Tips & Tricks for better score 600 & 1000 Benchrest

[Rope2horns]

Bart one thing in Fclass is trust your rifle...no one likes conformation 9's..I've had more than my fare share before I learned this lesson. If you happen to make it to a Fclass match, plot your shots. This will help force you to take your time and make a wind call. You will be surprised how your shots plot on the vertical (above/below the waterline) sometimes.

 

[Chuckhunter]

That has been suggested and probably a very good idea!

I think what I’m going to do is set up on my 500 yard bench with a bullseye Camera set on the target. Then practice reading and conditions and hitting a 3/4 inch dot shooting one shot at a time with a good pause in between. Kind of like an f Class match.

Another exercise I’m going to Try is playing the tape for a 2 minute match. Shoot the gong like I normally would, click all the way to my last shot for one target. Then repeat but only click half the value on the next. Try to figure out if there an advantage of one over the other.

Bart

Bart, that sounds like it could be extremely informative. Hope you will share your finding with the rest of us fledglings.

 

[rebs]

Be the first one on the practice range and the last one to leave
Jerry Miculik

 

[greisdor]

Isn’t score in 1000yd benchrest - a gift to the second place group shooter.... Ha.....

 

[fultonbig9]

A lot of shooters I’m my opinion shoot way to many sighters anyways, especially when they say commence fire, there going crazy and that’s great if thats what they want to do but those sighters at 3 minutes to go are not going to help you at all with 5 seconds to go. What I’m saying is the last 10 seconds is where your going to be hitting more or less.
I’ve been bit many times by what your saying with few seconds to go it hits 6 inches higher I’ve learnt you better go with that!! imo.
Joey

 

[sdean]

That has been suggested and probably a very good idea!

I think what I’m going to do is set up on my 500 yard bench with a bullseye Camera set on the target. Then practice reading and conditions and hitting a 3/4 inch dot shooting one shot at a time with a good pause in between. Kind of like an f Class match.

Another exercise I’m going to Try is playing the tape for a 2 minute match. Shoot the gong like I normally would, click all the way to my last shot for one target. Then repeat but only click half the value on the next. Try to figure out if there an advantage of one over the other.

Bart

Making wind calls at your range won’t be the same at another range. Go sit at Memphis and do that and you will learn for there. Even Tony Boyer doesn’t win every time.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I find let ups to be damaging and tricky.. The sun rolling in and out sure does send a lot of targets back with vertical.. When conditions are tough it seems like the guy that has his setup tracking so that they can return to fire and pull wins the relay..


Ray

 

[BartsBullets]

Making wind calls at your range won’t be the same at another range. Even Tony Boyer doesn’t win every time.

Well we have to start somewhere! I make plenty of wind calls shooting 600 Benchrest. Often I’ll wait on conditions and let everyone else shoot. I probably did that three times this match and didn’t get hurt in score or group. Actually did as good or better then the field.

So I’m not a complete retard when it comes to shooting score (Just partial), but there’s a lot of room to improve. HG on Saturday I got tricked on the sighter plate with my last shot going way high. If I would have clicked at halfway to it. It could have helped my score significantly! My scores were 29, 48, 50 and 48! Sunday’s match I came in 1st in LG Group with a 1.502 and 2nd in HG with a 2.075. I’m LG Score I was 4th, (which is respectable) 193! In HG Score I came in 30th with a 183 which killed me in HG overall and the 2 Gun! I’m just not as consistent in Score as I am in group.

Just trying to figure how to improve! I will Get it sorted out. It’s not in my nature to take an ass-whoopin’ and not fix the problem!

Bart

 

[Rtheurer]

What are you doing between your relays? are you watching with a spotting scope what is happening to your fellow shooters while they shoot? Memphis is a pretty easy Range to master. Do you know how to read mirage? Cause there is always a metric S tone of it at MSSA. Can you put a value to that mirage?
As mentioned above most folks don't put enough sighters down range to under stand what it going on in the time frame that they have to shoot their string. Those sighters are a free learning tool for you to start figuring out wind.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Well we have to start somewhere! I make plenty of wind calls shooting 600 Benchrest. Often I’ll wait on conditions and let everyone else shoot. I probably did that three times this match and didn’t get hurt in score or group. Actually did as good or better then the field.

