Issf competitive supported pistol and rifle

[zooma]

Our two 68 year old "youngsters" at RMTC have almost completed some suitable (legal specification) rests for supported shooting and will soon be able to shoot this discipline at 6 yards and 10 metres.

If there is an MPL competition for supported air rifle we will make this our first forage into supported shooting so that we can "learn on the job" - it sounds like it could be fun - but not much (if any) easier than free standing air rifle.

[RobinC]

The event the ISSF promote and Zooma's club have taken on board is not "bench rest" it is "Rested" and it is certainly not easy. Its an event designed not so much for young beginners, but aimed at keeping older shooters in the sport. Look at the rules as notified by Thirdwheel in the first post, there are pictures in it and you can see what its all about.

It is the biggest branch of shooting sport in Germany and generally in Europe (why the ISSF has climbed onto the band wagon), most rifle manufacturers make rifles specially for this discipline (called auflage in German)

Its a fun event, and having tried it with expert standing and prone shooters who discovered its not easy!

Bench rest is altogether different is run to their own associations rules, and the NSRA bench rest rules are a mystery to every one, not meeting either!

[zooma]

[QUOTE=RobinC;7431839]The event the ISSF promote and Zooma's club have taken on board is not "bench rest" it is "Rested" and it is certainly not easy. Its an event designed not so much for young beginners, but aimed at keeping older shooters in the sport. Look at the rules as notified by Thirdwheel in the first post, there are pictures in it and you can see what its all about.

It is the biggest branch of shooting sport in Germany and generally in Europe (why the ISSF has climbed onto the band wagon), most rifle manufacturers make rifles specially for this discipline (called auflage in German)

Its a fun event, and having tried it with expert standing and prone shooters who discovered its not easy!

Bench rest is altogether different is run to their own associations rules, and the NSRA bench rest rules are a mystery to every one, not meeting either![/QUOTE).


Why on Earth do the NSRA want to "do their own thing" and not follow the ISSF rules for supported shooting?

Is it because they want to shoot at different distances perhaps - or do they prefer to shoot in the sitting position (only for those aged 71 and over following the ISSF rules)?

There is no point trying to reinvent the wheel when the round shape works well enough already.

At first glance this seems like madness. Surely it would be better if we all worked to the same (existing ISSF) rules?

[RobinC]

I think the NSRA may well use the ISSF rules for supported eventually, we did after all translate them for them a couple of years ago and I know John Lloyd was really interested, I'm just bemused by the NSRA's bench rest rules, which are "different", perhaps they follow the very UK mantra of "if its broke why mend it?"

I'm of course too young to shoot supported, do I hear laughter coming from the north?

Have Fun
Robin

[zooma]

I think the NSRA may well use the ISSF rules for supported eventually, we did after all translate them for them a couple of years ago and I know John Lloyd was really interested, I'm just bemused by the NSRA's bench rest rules, which are "different", perhaps they follow the very UK mantra of "if its broke why mend it?"

I'm of course too young to shoot supported, do I hear laughter coming from the north?

Have Fun
Robin

Yes indeed - much laughter here in the north!

At your tender age (Happy Birthday - sorry I missed it at the weekend) you are now entitled to officially sit down and shoot under the ISSF rested shooting rules, something that Paul and I would like to do too - but we are too young and we will have to wait a little longer before we can enjoy a good sit down (and slice of cake?) whilst shooting our rested air rifles!

Your interpretation of the NSRA attitude "if its broke why mend it" made me smile, but as far as the rested shooting discipline is concerned it is hard to understand why our national organisation would want to take on the work load of making new rules when a time proven set already exists and can be used for free - and right now with no further delays!

[RobinC]

To be fair to John Lloyd, chair ( I thinK still?) of the NSRA air and other related stuff Committee, he will agree, and he is/was one of the drivers behind bringing supported to the UK. I have no interest in it but I think its a great event both in rifle and pistol.

