What is Benchrest?

Obviously, it involves shooting a firearm from a gun rest, such as sandbags, from a sturdy bench. This type of shooting evolved to allow a firearm, ammunition, or other accessories to be tested for accuracy or efficacy using a sturdy, repeatable setup. Most firearm and ammunition development and improvements result from Benchrest testing. 

Competitive shooting has been around forever, but formal Benchrest shooting began amongst folks trying to create or improve a better rifle and cartridge for dispatching groundhogs or other types of ‘varmints’, which is why you’ll hear that word frequently in Benchrest. Many of the most accurate rifle cartridges available today were first developed as ‘Wildcats’ by these shooters, along with many accuracy features available on today’s rifles. Most axioms for creating the best possible accuracy loads were ‘discovered’ and first developed by Benchrest shooters.

Some of the facets of Benchrest shooting that must be measured and mastered are:

• An accurate well-maintained rifle that you are confident in
• Properly prepared ammunition that has been ‘tuned’ to the rifle and conditions to be shot
• Proper setup and operation of a firearm on the bench to enable repeatable accuracy
• Learning to read the wind conditions for each shot from a variety of indicators
• Learning to review targets to accomplish continuous improvement

Types of Benchrest

Benchrest is shot at many distances using widely different Centerfire and Rimfire calibers and scoring methods, which we will define first:

Group

Group shooting is the ultimate form of Benchrest, and the ultimate test of equipment and shooting technique. The goal is to shoot a specified number of shots (usually five) into the smallest group of bullet holes possible, the ideal being having all shots go into the same bullet hole. Groups are measured in inches to three decimal places from the centers of the two farthest bullet holes, minus the bullet diameter. For reference, 1 MOA at 100 yards is 1.000 inches; a typical 100-yard five shot group is .185 inches. Total score is the aggregate total of group sizes normalized for distance. Targets are measured using machinist’s calipers.

5 shots at 100 yards

Score

Score shooting involves shooting one shot at multiple scoring bulls on each target (usually five record bulls and one sighter) and scoring each shot according to the bull values from 0 to 10 plus X (bullseye) count. A typical five shot score at 100 yards might be 50-3X. The total score is the sum of bull values and X counts, with values having more weight than X count which is used as first tiebreaker. A typical five target aggregate score at 100 yards might be 249-16X.  Note that this score beats a lower bull value with higher X count such as 248-22X.

50-1X at 200 yards

Combined

Combined scoring is typically used for longer ranges, with all shots fired on a single bull. Both the bull values and X count for each shot are scored, as is the total group size of all shots. A shooter is ranked for both categories and may have the highest score, smallest group, or both for each target. Ranking is by aggregate of all targets for each category. Total score is the total of both categories among all competitors. A shooter might win the score category with a 49-1X for a rank of 1 in that category and come in fourth in the group category with a .466 for a rank of 4 in that category, for an aggregate rank score of 5. The smallest aggregate rank is the winner.

5-shot 50-0X or .282 at 600 yards

Benchrest Calibers

Most modern calibers were tested and developed from the bench. Many were inspired and intended for use as target rounds, while others were developed mainly for hunting. Benchrest competition has its roots in varmint hunting, which involves small targets and long range. Most of the early cartridges favored by Benchrest shooters were developed along these lines, such as the .219 Donaldson Wasp, the .222 Remington, and the 6.5/284 Shehane. Following are some of the current popular cartridges:

PPC (Pindell Palmisano Cartridge)

This cartridge was developed in the early 1970s by Ferris Pindell and Lou Palmisano using the somewhat obscure .220 Russian case as a start. There have been and continue to be numerous chamberings using .22 cal, 6mm, 6.5mm, and .30 cal bullets, as well as variations in case lengths, but the 6 PPC is the defacto standard for Group Benchrest out to 600 yards and holds most world records.

.30 BR

This is simply a 6mm BR Remington necked up to use light .30 caliber bullets and has become the standard for Score competitions mainly because of its larger bullet hole having some benefit when scoring.

6mm BR

Although usually competitive in short range Benchrest, many different variations of this cartridge have long dominated at 600 yards and farther. Examples are the 6BR, 6BRX, and

6BRA.

Firearms and Equipment

The Benchrest community is full of modern and exotic firearms, equipment, and gadgets that can be daunting to anyone interested in getting started. Actually, all that is needed is a reasonably accurate rifle you trust, some sandbags, and quality ammunition. Many local Benchrest matches (such as those at RBGC) have many competing with basic equipment and factory-built rifles.  Most new shooters profit from starting out simply, attending matches and learning from established shooters what works and developing their own preferences before starting to spend wages on new equipment.

