50m Benchrest Competitions - Shooting bag options?

Domino45

Hi all,

looking at getting started in competing at benchrest 50m. What rest bag options are “legal”? Is a rear bag allowed?

I currently have the green Caldwell bags, but am wondering if I can upgrade to something sturdier, or if my rear sandbag is even allowed. Cheers.

Domino45

To clarify I’m looking at the NASRPC Postal League Factory Sporter 50m BR. With a view to attend some of the same league competitions in-person down the line.

otmmyboy2

@NASRPC will be able to give you a definitive answer.

NASRPC

https://nasrpc.ie/benchrest-rifle/

You are allowed any front rest and a rear sandbag - they may not be attached, or clamped, to the rifle - nor may they be connected to each other.

Factory Sporter is:

8.5lb max rifle weight, including scope.

12x max magnification (if your scope goes higher the RO has to check it is set on 12 - and may put some masking tape on it.

.

Domino45

thanks a million!

clivej

Factory sporter weight is now 10.5 lb, including anything attached to the rifle, scope, bipod, etc. Must be original factory stock but can have trigger job done, but not replaced. Max zoom still 12 power.

Wadi14

Is that a National Benchrest rule or HH Clive ? have you a copy of it.

clivej

National Benchrest. I think IS scope was increased to x12 as well.

We are shooting in Fermoy now today. Full lines.

clivej

NRBAI competition in Fermoy today. I took a gold medal in Factory Sporter. Card 1 241 x9, card 2 242 x6 for a total of 483. A PB for me as well. Not too bad for an auld lad.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372066#Comment_123372066

Seen it on FB. Well done Clive 👍

NASRPC

To clarify.

Clive was shooting in an NRBAI competition, where they may have changed their rules.

NASRPC have not changed their Benchrest rules (in well over 20 years) as there has not been a proposal submitted to the Governing Body to do so. Rules can only be changed by a vote of the member clubs.

So Factory Sporter is an 8.5lbs max Sporter Rifle- with 12x mag magnification on the scope

Scalachi

The World, and UK standard BR rules were updates and included some weight changes and scope changes, I know the NRBAI adopted the new rules as did Harbour House Sports Club.

I will dig them out and attach them here tomorrow.

NASRPC

Not to detract from the OPs question - namely what they could use in the NASRPC postal league

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If, and when, NASRPC get a proposal to alter their Benchrest Rules, perhaps to synchronise with a WRABF definition of Factory Sporter - then that can be evaluated.

NASRPC is not affiliated to any World Body in Benchrest - but we were not aware that there had been a formal definition of Factory Sporter at World Level. 

NASRPC defined "Factory Sporter", back when the World Body ratified "International Sporter" and the clubs members wanted to continue to compete with the rifles they already had ( many, many, years ago )

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But, it is not simply about deciding to allow people to shoot Factory Sporter with Light Varmint Target rifles with lower magnification, instead of Sporting Rifles.

There is an existing discipline, leaderboards with historical scores and standing record scores to be considered.
Those would have to be mothballed and archived - as you are, in essence creating a new discipline - and those rankings, records etc will still stand, perhaps in perpetuity, as the best performance people had with the Sporting Rifle.
You can't have someone with a heavier rifle, perhaps higher magnification and perhaps with a flat forend, beat a current record set with a Sporting Rifle.

And this is key .... If the clubs of the NASRPC, and their members, wants it to happen.

This is why NASRPC have to evaluate any request and debate it - not just adopt something because they did in another country.

clivej

Factory Sporter states that the rifle must be able to take a magazine. That would exclude many International Sporter, and Light Rifle (light varmint) rifles.

AFAIK Factory Sporter is only shot here in Ireland and was introduced to encourage people to shoot Benchrest competition with their bog standard plinking / hunting 22lr rifles. But as the rifles progressed they became heavier. Examples are the CZ MTR and LRP rifles, that are over 8.5lbs. This is why the NRBAI (the governing body) voted to increase the weight limit to 10.5lbs, again with scope max at x12 power.

NASRPC

And that is fine.

However, in NASRPC Benchrest Competition, if your rifle is between 8.5lbs and 10.5lbs weight - it shoots in Light Varmint.

CZ MTR = "Match Target Rifle"

CZ LRP = "Long Range Precision"

Those are Target Stocks on a CZ 457 Rifle.

CZ Lux would be a Sporter Stock on a 457 Rifle.