Advanced Marksmanship Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club comp

[tickled pink]

This was the very first time I had ever shot at a paper target at 1,000 yds. The mirage was so bad that I had to change my magnification from 24x to 12x so I could "kinda" see the target.

We had 2 relays. At the beginning of the first we were allowed 3 sighter shots. Then we had a 20 minute time limit to shoot a 10 shot string to be recorded for group size and score. The second relay was no sighters just 20 minutes to shoot our second 10 shot string for group size and score.

My first ever 3 sighters centered just outside the ten ring at 4 o'clock & 4" across. I moved my Vortex PST turrets one click left and one click up. When the target was scored I had a 91-1x with a 10 shot group that measured 14+1/8".

The wind changed for my second 10 shot string and I read it backwards. The group went higher. It scored 82 and the group measured 17+5/8".

Well in benchrest class & overall I came in second with a 173-1x The first place was 174-1x and he had smallest group of 9+3/8"

Now I will experiment with jamming the 105 gr. Berger VLDs into the rifling. I'm shooting a 6mm Norma BR. Maybe this will get my group size smaller and bring my score up.

40gt

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club comp

In this competition is there pit service?

 

[tickled pink]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sterling Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In this competition is there pit service? </div></div>

We rotate the relay shooters to spot, mark & change targets.

40gt

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

So, there is pit service; and, therefore, you can correlate calls and strikes. Is that right? It seems with such service you could have corrected for errors which occurred during your second string before they became costly. If I'm wrong about you having pit service, I have empathy for you, kinda like shooting a 300 rapid fire string in HP. Here's some advice for when you can't do call/strike analysis--shoot during the prevailing wind.

 

[Lowlight]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

Sterling I think in Benchrest it is shot and not scored until the time is up.

You get those initial sighters to fine tune, then after you are on your own for the remaining shots.

At least that is my understanding, it might be different but i don't think they mark each shot at that point.

 

[tickled pink]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

In high power at long range the pit crew will mark each shot, but in benchrest many guys shoot their 10 shots as fast as they can before the wind changes.

joseph

 

[iShoot17]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 40gt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In high power at long range the pit crew will mark each shot, but in benchrest many guys shoot their 10 shots as fast as they can before the wind changes.

joseph </div></div>

Benchrest is a very interesting sport. The first time I watched it I was confused as to why they would be shooting as fast as possible when going for little groups. It then clicked about ideal/same conditions for each of the shots.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Results of my first 1,000 yd. Benchrest club

With good pit service, that's the key, an NRA LR shooter who uses a come behind data book strategy can get 20 rounds for record off in about 10 minutes. Of course, getting them off is not about speed but taking advantage of a prevailing wind, which can be monitored with a spotting scope. Nevertheless, to not have pit service, I think I'd need to re-think most every strategy I use to win, since they all are dependent in some way on call/strike analysis to prevent/correct errors.

BTW, I'm really impressed with the BR innovators. I think their kind of competitions have led to firearms and ammunition which indeed assure the bullet will always go in the direction the barrel is pointed. They've helped us all to better understand what's important to good shooting from what is not.