f-class

Busta Capp said:
I cannot bug hole at 100yds, but through load development I am getting to sub MOA at 100yds. Is this reasonable?

And is there a preferred ORA event for a new F(M) class shooter to start with in '08?
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The new F Class V Bull is 1 MOA. What you need to remember is you are not shooting against the F(O) shooters, so your scores will be relative to other F(M) shooters.
So what ORA event would be a good start for '08? When the schedule comes out start with the first date available. Shoot every event/practice you can get to.
 
F Class

I thought I'd weigh in on the topic. I started shooting F-Class last year with a Savage 12FVSS, bought used off the ORA in .223. Stock everything, and pre-accutrigger.

I put on the Bushnell 3200 10X40, and a Harris bipod and with some handloads, merrily have been shooting.

Since then, I have changed the trigger to a Rifle Basix Sav 1 - less then $100.00. I shot that this year, even in Ottawa at the early stages of the DCRA shoot.

For next year, I've now changed the tupperware stock to a Boyd's Laminate (again, less then $100.00) but I was able to keep 1 MOA with the handloads before that, and even out to 1000 yards - if I could only read the wind better.;)

That's not a lot of $$ I've put out when I compare to others, but I think I am pretty close to what some others shoot - and I have a ton of fun!

Looking forward to next year, just got a Tikka T3 in .260 Remington, so give me a bit more edge then before, especially at the longer ranges - and will probably keep this one stock, no mods.

You can spend as much as you like, or a little as you like, if you're serious about winning competitions that is one thing, but if you're serious about shooting, it's another. I think that the challenge is against yourself and learning what you can do, with what you have.
 
rkaine said:
I thought I'd weigh in on the topic. I started shooting F-Class last year with a Savage 12FVSS, bought used off the ORA in .223. Stock everything, and pre-accutrigger.

I put on the Bushnell 3200 10X40, and a Harris bipod and with some handloads, merrily have been shooting.

Since then, I have changed the trigger to a Rifle Basix Sav 1 - less then $100.00. I shot that this year, even in Ottawa at the early stages of the DCRA shoot.

For next year, I've now changed the tupperware stock to a Boyd's Laminate (again, less then $100.00) but I was able to keep 1 MOA with the handloads before that, and even out to 1000 yards - if I could only read the wind better.;)

That's not a lot of $$ I've put out when I compare to others, but I think I am pretty close to what some others shoot - and I have a ton of fun!

Looking forward to next year, just got a Tikka T3 in .260 Remington, so give me a bit more edge then before, especially at the longer ranges - and will probably keep this one stock, no mods.

You can spend as much as you like, or a little as you like, if you're serious about winning competitions that is one thing, but if you're serious about shooting, it's another. I think that the challenge is against yourself and learning what you can do, with what you have.
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Good post.
 
Peter,
I would agree, for the most part, with the requirements you listed and will expand on this a little.
The "true" action: There is little question that an action which is true in the important aspects will shoot better than one which is not. It is a matter of degree as well. That is to say, there is some tolereance for imperfection.
The good barrel: Again, it would be pretty difficult to argue with this. Sometimes you can get remarkably good results from an apparently flawed barrel but a barrel which is straight, uniform in dimension, free of internal stress, and with a smooth and consistent internal finish will really tip the scales in your favour.
Bedding: This is an area which is also affected by action choice. Actions which have an ample amount of bedding surface and on which the bedding surface is on one plane are much more likely to bed properly and to keep bedded properly than those which are deficient in either area. I think this is one area wherein the Model 70 Winchester actions I use quite often are not quite so good. The bedding surfaces are sort of complex and I think the Remington 700, for instance, is easier to bed. I also think, in fact, I know, single shot actions are superior to repeaters. More bedding surface is never a bad thing. A good, stress free bedding job is key though. The glue-in is probably the best system but has not been embraced by the "F" class shooters as it has by the short range BR crowd.
Load developement and loading technique: This is a biggie. Probably the largest improvement in short range BR shooting in the three decades has been in the ability of the top shooters to get the best out of their rifles via improved loading techniques. In addition, the availability of superb custom bullets as well as nearly equal bullets from manufacturers like Lapua, Sierra, Hornady, and Nosler has made possible better loads than ever.
Scopes: Repeatable adjustments, durable internal parts, decent optics. These are the requirements for a good "F" class scope and any scope which delivers on these is a good scope regardless of it's cost or manufacturer.

