Preparing correctly the bench is the 1st routine you should endeavour and learn by heart. It has to be automatic. Perfect and repeatable every time.
That's a thing you can practice at home.
When you decide to seat, you agreed to yourself that the bench is ok. This action should tell your brain: "Next step"
Now you focus totally on preparing the barrel for the target. It should be fouled and brought to the shooting temp. I found that a good tuned rifle has a big shooting temp window, but, like choosing ammo, you have to learn yours.
I control my barrel temp using the back of my left index finger. It's a very sensitive zone and you'll be surprised how accurate it can be with a little practice.
Touching the barrel, with that finger zone, just ahead of the action, is a must to check proper shooting temp. A word of caution here. Rimfire is not centerfire, where you'll burn your finger after a couple of shots. Rimfire runs much colder then. Too warm (note I'm not saying too hot) is worst than too cold. Don't ask how I know...
Practice with a cold, and after 10 shots barrel. Learn that difference and you'll be ok. Even in very cold weather a difference is notorious.
My rifles, after prepared to start the target, can wait until 4min, not shooting, having confidence that the next shot will land where I want. This is a must in competition. But fear nothing, if your rifle, let's say, can only wait two min, every two min shot on a sighter and you are on the right window temp.
That said, let's return to our 1st shot...
I told you, that on the bench, I lay 5 warming bullets and 2 boxes of competition ammo. Very seldom I brought o the bench more than one shooting ammo lot. That's because, in the heat of the match a mistake is an easy thing to happen, be aware. In the case of having two different lots, they are separated by my tiny screwdriver, being closer to me to usual lot, and farther away the 2nd option.
Funny enough, none have asked why I do need a tiny screwdriver on the bench...
You heard the starting signal and the 20 min countdown is on its way. Those 5 warming shots are done quick, very quick, but in control. They are not shot into the target, they are just to foul and to warm the barrel. Why shooting them quick? Because the clock is ticking...
After those shoots take a barrel temp measure and proceed to the bottom right sighter (at least me), and start shooting the comp ammo.
Now you are doing three things:
- finalising barrel preparation
- feeling the drift
- regaining the right rhythm
At this stage I normally use 3-5 bullets and my last 2 went in the same hole. Now I move to the bottom left sighter and do scoring shots (still on SIGHTER). This is to:
- focus on wind drift
- double check the barrel readiness
- raise confidence levels
Again I normally shot 3-5 shots here. Check barrel temp and I wen to score. Confidence levels at the top, barrel fully prepared, learned where to aim for the chosen condition and shoot. Nothing gives you a better feeling than an X. If you shot a 10, calm down, look at the wind, feel barrel temp. All ok? Next bull. If not, go to the sighter.
Couple of warnings here.
There are a lot of "9 starters", meaning 10, 10, 10 at the sighter, then 9 on score. You'll need much more practice.
Also, remind yourself that sighters don't count, so don't "waist" good condition on sighters.
You should not be a machine gun, your barrel will increase its temp to a danger (bad scoring) level.
Normally, I take 2-3 min on this process, usually starting my scoring at 18-17 min left. I have tried all, fewer shots, more shots, higher cadence, slower shooting... found this sequence the best for me, and my rifles.
Next: Rhythm in the wind