So I’m not a complete retard when it comes to shooting score (Just partial), but there’s a lot of room to improve. HG on Saturday I got tricked on the sighter plate with my last shot going way high. If I would have clicked at halfway to it. It could have helped my score significantly! My scores were 29, 48, 50 and 48! Sunday’s match I came in 1st in LG Group with a 1.502 and 2nd in HG with a 2.075. I’m LG Score I was 4th, (which is respectable) 193! In HG Score I came in 30th with a 183 which killed me in HG overall and the 2 Gun! I’m just not as consistent in Score as I am in group.

Just trying to figure how to improve! I will Get it sorted out. It not in my nature to take an ass-whoopin’ and not fix the problem!

Bart

Bart I always have called you Rookie since you started this game but in hindsight I am still a ROOKIE when it comes to the wind an I have confidence in you my friend you will prevail thanks for this post it's definitely needed in our sport for all of us rookies I have said it a 100 times the wind is your friend I think you will do just fine when it comes to you, ya need to share with the rest of us Good luck on your journey.

 

[BartsBullets]

Bart one thing in Fclass is trust your rifle...no one likes conformation 9's..I've had more than my fare share before I learned this lesson. If you happen to make it to a Fclass match, plot your shots. This will help force you to take your time and make a wind call. You will be surprised how your shots plot on the vertical (above/below the waterline) sometimes.

I’ve shot two F Class type matches which Both were the Sierria Cup! I shot Off the bench which I know isn’t a official NRA thing! The first time out I won the Sierria Cup. The second time my rifle was so out of tune because of the cold temp I had no chance.

Trusting my rifle isn’t really a problem for me. Most matches I go to I have a rifle capable of winning if not possibly the best in the field. I’m not screwing up on Score because of a shot or two! I’m screwing it up because my whole group is out there! Poor decision making and bad judgment on where to click to or hold are killing me.

For example my groups for LG were
2.164
1.336
1.474
1.035
HG groups
1.499
2.891
1.747
2.162

With a 3 inch circle to hit! The rifle is strong but the shooter is weak.

Bart

 

[liljoe]

More pushups maybe

Joe Hynes

 

[Northridge]

The highlight of the F Class shooting season for me is competing in the Regional Match at Missoula in September that Jamie Williams puts on. I keep telling myself that I should go up and shoot a long range bench rest match with the guys up there - I know I would learn alot!!!

Shawn Williams aka Northridge does shoot in the F class match and does very well. Be interesting to hear if shooting F Class provided any tips for his score shooting in bench rest?

Bart could this be a "loaded" question? bench rest and F-class do go hand in hand and I have learned a bit along the way, but decision making pre-match (getting a rifle ready) and while shooting a string are very different for me bench Vs F-class. short of just missing a condition that quick in quick out I feel if anyone has a watchful eye its you so I don't think that's the easy culprit. really what pays off more than anything in prepping a rifle is "not shooting at day light" yes I said it set your alarm for 10:00 am or 6:00 PM don't get me wrong I shoot at day light every Friday morning at Deep creek before weekend match to verify what I all ready know, slight adjustments from match to match. My best learning tool when getting a rifle ready is shooting as far as you can close to home for me that is 800 yards and the range is not favorable (Tom Mousel) will testify to this fact and that's pertinent to this conversation. I shoot my ladders not at a feverish pace intentionally at the same point of aim every shot even if condition changes don't correct period let them land where they will this is important, make a mental note as to what you shoot in and document as much. slow or steady fire while tuning is everything once you start do not stop period. after shooting in this manner for a long time I have discovered the bullet and how you have it sitting (tune) will give
more sound scores I'm not joking when I say a wind tune vs non wind tune they are there no matter the bullet you use just have to develop the tendency. there is a trade off though if your trying to be completely greedy and have a tune that shoots small and hold the target great at the same time get in line its usually not there while condition is present. know disrespect for guys who shoot high scores regular but if you look at the as shot statistics (actual Targets) there groups will often be splash larger but there scores held or where highest on a given relay. do both happen at same time yes but I'm talking over lots of targets. I very much fall into this category of wanting both it makes for a better aging situation typically. Tom Mousel will beat my ass with a Middle 2" 5 shot group 35 score every time knowing he is giving up score. weather its F-class or bench rest though sighter period as you know I study the condition and graph the result of a shot in a given condition. bench rest my final decision is start up when will I start my string this is everything to me because we are shooting blind, I don't intentional shoot or start up in a cycle that is two thirds complete and headed for change. F-class your studying the condition in a different way and you have feed back every shot this makes decision making easier I have found but I will have interrupted fire while shooting a F-Class string if condition becomes foolish I would never do this in bench rest. Rolling interrupted fire or non sustaining bore heat or lack of will wreck every bench rest target alive, it affects grouping on a F-class target also but your score shooting you can give a little a stay in the ten while cranking on the heat again making slight corrections along the way you have a taddle tail in the pits marking every shot or a E target playing games with your mind. I don't shoot over flags ever while tuning it defeats the purpose of setting up a tune that will hold a target more soundly, hold same point of aim always.

