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
