The Rimfire Benchrest League is a precision target-shooting league designed to provide safe, fair, competitive shooting for rimfire rifles. The emphasis is on accuracy, consistency, sportsmanship, and skill.

 

2. Rifle & Ammunition

2.1 Caliber

• Rimfire rifles only.
• Standard caliber: .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR).
• Other rimfire calibers may be permitted only if specifically approved by the league.

2.2 Ammunition

• You will need 100 bullets to score and unlimited sighters.
• Any commercially manufactured .22 LR ammunition may be used unless a match specifically establishes ammunition restrictions.
• Competitors must use the same ammunition throughout a relay unless the Match Director permits a change for a safety or equipment issue.
• Handloaded ammunition is not permitted.

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3. Competition Classes

The league will use classes to keep equipment differences from becoming unfair advantages.

Class A — Factory / Sporter

Designed for substantially factory-produced rifles.

Suggested requirements:

• Factory receiver and barrel.
• Factory stock or commercially available replacement stock.
• No mechanical modifications intended to increase accuracy beyond normal tuning.
• No custom benchrest actions.
• Maximum scope magnification: unlimited.
• Rifle may be bedded or otherwise tuned if the league elects to allow it.

Class B — Custom / Unlimited

For purpose-built or heavily modified rimfire rifles.

Permitted:

• Custom actions.
• Custom barrels.
• Adjustable stocks.
• Tuned triggers.
• Custom chambering.
• Competition optics.
• Other accuracy-oriented modifications.

4. Benchrest Equipment

4.1 Bench

• Rifles must be fired from a designated shooting bench.
• The shooter must remain behind the firing line unless authorized by the Range Officer.

4.2 Front Rest

• A front rest, bipod, or front shooting bag may be used according to the rifle class.
• The rest must support the rifle but may not mechanically fire the rifle.

4.3 Rear Rest

• A rear bag may be used.
• Mechanical devices that lock the rifle into position are prohibited unless specifically permitted in the Unlimited class.

4.4 Rifle Support

The rifle must remain under the shooter's control.

No competitor may use a system designed to automatically aim, fire, or continuously correct the rifle's point of aim.

No single piece rest

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5. Optics

• Scopes and other conventional optical sights are permitted.
• Magnification is unrestricted unless a particular class specifies otherwise.
• Electronic sights or targeting systems may be prohibited at the Match Director's discretion.
• A competitor may not use a device that automatically determines or corrects the rifle's point of aim.

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6. Targets

The league will use IBS Rimfire 50 yards 25-bull target.

Recommended format:

• 25 record bulls
• One record shot per bull
• Optional sighter bulls
• Official target distance: 50 yards

Targets should be clearly identified with:

• Shooter number
• Class
• Relay
• Match/date

The league may substitute a different target or distance for specific events, provided the change is announced before the match.

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7. Match Format

A standard match consists of:

1. Registration and equipment check
2. Safety briefing
3. Rifle preparation
4. Sighter period
5. Record-fire period
6. Target collection
7. Scoring
8. Results publication

Recommended relay

30 minutes of record time

The Match Director may establish a separate sighter period before record fire.

Once the command for record fire is given, competitors must follow the announced firing procedure.

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8. Firing Procedure

Before firing begins:

• Rifles must be unloaded.
• Actions must remain open until the Range Officer gives the appropriate command.
• Muzzles must remain pointed safely downrange.
• Competitors may load only when authorized.

After the cease-fire command:

• Stop firing immediately.
• Make the rifle safe.
• Open the action.
• Keep the rifle pointed downrange.
• Do not approach the target area until the Range Officer declares it safe.

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9. Sighters

The Match Director may provide a designated sighter period.

• Sighter shots do not count toward the match score.
• Sighters must be fired only at designated sighter targets or areas.
• Once a shot is fired at a record bull, that bull is considered a record target and may not subsequently be used as a sighter.

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10. Record Shots

For the standard 25-bull match:

• One record shot should be fired at each designated bull.
• A competitor who fires more than one shot at a bull must notify the Range Officer or scorer.
• Crossfires must be reported immediately when discovered.
• Competitors must not attempt to conceal a crossfire or scoring problem.

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11. Crossfires

A crossfire occurs when a shooter places a record shot on another competitor's target.

The Match Director determines the appropriate scoring treatment.

Recommended procedure:

Shooter's target

If the shooter can identify the shot that belongs to another competitor, that shot is disregarded.

Other competitor's target

The other competitor receives the score corresponding to the correctly identified shot, if the situation can be established with reasonable certainty.

