The competitive rimfire precision community was rocked this week by reports that local NRL22 competitor, Chad 'Budget' Benson, 34, has declared personal bankruptcy. Benson, a long-time advocate for NRL22 as the 'poor man's' gateway to precision shooting, reportedly exhausted his substantial trust fund — a modest inheritance from a great aunt — on a custom Vudoo Gun Works V-22 barreled action chambered in .22LR, meticulously trued to within 0.0001 inches, then paired with an IOR Valdada Valhalla 4-28x50 with the MP-8 Xtreme reticle, mounted in ARC M-Brace rings. This 'entry-level' setup was completed with a full MDT ACC chassis system, featuring every available weight kit for optimal balance on uneven barricades. His final financial collapse was reportedly triggered by the procurement of a lifetime supply of Eley Tenex, meticulously lot-tested to an SD of 2 FPS from his suppressed 16.5-inch Hawk Hill Custom M24 contour barrel.

Benson’s commitment to the 'poor man's' ethos was legendary. Friends report he often ate ramen for weeks to afford new accessories, such as a dedicated Trijicon RMR on a 45-degree offset mount for close-in rimfire engagements. His DOPE card, hand-laminated for every match, accounted for Coriolis effect at 100 yards and adjusted for the precise spin drift of 40-grain Eley projectiles. At last month's 'Backyard Blitz' NRL22 match, held on a notoriously challenging suburban golf course, Benson’s ability to consistently land cold bore shots on 0.5 MOA targets at 75 yards in a shifting 2 MPH headwind, while utilizing a Kestrel 5700 Elite set to a density altitude of 850 feet, was unmatched.

However, sources close to Benson confirm that his pursuit of 'affordable excellence' ultimately proved too costly. The weekly barrel cleaning regimen, requiring specialized solvents and ultrasonic treatment to maintain his velocity node, coupled with the existential dread of zero shift, led to a psychological toll mirroring his financial ruin. His final words to his financial advisor before surrendering his assets were reportedly, 'But what about my next match fees? The MDT Orange County Rimfire Challenge is next month! My .22LR needs to maintain its competitive edge against those damn Lapua Center-X shooters!'