Precision at its Finest: The World of Benchrest and F-Class Shooting

Benchrest and F-Class are two different shooting disciplines within the sport of long-range rifle shooting, each with its own division. Benchrest shooting is a precision shooting sport that emphasizes accuracy over long distances. In benchrest shooting, competitors fire from a stable bench or table using a front and rear rest to support the rifle.

Benchrest competitions typically involve shooting at small targets over long distances, with targets ranging from 100 to 1000 yards or more. Benchrest shooters compete in several divisions, including:

- Light Varmint (LV) division: This division is for rifles that weigh no more than 10.5 pounds and are chambered in cartridges that produce no more than 222 Remington velocities.

- Heavy Varmint (HV) division: This division is for rifles that weigh no more than 13.5 pounds and are chambered in cartridges that produce no more than 308 Winchester velocities.

- Unlimited division: In this division, there are no weight or caliber restrictions, and competitors can use any rifle, cartridge, or optic they choose.

f-class shooting

F-Class shooting is also a precision shooting sport that involves shooting over long distances. However, F-Class shooters shoot from a prone position using a bipod or front rest to support the rifle. F-Class competitions typically involve shooting at larger targets than benchrest shooting, and the distances can range from 300 to 1000 yards or more. F-Class shooters compete in two divisions:

- F-Class Open division: In this division, competitors can use any caliber rifle and any front and rear support.

- F-Class T/R (Target Rifle) division: In this division, competitors are limited to using rifles chambered in specific calibers (308 Winchester or 223 Remington) and must use a bipod for front support and a sling for rear support.

Comparison table

Discipline	Benchrest	F-Class
Shooting Position	Bench	Prone
Support	Front and Rear Rests	Bipod or Front Rest
Target Size	Small	Large
Distance	100 - 1000+ Yards	300 - 1000+ Yards
Caliber	Restricted in some divisions	Open in F-Class Open division
Weight Restriction	Yes	No (except for F-Class T/R division)
Optic	Any	Any
Competition Divisions	Light Varmint, Heavy Varmint, Unlimited	F-Class Open, F-Class T/R

In summary, while both Benchrest and F-Class are precision long-range shooting sports, they differ in the shooting position and the type of support used. Benchrest shooting involves shooting from a bench and using front and rear rests, while F-Class shooting involves shooting from a prone position using a bipod or front rest. Both sports have different divisions that cater to different rifle and equipment types.