If the origin of a shot cannot be determined, the Match Director's ruling is final.

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12. Scoring 

The league should use a consistent scoring system throughout the season.

A recommended system is:

• Each bull is scored according to the printed target rings.
• Higher ring value = higher score.
• Maximum score is 250 points if each bull has a maximum value of 10.
• X-counts may be recorded as a tiebreaker.

Example:

Score: 247-8X

where:

• 247 = total points
• 8X = eight shots in the X-ring

If the league uses a different target, the target's published scoring values will control.

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13. Shot Touching a Scoring Line (Best Edge Scoring)

Unless the target manufacturer specifies otherwise:

A shot touching a scoring line receives the higher value.

Scoring plugs or approved scoring gauges should be used when the value of a shot is disputed.

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14. Scoring Disputes

A competitor may request that a questionable shot be examined.

Procedure:

1. Competitor informs the scorer.
2. Target is examined using the league's approved scoring method.
3. If necessary, the Match Director makes the final determination.
4. Once the target has been officially scored and released, challenges normally will not be accepted.

The Match Director's scoring decision is final for that match.

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15. Equipment Failure

A competitor experiencing a mechanical failure must make the rifle safe and notify the Range Officer.

Examples include:

• Broken firing mechanism
• Failure to extract
• Malfunction preventing safe operation
• Scope or mounting failure

A competitor may not use an equipment malfunction as a reason to delay the relay indefinitely.

The Match Director may allow a reshoot only when the malfunction was genuine and the circumstances make a fair reshoot practical.

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16. Wind Flags

Wind flags may be used if permitted by the range.

Recommended league policy:

• Flags may be positioned downrange.
• Competitors may observe flags before and during firing.
• A competitor may not interfere with another competitor's wind equipment.
• Shared range flags must be positioned before the relay and remain in place.

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17. Rifle Inspection

The Match Director may inspect any rifle before, during, or after a match.

Inspection may include:

• Caliber
• Overall rifle configuration
• Weight
• Stock
• Barrel
• Trigger
• Rest configuration
• Safety-related equipment

A competitor whose equipment does not comply with the class rules may be moved to another class or disqualified from that match.

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18. Safety Rules

Safety takes priority over competition.

Always:

• Treat every firearm as loaded.
• Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to fire.
• Keep the action open when the rifle is not being fired.
• Follow all Range Officer commands immediately.
• Wear appropriate eye and hearing protection.
• Keep firearms pointed toward the backstop while on the firing line.

Absolutely prohibited:

• Handling a firearm during a cease-fire.
• Handling another competitor's firearm without permission.
• Firing before the command.
• Firing after the cease-fire command.
• Pointing a firearm anywhere other than safely downrange.
• Intentionally firing at anything other than the designated target.

Any serious safety violation may result in immediate disqualification.

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19. Sportsmanship

Competitors are expected to:

• Respect other shooters.
• Follow Range Officer instructions.
• Avoid unnecessary conversation during active firing.
• Keep equipment organized.
• Report scoring or equipment problems honestly.
• Assist with range cleanup.
• Accept scoring decisions professionally.

Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in warnings, loss of points, or disqualification.

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20. League Championship

A season may consist of 6–12 regular matches.

Recommended championship system:

• Each match awards championship points.
• A competitor's best 75% of match results count toward the season championship.
• The remaining matches may be dropped.
• Ties are broken by:
  1. Number of match wins
  2. Highest X-count
  3. Highest single-match score
  4. Head-to-head result, if applicable
  5. Shoot-off or Match Director's designated tiebreaker

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21. Suggested Championship Points

Additional participation points may be awarded if desired.

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22. Match Director

The Match Director is responsible for:

• Establishing match procedures.
• Conducting the safety briefing.
• Classifying questionable equipment.
• Managing relays.
• Resolving crossfires.
• Resolving scoring disputes.
• Enforcing safety rules.
• Publishing official results.

The Match Director may stop or suspend a match whenever safety requires it.

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23. Weather & Match Cancellation

The Match Director may postpone or cancel a match because of:

• Severe weather
• Unsafe range conditions
• Lightning
• Range closure
• Other circumstances affecting safe operation

If a match is interrupted, the Match Director determines whether completed targets can be scored or whether the match must be rescheduled.

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24. Rule Changes

Rule changes should be:

• Announced before the affected match or season.
• Applied consistently to all competitors.
• Published in the league's official rules.

No competitor should receive a special equipment or scoring advantage through an unpublished rule change.