Shawn Williams

 

[johara1]

Bart you pick a condition to zero in that will let you get all or most of the shots off, then wait for it and shoot in it and if it goes away hold up and let come back.... no big deal.... if you got the barrel you will look good ... jim

 

[BartsBullets]

What are you doing between your relays? are you watching with a spotting scope what is happening to your fellow shooters while they shoot? Memphis is a pretty easy Range to master. Do you know how to read mirage? Cause there is always a metric S tone of it at MSSA. Can you put a value to that mirage?
As mentioned above most folks don't put enough sighters down range to under stand what it going on in the time frame that they have to shoot their string. Those sighters are a free learning tool for you to start figuring out wind.

Rtheurer,

Mempis is a pretty easy range to master! I’ve won there multiple times! When I’m shooting im trying to make a CORRECT decision on how to put 5 shots in the 10 ring (3 inches) without any feedback other then the sighter plate in the last 30 seconds or so. I shoot probably too many sighters. Because I’m matching mirage at one end of the field with wind flags on the close end so I can determine a condition which will allow me to shoot the smallest group.

Remember a 10 on an f Class 600 yard target is 6 inches. So five shots towards the edge of your 10 ring is 10 dropped points for us which is the kiss of death.

Bart

 

[Northridge]

Rtheurer,

Mempis is a pretty easy range to master! I’ve won there multiple times! When I’m shooting im trying to make a CORRECT decision on how to put 5 shots in the 10 ring (3 inches) without any feedback other then the sighter plate in the last 30 seconds or so. I shoot probably too many sighters. Because I’m matching mirage at one end of the field with wind flags on the close end so I can determine a condition which will allow me to shoot the smallest group.

Remember a 10 on an f Class 600 yard target is 6 inches. So five shots towards the edge of your 10 ring is 10 dropped points for us which is the kiss of death.

Bart

sounds like you may have had a situation that went un detected pre string if all shots went together Bart.

Shawn Williams

 

[BartsBullets]

Shawn,

We go about tuning differently but our goals are the same. I want a rifle that shoots small and isn’t wind sensitive. I’m not a sunrise Benchrest tuner. I tune in conditions throughout the entire day, but I’m not shooting ladder tests.

So a Tuned rifle isn’t my problem. I often have the best rifle on the line. As you pointed out the better your gun shoots the more precise you have to be with score.

I’m not way off on Score. I just need a little tweaking.

Bart

 

[Northridge]

Shawn,

We go about tuning differently but our goals are the same. I want a rifle that shoots small and isn’t wind sensitive. I’m not a sunrise Benchrest tuner. I tune in conditions throughout the entire day, but I’m not shooting ladder tests.

So a Tuned rifle isn’t my problem. I often have the best rifle on the line. As you pointed out the better your gun shoots the more precise you have to be with score.

I’m not way off on Score. I just need a little tweaking.

Barr

Bart I would agree, don't get me wrong shooting when conditions are more favorable "sunrise" or early at least is handy but not fool proof a lot of folks do it and are successful. I mix both methods to assist in decision making. the "Little tweaking" is the problem we suffer from Lol. having your cake and wanting too eat it is the largest pursuit for all and the hardest to manage. most things are duplicatable.

Shawn Williams

 

[tom]

You could just ask them not to count your crappier targets

Tom

 

[BartsBullets]

You could just ask them not to count your crappier targets

Tom

I have!!!!