Maynard,
You will note that I said the parts cost was 550.00. It's true I do my own work and that work would have cost an additional 2000.00 but a good deal of the work was unrelated to performance and done just because I wanted to. For instance, the stock was made from an un-inletted blank which accounts for 75% of the labour involved. The point is, these rifles I am shooting are competing at the same level as those built using 1500.00 actions and 1500.00 scopes. My most specialized rifle is still a pretty common outfit, a 40x action complete with homemade bolt yet still capable of winning against much more exotic rifles.
I have always used an old Wichita rest and still do except for those times when I shot over a bag of sawdust just to prove a point. The use of costly rests or bipods means just slightly more than diddly as far as performance is concerned.
The original rules called for any rifle, any sight, over any sort of rest short of a machine rest. That wide open description of "F" class embodied the spirit of the class. It was a "shoot what you've got" class. The restrictions brought in later were brought in to try and limit those who were enjoying consistent success on the one hand and to try and entice those who were not on the other.
I started shooting "F" class simply because the accuracy requirements were not so great that I couldn't achieve them with a relatively conventional rifle. In addition, I could experiment a little and have fun with it. This is still the case as far as the equipment is concerned but not the shooting! Shooters have gotten better and better so that one can't fool around much if winning is on his list of desires.
Now, my continued use of hunting rifle actions notwithstanding, this is my formula for a winning "F" class rifle.
Action... The action should be a single shot target action of the type available from Stiller, Barnard, RPA, Stolle, Bat, Geske etc. This is the most expensive part of the outfit but there is no doubt in my mind it is easier to build a super accurate rifle using one of these custom actions than by modifying production actions.
Barrel.... Should be a match grade barrel as made by Shilen, Hart, Krieger, Pac-Nor, Douglas, or our Canadian makers, Smith, Gaillard, or MacLennan.
Stock... The best stock would be a BR pattern glass stock.
Scope.... I think a fixed 24x is ideal but variables which encompass this at the high end work just fine too. You can cough up for that big Nightforce if you want but it won't make you win just as the use ofa Bushnell won't stop you.
The action should be glued into the stock. The barrel should be chambered in 6BR. With this outfit you could win anywhere.
Alternate chamberings would be comprised of everything else. I think the 6BR really is the first choice cartridge. It's just too easy to shoot. That I seldom use one only demonstrates my contrary nature.
I believe an equipment race does exist but I also believe it exists separate from the requirements to compete successfully. In other words, a shooter might have a 1500 dollar sope but he has it because he thinks it's cool and maybe because he always wanted one; not because he needs it to win. He may use a Bald Eagle rest but the reasons for doing so are much the same. He likes it. I will always have a pretty decent chance of winning with my much more modest rifles. My chances will be affect primarily by how much time I've spent on the range prior to the match; not by the amount of money my competitors have spent. Regards, Bill.
 
Leeper - I agree with your post.

A couple of observations. The advantage of a single shot action cannot be over-emphasised. A lot more bedding area and most important, add the middle action screw to tame the action flex. Needed on anything bigger than a 223.

Load development. Don't develop at 100 yards and then try to compete at 500 or more. I test my loads by shooting at a black patch at 500 yards. I think the data from that is valid to 800 yds. My testings says that 100 yd results mean nothing at longer distances. 300 yd is minimum.

Good accuracy is more than a low SD or a small 100 yd group. barrel harmoics is one factor and it only shows up at the longer distances. That is why testing is best at 300 to 500 yards.

The only way to test for 1000 yds is to shoot 1000 yards.
 
I have been "lurking" around precision rifle posts, and can honestly say I have learned quite a bit from more experienced shooters here. It's really amazing what some shooters are truely capable of.
The hard-won information, they choose to share, is priceless!

Thank you
 
Brutus said:
I have been "lurking" around precision rifle posts, and can honestly say I have learned quite a bit from more experienced shooters here. It's really amazing what some shooters are truely capable of.
The hard-won information, they choose to share, is priceless!

Thank you
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Show up at the practices and competitions and you'll learn even more. A lot of guys will help you right up to the point of where you take a shot.... that you'll have to do on your own... some will even help you with making sound wind calls depends if it's a practice or match...

the flow of information between shooters in f-class has traditionally been to help anyone interested in trying the discipline.... from hardware, components used, what to what to watch out for wind wise on the range.

This certainly isn't exclusive you find the sharing in many other disciplines but it's exceptional with f-class and probably the reason why so many are trying it...
 
Yes, I will be doing that jkajfes. Been slowly purchasing equipment, cruising the internet, & gathering advice, in places such as here.(TR/F-class)
I must say, I will be looking forward to this spring....

Cheers :)
 
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