Bench rest matches are fired, as the name implies, from a sturdy shooting bench with the rifle supported by a front and rear rest. The course of fire consists of either five or 10 rounds, at a single target to produce a measurable group. The recently added rimfire class shoots at 50 and 100 yards. Groups are measured in thousandths of an inch at their largest outside diameter. Achieving this level of accuracy begins with the rifle.
Scopes are the rule, and usually of high magnification.
No rifle is more accurate than the ammunition it fires and bench rest shooters go to extreme lengths to assemble the finest loads available. Individual bullets are often weighed and only those weighing the same are used. Cartridge cases are carefully measured, weighed and trimmed to exacting dimensions before being fire-formed to achieve the desired fit to the rifle's chamber. Powder charges are measured to within .1 grains to achieve uniformity. It can be tedious work.