Reloading at the match

[Bottom Fodder]

I’ve never been to “big time” benchrest match but from what I’ve read a lot of the shooter reload during the match. Is that to adjust to the condition? Could someone go into a little more detail about this. inquiring minds want to know
thanks

 

[Terry]

Go to YouTube. Look for Eric Cortina's series with Jack Neary.

 

[BoydAllen]

Short range group benchrest matches allow time for barrel cleaning and reloading between matches, minimum, by the rules, 30 minutes. The more relays there are, the more time you will have. Typically, a match is 7 minutes long, and for a given class of rifle, and distance there are five matches. For a match where there are two rifle classes, this results in a total of 20 matches over the course of a two day event. The overall winner is not the person who shot the smallest group, but rather the person who shot the smallest average of all groups. The competitions are so competitive that staying in sharp tune as conditions change through the day, and event, is mandatory. This often involves adjusting loads as temperature changes. If you are interested in the mechanics of how this is managed at a match PM me and we can concentrate on that. Here is a video showing how one of the top French shooters does it.

 

[Bill Norris]

Most B R shooters will tell you that they win or lose by the ten thousandth of an inch. In that regard, they would have to stay at top tune thru all relays in order to agg. in a winning position. Therefore, adjusting the loads and/or tuners has to be a priority.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Thanks, I would have dropped half my stuff on the floor lol

 

[Bill Norris]

Thanks, I would have dropped half my stuff on the floor lol

Yea, I honestly don't think I would be able to load at the match either.

 

[BoydAllen]

Anyone can load at the range. The trick is to get it down before doing it at a match. Here is another video. Starting at about eight minutes in is the loading part. You don't need to understand the language.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Anyone can load at the range. The trick is to get it down before doing it at a match. Here is another video. Starting at about eight minutes in is the loading part. You don't need to understand the language.

very interesting thanks for sharing. How they clean was also interesting.
my mind is still lost trying to decipher all that the wind flags were telling. LOL

 

[Greg@wfcustom]

I’ve never been to “big time” benchrest match but from what I’ve read a lot of the shooter reload during the match. Is that to adjust to the condition? Could someone go into a little more detail about this. inquiring minds want to know
thanks

Or just get a tuner

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Short range group benchrest matches allow time for barrel cleaning and reloading between matches, minimum, by the rules, 30 minutes. The more relays there are, the more time you will have. Typically, a match is 7 minutes long, and for a given class of rifle, and distance there are five matches. For a match where there are two rifle classes, this results in a total of 20 matches over the course of a two day event. The overall winner is not the person who shot the smallest group, but rather the person who shot the smallest average of all groups. The competitions are so competitive that staying in sharp tune as conditions change through the day, and event, is mandatory. This often involves adjusting loads as temperature changes. If you are interested in the mechanics of how this is managed at a match PM me and we can concentrate on that. Here is a video showing how one of the top French shooters does it.

Ya think he has done this a few times?

 

[quest450]

Or just get a tuner

and wind flags

 

[Bottom Fodder]

and wind flags

and wind flags

And then just adjust the tuner to what the winds flags are tell you. I guess LOL

 

[gpoldblue]

Yea, I honestly don't think I would be able to load at the match either.

Reloading at the range isn't difficult....the difficulty comes in identifying the cause of the errant shot(s).
If you can't tell what caused the errant shot,how do know what to adjust. Not all errant shots are a tune problem. Maybe a load problem,gun handling problem,a flag reading problem, or a trigger pull timing problem or a combination of problems.
From my personal experience,reloading at the range/match is not for true begginers...this is a good way to chase your tail. You DO need a decent predictable load,but time spent learning to read wind flags should be the priority. Identifying when/how to make load changes will come. This is not a sport you learn in 90 days
or even a year....it is VERY time consuming.
Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Bill Norris]

Reloading at the range isn't difficult....the difficulty comes in identifying the cause of the errant shot(s).
If you can't tell what caused the errant shot,how do know what to adjust. Not all errant shots are a tune problem. Maybe a load problem,gun handling problem,a flag reading problem, or a trigger pull timing problem or a combination of problems.
From my personal experience,reloading at the range/match is not for true begginers...this is a good way to chase your tail. You DO need a decent predictable load,but time spent learning to read wind flags should be the priority. Identifying when/how to make load changes will come. This is not a sport you learn in 90 days
or even a year....it is VERY time consuming.
Good luck and stay safe.

I don't compete and probably never will due to traveling. Got burned out years ago from running all over the place with bands. Simply not into it anymore. I just enjoy shooting at home and locally when a little deal pops up.

 

[LHSmith]

Actually there are two predominant formats to Short Range Benchrest. The previous posts are solely directed to Group shooting. The other format - Score shooting is much more prevalent due to the ability to run matches without motorized backers. These days the 30 BR and it's variants are the top contenders in IBS and NBRSA sanctioned matches. The 30 BR is much more forgiving in terms of tuning than the 6 PPC and many pre-load for the matches. Also barrel fouling is less of an issue with the .30"s, so many will clean only at the end of the match.
Another SR BR format for Score is UBR which uses 3 target sizes which take in allowance for the caliber being used in an attempt to level the playing field.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

It was somewhat interesting about the cleaning, shows using a bronze brush, running it in and out of the muzzle and a few other things that people have posted here to never do. What am I missing?

 

[LHSmith]

It was somewhat interesting about the cleaning, shows using a bronze brush, running it in and out of the muzzle and a few other things that people have posted here to never do. What am I missing?

For one thing they change barrels very frequently and re-crown often. Secondly, it's the nature of the internet to confuse newbies.

 

[JimPag]

I’ve never been to “big time” benchrest match but from what I’ve read a lot of the shooter reload during the match. Is that to adjust to the condition? Could someone go into a little more detail about this. inquiring minds want to know
thanks

Simply put it if you shoot short range group your shooting a 6PPC which is a very finicky cartridge and if your serious about winning you have to load at the range, whereas if you shoot short range score most people are shooting a 30BR which is not a finicky cartridge at all and you can get away going preloaded which if you went preloaded in a 6PPC you would be at a big disadvantage.

 

[gpoldblue]

Simply put it if you shoot short range group your shooting a 6PPC which is a very finicky cartridge and if your serious about winning you have to load at the range, whereas if you shoot short range score most people are shooting a 30BR which is not a finicky cartridge at all and you can get away going preloaded which if you went preloaded in a 6PPC you would be at a big disadvantage.

So...Only the serious short range 6PPC shooters reload at the range? At the matches I've attended there were many serious and VERY experienced big name shooters shooting 6PPC's reloading at the range that did not win. It showed me there is more to winning than reloading at the range. I still say the main difference between winners and losers is wind flag reading and trigger pull timing,all else being equal.
BTW....I've found that the 6PPC is not at all finicky....at least the 3 that I'm familiar with. Pointing the rifle in right direction and pulling the trigger at the right time seems to be the key to success.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I do not load anywhere BUT the range. I don’t even have a “loading room”.

At Short Range Group Matches, it is usually a Two Day Multi Gun Event. Most Short Range Shooters will have around 25 cases to shoot the entire Two Gun. most will fire 150 to 200 rounds during both Grand Aggs.

I used to pre load for a VFS match, which is just a 100/200 Grand Agg. I have plenty of 30BR cases to load around 80 rounds, which is plenty. The kitchen table was my loading table.

But lately, I have just resorted to loading at the Match. It’s easier.

To Bottom Feeder. Forget that BS about not using bronze brushes. The only way a bronze brush will harm a barrel is through stupidity.

This is what my typical loading set up looks like.