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J.G. Anschütz 1903 Benchrest .22 LR competition rifle
shooting-sports/benchrest-shooting

Benchrest Shooting

Benchrest shooting tests rifle accuracy from a stable bench using front rests and rear bags. Competitors aim to place all shots into the smallest possible group.

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01 // LEARN

#01

What is Benchrest Shooting?

Understanding this shooting discipline

Benchrest shooting tests rifle accuracy from a stable bench using front rests and rear bags. Competitors aim to place all shots into the smallest possible group. The sport demands precision in rifles, ammunition, and technique.

Group shooting measures group size (smallest wins). Score shooting uses bullseye targets. Distances range from 100-1,000 yards. Rimfire benchrest (.22 LR) at 25-100 yards offers affordable entry. Top competitors handload ammunition tuned to their specific rifles.

Types & Variations

Group Shooting (smallest group wins)
Score Shooting (Hunter class, Varmint for Score)
Short Range (100-300 yards)
Long Range (600-1,000 yards)
Rimfire Benchrest (.22 LR)

02 // START

#02

Getting Started with Benchrest

Equipment, costs, and tips for beginners

Getting into benchrest doesn't require starting with top-tier gear. Focus on safety fundamentals, basic equipment, and finding welcoming places to learn. The community is generally helpful to newcomers who show up prepared with the right attitude.

Essential Equipment

What you need to get started

1Benchrest rifle or accurate factory rifle
2High-magnification scope (36x-50x)
3Front pedestal rest (adjustable)
4Rear bag (rabbit-ear style)
5Wind flags (6-12 for reading conditions)
6Reloading equipment (required for centerfire)

Safety & Rules

Know these before your first shot

1All shooting from seated position at bench
2Rifle supported only by front rest and rear bag
3Time limits per group (typically 7-12 minutes)
4No artificial aiming aids during record fire
5Fouling shots allowed between groups

Pro Tips for Beginners

Advice from experienced shooters

Start with rimfire benchrest to learn cheaply
Learn to read wind flags - this is 80% of the game
Keep meticulous records of loads and conditions
Buy the best scope you can afford
Find a mentor; benchrest shooters help newcomers

What Does Benchrest Cost?

Realistic budget expectations

Getting Started

$2,500-4,000

Basic equipment to begin

Competitive Setup

$6,000-15,000+

Quality gear for serious shooters

Per event/match:$25-75 entry fee

Hidden costs to consider: Benchrest is equipment-intensive. Front rest: $600-2,000. Quality scope: $800-3,000. Custom rifle: $2,000-5,000+. Start with rimfire to learn before investing in centerfire.

Benchrest Rifle Classes

Compare your options

TypeBest For
Light Varmint (10.5 lbs)

Any caliber, most popular class for short-range group shooting.

Most competitive shooters at 100-200 yards
Heavy Varmint (13.5 lbs)

Heavier rifle, slightly more stability, same distances as Light Varmint.

Shooters who prefer a heavier rifle
Sporter (10.5 lbs)

.243 caliber or larger, designed for hunting-style accuracy.

Hunters testing their rifles in competition format
Unlimited

No weight limit, rail guns allowed, maximum accuracy potential.

Those pursuing absolute smallest groups regardless of practicality

03 // ASK

#03

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about benchrest

New to benchrest? These are the most common questions from shooters exploring this discipline. The shooting community is generally welcoming and happy to help newcomers.

Find answers to common questions about benchrest shooting. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us and we'll help you out.

In local club matches, yes. At registered matches, it is difficult. Top shooters use purpose-built rifles. Consider a "factory class" if your club offers one.

Short range: 6mm PPC dominates. Long range: 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges (.243 AI, 6 Dasher, 6.5-284). Rimfire: .22 LR only.

For centerfire, effectively yes. Benchrest requires ammunition tuned to your specific rifle. Factory ammo cannot match handloaded accuracy.

At 100 yards, a 5-shot group under 0.3 inches is competitive. Top shooters shoot groups in the 0.1 inch range. At 1,000 yards, a 5-inch group is competitive.

04 // FIND

#04

Upcoming Events

Find benchrest events near you

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OCT
11

Rifle Shoot**

Competition

Stoney Creek Fishing & Hunting Club is running a rifle match on October 11, 2026—a chance to test your marksmanship against other shooters and dial in your rifle's performance on paper. These matches are built around accuracy at distance, so you'll get real feedback on your shooting and gear setup in a competitive format. Matches like this typically run from morning into afternoon with multiple stages or distance intervals. You'll shoot alongside other competitors, see how your groups stack up, and walk away knowing exactly what your rifle does under controlled conditions.

