22 Bench Rest Competition

Hawkeye Rifle & Pistol Club
22 Bench Rest Rules & Regulations

TIME & COST
The Bench Rest League will run every Monday night starting in late January for ten weeks. In order to finish in decent time, we will start shooting when there are enough competitors for a full relay of 5 shooters, around 6:30 pm. The cost of the league is $10.00 or $15.00 if shooting two rifles.

COURSE OF FIRE
The course of fire is 10 rounds fired at 10 separate bull’s-eyes in a time limit of 10 minutes. The target consists of 12 bull’s-eyes with the center two being sighter's. Shooters can fire as many rounds at the sighter's as they wish as long as they complete the required course of fire in the allotted time. The course will be fired from bench rest tables using rifle rests at a distance of 50 feet. Shooters can compete with open sights or scoped rifles or both.

SAFETY
All actions will be open at all times until the command to load is given. This means bolts open or locked back or have an empty chamber flag inserted in the action.
Protect your eyes and ears

Eye and Ear protection is required of all participants.
Shooters are allowed on the firing line during their relay only. No spectators or spotters are allowed.
No shot will be fired until the command to commence firing has been given, nor after the command for cease fire.

RULES
1. Any 22 Rim Fire rifle is allowed. Rifles may be scoped or open sights.

2.Rifles will be shot from shooter supplied rests. Rests should be non-conforming pliable sand bags; both front and rear. Adjustable rifle rests with sand bags under the forearm are permitted as well as blocks, boxes or such to raise the sand bags for proper elevation. Rests can be adjustable for both elevation and windage in either or both components. The front and rear rest may be attached on a single plane or plate. Rear rests that support the rifle between the rear of the pistol grip and the toe of the butt-stock are permitted. The rifle must be able to be lifted freely from the rest in a vertical direction with all rest attachments in place. Tape on the sandbag is illegal. No rest shall be attached to the bench and no rest that restrains recoil is allowed.

3.Rifles will be placed on the bench so that the muzzle extends forward of the bench and the entire receiver is behind the firing line.

4.Spotting scopes are allowed.

5.Any shooter that is aware that he has cross-fired shall report it to the range officer, and shall fire the balance of his shots on his own target. (Your cross fire will be counted toward your score as your number of required shots. Therefore if you cross-fire once, you should only shoot 9 times on your target). If there are two shots on the same bulls-eye, you will be scored on the lesser of the two.

6. If competitors are participating in both the open sight and scoped classes, they must fire each rifle every night during the season.

RANGE COMMANDS
The Range Officer will call the relay to the firing line after the previous group has cleared the range of all of their equipment. The range officer will give the following range commands:
1.Shooters will be given the command to load
2.Ready on the right
3.Ready on the left
4.Ready on the firing line
5.Commence firing
6. Cease fire
7. Open your bolts
8.Clear the benches

If during a relay an emergency arises, notify the Range Officer to call a cease fire. Any time lost by such interruption of shooting will not be charged and an additional 2 minutes will be added to the remaining time for shooters to finish the relay.

SCORING
Shooters will write their name and designate whether they are firing a scope or open sighted rifle on the target prior to firing a relay. All scoring shall be by the designated scorer. His decision is final and there will be no challenges. After a completed relay, targets will be removed by the range officer. If the scorer is not available during the match, the targets will remain in the custody of the Range Officer until they can be scored.

CLASSIFICATIONS
Shooters will be classified with shooters of similar ability. The previous two years average will be used in determining classifications. Shooters without two years history will be classified based on their average after 3 weeks. MAKEUPS Make ups will not be allowed on league nights. There will be 3 make up nights scheduled. Any makeups must be completed on one of three nights If shooters are aware they will miss a night they can make up the date in advance on one of the above nights. The range will be available to all league participants on these three nights for practice if there are not enough make ups to fill relays.

Miscellaneous
Please show your fellow shooters courtesy when shooting your relay by refraining from the following:
1. If you have completed your target please remain seated and refrain from talking while others are still firing.
2.If your rifle ejects brass that might interfere with another shooter please use a shield to deflect the brass.
3.Please do not walk around, tap your feet, etc. while others are shooting.
4.The rifles and equipment used during this league can be expensive. Please allow each relay plenty of room when removing their equipment from the firing line.
5. A self imposed time limit of 5 minutes will be allowed to setup after the prior relay has left the firing line and the next relay has had an opportunity to bring their equipment in.