Types of Competition
High precision, but low accuracyThere are two major trends in competition. One type is group shooting, in which the object is to place five or ten shots on a target as close together as possible. Winning placement in competition is determined by how well each competitor achieves this goal or IOW, how closely the shots are grouped. This is sometimes termed precision competition.
The other is score shooting, where a traditional bulls eye type target with scoring rings is used. Winning placement is determined by each shooter's score results. This is sometimes termed accuracy competition.
However, in 600 and 1,000 yard competitions (IBS, NBRSA, and The Original Pennsylvania 1,000 Yard Benchrest Club), the competitor's target is scored for both group size and score. A competitor may only win in one category. If, for example a single competitor has the smallest group and highest score, they will be awarded only a win for the smallest group, the next highest score will be awarded the score win.
Additionally, there is growing interest in both rimfire and airgun benchrest. Currently, competitions both these are of the score format only.
Benchrest shooters attempt to achieve the ultimate in rifle precision; records for single 1000 yard, 10 shot groups are as small as 3 inches, the 600 yard record for a single 5-shot group is .699 inches (there are no 10-shot competitions at 600 yards), while 200 yard 10 shot groups are around 0.2 inches, and 100 yard 10 shot groups are around 0.1 inch. Five shot groups are significantly smaller. Groups are measured from center-to-center, thus negating the variations of different calibers. To accomplish this, the group is measured across its overall widest dispersion, then the diameter of the bullet is subtracted for the result. For example, a group measuring .375" is scored .132" (.375"-.243") for a 6 mm (.243") bullet. Matches are shot from 50 yards with rimfire rifles, up to 1,000 yards for centerfire rifles.
In competitive group shooting at 100-300 yards, shots often land very close together making only one ragged hole in the target, therefore a method for verifying the required number of shots (5 or 10) is used. This consists of a motorized single roll of paper stretched across and moving behind the targets which will record the number of bullets passing through each target.
Read more about this topic: Benchrest Shooting
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