Rifles are required to be shot while seated at a bench, while resting on sandbags. The sandbags can be simple bags or formed bags with ears to better align and constrain the rifle. Most shooters use two bags, one under the stock forearm and another under the buttstock. Many also choose to use some type of adjustable rest platform under the front rest to make it easier to adjust the height and sometimes the windage of the barrel alignment to the target.

Most firearms built for bench shooting have a wider stock forearm than a usual sporting rifle. This allows the rifle to ‘ride the bag’ more easily and inhibit stock tilt (cant). Most custom Benchrest rifles carry this idea to the extreme with 3-inch forearms that are flat.  The main idea is for the rifle to recoil without upsetting its alignment so that it can be returned to the same position for the next shot. 

3-Inch Forearm Riding the Bag

Note that in most cases bags and/or rests cannot be fastened to the bench in any manner, and front and rear bags and/or rests cannot be connected to each other. The two exceptions are simple single bags that cradle the rifle, and the Unlimited/Heavy Bench class which includes rail guns.  

Two other restrictions on equipment are that most muzzle brakes are prohibited since this can negatively impact shooters at benches around you, and if your firearm ejects cases, they must be controlled to prevent any change of striking any adjacent bench or shooter.

Benchrest can be shot with rifles with magazines, but these rifles must be shot in single-shot mode (one round at a time). This is mainly for safety, as rifles need to be easily safed in case of a cease-fire. Many Benchrest rifles have very light triggers and no safety features, which makes the most important safety rule in Benchrest... Bolt Discipline. 

Bolt Discipline means that bolts can only be inserted in rifles on command of the Range Officer before the commence fire command is given and must be removed as soon as your firing is complete or upon command of the Range Officer. No ammunition is allowed to touch the rifle until the commence fire command is given, and the rifle must be cleared of all ammunition upon command of the Range Officer.

Optics has been one of the greatest improvements in recent Benchrest competition. Most shooters use at least a 36-power scope, although a 12-power scope can be used. Some custom rifles use up to 60X magnification.

Some competitors choose to bring reloading equipment to the range so that they can ‘tweak’ their loads for each relay and match, particularly for group shooting where repeatability is required. Many also thoroughly clean their rifles between relays. Both are completely up to the individual.

Typical setup for loading and cleaning

You may notice that many shooters will set up different kinds of wind indicators before a match to help them see the conditions developing during a match. Learning to read these indicators is one of the most challenging facets of Benchrest shooting.

Wind/condition Indicators

Benchrest at River Bend Gun Club

River Bend Gun Club is affiliated with the National Bench Rest Shooters Association. CF Benchrest is shot monthly at RBGC, usually on the second Saturday of each month on the Multi-Purpose 1 range. Unless otherwise noted, these are informal club competitions rather than registered ‘sanctioned’ events and are open to club members and outside guests alike. The normal starting time is 9:00AM but the pace is set by the participants, and we try not to hurry anybody. There is always ample time between matches for discussion, reloading, cleaning, and generally solving all the world’s problems. We try to alternate between Group and Score shooting so we generally have 6 matches of each type every year. The matches require 50 record shots with unlimited sighters, so most folks use between 60 and 90 rounds for the day.

There are two classes of rifles being shot at the matches – what we call Factory and Custom. Both are limited in weight to 18 pounds, be shot by single loading, have no muzzle brake, and have some way to control ejected brass. Custom rifles are those that are purpose-built for Benchrest competition, while the factory class is everything else. Factory rifles compete against other factory rifles, not the Custom Rifles.

We usually shoot 5 matches each at 100 and 200 yards. Your bench is drawn by lottery at sign-in. Matches are timed for 7 minutes, with 3 minutes added for the first match at each range for sighting in.  

Remember that Bolt Discipline is paramount: bolts cannot touch the rifle until after the ‘Insert Bolts’ or ‘Commence Fire’ command is given by the Range Officer, must be removed upon finishing your course of fire or upon the ‘Remove Your Bolts’ command. Additionally, no ammunition can touch the firearm except between the ‘Commence Fire’ and “Cease Fire’ commands. Always be aware of what is happening around you and listen to and obey all commands from the Range Officer.

These matches are a great way to get started in Benchrest and have a great time competing with those with similar equipment. Although it’s always nice to win matches, the real goal is your own constant improvement.

Firing Line at RBGC