EBR 2025 day two saw the start of benchrest competition. In the morning there was the 50-Yard event. The headline Extreme Benchrest competition began after lunch with Card One of the event at 75 Yards.
Plus! The Extreme Big Bore Competition was running all day also.
First the good news. It didn’t rain.
Now the bad news. The wind was brutal! Particularly in mid-afternoon, it was gusting to over 20 MPH, causing chaos for the shooters and even knocking down wind flags. Groups one, two and three in the 75 Yard benchrest competition took it particularly hard…
EBR 2025 Extreme Big Bore Competition
The match format was based on 5 shooting stations. Each station had a required shooting position. For example: forced use of shooting sticks, prone, off hand, and bench.
Below. Shooting a Bintac MCAR offhand is quite a challenge!
There was a 10 minute time limit per station with targets set out between 35 and 400 yards. Each station had 2 targets with the close target between 35-200 Yards. The far target was between 100 and 400 Yards.
Below. That’s a Western Airguns Bush Pig in action.
Each shooter made 20 shots. Each close target was worth 5 points per hit, while the far targets were worth 10 points per hit.
Below. Scott Hull had converted this Benjamin Bulldog M257 into a .45 caliber monster. Note the longer barrel and extra HPA tank mounted on the side!
For the Open Class a minimum Muzzle Energy of 240 Ft/Lbs is required to compete. Also, the gun can be modified – or even completely home-built.
Production Class entries must use unmodified guns. All components must be as presented from the manufacture with no alterations allowed. Again the minimum Muzzle Energy is 240 Ft/Lbs.
Below. The big bore range.
EBR 2025 50-Yard Benchrest Competition
This event is divided into three classes. There’s Unlimited Class, Springer Class and Junior Class.
Below. Larry Piercey was shooting in springer class.
The same calibers allowed for each class: 177, .20 and .22. Any power level is allowed, however mass production pellets can be used.
Interestingly, a surprisingly wide variety of technology is allowed within the 50-Yard class.
For example, wind flags or anemometers sensing and transmitting data to a computer device or display are allowed. Front rests using electrically actuated or powered components are allowed. Plus, scopes transmitting or receiving data from a computer device are allowed.
One piece rests are allowed too…
Below. Evan Haddick from Umarex USA was shooting an Umarex Komplete in the 50 Yard benchrest competition. He was proud to be shooting by far the cheapest gun on the firing line!
But – in the end – it still comes down to shooter skill, of course. The Springer and Junior classes have very similar rules, but the scores are counted separately, to allow for the differing capabilities of airgun or shooter experience. The maximum age for juniors is 18 years.
EBR 2025 75-Yard Benchrest Competition
The 75-Yard cards are the qualifying rounds for the 100 Yards Extreme Benchrest finals. And while the range is “only” 75 Yards, it’s interesting to note that the course has never been cleared!
Below. Tom Adams was shooting a Daystate RedWolf – chassis version.
That’s undoubtedly because the 10 ring has a diameter of just 0.475 Inches. The “X” Ring is a minuscule 0.200 Inches.
Each shooter engages 25 targets per card, with one shot per target. I addition, there are four sighter targets, but there’s no sight-in time in addition to the 25 minutes allowed for each relay.
Below. Donny Du was shooting strongly with his personal Red Panda, in spite of the wind!
So each shooter will shoot two cards for a total of 50 shots (Card 1 on Friday and Card 2 on Saturday for a combined total score
The top 10 shooters (split by percentage if in a combined-class relay) from the two combined cards per relay will make the finals on Sunday to shoot one final card for the 100-Yard championship (40 Shooters).
Below Fady Kirwan was using his favorite BRK Ghost.
The “Finals” Extreme Benchrest score is the only score that will count for placing, as all 40 shooters will be in the same relay and same shooting conditions.
Any pellet-firing air rifle up to .35 caliber may be used, so long as it uses mass production diabolo pellets.
Below. Jessica Kilgore was also shooting a BRK Ghost. But to a somewhat different specification.
As was Barbara Pellegrino. Below.
There’s no power or weight restrictions for the airgun, however tethered tanks are not allowed and the total air cylinder volume is limited to 700cc. Shooters may re-fill with air as often as they wish, so long as they do not leave the bench.
Below. Kody Rasmussen from Umarex USA was shooting a Gantlet 30.
Shooters are divided into two classes for this event. These are “Pro” and “Sportsman”.
Below. Wes Crisp looks pleased with his Daystate Blackwolf.
The Pro Class includes any person associated with any company, promoter or manufacturer of airguns or airgun accessories. Also, any competitor who has placed higher than third in any previous EBR competition. In addition – and perhaps surprisingly – any person who wishes to declare themselves as a Pro Class Shooter may do so.
Below. Noor Sabbah won the 100 Yard benchrest competition at the 2025 Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge with a Red Panda. Today he started his challenge to repeat the result at Extreme Benchrest 2025.
The Sportsman Class includes all other competitors who are not classified in the Pro Class for this event.
So that’s how day two of EBR 2025 played-out. So far, we have not had a serious rain event, such as happened in 2018. Let’s lope it continues dry for the next two days!
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