What rifle for "fun" shoot, from a bench and offhand?

[slm9s]

My local range has started a "fun" shooting league. Really laid back, 22lr and any non-magnum centerfire rifle alternating weeks. 22lr at 100 yards, centerfire at 200 yards. 10 shots from a bench (any rest), 10 shots offhand, no slings.

Like many of you, I have several rifles/styles to choose from. BUT, I've never competed at offhand shooting. What weight/style/etc rifle do most choose for competitive offhand shooting? I was thinking of using a benchrest style rifle to do well at the bench and just "do my best" offhand? Or more of a varmint style rifle in something like a 222 or 22br etc might be better offhand?

What style of rifle would you choose and why?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Adam in WI]

First one to pop in my mind would be a 700 VLS. Not full on bench rest heavy, but not too heavy to shoot off hand either

 

[joshb]

Just use a regular old hunting rifle? I’d go with a 223, for accuracy, lack of recoil and it’s relatively cheap to shoot. Get the right bag for your front rest.
Like Adam suggested, a Remington 700 would work.
Maybe even an AR for offhand? They’re light.

 

[PopCharlie]

I'd shoot an AR in .223. Easy to shoot off hand. You can get front rests to accommodate the handguards. Use 5 round mags on the bench.

PopCharlie

 

[K22]

Tikka T3, Lite, in 223 Rem caliber for center fire rifle choice.

1. Superb accuracy out of the box.

2. Great Trigger - easy to adjust

3. Smooth action

4. Superior Extractor design relative to reliability

5. 223Rem caliber - low recoil, accurate, economic to reload, components readily available in normal time if normal time ever return.

Only negative (slightly) polymer magazine - wear resistances might be an issue although I have not encountered any failures so far with Tikka. Had one polymer fail on a Browning X Bolt after a heavy use season varmint hunting.

 

[Walt Krafft]

For the centerfire matches any NRA Across the Course match rifle would be perfect.

 

[joshb]

Tikka T3, Lite, in 223 Rem caliber for center fire rifle choice.

1. Superb accuracy out of the box.

2. Great Trigger - easy to adjust

3. Smooth action

4. Superior Extractor design relative to reliability

5. 223Rem caliber - low recoil, accurate, economic to reload, components readily available in normal time if normal time ever return.

Only negative (slightly) polymer magazine - wear resistances might be an issue although I have not encountered any failures so far with Tikka. Had one polymer fail on a Browning X Bolt after a heavy use season varmint hunting.

I don’t push Tikkas anymore, tho I used to. They’re getting harder to find at good prices, maybe because guys like me keep telling people how good they are!

 

[Fast14riot]

A 700 in an old 40x 3-position stock would be ideal for all around. Also, surprisingly the 788 is quite nice in offhand, and are known be excellent shooters, especially in .222

 

[Presscollector]

Off hand Centerfire would be my Swiss K-31
Off hand Rimfire would be my Savage 1919 NRA Match rifle

Both have receiver sights that my tired old eye can see.

 

[slm9s]

Scopes are allowed.

Again, I'm not looking to purchase a rifle, I have plenty! Just asking what style of rifle would work best for combined benchrest AND offhand competition.

I went down to my garage and dry fired my LR BR dasher offhand and its a little muzzle heavy! I have a Cooper 6ppc that would probably work well.

Thanks guys.

 

[okie]

.223

 

[kzin]

Optimize for offhand because the scores will be lower and there's more advantage to be had.

Probably.
Unless they're putting up a brutal target for bench and a really easy one for standing.

 

[markT]

What you have ammo for....

 

[OLeveraction]

What is considered a FUN shoot.
I see "Fun Shoot" and think of things that fall over, shatter or blow up, or, at least make a sound.
Fun measured in hitting a target as opposed to X's and hundredths of an inch.

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, I have a .22lr Brno Model 2 with just over 16" barrel that is lovely to shoot off hand.

For 100 yds it would probably be my 257 Roberts. 3-12x50 Swaro Z4i and it's built on an FN Supreme with a slicked up trigger and 3 position "Win model 70" style safety.

 

[K22]

I don’t push Tikkas anymore, tho I used to. They’re getting harder to find at good prices, maybe because guys like me keep telling people how good they are!

There are two schools of thought on buying factory rifles if accuracy is factor in your decision.

1. You buy a economy rifle and hope. If it meet your needs then you hit the factory rifle lotto. It does happen.

2. You buy an economy rifle and it's a bust. You spend money on a replacement stock and / or bedding job, maybe replace the barrel and or trigger. By the time you go through all that and in the process consume a bunch of ammo which is scarce these days, you end up spending the same if not more to obtain a rifle that meets your needs. Of course any factory rifle can be a guessing game but I've yet to encounter a Tikka that doesn't shoot. I've got 5 of them. Of yet to encounter a Browning that doesn't shoot extremely well even with the less that optimum triggers. I've got 3 of them.

So pick your poison.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Scopes are allowed.

Again, I'm not looking to purchase a rifle, I have plenty! Just asking what style of rifle would work best for combined benchrest AND offhand competition.

I went down to my garage and dry fired my LR BR dasher offhand and its a little muzzle heavy! I have a Cooper 6ppc that would probably work well.

Thanks guys.

Really? You are the first shooter to not use any and every excuse to buy more guns.

 

[joshb]

Really? You are the first shooter to not use any and every excuse to buy more guns.

Thank you for saying that! Saved me from being an enabler!

 

[Adam in WI]

Really? You are the first shooter to not use any and every excuse to buy more guns.

Real or imagined...

Thank you for saying that! Saved me from being an enabler!

Like you don't enjoy it, lol.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Scopes are allowed.

Again, I'm not looking to purchase a rifle, I have plenty! Just asking what style of rifle would work best for combined benchrest AND offhand competition.

I went down to my garage and dry fired my LR BR dasher offhand and its a little muzzle heavy! I have a Cooper 6ppc that would probably work well.

Thanks guys.

Use the Cooper 6ppc. Maybe lighten up the trigger if need be. If you have a front rest set up for a 3" stock, get the adaptor from Sinclair/Brownells for your stock. Very easily removed for off-hand...

Regards
Rick