Help me decide on F-O chambering

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cdn shooter

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I'm trying make a decision on the chambering for my F-O build. It will just be a switch barrel for my current ftr setup.

My thoughts so far, I have everything to shoot 300wsm already, main concern here is recoil, I handle recoil well but I shoot off a centershot bipod and dont know if it would handle it.

7 wsm, would need a full setup other than the bolt face, again recoil and barrel life, awesome ballistics, 300 would likely match this

.284 or some variation, I'm not opposed to a wildcat but I want easy to find components, need a bolt face for this

.270-08 or. 270-284, this would bring the recoil down, not sure how barrel life would be, bullets would have to be matrix exclusive, 08 brass is plentiful. Again need dies, bolt face.

Can't wait to hear some thoughts. Oh and the reason for wanting the F-O rifle in the first place. I recently shot in a match in Kamloops, 4 ftr guys and 15 or so in open, the competition in open was obviously where it was at. Although the match was very fun...I think I'm hooked!
 
For Kamloops, I would just build a 6BR and fly at it. Most of the guys are shooting 7's or 30's cause they are geared up for LR FTR (beyond 600m). Here the bigger cals rule.

Many of those F Open shooters cut their teeth with 6BR's and will kick your butt on the 300m target with a BR/Dasher.

I competed with a 260improved/6.5 Mystic and it did very well for me. Others have used the 260Rem/Habu with excellent results.

Sorry, the centershot will not handle the recoil of a bigger boomer. It is already showing issues in FTR. A heavier rifle just makes its problems that much worst.

For F Open, I would strongly recommend a pedestal rest. It helps control the bigger boomers. If you want to use a skipod, I can certainly suggest my MPOD or a Remple but a pedestal rest is that much easier to drive. I am sure you saw a few very nice shiney SEB's.

If you plan to venture over the mountains to Homestead, I would get a 6.5 as a min with the 7mm and 30's ideal. There will always be a compromise between recoil, ballistics and bore wear. Lowering wind drift is very expensive on several fronts.

Many will be competing with the 284 and Shehane on the National Team. Pushing 180gr Hybrids hard, they do a great job at LR. Some teams have moved to larger cases for a variety of reasons but a common complaint is very low bore life.

My guess is that a mid case 30cal will rise to the top in the long term as it offers identical ballistics for a bit more recoil but bore life skyrockets.

If bore life is not a concern, think 7RSUAM, 280 improved and 7-300wsm but then you can't use it at Connaught.... and most Canadian military ranges with a 180gr hybrid over 3000fps

Or a big heavy 30cal moving fast. Check the range regs.

Jerry

PS, most everywhere else, you will find FTR to be equal or higher in competitors vs Open. In the coming years, FTR population will outpace Open.
 
22-250 with 80 or 90 grainers? Bore life would suck but I've always thought a well tuned 22-250 or a 22br would make a really good f-classer...
 
Several good point Jerry, thanks. The 6mm lineup is just to close in performance to the. 223 that I currently shoot, maybe I'm missing some intangible thats out there that makes the BR superior. I know that little. 223 is capable of a perfect score if you could somehow remove weather conditions. It is consistently sub moa at 300 in calm air. Once the wind starts up its a whole different ball game. I need the help of the 7 and .30 cal heavies when I miss a wind call.

Which part of the centershot are people having trouble with? I know I'm going to have new adjustment pieces made for it out of stainless. They come with a brass center and coarse thread, the brass is stretched and its got a lot of slop in that area.
 
cdn shooter said:
Several good point Jerry, thanks. The 6mm lineup is just to close in performance to the. 223 that I currently shoot, maybe I'm missing some intangible thats out there that makes the BR superior. I know that little. 223 is capable of a perfect score if you could somehow remove weather conditions. It is consistently sub moa at 300 in calm air. Once the wind starts up its a whole different ball game. I need the help of the 7 and .30 cal heavies when I miss a wind call.

