Phoenix Area Air Gun Bench Rest (Bring out your spring guns, PCPs too)

[mbouchpcp]

The Phoenix Air Gun Bench Rest club has a monthly match.  Bench rest (BR) Matches are held the first Saturday of every month at the Rio Salado Sportsman Club (RSSC) east of Mesa, Arizona. Summers hours are registration at 0700 with a 0800 start time.

Forty benches on a level concrete pad, covered shooting positions, 100 yard range with berms on three sides, cold water, electronic scoring, picnic tables, target holders specifically designed for BR targets  and award medals to the top shooters within each class are all part of the typical RSSC air rifle BR  experience.

Regrettably, you have to bring your own barbecue, soft drinks, and eye protection.

All are welcome including those that shoot spring piston rifles.  The club even has a non-USAR approved spring piston class so that spring gunners are competing against other spring gunners.  For those that may be wondering,  the highest recorded spring gun score in a USAR recognized event at RSSC is  668 shot by Pete Berube during the 2014 National Air Rifle Bench Rest competition held this past May.  That does not mean however, that the USAR has a spring piston class nor should it imply that the USAR endorses spring piston rifles for AG BR events.

Note that there is no indoor BR shooting so you'll have to read the wind.

The club website can be viewed at phoenixairgun.net/Phoenix_Benchrest/Home.html

We've also just learned that another AG BR club is forming in the greater Phoenix area.  If all goes according to plan they will be using the Wickenberg  Sportsmen's Club range and start sometime in the fall.  I cannot speak for the club but I think they may also welcome spring piston shooters.

All we need now is for clubs to start in the Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, Lake Havasu and Bullhead City areas to make Arizona the premier AG BR state in the country.  There are probably lots of spring guns in the areas listed.  That makes stand-alone clubs feasible in all parts of the state, even those with limited numbers of PCP shooters.

In any event, mark your calendars. Wash, lube, weight sort your pellets and download practice targets in preparation for the next match. 

Best wishes.

[egillman]

Are there any events for CO2 or multi-pump airguns?  Those happen to be my favorites.

[palonej]

I'm moving to Phoenix.

[mbouchpcp]

Are there any events for CO2 or multi-pump airguns?  Those happen to be my favorites.

Great question.  My best answer is umm, don't know for sure right now.  In spite of my ignorance I'm confident that there is a competitive class you could shoot in.  Let me see what I can find out and post here for you.  Please give me a few days.

Thank you for your interest and for asking.
 

[mbouchpcp]

I'm moving to Phoenix.

I have to be honest.  Visit Phoenix first, preferably in July or August before you decide for sure.  I say that because if you come here in the winter you'll never want to leave.  Our summer weather (it's a dry heat don't you know) might give you second thoughts, even though spring gun friendliness is hard to pass up.

[Pappy]

Been to Phoenix many times ... love the statement "it's dry heat".  My microwave oven is dry heat, but I have no desire to get into the thing.     Do love the Sedona area.

[Bullit]

X2 It's too hot for me.   Gotta love it thru the spring preseason MLB games, and of course, the "winter" golf.  But when the ballplayers break camp...it's time to come back home.

[DD789]

Been to Phoenix many times ... love the statement "it's dry heat".  My microwave oven is dry heat, but I have no desire to get into the thing.     Do love the Sedona area.

The nice thing about the dry heat is you get the evaporative affect that's help you keep cool     
 does a swamp cooler work in high humidity NOT very well.

[egillman]

One good thing about the temp is that you don't have to worry about losing power from a CO2 gun!

[mbouchpcp]

Are there any events for CO2 or multi-pump airguns?  Those happen to be my favorites.

Come on out.  Your CO2 class would be determined by muzzle velocity and pellet weight.  With those two  data points ft/lbs can be determined. The match director will have to make a determination as to class for the multi-pumps.  it would help to know the muzzle velocity and pellet weight for that as well.

You might want to check out the United States Air Rifle web site.  You'll probably be able to self classify your rifles after doing so.

[Bullit]

Great Point!   How neat is it to take a ride over there, rub elbows, and get your rifles chronied !
Wishing you all super success and fun shooting! 

[Gatorproof]

I settled in Florida and I wished it was Arizona. We have been in a daily storm cycle for 6 weeks now. I can't mow my pasture to set up 75 and 100  yard lanes. Waiting for new head for my tractor. Don't need to mow the desert. 115 degrees is hot even if dry. But daily 95 in Florida with 99% humidity is no pick nic either, lol.