Good
narration.
I think it is important that anyone who MAY be interested go to a match and see what it is all about. I was able to see it for myself at the recent Benchrest Nationals in Regina.
There was one shooter who decided to come and give it a try against all the full blown race guns. He found out only a couple days earlier about the shoot. I believe he had no idea of what to expect. The expression on his face throughtout the weekend made my weekend. He came and shot a 221 Fireball in ? and a 204 Ruger in a T/C. He had no front rest or rear bag. He shot off of sandbags. He is a novice reloader.
What did he see? 3500.00-4000.00 rifles, 1000.00 front rests, guys cleaning after every agg and those maybe after 30-40 rounds. Robertson stocks, McMillan stocks, BAT Machine stocks, Terry Leonard stocks etc. He saw wind flags and wind probes, some homemade and some purchased. He had a chance to see guys load at the range. Saw reloading tools he had never seen before. It was a huge weekend of tons of information to be gathered.
I know his highlight of the weekend was when one competitor let him shoot one of his Benchrest rifles for a complete agg. He had the opportunity to see firsthand what we Benchrest shooters love so much about pulling the trigger on these accurate rifles.
He even had a chance to see that no matter how accurate they are the shooter is still at the mercy of reading through the wind and mirage. It is not just the rifle but reading the conditions as well. Groups at 200 yards were as small as .189" to as high as over 2.5". Heck I even shot my worst 200 yard group ever 1.908". It killed me in that agg and definately took me out of contention. Not that I ever was but I went from sitting 4th to 11th in that agg.
The key is to come out and experience it first hand, he did. He walked away with memories, new friends, a head full of information, belly full of steak and 2 great prizes, a chronograph and a box of 220 Russian brass. Almost 300.00 worth of prizes in thoise 2 items alone. Think he will never forget his first match. NEVER.....
Yes the equipment we use is expensive but when you get to know the people who shoot in the different shooting disciplines a whole new world is opened up. You make contacts around Canada of where to find the best deals or that hard to find part you need to finish off a project. More than likely there is a great deal to be had at a match as well. I bought a Sightrom 36X fixed power with the Ed Adams errector tube freezing mod for 400.00 cdn. To buy that yourself and have it done would be around 500.00 US plus all the other BS and fees to get it into Canada.
It is a choice we make. We all love firearms and accurate ones at that. Some of us, NOT including myself, are more fortunate that we have the cash flow to make things happen faster than others. I hate working overtime but that was the only way I paid for my venture into Benchrest. Yah the money should have gone to paying my mortgage down but remember one thing we live only once. I worked my butt off to make it happen and am I glad I ever did.
Now I am in the process of gathering funds to build a twin to my current Benchrest rifle. Why I have been asked? What will it give you that your current rifle does not? I am building it for numerous reasons. One, to have a spare in case the need arises but mostly to have a second rifle that I can let people have the opportunity to try out and see what it is like to actually shoot and feel like they can compete. Like I said I work hard for what I have. I am willing to share the bit that I know to maybe see a new shooter enter the sport.
So Mystic kudos go out to you with your offer to allow a few people to shoot one of your rifles. If you ever have a chance to go to a match take the plunge. Do not worry about whether or not you can be competitve. I can care less how well I shoot. If I happen to win something it is a bonus. I go to shoots for the joy of shooting and sitting around the table BS'ng.
Just a few of my thoughts.
Calvin
But with that being said I have no shame, I am competitive when I am good, but when I suck... I just want to get good!!
