events and the conveince of seeing just where every shot goes,immediately !!) on the paper at 100-200 would allow the long range shooter to really dial in,tune) their loads more than the limited ammount possible at 600-1000yds...it would help with bullet selection and development,testing) and twist and bore dia. testing and improving could and would occur...
I doubt that the long range 6.5-284's and 300 AI will best the time honored ppc's ...but these competitors will gain the advantage of more tournament testin and benchrest shooting overall will flourish........
What do u think,,,how does this sound ..???
I have shot my 11 pound short range legal guns at long range and had a ball ...it is time we see the advantage of crossover shooting and let the competitors/shooters discover the advantage of every aspect of BENCHREST.....and be able to use all of these marvelous,,EXPENSIVE to build) rifles at various ranges all over the country......Roger