What is your most accurate Bench rest AG at 50 yards?

[tommyb]

I know. Let me explain.

I regularly shoot a RAW .22 HP and a Daystate Safari .22 HP at 50 yards. I love both guns and this is not a request to get suggestions for hunting guns or advice. 

I am looking for opinions and experience from some regular BR shooters as to what you think is your best BR gun —- at 50 yards? Please explain why you recommend a particular gun. 

Thanks

Tom 

 

[rsfrid]

You already own two of the better benchrest guns.

 

[tommyb]

Thanks! 

What do you shoot? I don’t disagree and I am interested in what other guns are used. 

 

[rsfrid]

 

Thanks! 

What do you shoot? I don’t disagree and I am interested in what other guns are used. 

RAW HM1000x 22 cal or FX Maverick 25 cal

 

[bdzjlz]

I really can’t tell much accuracy difference at 5p yards between my Red Wolf, RAW, AA S510, or Weihrauch HW100. They all shoot inside of a nickel at 50. Now go out to 80 / 90 and they start to separate.


I love them all but the Red Wolf is probably the absolute most accurate 

 

[dizzums]

i have nothing high end but im pretty confident i could hit a quarter at 50 with the kratos most shots .. this contrasts other guns i consider 'as accurate' like the marauder and a warmed over stormrider with less flyers .. im not into really dialing and wringing things out on a bench but id say the kratos is roughly twice as good in the consistency .. this is all with walmart premeirs ..

 

[Motorhead]

Learn to PROOF lots of pellets, Get on top of the "To be a Great shooter" skill set .... Tool used becomes less important.

 

[DJinAZ98]

 I'm fairly new, my first,only to this point.Benjamin Armada .22 with a bunch of upgrades, Huma reg, L\W 22 inch barrel, JSAR hammer, my springs, so many changes. I enjoy working on (Rodney, no respect), and seeing the improvement at the range. Currently a 20 fps @ approximately 820 fps, 70 shots on 3300 fill. 

With the results,I don't want to change it anymore, soooo, rifle # 2 coming soon for hi power XFT & XBR. 

Any suggestions ? ?

​

 

[cea1960]

Under ideal conditions? Most definitely my .177 HW100BP-K shooting polymag shorts. Every time I shoot it, I'm amazed at its accuracy.

 

[bigHUN]

...I am looking for opinions and experience from some regular BR shooters as to what you think...
Tom

I don't think that there is some measurable difference between high-end guns, but most these air rifles will show how you handling the shooting.

I just put away the bipods+tripods+monopods and over the winter built myself a one-piece-rest, the design is diy with some purchased and some 3d printed parts as well.

I am shooting rings only, in a gun club in a controlled/regulated environment. Sometimes @ 50 meters but mostly @ 100 meters BR.

I want to see myself if I eliminate the human errors what my tunes can do.

 

[Loufish]

Hi Tommy, 

It's my Thomas #33. It's been a .177 LV & HV for USARB and now it's my .22 cal 50 yarder for National 50 Benchrest where at the 2021 Nationals it shot really well for me. At the 2019 USARB (25 yards) Nationals it took me 15 mins to go from HV to LV including the 3 shots to sight it in. Change the barrel, replace the orifice screw, 180* turn on the hammer adjuster and it was right-on velocity. 

Why? Stable, simple, robust, very few parts, uncomplicated assembly. Assembly of all main parts are 'finger-tight' - amazing. No tiny embedded orings, no detent balls & springs, no wobbly feeling and it doesn't change day-to-day. Simple tuning allows you to tune to the risky ragged edge of performance. It is not simply "accurate" but "precise". Mike has put a ton of innovation and experimentation to make it this way. Its a simple rugged tool permitting you to focus on wind, brain and finger. 

Admission... I'm saving for the one-piece receiver Thomas - then I'll return #33 back into a USARB tool. 

