Loading at a Range — How it Works For Benchrest Matches

April 17th 2022 Loading at The Range — How It Works for Benchrest Matches
The Benchrest for Group discipline still requires that you load at the range. In the Special Report below, Jeff Stover, past President of IBS, explains how loading methods and hardware have changed over time. The introduction of electronic powder dispensers that are accurate and affordable, such as the RCBS ChargeMaster or Frankford’s new Intellidropper has changed the game and made it easier for users to load at the range. With a little practice, quality manual powder measures can be fast and very consistent. Loading at a range allows competitors to adjust their load to the conditions, change the seating depths or even pick different bullets for each day. This is often done between relays. It is important to shoot smaller groups while staying “in tune”. Tuning loads to the conditions is key to match-winning accuracy in a game with 5-shot groups. Nearly all of the competitors in this short-range discipline shoot the 6mm PPC cartridge or a PPC variant. Loading at The Range — Now and Now Benchrest shooting for group has been a tradition for decades. Preloading is a common practice in the Score discipline. The reason for this is that in Score competition, one Aggregate (warm up match and five record targets), is usually shot per day. This would mean that there would be less than 50 shots if you include a few sighter shots. Pre-loading is easy with the 30BR, the dominant Benchrest for Score cartridge. The Group discipline, which usually involves 21 targets, includes two warm-ups and twenty-five record targets. It is usually shot with 6PPC-chambered rifles. 6PPC shooters can adjust their loads throughout the day depending on changing atmospheric conditions, or simply trying to find the right tune to “dot-up”. The term “Dot up” refers to shots that are basically going through the same hole or very closely. When benchrest competition was just beginning, loading at the range was quite different. Modern Accuracy by Bob Wallack is the best of the early benchrest books. You can find copies on Alibris and eBay. It’s a fascinating look at benchrest as it was six decades ago. Even a controversial target is covered. It includes a photo of Wallack using a rear bumper from a car to clamp his reloading tool. Modern shooters have a lot more advanced range loading setups than they did in 1950. Bob Wallack can be seen here in 1950. The modern loading bench setups in this Special Report are the work of top shooters Howie Leevy, Bob Hamister and Kent Harshman. Similar Posts