8.16 BENCHREST RIFLE
8.16.1 Rifle. Any rifle complying with Rules 8.3.2, 8.3.3 or 8.3.4 may be used.
8.16.1.1 Rifles falling within Rule 8.3.3 do not need to comply with the requirements of 8.3.3.1 and 8.3.3.2.
8.16.1.2 Rifles fitted with magazines may only be loaded with one cartridge or pellet.
8.16.1.3 Rifles may be fitted with a fore-end raising block not exceeding 75 mm (3 in) in width as measured at 90
degrees to the line of the barrel.
8.16.2 Ammunition. Any ammunition complying with Rules 8.2.1 and 8.2.3.
8.16.3 Position.
8.16.3.1 The shooter must be seated at a bench or table.
8.16.3.2 The rifle may be supported by one rest at the fore-end only. A shooter may use a sling, as in prone shooting,
instead of but not in addition to a rest.
8.16.3.3 When in the firing position, the rifle butt must be located in the shoulder and supported by the shooter’s hands.
The non-firing hand may be placed on the table and support the rear end of the rifle. The rear end of the rifle
may not rest on or touch the bench, or any pad or other artificial support on the bench, when in the firing
position, but may do so between shots and when re-loading.
8.16.4 Bench. The bench may be of any height to suit the shooter. The bench top may be shaped so as to form an
extension to support the right elbow (or left elbow if left-handed), but must in no way control the elbow’s
position.
8.16.5 Rest.
8.16.5.1 The rest may be of any type of material, may be adjustable for height and may only support the fore-end of
the rifle. It may not be fixed to the bench or the fore-end, but must be free to move in relation to both. It
must not control the rifle in any way.
8.16.5.2 The area of the rest that supports the fore-end of the rifle:
8.16.5.2.1 must be flat in the horizontal plane;
8.16.5.2.2 must be made of a non-pliable material, such as metal or wood;
8.16.5.2.3 may have a thin, soft covering, such as cloth, carpet or leather, but the covering must be sufficiently thin
that no support is given to either side of the fore-end.
8.16.5.3 The rest may have vertical extensions at its sides projecting upwards to prevent the rifle falling off the rest
between shots and when re-loading, but the fore-end must be visibly clear of these extensions when the
shooter is in the firing position.
8.16.5.4 A sandbag may be used to provide the height, but must have a piece of material conforming to 8.16.5.2
interposed between it and the fore-end. The sandbag may not provide any sideways support to the fore-end.
8.16.6 Seat. The seat or chair may be of any height or design and may be adjustable for height.
8.16.7 Shooting Distance. No part of the rifle receiver may be in front of the front marked edge of the firing point
(Rule 1.10.2), which must be marked on the bench.
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