2022 National 50 Benchrest Nationals is at Wittington Center NM again this year. At the 2021 Pellet class - Top 4 were Thomas. 6 of the top 10 were Thomas'. That's a good real benchrest venue to learn which rifle is better than most. I'm hoping some of those laser-slug guns show up. https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/2022-n50-nationals-august-26-28-at-nra-whittington-center-in-raton-nm/?referrer=1

 

[davelarson]

Well I’m not experienced at bench rest shooting but I’m definitely enjoying it. And I’m going to choose my RedWolf .22 HP for the rifle that’s best for me so far. It’s brand new to me and I’m not even familiar with it yet, but I can shoot it with more consistency than my other rifles.

It’s the trigger that’s the game changer for me, in my opinion it’s perfect. Couple the trigger with the electronics and you have a super short precise shot cycle. It’s like Daystate was able to eliminate most everything that gets in the way of accuracy. It’s a true dream rifle.

 

[tommyb]

Thanks everybody.

Interesting user experiences with a varied set of air guns. It is also helpful to see the rationale for what’s important to each individual. 

 

[tommyb]

Hi Tommy,

It's my Thomas #33. It's been a .177 LV & HV for USARB and now it's my .22 cal 50 yarder for National 50 Benchrest where at the 2021 Nationals it shot really well for me. At the 2019 USARB (25 yards) Nationals it took me 15 mins to go from HV to LV including the 3 shots to sight it in. Change the barrel, replace the orifice screw, 180* turn on the hammer adjuster and it was right-on velocity.

Why? Stable, simple, robust, very few parts, uncomplicated assembly. Assembly of all main parts are 'finger-tight' - amazing. No tiny embedded orings, no detent balls & springs, no wobbly feeling and it doesn't change day-to-day. Simple tuning allows you to tune to the risky ragged edge of performance. It is not simply "accurate" but "precise". Mike has put a ton of innovation and experimentation to make it this way. Its a simple rugged tool permitting you to focus on wind, brain and finger.

Admission... I'm saving for the one-piece receiver Thomas - then I'll return #33 back into a USARB tool.

2022 National 50 Benchrest Nationals is at Wittington Center NM again this year. At the 2021 Pellet class - Top 4 were Thomas. 6 of the top 10 were Thomas'. That's a good real benchrest venue to learn which rifle is better than most. I'm hoping some of those laser-slug guns show up. https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/...ra-whittington-center-in-raton-nm/?referrer=1

Lou - Yep, the Thomas Air Rifles seem to always place at or near the top in the N50 BR events. Thanks for the details too. The Nationals are a good venue to identify both the best shooters and guns used.
Tom

 

[corny]

Hi Tommy, 

It's my Thomas #33. It's been a .177 LV & HV for USARB and now it's my .22 cal 50 yarder for National 50 Benchrest where at the 2021 Nationals it shot really well for me. At the 2019 USARB (25 yards) Nationals it took me 15 mins to go from HV to LV including the 3 shots to sight it in. Change the barrel, replace the orifice screw, 180* turn on the hammer adjuster and it was right-on velocity. 

Why? Stable, simple, robust, very few parts, uncomplicated assembly. Assembly of all main parts are 'finger-tight' - amazing. No tiny embedded orings, no detent balls & springs, no wobbly feeling and it doesn't change day-to-day. Simple tuning allows you to tune to the risky ragged edge of performance. It is not simply "accurate" but "precise". Mike has put a ton of innovation and experimentation to make it this way. Its a simple rugged tool permitting you to focus on wind, brain and finger. 

Admission... I'm saving for the one-piece receiver Thomas - then I'll return #33 back into a USARB tool. 

2022 National 50 Benchrest Nationals is at Wittington Center NM again this year. At the 2021 Pellet class - Top 4 were Thomas. 6 of the top 10 were Thomas'. That's a good real benchrest venue to learn which rifle is better than most. I'm hoping some of those laser-slug guns show up. https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/2022-n50-nationals-august-26-28-at-nra-whittington-center-in-raton-nm/?referrer=1

Lou - Yep, the Thomas Air Rifles seem to always place at or near the top in the N50 BR events. Thanks for the details too. The Nations are a good venue to identify both the best shooters and guns used. 
Tom

For sure, if you have the money.

Would easily be my top pick for BR.

there’s no comparing a platform that’s built from the ground up to sit on a bench, versus one that is versatile and can be good at anything. 

