@urbanrifleman . What you seem to be misunderstanding is that people who compete in benchrest aren't only able to shoot from a bench. It makes me wonder if you even personally know any actual BR competitors.
Several years ago when I was shooting LR BR I decided to give across the course Highpower a try. The Highpower guys were pretty dismissive of me because, you know, benchrest guys can only shoot from the bench with a scope. I shot two matches and both times I finished in the middle, beating a lot of the guys who were dismissive of me. At my first LR BR match I finished at the bottom and that was after years of developing loads and shooting from a bench with accurate hunting rifles.
When they asked me how a bench guy could shoot competently from other positions--I had never shot seated or prone before or with a tight sling, I said two things. The first is the competitive benchrest is a world away from casually shooting from the bench. The second made them mad, but it is THE one absolute truth in ANY type of shooting:
Don't pull the trigger until the sights are aligned where you want them.
I didn't stick with Highpower partially because the shooters were arrogant but mostly because I just couldn't get excited about a perfect score only needing a 1 MOA group at 600 yds or whatever that huge 10 ring and X ring were.
Oh yeah, there was one or two young young kids who competed and scored well during those two matches, just like can happen in LR BR.......
Something else you either don't get or are purposely ignoring is that because the bench and bags allow for a very stable shooting platform, group and score standards are very high, higher that any other shooting discipline. I think the 600 and 1000 yd 10 and X-rings are half the size of F-Class, the next closest thing.
The big difference with BR is that tuning the rifle and load is as important as shooting technique. SR BR guys load and tune during each group they shoot at a match. LR BR guys like to make a final tuning tweak the day before they match at the range they are shooting. Add to that you must read the wind, gun handling must be incredibly consistent, and the rests and rifle need to be set up to track well. Also, ONE bad shot can take you out of the running.
While I see others like you who have a condescending attitude toward BR competitors, I don't see that from BR shooters toward other disciplines. Each shooting discipline has its own challenges and requirements, and they should all be celebrated. I am especially impressed with Silhouette competitors.
Finally, since you have a business selling stuff to shooters and you are posting on a forum filled with BR shooters, I recommend that you adopt a more positive attitude toward BR shooters. We'd all like to support you, but your attitude makes it hard.