Sunday, October 11, 2026
Stoney Creek Fishing & Hunting ClubStoney Creek Fishing & Hunting Club, Pasadena, MD
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OCT
11

RIFLE for Beginners

Competition

This is a rifle match designed for shooters new to organized competition. You'll shoot against others at various distances to test your marksmanship in a real match setting—the best way to find out where you actually stand compared to the line. Ridgedale Rod & Gun Club runs the event on October 11th starting at 10:00. Bring a rifle suited to the match format and 60 rounds minimum. The structure and specific rules vary by discipline, so contact the match director beforehand to understand what you're walking into.

Sunday, October 11, 2026• 10:00:00
Ridgedale Rod & Gun ClubRidgedale Rod & Gun Club, Abbotsford, WA
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OCT
11

Military Bolt Action Benchrest

Competition
Benchrest

Range: S5 Contact: Jack Stewart 970-481-4002 email [email protected] The cost is $10.00 per shooter. Any bolt action military rifle from any country in the world is acceptable. Targets are furnished. 10 practice rounds are aloud before the competition starts. Ten rounds are then fired at 3 successive targets to determine a final score.

Sunday, October 11, 2026
Weld County Fish and Wildlife High Plains Shooting RangeWeld County Fish and Wildlife High Plains Shooting Range, Eaton, CO
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OCT
11

Benchrest Rifle Match

Training
Benchrest

CoyotePoint Benchrest Match Course of Fire 1)100 yards is the distance from the firing line to targets, variable to as shortas 95 yards if a match is held during rain. 2)The match target is the NRA A27 "50 Yard Smallbore Prone Target"with one sighting bull and four scoring bulls. 3) Ten shots are allowed on each scoring bull. 4)Unlimited shots are allowed on the sighter bull. 5)After the match officially starts, 40 scoring shots (plus unlimitedsighters) must be fired in a maximum of 40 minutes. Except for unforeseencircumstances, there will be no intermission or interruption. Anyofficially-called interruption time will be added to the 40 normalminutes. Late competitor arrivals are not considered "unforeseencircumstances" for the purpose of match interruption. 6)The total possible score is 400 points. 7).22 rimfire (no magnums) only. 8) No restriction on firearm weight, action or sophistication. 9) No restriction on firearm support (benchrest) weight or sophistication. 10)Unofficial sighting-in on non-A27 targets starts at 0830. 11) The match briefing by the Match Director starts at 0900. 12) Official sighting-in on the A27 targets starts at 0915. 13) The match starts at 1000. 14) The match fee is $5 for Coyote Point R&P Club members and $25 for nonmembers. Please bring exact amounts. 15) After the match, competitors will retrieve their targets, write their first andlast names on them and give them to the Match Director. 16) Standard NRA scoring rules apply. A shot which is mostly located in alower scoring ring but which touches a higher scoring ring will be assigned thehigher number. 17) The Match Director will assign a score to each target, arrange all names/scoresonto a results form and submit it to the Club's centralized reportingauthority for approval and publication. ==========================================

Sunday, October 11, 2026
Coyote Point Rifle & Pistol Club Inc.Coyote Point Rifle & Pistol Club Inc., San Mateo, CA
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OCT
11

LRPC O.O.P.S. .22 cal 50 yd Benchrest Challenge on 100 yr range

Competition
Benchrest

LRPC O.O.P.S. .22 cal 50 yd Benchrest Challenge on 100 yr range Sunday, October 11, 2026 8:00 AM 12:00 PM Google Calendar ICS Registration begins at 8:15 am, Match begins at 9:00 am View Event →

Sunday, October 11, 2026
Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club, Inc.Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club, Inc., Lakeland, FL
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OCT
11

Schuetzen Rifle Match

Competition
Benchrest

CAST BULLET DIVISION ARIZONA STATE RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION SCHÜETZEN RIFLE MATCH 2026 Centerfire and Rimfire Range: Benchrest LOCATION: Ben Avery (Black Canyon) Shooting Range – 20 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, west of I-17, exit 223 (Carefree exit). The Cast Bullet Division of the ASRPA conducts rifle matches shooting cast lead bullets. The Division has three sections: Cast Bullet Benchrest, Schuetzen and 22BPCR. Each section conducts its own matches. All matches are shot at the B

Sunday, October 11, 2026• 08:00:00
Ben Avery Shooting FacilityBen Avery Shooting Facility, PHOENIX, VA