 

[thomasair]

Hi Tommy, interesting thread.

What’s most interesting to me is that 50y Benchrest is an actual shooting discipline that is wholly defined by scores. You cannot participate in a benchrest match without obtaining a score. The score is a direct representation of your actual performance. So far, there are lots of opinions….but no scores from real matches or even scores from benchrest cards shot at home for that matter. You asked specifically about 50 yard Benchrest airguns…but I believe most responders are confusing 50y Benchrest (like N50, Wrabf, or even the version shot at EBR) for shooting something at 50y from a bench. It’s a tremendous difference, as I know you know. In actual benchrest competition, the target is the ultimate authority. The target decides who and what is the best. It’s very clearly defined. It’s not at all subjective. A person cannot say that brand XYZ is the best without actually winning a match by shooting at least a 3 card aggregate with the highest score. Opinion has been removed from the equation and replaced by a score. Where are the scores?

Mike

 

[tommyb]

Hi Tommy, interesting thread.

What’s most interesting to me is that 50y Benchrest is an actual shooting discipline that is wholly defined by scores. You cannot participate in a benchrest match without obtaining a score. The score is a direct representation of your actual performance. So far, there are lots of opinions….but no scores from real matches or even scores from benchrest cards shot at home for that matter. You asked specifically about 50 yard Benchrest airguns…but I believe most responders are confusing 50y Benchrest (like N50, Wrabf, or even the version shot at EBR) for shooting something at 50y from a bench. It’s a tremendous difference, as I know you know. In actual benchrest competition, the target is the ultimate authority. The target decides who and what is the best. It’s very clearly defined. It’s not at all subjective. A person cannot say that brand XYZ is the best without actually winning a match by shooting at least a 3 card aggregate with the highest score. Opinion has been removed from the equation and replaced by a score. Where are the scores?

Mike

Yeah, totally understand Mike.

I was a bit hasty ( and my topic wording in retrospect, is subject to misinterpretation and confusing ) in my post, but I truly understand scores are essential for any benchrest discipline or match. Big difference between casually shooting groups, steel, spinners or targets without posting an actual score.

Like Lou said, the N50 official matches ( i.e., especially the annual Nationals in NM ) provide some factual statistical monthly analysis and scoring from around the country and my answer to the post lies in those results.

Good clarification.

Tom

 

[bigHUN]

... 50y Benchrest is an actual shooting discipline that is wholly defined by scores. ...

Mike

Mike, I have not grown up to shoting BR in competition yet but all my investments are oriented that way to start asap (my Canadian outdoors time is cut by half in contrast to you guys in South, btw). I built my one-piece-rest for precision shooting in my mind but now some folks @ FB group saying this rest may not be allowed in some competition. Mind you commenting, pls.

 

[thomasair]

Some organizations have rules concerning rests…. N50 does not. Whatever you have is certainly legal for N50. If you need to use a crane to set your shooting apparatus on the bench….that’s fine. Haha 

ARA unlimited is the same way. I have a photo somewhere of a very elaborate and very heavy rest and gun used in ARA. It’s kind of ridiculous, actually. It probably weighs 150 lbs. If the guy wants to lug all that around and reset it every time for bench rotations…so be it.

Mike 

Found the pic

 

[steve123]

My Thomas HPX is far superior to the other rifles I have or have had. My new 20 fpe Thomas FT rifle is very precise as well but blows in the wind quite a bit at 50Y as it should compared to the more powerful gun.

The HPX is not the problem. Me learning to tune it correctly which can double precision, getting the wind right, and using a solid bench, are most of my problems. 22 cal RDM's are another problem in and of its self. I don't have the mindset for BR but if I worked at it I'm pretty sure some 250's would come about on N50 targets. I've shot somewhere around 25 N50 targets, yes that's all, but highest I've got so far was a 249 and a couple 248's. Always a flyer or three for various aforementioned reasons.

Not even easy with custom swaged slugs but I enjoy shooting slugs much more because these aren't affected by wind so much and hardly get flyers.

Don't shoot off wobbly benches or frustration will follow. I gave up until I get one built.