Which part of the centershot are people having trouble with? I know I'm going to have new adjustment pieces made for it out of stainless. They come with a brass center and coarse thread, the brass is stretched and its got a lot of slop in that area.
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NO comment....

Jerry

PS wind is going to push EVERYTHING around. There is nothing we shoot that will buck a bad wind call. Yes, the 6.5, 7 and 30's are far more forgiving but a miss call is still out of the 5 ring.... PERIOD. Learn to read the wind, mirage and flags. A tack driving rifle helps.

Lower recoil helps. Focus on the fundementals. There is no other way to success in this sport. When this year is over and the Kamloop shooters dust off their 6mm's, be afraid. Be very afraid.....

If in FTR, nothing wrong with the 223 at those distances. Put me on the podium last time I was at the Farky.
 
It's really not so much about which bullet, eventually Berger will have a 170gn .277
FO allows the opportunity to step out of the box and not necessarily follow the crowds
It's quite gratifying to do well with a combination that's not mainstream.
The 6s are wonderful, but they're just flat out boring
 
marshman said:
It's really not so much about which bullet, eventually Berger will have a 170gn .277
FO allows the opportunity to step out of the box and not necessarily follow the crowds
It's quite gratifying to do well with a combination that's not mainstream.
The 6s are wonderful, but they're just flat out boring
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What's so boring about beating a 284 at 1000yds with a 6BR and getting up off the line with a satisfaction hard on in your pants and a huge smile on your face? ;)
 
I now have a 30-338 Lapua that i will be attempting F-O with next year. 208 Amax at 3100 fps. Right on the limit for connaught. Or a 225 @ 3000 fps. Pick your poison. Recoil? A bit but its a 20 lb rifle
 
swissinn said:
I now have a 30-338 Lapua that i will be attempting F-O with next year. 208 Amax at 3100 fps. Right on the limit for connaught. Or a 225 @ 3000 fps. Pick your poison. Recoil? A bit but its a 20 lb rifle
Click to expand...

That combination will also limit your venues of competition to either Connaught or Borden. All other DND ranges in Ontario that are used for F Class competition are not templated for anything that big.
 
swissinn said:
I now have a 30-338 Lapua that i will be attempting F-O with next year. 208 Amax at 3100 fps. Right on the limit for connaught. Or a 225 @ 3000 fps. Pick your poison. Recoil? A bit but its a 20 lb rifle
Click to expand...

How many times do you figure you will rebarrel that monster before next season? JK...couldn't help it.
 
How about a .277-08 AI.....If it twernt for the 260AI doing so well this would be another very interesting exploratory cartridge. I know of at least one fellow running a 270-08 and liking it with the sierras. ...OOOOOOHHHHH, wildcatting bug inserted.....
 
Another F-O buddy is working on the 270-284. I just finished a 6 BRX on a 1-7... 105 Brgr @ 3175. It's just fun messing with stuff. Piper.
 
Never did figure out why everyone wants a better mousetrap?? when the perfected one already exsists. To me there is not a lot of rocket science in this game until it comes to reading conditions, now thats tuffer than rocket science!!! Straight facts, useing berger bullet BC's. 6mm 105gr.Hy, .547, 6.5mm 140gr.Hy, .618, 7mm 180gr.Hy, .674, 30cal 210gr.VLD, .631, 215gr.Hy, .696, 230gr.HY, .743
Now when I study these numbers, knowing that margin of error on the wind call decreases with drift, I see that the 7mm bullet looks pretty GOOD! sure you can take advantage of a higher BC with the 30cal bullets, BUT they have to be 215gr or heavier and you need to make them fly at an equal speed. So now you need a big case and a lot of powder to even get near the 2900fps park!!! Since I started shooting at least a 1000rnds per season in competition, I have tried to minimize time in the loading room. Therefor I have settled on 2 guns, straight 260 and straight 284, no mus no fuss!! and I have noticed an increase in powder consumption when I went from 260 to 284, can't imagine filling a mag case?? JMHO
 
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