Extreme Benchrest,Cast Bullet Match

A hit with a .45 cal air rifle

Introduced in 2015 as a paper target match, the cast bullet match was expanded into a two format competition by adding a second contest called the Steel Challenge fired on reactive targets at distances announced just before the shooters came to the firing line. This doubled the shooting but it also more than doubled the challenge and for the onlookers, more than doubled the fun.

Range Officer explains the SR-1 targets

The Benchrest portion, fired on Saturday, was 2 sighting shots and 20 record shots at 200 yards. The target was the NRA SR-1, and the time limit was 35 minutes. In 2015 I saw hits just barely score at 3:00 blown on winds that might have moved a .30 caliber 169 boat tail

bullet from a ten to an eight.

Last year’s Benchrest portion was retained for 2016. The Steel Challenge was added. This match was shot at reactive flash targets at 82 yards and at 190 yards. These targets consist of a round steel target underneath two large rectangles one white and one red. The two rectangles are set so the white rectangle obscures the red. When the target is hit the assembly rocks back and the red is visible. Each shooter has a scorekeeper assigned. Red flash equals a hit. Targets looked to be 4 inches at 82 yards and 8 inches at 190.

Targets at 82 and 190 yards

Competitors shoot 24 shots with two sighting shots in 35 minutes. Hits on the close targets count 5 points. Hits of the far targets count 10. However, you must score 12 hits on the close before going to the far. Add in that the distances were not announced until just before the

match, and this becomes a unique challenge in what is an already unique shooting match.

A hit at 190 yards

The winner was determined by the combined score for the two days. Kip Perow’s score of 309 was broken down into 169 for the Benchrest and 140 for the Steel Challenge. He had to score 60 (12X5) to go one to the long range targets. So he had eight hits (140-60=80) at 190 yards. He had to have an accurate rifle and the skill to hit at that range. He also had to know its trajectory to get his point of aim. A truly outstanding feat of air arms.

Ron Blueflax Airguns