Updated: Incorporating Tactical Rifle shooters into F-Class Matches

O

Obtunded

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 95.2%
40   2   0
Location
Chase BC
The organizer(s) of the BC F-Class and TR Provincial Championships have waded in on the decision regarding the inclusion of F-Tactical and for multiple reasons have expressed concerns. The most pressing of which is the compressed time frame in which to make the necessary arrangements. This event places a huge emphasis on volunteer help and to make a long story short, the additional work is not a popular idea with so little time to prepare. The BCRA President has likewise supported the match director and rightfully so. I want to thank them for their willingness to discuss this and their candor.

George Farquarhson - a Kamloops TR shooter - started the very F-Class sport barely 20 years ago amid a great deal of controversy. Today it has exploded in popularity and is practiced world-wide and even has an international regulatory body and a world championship about to start in Bisley as we speak. A far cry from a aging man wanting to shoot a TR match with a scope on his rifle in Kamloops.

This concept has merit and if the potential participants want to grow this idea, there are ways, places and venues to make that happen.

I support the idea. We will be debuting the F-Tactical class at our fall "Running of the V-Bulls!" match in Kamloops on the Halloween weekend, but we must respect the position of the match director for the BCFTRC and his desire not to include this sport for the time being.

The Match Director for the BCFTRC, Mr. Picairn does a fabulous job and his dedication to shooting in BC involves the efforts of his whole family. The BCRA supports 8 disciplines and that is more than any other PRA. I think Mr. Pitcairn is personally involved in most of them himself.

I hope to see the F-Tactical shooters in Kamloops on the Halloween weekend!

Regards,

Ian Hames

F-Class Director
BC Rifle Association.
riflebarrels@telus.net

I have been chatting with Ed Begg regarding the incorporation of Tactical Rifle participants into the BC Provincial F-Class matches as a separate class of shooter. We are both really very excited at the propect of doing this, since the transition from Tactical to F-Class shootng is very easy, but there are technical differences that could theoretically put some Tac shooters at a disadvantage against a full-on custom F-Class rig.

To overcome this, we had discussed the idea of shooting a seprated "Tactical F" class where participants would use tactical rifles shooting at fig. 12/14 targets, but using an application scoring system. It would involve dedicated targets at the same time and distances at F and TR, but with the advantage of competing against one's own class.

I would really like to hear/see some feedback from tac shooters about this. Bottom line, would you come to the BC Provincials and shoot as a F-Tac shooter? Complete with separate trophies etc?

It is far from a "done deal" but i'd sure like to make it so....

Ian Hames

BCRA F-Class Director

riflebarrels@telus.net
 
Last edited:
Very interesting Ian. I've shown up for fclass matches with my 'utilitarian' rifle anyhow just to get longish range time in (and no hope of winning anything), but it would be cool to compete against others on a more even playing field.
 
For the Provincials, you would have to have the F-Tacs in their own target rotation at a separate end of the range due to the fact that we change positions after each course of fire.
 
mysticplayer said:
Would you just use the same gun rules for F-Tac as the BCRA sniper shoot?

Jerry
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the plan. It gives our Tac rifle guys on the mainland an outlet to practice and compete more often.

Here on the Island we run Tac rifle and Service rifle practices April through September. On the mainland Ed Begg and Ian Hames are going to work together and I know this will benefit both parties.
 
Ian ... the BC Provincials are pretty popular. Will there be room to add additional shooters? I understand that some international teams are coming in for 2010.
 
Well, I guess it depends on your definition of "room" :)

The provs are popular, but there should be room for F-tac shooters. Currently the F and TR guys shoot side-by-side. If there is an overhelming demand for F spots.............
 
That tac match can accomodate what, 96 shooters? (and likely will draw that many). The main FClass match in BC last year drew what, 28 shooters, and TR 26? Forgive my ignorance, but why wouldn't there be enough room for say, 40-ish more?
 
Time to put on my flame-proof suit...
Why can't the tactical guys shoot at circles instead of military targets during the Provincials? Aren't some of those tactical rifles as pricey as some of the F/TR rifles? Something to ponder.
 
Hi Terry, how is that Palma barrel shooting for you?! yours is a very reasonable question and I would never 'flame' a respected shooter like yourself.I guess the answer lies in the fact that we have opted for a .4 MOA V-Bull on our F-Class targets. A good number of Tactical shooters would be left in the dust trying to plink away at a v-bull that small. I would like to create a class that allows for a greater chance of early success. Tactical shooting is VERY popular, and shooters can do well with factory rifles. They'd be eaten alive trying to compete against a custom barrel on a .4 MOA target. Like I said, your question is entirely reasonable, but it is the Tactical guys themselves that approached us, and their proposal was for a howling hun. I'd love to have them there, and if we dedicated a couple of targets to their discipline, and if it got us 20 shooters that would not otherwise attend, we have scored a victory for competitive shooting!

Having read the very sobering state-of-the-union from the DCRA AGM, it sounds like innovative ideas are needed at the national level. Perhaps looking outside the box is a great way to start!
 
Obtunded said:
I have been chatting with Ed Begg regarding the incorporation of Tactical Rifle participants into the BC Provincial F-Class matches as a separate class of shooter. We are both really very excited at the propect of doing this, since the transition from Tactical to F-Class shootng is very easy, but there are technical differences that could theoretically put some Tac shooters at a disadvantage against a full-on custom F-Class rig.

To overcome this, we had discussed the idea of shooting a seprated "Tactical F" class where participants would use tactical rifles shooting at fig. 12/14 targets, but using an application scoring system. It would involve dedicated targets at the same time and distances at F and TR, but with the advantage of competing against one's own class.

I would really like to hear/see some feedback from tac shooters about this. Bottom line, would you come to the BC Provincials and shoot as a F-Tac shooter? Complete with separate trophies etc?

It is far from a "done deal" but i'd sure like to make it so....

Ian Hames

BCRA F-Class Director

riflebarrels@telus.net
Click to expand...

Obtunded,
That sound like it would be interesting, something I would definitely like to try. I only shoot tactical rifles (308) and have shot a few matches but my experience is for the most part work related. I am pretty much ignorant to F Class,the rifles used, calibres, rules, targets, scoring, distances etc. I do know that those boys can shoot. I think any competition improves your overall shooting plus you also get to meet other shooters and learn a ton if you can pick the brain of the guys that really know what they are doing. I live in Alberta and but would definitely attend a shoot in BC to shoot a match like that.
 
Last edited:
In addition to the "F-Tactical" that the BCRA guys are working on (and I'm sure they'll do a good job of it), don't feel shy about shooting your tactical rifle in "F/Farquharson" or "F/Restricted" class either; both of these classes are limited to .223Rem/.308Win only, so you're not going to be outshot by a better performing cartridge. If you're outshot, it's either your gear (and if you have a first-rate tactical rifle, you have a first-rate F/F or F/R rifle), or it's your shooting (hey, you can always get better ;-).

It's quite inspirational to see what a good shooter, firing a good .308, is capable of doing...!

The Alberta Provincial Rifle Association also has matches too, and I assume F-Class is welcomed at all of their matches, so you have all sorts of shooting opportunities to choose from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom