Francis, it seems like this discussion is resurrected at least once a year, "Unlimited is not Unlimited".
So I go back to my question. With only two restrictions on the Rifle, ie, safely fired and an 18 inch barrel, what does everybody want to be able to do?
Would a shorter barrel give better agging capability? Would a "unsafe" firing mechanism, (what ever that would be), allow a shooter to put ten shots closer together?
The bench rules are in place because if you let shooters "attach" the rifle to the Bench, to what extremes would they go. When the Range Officer said "cease fire", would shooters be taking 15 to 20 minutes to get everything unbolted, loaded up, and out of the way for the next Relay?
If I just want to shoot little bitty groups to show people, I can do that at my home Range. But, if I want to actually compete in Registered Competition, I have to be realistic in the logistics of getting things set up, and moved, in a timely manner.
I am sure that the NBRSA BOD would be interested in any suggestions that would make "Unlimited" truly that, and further the basic mandate of The NBRSA in achieving extreme precision by shooting Groups.
All that aside, the real argument is not about Unlimited, it is really about not having a true open class for "non return to battery" Rifles, ie, Bag Guns.
The NBRSA took a step in that direction with the relaxed rules in Sporter. But it didn't take shooters long to figure out that with the 10.5 pound limit, you can't do doodly squat as far as enhancing the Rifles ability to produce small aggs.
So, the real argument should be a realistic Bag Gun option, say 17 1/2 pounds, with the only restriction that it cannot poccess true return to battery capability. Much like a light class 600-1000 yard Rifle chambered in 6PPC or an equally precision round in the 100/200/300 yarrow Format.