QUICK REMINDERS FOR 2025

SHOOT SCHEDULES:

The Benchrest shooting schedule 2025 is over. 

We would like to see you at the range in 2026 !

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2025 CLUB RECORDS/ GUN SHOW DATES/ NEW BRUNSWICK CLEAN TARGET RECORDS/ CONTACT INFORMATION

JANUARY 20, 2026 - HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE FEDS

Here is the notice sent to all Firearms License holders by Public Safety Canada, (English only):

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUAL FIREARMS OWNERS
ASSAULT-STYLE FIREARMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM (ASFCP)

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The Canadian Firearms Program facilitated the delivery of this notification on behalf of Public Safety Canada and has not shared or disclosed any licence holder names, addresses or personal information with Public Safety Canada. Please ensure that your email is up-to-date with the Canadian Firearms Program to receive direct program updates. Alternatively, updates will be available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html

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This notice is being sent to all holders of a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL).

As part of various actions and programs to tackle gun violence in Canadian communities, beginning in May 2020 the Government of Canada deemed prohibited more than 2,500 makes and models of firearms. Should you own one of these prohibited firearms, thank you for safely storing and not using that prohibited firearm.

In prohibiting these particular firearms, such as the AR-15, the Government of Canada also committed to compensate eligible businesses and PAL holders who are impacted.

The purpose of this notice is to provide you with the opportunity to be compensated should you own one or more of these prohibited firearms.

Over 12,000 of these prohibited firearms were successfully collected from businesses from across Canada. More than $22 million in compensation has been provided to these businesses.

To determine if you own a prohibited firearm, please search the list of 2,500 makes and models. The list is available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html

If you do not own one of these prohibited firearms, you do not need to do anything more.

If you do own one of these prohibited firearms, and you wish to participate in the ASFCP and apply for compensation, you must first declare the prohibited firearm(s) in your possession.

You may do so during the nation-wide declaration period, which begins on January 19th, 2026, and ends on March 31st, 2026. After March 31st, 2026, declaration requests will no longer be processed.

To complete the declaration or for more information about the ASFCP, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html

It is important to note that an amnesty has been in place since 2020. This amnesty ensures every impacted PAL holder can hold onto the prohibited firearms until the end of the amnesty.

This amnesty is scheduled to end on October 30th, 2026.

All prohibited firearms and devices must be disposed of or permanently deactivated prior to that date. If you remain in possession of an impacted firearm following this date, you will be noncompliant with legislation.

Thank you for your continued commitment to safe firearms practices and compliance with all firearms rules and regulations.

Additional Information for the ASSAULT-STYLE FIREARMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Compensation will be determined primarily on a first come first served basis, based on the date your declaration is submitted and the availability of Program funds at that time. To increase your likelihood of receiving compensation, pending eligibility, you are encouraged to submit your declaration as early as possible. Submitting a declaration does not guarantee you will receive compensation.

To complete the declaration or for more information about the ASFCP, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html

This webpage also contains information on: the list of eligible Assault-Style Firearms (ASFs) and their compensation amounts; other options for compliance with the prohibitions; and the Amnesty Orders.

Firearms owners in Saskatchewan or Alberta should consult their provincial authorities for any additional laws or regulations that may impact participation in the ASFCP.

Should you require further assistance, or a paper declaration to apply by mail, or if you would like to receive information in Indigenous languages (Mohawk, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Inuktut (South Baffin), Cree, Algonquin, Dene, or Mi’kmaq), please contact the ASFCP Contact Centre at 1-833-759-4551.

Reminder: while the compensation program is voluntary, compliance with the law is not. Impacted firearms and devices must be disposed of, or deactivated by the end of the amnesty period on October 30th, 2026.

If you do not wish to return your firearm under the Program, alternative options are available to you before the amnesty period expires on October 30th, 2026:

Having the firearm deactivated at your own expense by a licensed business authorized to perform deactivations. Procedures for this option are available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html Arranging with your local police to hand-in your firearm – there will be no compensation provided.

DECEMBER 31, 2025 - STATS FOR THIS BLOG (2012-2025)

MINTO RANGE

This Blog, [newbrunswick-benchrest.blogspot.com], was
started in 2012 in order to facilitate communication among benchrest-for-score shooters in New Brunswick. It was intended to remind shooters of up-coming events, report on shoots and matches and give easier access to information relevant to benchrest shooting. 

It is not, and never has been, monetised so that viewers will not have to deal with advertising. 

Over time, 764 items have been posted, but the content and the format has changed a little and today, the primary focus is to highlight future events and report on completed shoots. I hope that this Blog will continue to be of some importance to New Brunswick's shooting community.

Circulation of the Blog is, of course, world wide. 

