Ohio's Long-Range Handgun Shooting Competition: Hunting Themed

Since 2002, an eager assembly of 40 handgunners has gathered each year in late July in rural southeastern Ohio to stretch their long-range handgun skills. The event is the challenging but intensely fun two-day Adam Bender Memorial Shoot organized by Michigan stock maker Jim Rockwell, Sr. It is held on the 200-acre grounds of the Thunder Valley Precision shooting complex in Coshocton County, just north of the town of Cambridge.

The shoot has a hunting theme. Distinct categories include centerfire hunter handguns, rimfire handguns, revolvers and benchrest pistols lobbing rounds out to 1,000 yards.

The first day of the event is devoted to the hunter centerfire handgun, rimfire and revolver competitions. The second day focuses on bench-rest events, and at the end of the regular program some benchresters will fire their benchrest handguns out to a full mile—a final informal challenge for the true long-range handgun aficionados.

The hunter-class competitions—centerfire, rimfire and revolver—offer an interesting challenge. To score well, shooters must acquire, engage and consistently hit small stationary targets at various ranges, shooting off inherently challenging surfaces.

Organization

Competitors are organized by squads, and the squads progress through five shooting stations that offer novel props for resting the handgun while shooting. Props might include a deer stand, log pile, fence post, hay bale, the back of an ATV, a rusty tractor engine cover and similar challenges.

Each station requires shooters to undergo some kind of physical contortions to get into shooting position. Once settled in position at a shooting station, shooters have a set time to fire at steel plates set out at various known ranges from about 40 yards to about 700 yards. Ranges are shorter for rimfire and revolver.

Targets are similar in shape to silhouette and IPSC targets. The targets increase in size from smaller to larger as the range increases. And believe me, they all look small from the firing line.

Shooting against the clock puts a bit of pressure on the competitor, but this competition does not feature the frantic pace of some of the tactical games.

The benchrest events on the second day are organized differently. In these events, competitors shoot as individuals from concrete benches in a format that would be conceptually familiar to anyone who shoots benchrest rifle matches.

Shooters place their equipment on sturdy, fixed concrete benches and typically use front and rear rests. Although it’s permitted, there’s no extra credit for shooters who want to use just a bag or bipod.

There are two categories for the benchrest event: light and heavy. This allows competitors to shoot a total of four separate matches during the day if they choose: light gun at 600 yards and 1,000 yards; and heavy gun at 600 and 1,000.

Each match consists of 10 shots for record in a limited time. Scores are based on group size. If the round hits paper, it counts.

Guns and Gear

The centerfire hunter-style handguns are the most common pieces at the match. These are typically single-shot, bolt-action pistols similar to the old Remington XP-100.

These are not your daddy’s XPs, though. Custom actions, barrels and stocks are common. Chamberings range widely, but the 6mm BR is a popular choice. The weight limit is 10 pounds with all attachments and a barrel length limit of 16.25 inches—not including muzzle brake, if any.

Shooting in this class requires single-loading for safety reasons. Bipods or small, portable shooting bags are permitted.

Rimfire handguns are restricted to .22 Long Rifle. Guns are limited to a weight of eight pounds and a barrel length of 16.25 inches. Magazine feeding is allowed.

One popular .22 choice is the bolt-action Anschutz Exemplar. Several competitors use Ruger Mk IV semiautos, and others have used various revolvers.

In the revolver class, competitors shoot only five shots at each of the five stations, and the farthest targets are not much beyond 200 yards. Cartridges are restricted to bore diameters between .32 and .45. Revolver weight cannot exceed eight pounds, and barrel length is limited to 11 inches.

Freedom Arms revolvers are popular, but competitors have done well with Smith & Wesson and Ruger guns. More exotic handguns also have appeared, including Magnum Research BFRs and even a Webley.

The light benchrest class has a weight limit of eight pounds and a barrel length limit of 16.25 inches—not including brake, if any. The heavy class has a weight limit of 20 pounds and a barrel length limit of 18 inches, not including brake.

The benchrest handguns are mainly bolt-action custom jobs, typically chambered to 6mm BR, 6mm BRA, 6mm Dasher and so forth. Others have pursued long-range performance with heavier 7mm and .30 caliber cartridges.

There are no restriction on optics in any of the classes.

Fun at the Center

The initial intention behind Adam Bender was to offer long-range handgunners east of the Mississippi the kind of competition currently happening out West. Median age of participants tends toward the middle years or older. Female competitors have shot well. The competition also accommodates—and welcomes—shooters with disabilities.

Adam Bender is marked by camaraderie. It has not existed long enough to sink into a slough of obsessive bureaucracy, pettifogging rulemaking and irate competitors. The match is friendly, and competitors are willing to share ideas. Folks are serious about their shooting but not obsessive about winning.

There are no significant restrictions to shooting in this competition—as long as you’re legally allowed to have a handgun and are a safe shooter. However, due to range limitations the number of participants is capped at 40, so early registration is highly recommended. More info is available on Facebook at the Adam Bender Memorial Shoot page.

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