Just wondering what separates these two classes of gun. You guys that have one of each could probably explain it.
What are the main differences between bench rest and hunting air guns?
- Thread starter Daxx
- Start date
In a nutshell and excluding those that have their barrel and action mounted onto a rail, typical benchrest rifles are heavy. They also are designed without the idea of "the shooter holding the gun" to eliminate as much human input as possible, which usually makes them uncomfortable to hold and handle in hunting conditions. Hunting rifles, in general, are designed to be more ergonomic and comfortable for the shooter when out in the field. Usually, benchrest rifles have a flat base at the fore-end of the stock so that its surface sits evenly on the rest surface, which supposedly aids in balancing it and makes it more able to recoil straight back. They also have a thicker barrel that has been chambered for a particular round, ultra-light and crisp trigger, (some have) recoil dampeners or stabilizers, and most of them have been blueprinted. Some of the other "trick" stuff have been incorporated by the shooter himself/herself. Basically, the purpose/design of a benchrest rifle is for a rifle that shoots with precision with as little human contact as possible.
Can a benchrest rifle outperform a hunting rifle with respect to accuracy? Nope! A shooter with great skill who knows his/her hunting rifle well can easily shoot just as precisely as an expert benchrest shooter can. And let me just say that I have seen shooters with fully tricked-out and regal benchrest guns that simply can't shoot worth a darn or what the gun is worth even when it is already sitting on the table, perfectly set up and pointing directly at the target/point-of-aim requiring the owner to only pull the trigger. That should tell you that it's mainly the shooter's skill level that determines the difference between a professional shooter and a "professional poser."
Can a benchrest rifle outperform a hunting rifle with respect to accuracy? Nope! A shooter with great skill who knows his/her hunting rifle well can easily shoot just as precisely as an expert benchrest shooter can. And let me just say that I have seen shooters with fully tricked-out and regal benchrest guns that simply can't shoot worth a darn or what the gun is worth even when it is already sitting on the table, perfectly set up and pointing directly at the target/point-of-aim requiring the owner to only pull the trigger. That should tell you that it's mainly the shooter's skill level that determines the difference between a professional shooter and a "professional poser."
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Would it be fair to say that BR guns are also more likely to be regulated for a more uniform shot string and air conservation than hunting rifles?
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Yes, but many hunting rifles already have regulators, many of which rival benchrest and olympic rifles in shot-to-shot consistency. I adjusted the power of my Cricket to shoot 14.3 grain pellets at 525 FPS (8 FPE) for backyard practice, and I can get over 450 shots (210-50 BAR) with an extreme spread of 10-12 FPS.
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You are allowed more powerful air guns in the UK (and most other places with restrictions) if you have a firearms license. It's just like how hand guns are here. People with a serious interest in shooting there will likely apply for a license. Many air gun stores there offer both power options.
I would add balance as difference with a pure bench rest gun. I would want a bench rest gun to have more weight up front for stability when shooting from a rest or bipod. I would want center balance for a hunting rifle.
There are some guns which can be used for both.
With air guns they also have the pro line of target shooters which tend to be far less powerful but more precise. I want to try one of those $4000 600fps target guns just out of curiosity some day.
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