To date, viewers have stopped by to look at the content of the Blog 332,674 times. By country, the numbers breakdown as follows:

    1.    United States of America     97,700  views         29% of the total

    2.    Canada                                   85,800    "               26%       "

    3.    Singapore                              45,300     "              14%        "

    4.    Hong Kong                            23,400     "                7%        "

    5.    Russia                                    17,000     "                5%        "

    6.    Germany                                  6,350     "                2%        "

    7.    Brazil                                        4,810     "                1%        "

    8.    France                                      4,580     "                1%        "

    9.    Ukraine                                     4,110     "                1%        "

  10.    Other                                      43,400     "               13%        "

Aside from the weekly match results, the posts and articles that have been of greatest interest have been the following:

PETITCODIAC RANGE

    1.    Quick Reminders

    2.    The Hopewell Method of Barrel Tuning

    3.    Gun shows in the Maritime area

    4.    Benchrest shooting rules

    5.    Minto/RNBRA Rimfire Championships

    6.    Minto/Petitcodiac/RNBRA Centerfire Championships

    7.    RNBRA MTR/TR Small bore Rifle Championship 2015

    8.    Minto Rimfire/Centerfire Championships

    9.    Petitcodiac Rimfire/Centerfire Championships

DECEMBER 21, 2025 - REMEMBERING SHOOTING FRIENDS

As Christmas 2025 approaches, we honour

our shooting friends who have passed away

and remember them now and in 2026.

MARTIN T.

TERRY McN.

CARL J.

                                                   

GEORGE C.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 - MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

WE WISH ALL OF YOU

    

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM ALL OF US

      IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

DECEMBER 11, 2025 - THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS

I have, in various posts in the last few years, referred to people who have given of themselves, their time and resources, to make shoots and matches possible. I have called this group  "PEOPLE TO THANK" and often referred to them as people without whose work the shoots or matches would not have been possible, or as enjoyable, or as efficient, etc. 

I am not referring to the executive members of our shooting clubs who do giant work to maintain the organizations and ranges. They also deserve recognition and our thanks.

I'd like to focus on those people who work during a shooting event and behind the scenes to make sure that we can do what we love to do - shoot benchrest for score - every weekend during the shooting season. In 2025, that shooting season consisted of 33 matches and fun shoots, (not counting cancelled shoots). These were hosted by the Petitcodiac Sportsman's Club and the Minto Gun Club. In these shoots, 29 individuals volunteered to provide the tasks that are needed to run a shooting event. Obviously, some people did more than one thing and so in total they carried out 424 tasks over the course of the year.

In these 33 events, 373 shooters participated. This is an average of 11 shooters per event. It is intersting to note that at the beginning of 2025, an average of 10 shooters attended while at the end of 2025, an average of 16 shooters participated in each event. In years past, these averages were much higher, but since COVID, the development of other shooting disciplines and the elevated price of ammunition components, the numbers have dropped. During the summer of 2025, the numbers were very low with, for example, two shoots attended by only 3 shooters.

Each of these events absolutely must have a Match Director, RO, Scorer, Score Verifier and Target Changer. Some behind the scenes administration must be done and I have added these people in the match director category.

                   1.     Match Directors - 6 people served as match directors - 37 times in 2025.

                   2.     Range Officers - 17 people served as ROs - 76 times in 2025.

                   3.     Scorers - 10 people carried out  scoring/stats duties - 36 times in 2025.

                   4.     Score Verifiers - 12 people served to verify the scoring and stats - 36 times in 2025.

                   5.     Target Changers - 29 people changed targets during shooting events - 121 times in 2025.

                    

                    6.     Treats during shooting - 12 people have brought treats - 65 times in 2025. 

                    7.     Meals/Food - At special events, when a lunch meal is provided, 5 people have brought/organised food for all participants - 14 times in 2025.

                      8.     Pics/results for Blog - This year, the Blog has relied more heavily, for pictures and results, on 4 volunteers.

So, we relied on the work of 29 volunteers in 8 categories and they did this 424 times in 2025. For a group as small as the Benchrest Shooters in New Brunswick, this is a huge contribution made by volunteers. They really deserve our gratitude and appreciation.

MANY THANKS FROM ALL OF US TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.

DECEMBER 7, 2025 - MINTO - ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOOT

Thanks to Dale H. for sending the results and to Barb J. and Darryl K. for sending some of the pics.

The car was covered in about 4 inches of snow and the temperature was about -11C when I left for the range this morning. Some roads were cleared but not all of them. Then the sun came out and it was like driving in a winter wonderland that gave a new glimpse around each corner of why we love New Brunswick in the winter.

By the time the range was in sight, the temperature had increased to about -7C and it further warmed to -5C by the end of the shooting.