I agree nothing performed to the top level is easy, I have no knowledge of small bore and air bench rest other than having seen it and know its different, centre fire cartridge bench rest which is where it all emanated is much more about the technical aspect of the equipment, i.e. making the rifle and the ammunition shoot accurately. Much of the technical advances in rifles have come from that sport in the US, I benefit from that, my wife and I shoot ISSF 300 mt and we use the 6 mmBR calibre developed by BR shooters, low recoil, and its accuracy is astounding, a big step above the best small bore, and only matched by the best air pellets, but not at 300 metres!

Yes I may be now permitted to sit under Rested rules, my main sport now is prone rifle with small bore and full bore, I use a timer, many think its to use the allowed time effectively, but actually its an alarm clock in case I nod off!

Have fun
Robin

[zooma]

Yes I may be now permitted to sit under Rested rules, my main sport now is prone rifle with small bore and full bore, I use a timer, many think its to use the allowed time effectively, but actually its an alarm clock in case I nod off!

Have fun
Robin

I guess that laying down beats sitting down - its the next step forward - but I can see the need for an alarm clock.

Do you have a nice mug of cocoa before laying down for the session?

[gwyn]

Bench rest is altogether different is run to their own associations rules, and the NSRA bench rest rules are a mystery to every one, not meeting either!

Robin,if you look at the Yorkshire County Association BR rules i think you may find the source of the NSRA rules?
Don.

[JB101]

Just had a look at the Yorkshire rules & i see what you mean,however why does the NSRA make up a different set of rules compared to the international ones.To me it beggars belief in my view we should be shooting under rules that mean we can directly compare like for like results from all over the world .

ATB
James

[zooma]

Just had a look at the Yorkshire rules & i see what you mean,however why does the NSRA make up a different set of rules compared to the international ones.To me it beggars belief in my view we should be shooting under rules that mean we can directly compare like for like results from all over the world .

ATB
James

100% agree with that!

[gwyn]

100% agree with that!

I think the Yorkshire rules were in existence a long while before the NSRA BR comps.
The BR international rules are i believe for rifles using a rear support bag?
A vote among'st those interested in competing in BR at my club (in Yorkshire) was unanimous in not wanting the rear support,we tried it but found the lack of contact with the rifle was not desirable /enjoyable.
Also it could be/become a lot too specialist for people who used their light weight rifles for sporting air rifle and LWSR comps, that was the majority of us!
Don.

[zooma]

Bench Rested air rifle shooting and Supported Air Rifle Shooting are not the same discipline.

Supported Air Rifle Shooting balances the front of the rifle on a 50mm dia hard surfaced bar giving the shooter full control of the rifle - apart from not having to support the actual weight of the rifle. The bar is mounted on a stand that can be adjusted to suite the height of the rifle shooter.

The only contact between the rifle and the bar is a small tangental point formed between the top hard surface of the bar face and the hard under surface of the rifle stock. This under surface is sometimes has a hard 60mm wide (maximum) width plate temporary added the the rifle to protect the stock from being damaged by the bar but is often not an option taken and the rifle is shot in standard form.

The only "aid" this shooting method gives to the shooter is to take the weight of the rifle - but not much else.

The natural "shock absorber" provided by the human body is totally lost and so in some ways the control required is greater - or at least "different".

I thought I would mention this as many that are unaware confuse the fully supported "bench rested" discipline with the comparatively "balanced" support that Supported Air Rifle Shooting offers.

I know some have been put off of "having a go" at Supported Air Rifle Shooting as they confused the two disciplines and they do not want to loose any control of the rifle.

Supported Air Rifle Shooting (SARS) is a really good discipline that I would encourage everyone to have a go at to see for themselves what it has to offer.

SARS is not just for the aged, the young, the weak or the handicapped or infirm as some people think - - it is for everyone!

The fact that it can also encompass almost everyone of all ages and physical conditions is an added bonus that few other disciplines can offer whilst retaining full control of the rifle.