Rifle Benchrest Silhouette

[375Short]

After talking with a number of match directors at the 2025 National’s it seems Benchrest is a wise addition. It likely will be added to the 2026 schedule at our Pampa Rifle and Pistol Club events.

I’m thinking of altering the title to Precision Silhouette and allowing it to be shot from the Bench or Prone. Same rules for supporting the rifle goes for both. We have a long concrete line but few benches. It may also catch the attention of “Precision Shooters “ who just don’t consider themselves Benchrest shooters. Any thoughts on that slight alteration to perhaps be more appealing to a few more shooters? It possibly could be a dumb idea and I have failed to catch the flaws in my thought process, certainly not the first time.

Has it caught on enough to warrant its own topic Headline on Steelchickens? Perhaps already outpacing pistol silhouette.

[acorneau]

It's been a really good addition for us.

I don't see any reason to exclude the prone shooters, especially if you're a little short on benches. Call it whatever will get folks to show up and try it out!

We used to call it "Benchrest/F-class Silhouette" but we only had one guy shoot it F-class style a few times before he just hopped on a bench with the rest of the guys.

They've been having issues with the back-end of the server/forum lately. Maybe once that has been dealt with they could consider adding a sub-forum, but I wouldn't push it at the moment.

[cedestech]

If you’re going to add it, you need benches. The older guys like it and they have a problem getting up and down from prone…

[Grantmac]

A bench with no rear support allowed and 3x the distance seems like it would be interesting. But at regulation distance I don't see the point.

[acorneau]

A bench with no rear support allowed and 3x the distance seems like it would be interesting. But at regulation distance I don't see the point.

Smallbore Benchrest Silhouette is shot using 1/5-scale chickens and 1/10-scale pigs/turkeys/rams all at 100 meters.

[ksfrank]

Our club in Northern AZ has been shooting 1/5th scale targets off the bench. While many people scoff at this , it proves WAY more difficult than expected.

Attendance at our matches has greatly increased.

Many shooters who thought they had aged out have returned. Our way of thinking is that is a win!

[375Short]

The response seems to match the experience of the folks I talked with in July at Raton. I don’t see a down side if increased participation is the goal.

If anyone has experience or thoughts on the 1/10th scale targets thickness it would be appreciated. In my mind it seems thicker than standard would be preferred. That thought is based on ignorance having shot exactly none at this point.

[acorneau]

If anyone has experience or thoughts on the 1/10th scale targets thickness it would be appreciated. In my mind it seems thicker than standard would be preferred. That thought is based on ignorance having shot exactly none at this point.

Chris Cawthorne worked directly with Quality Targets to come up with the right compromise of dimensions and materials for these targets. They are available for purchase through their website and endorsed by NASSA:

https://www.qualitytargets.com/nassa-sm ... 0-pc-set/

[375Short]

Thanks for the information, Allen. Thanks Chris for the design. Quality Targets is great to do business with, as a bonus I get an interesting family tree history lesson every time I talk with the owner.

[cedestech]

A bench with no rear support allowed and 3x the distance seems like it would be interesting. But at regulation distance I don't see the point.

My shocked face…

[jbmarshtx]

Thanks for the information, Allen. Thanks Chris for the design. Quality Targets is great to do business with, as a bonus I get an interesting family tree history lesson every time I talk with the owner.

They'll also do a set of swingers with one of each animal. Works well since they are all at 100m. We have 4-5 sets of swingers we use at Austin Rifle Club as an addition to the monthly smallbore matches.

[cedestech]

Funny thing this weekend at the sb match with benchrest… guys are realizing for the match, once down to set up for practice then 8 times to reset during the match and then once for take down… they are walking over a mile… they are ruminating the idea of paper or swinger and what to do about edge hits…

There really isn’t such a thing as a free lunch…

(I voted scaled down paper by 10% so any plugged “edge hits” would be enough contact with a regular target to cleanly knock it down…)

[psteiger]

Don't they already have a game where you shoot off the bench at paper targets? I can't remember what it's called......oh yeah, benchrest....

I say double the entry fee for a year and have resettables made.

just sayin......