Should I have a backup comp. rifle?

[blipelt]

I am planning to get my feet wet this year in some benchrest matches. With some great help from members of this site, I am setup to compete with one rifle. I have already invested in barrels, components, etc.....

My question is, what kind of issues have people run into while competing? Is it worth having another entire setup. Or have a extra trigger, etc... on hand.

Thanks for the help
Brent

 

[Immike]

If you are asking me. I think putting a handle on your first rifle and getting it in winning condition will take all your patience and concentration. You may delay success if you divide you attention with another new rifle starting out. I have a few friends that started with too many and still trying to recover. That's what I have seen and how I feel is best for you. Good luck

 

[FergusBailey]

I have 3 BR rifles, and it sure is handy. HOWEVER, if you are just starting out, I recommend that you get at least a year of competition under your belt before investing in another rifle. You may find you want to change aspects of your equipment based on you competition experience. Plus, as already noted, you are facing a pretty big learning curve, and you don't want to add too much into it at this stage by trying to make multiple rifles competitive.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Mike's & Fergus's advice to focus on the first yr of just shooting is the best advice you can get.. Those two have alot of experience behind that advice,... They know what they are saying. dont get me wrong..I advocate getting another rifle, always have use or reason for another. But focus the first yr on just shooting, learning form, and just that one cartridge inside and out. You can sidetrack yourself by thinking the "other" gun would be better because..............

Problems I have experienced on the line..?
Always have a cleaning rod nearby.. To push the patch you left in there from last cleaning.. You'll find this out at the command "You may chamber round and fire when your target appears....." (I was even advised to do just that by my mentor 15 minutes before it happened to me. Guess I should of listened. :-[ .)
Loose scope mounts.
Loose barrel.
Scope focus knob turns without realizing.
Adjust the scope the wrong way.
Trigger can get gunk in it... Have a can a brake Kleen ready.
Loose rest adjustments.

But never had a full-blown failure of equipment, just my brain....

And you may think you built the ultimate rifle for your purpose at this time, but you will make changes after your first yr of comp.... So dont build two rifles that your going to want to change.... If that makes sense...

So focus on shooting and developing your match routine...

Rod

 

[blipelt]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It is much appreciated. I have a little experience shooting F-class and last year some local varmint matches with my 6Dasher. I didn't plan on building another right away, I was after some experience on some of the mechanical issues people might have faced when competing. Then decide if the investment is worth it, just in case something would become available. I can't see myself shooting another rifle currently, thanks to all the advice from a couple local ND bench shooters, my drop port 6Dasher is like an old friend already. I will be getting my feet wet next week, and the matches are quite a distance from my doorstep.


Brent

 

[4xforfun]

Are you talking 100/200/300 benchrest, or 600/1000?

For short range I would build a 10 1/2 pound gun and shoot it everywhere you can. I have never done the SR thing, but understand that this is a fairly common practice.

I started my career in 1000 BR with one gun....My 300 WBY LG. Even though I won a pile of wood that first year...if I were to do it over again.....it wouldn't be a 300!! Something that has good bag manners. Something cheaper to shoot. Something with a prooven track record. Something..hell...just get a Dasher!!! It doesn't get way hot during a 10 shot string and really doesn't give up to much balisticly to the big boys. I feel that what you loose balisticly you regain with the ability to shoot them faster due to less recoil. Learn to shoot it and see if you like the sport. A LG will be easier to sell if you decide that it isn't for you.

Just my .02,
Tod

 

[Kings X]

your gunsmith says - build more

 

[fdshuster]

Brent: Nothing wrong with having a spare trigger available. Blow one primer & it will be needed.

But, as suggested, get one high quality rifle & shoot it exclusively. Get to know that rifle, what it likes and what it does not like. Do the research & find the most accurate load combination & stay with it. In a short period of time you will have the exact scope adjustments needed for the ranges you are shooting on.

When you feel the urge to try "something new", when your rifle is perfoming the way you want it to, don't make any changes. Do not try something new, like a new bullet, powder and/or charge, primer, etc. in a match. Save the experimenting for informal shooting only.

As has been said, "Watch out for the guy who only has one rifle".

 

[blipelt]

thanks for the great advice it has not fallen on deaf ears. I will hold off on picking up any components and run with what I have. Next week is the start of the season for me and I can't wait to start putting faces to names.

Brent