Good idea Les , hope you can get this going. Getting started in Benchrest is a steep learning curve and any help with the finer points could make all the difference to a new shooter who can easily become disillusioned by the tiny groups experienced shot.

Update on the Mentor program. Currently there are 8 shooters who are being mentored by HOF shooters which is an outstanding result. I have taken on Alistair McMillan and Mark Welsh. Annie and Stuart Elliot have taken on 5 shooters and Michael Thompson has one shooter. This is a fantastic space to grow our sport, I would encourage other HOF shooters to take on new benchrest shooters and provide them with a positive learning experience. 

The depth of a sport is always down to offering something that no other discipline has or is doing, and that is what we have started here a positive way to put back into the sport and create new members. HOF get involved assist your fellow shooters and grow your sport.......

As the interest grows so will the membership the skills and guidance offered here can be used in the Fly, F class, Rimfire, Hunter class, air rifle all shoots precision. Don't underestimate the power of knowledge. Knowledge is only useful if it is shared with others, otherwise it is just a memory. 

Kind regards and good shooting to all 

I would still be struggling if it wasn't for help from the older shooters and have definitely improved in all aspects from bench setup to gunsmithing with help from Michael Thompson. Have to say I feel really lucky to shoot with a great bunch of blokes here in Coffs harbour. It can be quite daunting as a new shooter to be on the bottom when shooting with great shooters but you have to be able to ask questions because even the smallest bit of advice can make all the difference.

Great to hear Keiran that you have received help from shooters at Coffs a great team there and i am confident you would be getting the right advice. It is especially important to know your sport and what are the elements that you need at the time of your shooting career. Going into advanced techniques for a new shooter sometimes goes south as the shooter isn't ready for that information just yet. 

Please ask a question on this mentor thread and you will receive advise which you can use to better improve your scores. 

The little things at a new shooters stage is getting to know your rifle how to set up your bags front and back and good reloading techniques and barrel cleaning. As a new shooter the short fall is trying to do all at once. That is to big of a task so take your shooting career on in chunks be confident in what you have so far then seek out more information. 

I am going to seek out opportunities to hold training at events for shooters if they are new to the sport and cover basics. not to involved just fundamentals of the sport. I hope to be able to this at the QLD 4 gun if there is interest and Coffs with the clubs permission. Short range benchrest is the home of precision rifle accuracy, this platform fits all shooting that is across benchrests inclusive of the fly, air rifle, rimfire, F class. If the shooting membership across all disciplines shot this sport, shooting scores would improve in their chosen discipline.

Hope to see you at the range......

Good shooting to all 

Les Fraser