Now, don't get me wrong! Sitting in a nice warm room with the stove cranked up and looking out was great, but our old carcasses complained outside in the cold. This was due to the wind which did not let up all day and was awful. It came from all directions and from all corners of the range. It was hard to find a dominant condition. I don't know what the wind chill was, but our fingers lost their feeling very quickly as it blew into the shooting ports and literally blasted us at times!

Enough of that - the fact that we were doing what we love, with good friends and good food more than made up for a little of bitter winter fury. What we were doing was shooting four fun targets including the famous, (maybe infamous), "Know Your Limits" aka "The Black Death Squares". We also shot two targets - "The Fox" and "The Racoon" 

that were composed of small bulls. Finally we shot the popular "Crows on a Fence" ranging from a large to a small crow on the fence and then the shooter shoots a flock of teeny-tiny flying crows. This last target tests a shooter's abilities like no 

"benchrest for score" standard target does in today's conditions. The "Know Your Limits" target tests strategy as much as shooting ability. A lot of fun!

It was great to spend the day with old friends as well as welcome a new shooter - Tharin T. - who actually shot as well as or better than some of the seasoned shooters in challenging conditions, even though this was his first time out. 

Congrats Tharin. We hope to see you in the coming year.

PEOPLE TO THANK:

Match Director - David C.

Scorer - John M.

Score verifier - Dale H.

Range Officers - Bert deV., Conrad L. and John McC.

Target setter/changers - Cecil H., Barb J., John McC., David C., Tharin T., Dale H., Dan B. and Mike B.

Treats during shoot - Barb J. - banana bread; David C. - coffee

Lunch feast - Bruce B. - beans; Barb J. - mince meat and apple pies and cherry cheesecake; David C. - Chili, brown bread, drinks, hot dogs and condiments

Pictures - Darryl K., Barb J. and Bert deV.

Now to something dear to every shooter's heart - the food! Thanks to Bruce B. we were able to enjoy some terrific beans. David C. brought the very excellent Chili. Both of these were complimented by David C.'s famous brown bread. For those relishing a more traditional range meal, there were David C.'s hotdogs. To top it all off, Barb J. outdid herself with very tasty mincemeat and apple pies as well as a delicious cherry cheesecake. There were many songs of praise for all the items on the menu and no-one left hungry - quite the opposite!

RESULTS OF ALL TARGETS – ( * Indicates Gift Card Winner)

L to R:
Barb J. - winner of Fox Target
Dale H. - winner of Racoon Target
Wayne LeB. - winner of Know Your Limits Target
Cecil H. - winner of Crows Target

Shooter Black Death Fox Crows  Racoon

Bruce B. 15 48 DNF DNF

Dale H. 6 50 33 70*

John M. 0 49 21 66

Barb J. 6 50* 24 57

Cecil H. 22 50 57* 69

John McC. 6 48 13 50

Tharin T. 0 48 40 66

Wayne LeB. 24/3X* 50 47 70

Mike B. 7 49 5 64

Darryl K. 16/2X 46 14 65

Wayne K. 10 44 40 67

George M. 9/2X 49 24 55

Dan B. 16/1X 49 50 66

David C. 16/1X 49 20 67

Bert deV. 15/1X 49 49 70

Conrad L. 0 8 DNF DNF

Gerry J. 6 18 DNF DNF

After the shooting was finished and the results tallied, the winners were presented with a gift card prize for their great performance in today's conditions.

This was followed by the presentation of awards for shooting excellence during the regular scheduled events in 2025. Congrats to the following shooters who were the recipients this year:

L to R:
David C., Wayne LeB., Bert deV., Guy H., Bruce B. and Cecil H.
Absent:
Dan G. and Gerald D.

High RF Open Match score = Bert deV. - 400/32X 

High RF Open Single Target = Bert deV. - 200/18X 

High RF Sporter Match score = Wayne LeB. - 400/26X 

High RF Sporter Single Target = Wayne LeB. - 200/16X 

High CF Open Match score = Bert deV. - 300/23X 

High CF Open Single Target = Cecil H./David C./Bert deV. - 100/9X 

High CF Sporter Match Score = Guy H. - 149/12X 

High CF Sporter Single Target = Guy H. - 50/5X 

The Terry McNeill Rimfire Championship Open Class winner = Bert deV. - 400/29X

The Terry McNeill Rimfire Championship Sporter Class winner = Wayne LeB. - 400/23X

The Annual Minto Centerfire Championship - Open Class = Bruce B. - 298/12X

The Annual Minto Centerfire Championship - Sporter Class = Dan G. - 149/12X

The Annual Minto Rimfire Pistol Championship = Gerald D. - 255/2X

The Annual Minto Centerfire Pistol Championship = Dan G. - 175/2X

WE WISH ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR