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Why no solids at EBR?

"oldspook"Probably because they have a significantly higher BC and therefore shoot flatter and are less affected by wind. It would have to be a different class.
That might fit into my morning shower logic question in the Pellets, Projectiles & Ammo section, to wit ....

I’m curious why it’s generally considered that larger caliber pellets are more accurate, especially in wind. If it’s due to the inertia of a heavier pellet wouldn’t a smaller but equally weighted pellet be better because of the reduced footprint (side and front) it would have in the wind?
 
To fully understand why, you need to know a bit of history about the match. When it was held at Green Valley, bullets and solids were not allowed for safety reasons. 

When the match moved to Rio Salado, this safety concern was no longer an issue. However, it was noted that bullets would have a significant advantage against pellets. Part of the reason behind the match is to get manufacturers to produce better pellets and guns, but not become a complete equipment race. The shooters' skill should be the primary thing to test. 

Not to leave the bullet guys out, another even more challenging match was developed just for those folks. This is the 200 yard "big bore" match. However, a good .25 caliber with the right bullets and shooter could be competitive. The match this year also had somewhat small steel flagging targets to hit, where the .25 might have trouble swinging the targets enough to register a hit.
 
"I_Like_Irons"To fully understand why, you need to know a bit of history about the match. When it was held at Green Valley, bullets and solids were not allowed for safety reasons. 

When the match moved to Rio Salado, this safety concern was no longer an issue. However, it was noted that bullets would have a significant advantage against pellets. Part of the reason behind the match is to get manufacturers to produce better pellets and guns, but not become a complete equipment race. The shooters' skill should be the primary thing to test. 

Not to leave the bullet guys out, another even more challenging match was developed just for those folks. This is the 200 yard "big bore" match. However, a good .25 caliber with the right bullets and shooter could be competitive. The match this year also had somewhat small steel flagging targets to hit, where the .25 might have trouble swinging the targets enough to register a hit.
That's kind of like the old argument we had here about building freeways... one side saying if we don't build them, then the growth will slow, the other side said they are coming rather we build freeways or not, so we better get building before everyone has a 4 hour drive to work. Well you know which side was right in the end...

As long as people are buying up pellets as fast or faster than the manufactures can make them at the quality level they are (hint not so great) they have very little incentive to improve their product. What we need is a game changer. If some slick manufacture came up with a set of cast bullets with good BC for airgunners, specifically the 25cal, 30cal and 35cal that would work in most or all air rifles that could shot MOA at 100m. Well people would stop buying the "less than" pellets and start buying the new hot bullets, thereby forcing the pellet manufactures to up their game or go out of business.

So if the EBR wants to encourage better projectiles for the sport they not only should allow cast bullets they should allow any kind of projectile and double the first place money for anyone winning with "not a pellet".

It's interesting that the local club who is heavily involved with the EBR allows this already for the 75y and 100m matches. So far I don't know of anyone using "not a pellet", but I do know at least one gun maker is experimenting with cast bullets.
 
"Percula"
"I_Like_Irons"The shooters' skill should be the primary thing to test. 



That's kind of like the old argument we had here about building freeways... one side saying if we don't build them, then the growth will slow, the other side said they are coming rather we build freeways or not, so we better get building before everyone has a 4 hour drive to work. Well you know which side was right in the end...

As long as people are buying up pellets as fast or faster than the manufactures can make them at the quality level they are (hint not so great) they have very little incentive to improve their product. What we need is a game changer. If some slick manufacture came up with a set of cast bullets with good BC for airgunners, specifically the 25cal, 30cal and 35cal that would work in most or all air rifles that could shot MOA at 100m. Well people would stop buying the "less than" pellets and start buying the new hot bullets, thereby forcing the pellet manufactures to up their game or go out of business.

So if the EBR wants to encourage better projectiles for the sport they not only should allow cast bullets they should allow any kind of projectile and double the first place money for anyone winning with "not a pellet".

It's interesting that the local club who is heavily involved with the EBR allows this already for the 75y and 100m matches. So far I don't know of anyone using "not a pellet", but I do know at least one gun maker is experimenting with cast bullets.


No... You completely missed the point there. Bullets have an unfair advantage in a bench rest match because they have BCs which are an order of magnitude better than pellets. Separate classes are formed to make the contest fair for the competitors. By your logic it would be fair to compete with a bolt action .308 in a field archery match.

That said, I am not interested in a bullet for any of my air rifles. I hunt and I do it in areas where I count upon the additional safety of not having a projectile capable of traveling half a mile down range and going through someone's picture window. I definitely am for better pellets being designed, although I think PCPs have generally shown that most pellets are capable of superb accuracy. Can they be improved, absolutely and they should be as well, but we are getting what we pay for, I think.
 
I thought they had a class for extreme big bores for the last few years. unless it was all a dream, I am fairly sure I remember the list of rifles for the finalists in this category included rifles from Dennis Quakenbush, Extreme Big Bores, American Air Arms and a few other slug shooters. 

It makes sense to separate these guns into their own category or it wouldn't make for a very entertaining match with 50fpe guns against 1000fpe guns....

Even if they allowed slugs in the other classes, I doubt many would have used them as they rarely (if ever) shoot well from a 50fpe Wildcat or Cricket. They even suck in my 100fpe Career 707 compared to drag stabilized pellets.

 
"Percula"
.................. What we need is a game changer. If some slick manufacture came up with a set of cast bullets with good BC for airgunners, specifically the 25cal, 30cal and 35cal that would work in most or all air rifles that could shot MOA at 100m. Well people would stop buying the "less than" pellets and start buying the new hot bullets, thereby forcing the pellet manufactures to up their game or go out of business.
Interesting post (claims 10 witnesses) on the YF concerning three cast bullet types with 1/2 MOA at 100 yards from the same rifle "still under development":

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/message/1481498922/Do+any+of+you+consider+UNDER+1-2+MOA+good-%21++LOL%21
 
"beeser"According to EBR rules, no solid slugs or cast bullets are allowed. Anyone know the reason for the restriction?
Beeser AoA EBR has a class for slug/bullet shooting AG's. The slug/bullet class shoot 200 yards where the pellet class is 75 and 100 yards.
http://www.extremebenchrest.com/extreme-big-98%ore-benchrest-rules/

IMO they keep most of the focus/attention on the pellet class because AoA and their sponsors make almost all of their money from guns that shoot pellets.