The June 12 shoot was a success, the weather was good until the last match when we got drenched.
It was good practice for next year's Super-shoot (from what I hear
Results are attached.

It looks like the next shoot on July 17 will also be held at the South-Durham range.

Unfortunately the May 22 shoot has been cancelled. The rifle range is closed for repairs.

Lawrence, your question is interesting. I am a relative beginner and this is where I am at with the psychological side of competing in bench rest.

The number of details to attend to is overwhelming. Joe Friedrich’s advice to ‘practise, practise, practise’ means rehearsing as many details as possible into a ritual or reflex.  It extends to everything about competition that we must get comfortable with. Reloading set up, bench set up, flag set up, and everything else (that can be done at home) should be rehearsed until it is done correctly without thinking. That builds confidence in our equipment and ourselves and leaves us free to focus on what is unique to the situation at hand during a match.

Try different ways and experiment with anything that might be an improvement or that might make us feel better. But the time to test and question ourselves is during preparation, not during the match.
Shoot at as many different ranges as possible. Practising always at the same range will make other ranges seem strange.
 
By the way, your wind flag set up is inspiring and I am experimenting with different designs. I plan to leave them out in the backyard over winter and hope to learn to speak their language especially when what they are saying can be compared to what the blowing snow is doing. It should be fun watching the flags from the bay window while sipping a coffee and not have to curse about a ruined group.
 
Jerry Tierney says his mind set is to practise as if it was a match and shoot a match as if it was practise. Pressure from competition will make some of the best shooters crumble so we have keep a mind set to stay relaxed and focused.

When I was riding enduros I got to ask a former world champion and ISDT gold medalist about how great it must be to have it all figured out. He laughed and said he keeps making the same silly mistake of forgetting to turn the gas on at the starting line. This made me realize that even if you make mistakes you can still win. I stopped trying to be perfect and expecting everything else to be perfect. It made it a lot easier to ride the ‘bumpy’ road to first place.
 
He advised me to never follow someone else no matter how lost I may be, after all, the other rider may be even more lost than I am. So now when it seems that things are not going so well on the target I remind myself that it might be going even worse for others. It helps me to expect to win even when things don’t go as well as hoped. When I don’t expect to win, I have beaten myself. Ultimately I never plan on winning but think that maybe today I might and so I never give up.
 
I enjoy the learning process and am very happy that bench rest shooting is as challenging as it is. I am not in a hurry and want to savour each little X that comes my way. I do plan on learning something from every match. That’s the ultimate reward for me and it makes me a winner every time.
 
You asked us for our comments but I there are also some excellent publications that relate to your question.  For instance, Launi Meili’s book Rifle – steps to success  has some excellent reading on mental preparation for competition.
That being said, I hope to shoot with you some day.  Mike

There has been the occasional statement that using oil with Teflon to lub a bore should be avoided.
I have not been able to turn up any explanation of why this might be so.
Any thoughts you would like to share with me would be appreciated.

Lawrence,
I bet that it is possible to unglue it. Why not try again if the gun ain't fun the way it is now.
Some folks have reported that putting the gun in the freezer for a few days helps when it comes time to unglue an action.
Us Canucks have an ace up our sleeve....just leave the gun outside during a -30 degree night and then have at it in the morning.

Mike, I understand what you are saying here. But, I do think you would lose this argument at a sanctioned match. The rule book is quite specific about any addition to the forearm meant to provide a guiding means or improve the contact between the stock and the sandbag. Don't let this discourage you. Shoot the rifle without the addition to the forearm. I would get a hunter BR style front bag and use that. It will better conform to the round stock.

Rick

Actually, I already have the rest top to fit the forearm without the adapter. Also, I very much appreciate the offers from DanO and Calvin. However being refused a legal option at the nationals for a reason that remains obscure is giving me indigestion. Anyway, I am not looking for an arguement and respect what you all have going for you whether I buy it or not. Mike 

Thanks for the info. I had a close look at the paragraph on guiding means as well as the related paragraphs on rifles and rests. This prompts me to wonder whether the picture of my set-up provided above and the use of the word ‘sled’ is misleading. It might be helpful to add the following information. The piece added to the front of the stock is modeled after a legal benchrest stock. It has a flat bottom 3’’ wide. The rifle can be lifted vertically off the rest with no resistance. The adapter is screwed to the stock and provides 100% contact with the front sandbag. It is included in the weight of the rifle with respect to the 13.5 lb.  limit on HV rifle weight. It is as much a part of the stock as the adjustable comb or the butt plate which are also screwed to the stock.

In use, the rifle needs to be aimed for every shot the same way any other legal HV rifle has to be. Therefore the adapter does not constitute a guiding means or an unfair advantage over a one piece stock with the same contour. My rifle with the forend adapter appears to meet all the rules that have come to light so far. It is interesting to note that attachments to a rifle don’t seem to be outlawed as such since article 7 on rifles and rests in Tournament rules (p22) refers to the rifle with all attachments in place. 

However, the front sand bag does not appear to be legal. It provides significant contact with the sides of the forearm which seems to violate the rule of 100% contact with the bottom of the forend. Accordingly, I have already changed the front sand bag to the more popular style. 

Considering the above and that the rule book does not state anything specific to outright disallow a forend adapter, I am still looking for a justification before complying with your suggestion of removing it.

As I mentioned previously, I am relatively new to benchrest shooting and appreciate all the help I can get to do it properly.

Mike

Hi all,
i am contemplating attending the nationals while on vacation in the area. I am new to benchrest shooting and not sure if my setup is legal for the nationals. A picture of my front rest and forend is attached and would appreciate your comments so I can prepare properly for the event.