the OP said bench rest not hunting and then talks of hunting calibers like comparing apples to peanuts. Doc hit it well enough. why say anything if he is talking hunting.
there are more competitors around than you might think, it is just that we cant teach an old dog new tricks so we dont try.
the centerfire benchrest of 1995 was a far cry from today. the ppc was just coming into it own and VV113 was just being discovered. people neck sized or did not size all, they dumped powder and seated a bullet with their fingers- and could win.
now days a case full of 133 will consist of 30.4 gr and you must full length if you wish to get the case back in the chamber.
most new shooters that try to get 30 gr of 133 in a case will pour powder all over the table the first time they try.
everyone thought you had to neck size to keep the case straight in the chamber but as record after record fell it became clear that full length was the way to go.
one other invention changed the game too. the joystick rest. you see shooters that can get 5 shots off in 10 seconds when the wind is right. and break records doing it, cause if you wait the wind will change. as Doc said, in order for the ammo to chamber with out upsetting the rifle you had to full length.
