Why isn't the bench rest competitions separated by caliber classes?

For many competitions, they do have separate classes. The Pyramyd Air cup separates itself into 3 or 4 classes. The 25m competition at EBR does the same. The classes are based on several different criteria - energy, power-plant, age, experience, etc. The extreme benchrest competition has rules restricting bullet use and tethering large tanks. And, there is always the time limit, so larger caliber guns suffer in that respect (having to refill the gun on the line). And, the competition is still split into pro and hunter classes. But, I think the reason they don't split it up into a ton of subclasses is that it would water down the competition. The idea is to bring your A-game, whatever caliber that may be.

And, for what it's worth, I do not see an "arms race" ever developing for this competition. I think .25 and .30 will always dominate the podium. I say this because there is a definite trade-off re: high power vs shot count. If we had all day long to take our 25 shots, bigger would be better. But, when you are on the clock, and need to refill your .35 every 15 shots....and the wind is erratic....and you keep taking sighter shots to try to learn that wind.....and the elements are beating the crap out of you......and the pressure of competition is getting into your head...................that is a severe disadvantage for the .35+ boys, compared to the guy with the .25 who never needs to refill his gun because he gets 80 shots.

Because when that wind shuts off for 2 minutes, the guy with the high shot count will be able to take advantage and rapid-fire his target. While the guy with the .35 will watch that window come and go while he's gassing his gun for the 4th time. Refilling, and having to constantly think about your air pressure can throw off your mojo.

On the other side of the coin, the guy with the .22 or .177 will have a disadvantage over the guy with the larger caliber, because when that unpredictable gust of wind pops up as he pulls the trigger, it will be a 4-point loss vs a 2-point loss.

It's ironic that the rules of Extreme Benchrest actually push the competitors to the "middle"; not the extremes.

But, that is a GOOD thing. If the competition was an arms race, it would become exclusionary and boring very quickly.

It is.... Depending on the event.

http://www.usairriflebenchrest.com/rules/

For USAR sanctioned matches you are probably going to want to stay within the .177 through .22 calibers; with an inherent scoring advantage going to 177 and 20 (because scoring is based upon a 22 caliber projectile). Otherwise, local match directors may not allow you to enter with a .25 or greater, or you may be in a class (Unlimited) all by yourself if allowed to compete.

As Ted shared in his response larger calibers may, or may not, be more appropriate for longer distances.

Best wishes.

The other Mark B.

How is there a scoring advantage of 177 over 22?

If scored with a 22 plug (0.224), whether the plug is centered on a hole made by 177 or 22 the edge of the plug (radius) is the same distance from the center of POI.

For equal score targets the 22 might look better than 177, but score is based on plug dimensions.

Kim

If you hit in the 9 ring close to the 10 but not touching it with a .177 and use a .22 plug to score it, it will score as a 10. There is a little over 20 percent advantage when scoring with a .22 plug and shooting a .177

SRG the 177 and 22 are scored with the same plug. So the edge of the plug touches the same circle on the target regardless pellet hole size.

When our club uses electronic scoring and a .177 pellet scores a 9.8 then the computer applies the .224 plug size it reads a 10 for that shoot
http://www.network54.com/Forum/673067/thread/1312333688/World's+scoring

http://www.accurateshooter.com/competition/how-to-use-target-scoring-gauges/

http://www.odcmp.org/0108/default.asp?page=SCORINGGAUGES

Let me see if I understand what y'all are saying. Whether I use a .177 or a .22 it is aways plugged with a .22 plug? I don't understand this. Doesn't someone make a .177 plug? Why give the advantage to the .177? Are all holes plugged or just the questionable ones?

I'm not trying to berate anyone or the system and have never shot benchers airguns, just curious.

This is what the USARB has used for a standard for scoring competitions. The last Nationals that I attended in 2014 in Phoenix was scored that way and it will be done in the Nationals this year in September at Oxnard CA.


http://www.usairriflebenchrest.com/target-scoring/

I was going to go for a .25 or .30 cal gun for BR, but to have your scores sanctioned by the USABR, .22 is the largest they recongnize. I questioned them about it and basically they told me that they aren't going to add any classes or change any of the rules because they are volunteers and don't have the time to do it. I realize that larger calibers are becoming more popular, but that didn't seem to faze them. I thought their response was rather indifferent.

So, I bought a RAW HM1000 in .177 and 12 fpe. This gun shoots great, but I'm kind of limited to 25 yards, but that's pretty much all that's available here in Florida. Maybe we need to start a new organization and divorce ourselves from the European influence.