F Questions

[RUPZUK]

So I've lurked in this area for awhile and the safe seems to be missing something so the process begins...

As for me I live hundreds of miles from any type of rifle competitions and while competing isn't my drive I have no desire to build a race car that you can't race.
I have evolved from not having a clue what I'd like to about 50-60% sure of what I want.
I want a custom (semi) rifle that not only gives me the ability to drill small holes repeatedly (way out there) but also provides pride in ownership and a product that I chose and took part in creating with limited (to no) compremises.
Timelines are not a concern (a year + would be fine), budget is flexible to a degree; I have the means to attain what I desire (within reason).

I read the f rules as it seems to be the popular class.
223 or 308 don't speak to me so F-O would be the ticket (?=comments)
6.5x55 is what I will do.
A Remington 700 will be the platform.
Unless there are compelling reasons otherwise.

A few questions I have:
I understand that F-O has a 22 pound weight limit; do competitors currently push this?
What would an average rifle (everything) weigh?

Also, on the rifle build I see it split into two segments; core components (gunsmith, action, barrel, stock, scope) and accessories (Trigger, pods, slings, mounts, rings, etc..)
In what order should one collect the items and at what point should the gunsmith be included in the process?
Thanks for the input.
Cheers

 

[CyaN1de]

Weight: Most stay a few ounces under max weight just because all scales are not created equal.

Gunsmith: Get barrel, action and stock then take these to your GS for assembly and bedding. If you are doing the bedding yourself, all he will need is the barrel and the action.

You will either want to get a trigger at this point or have your GS work the factory for the time being.

You will most likely want your scope/rail/ring choice selected and purchased prior to having barrel put on action, unless you want to sit and look at rifle you can't get out and play with.

While the 6.5x55 is a viable option, there are other (more efficient) cartridges you should consider. 6.5-08/6.5-08AI/260/260AI/6.5x47

 

[Budweiser360]

The only thing with the 6.5x55 is that the case head is a slightly different size than the standard .473" bolt head so if you ever wanted to change calibers down the road you would need a different bolt head.

 

[Mystic Precision]

A few questions I have:
I understand that F-O has a 22 pound weight limit; do competitors currently push this?
What would an average rifle (everything) weigh?

If you are over, you dont get to play. There is no grey area here and the match scale is ALWAYS right. At the Western Nationals in 2011, I saw a shooter take a hack saw to his stock to make weight.

Also, on the rifle build I see it split into two segments; core components (gunsmith, action, barrel, stock, scope) and accessories (Trigger, pods, slings, mounts, rings, etc..)
In what order should one collect the items and at what point should the gunsmith be included in the process?
Thanks for the input.
Cheers

First decide on how competitive you want to be. Peak barrel life for a 6.5 is going to be 1000rds. yes, it will last longer but may not shoot to the level you need to be competitive. Make for great practise barrels though

Secondly what your build AND operating budget will be. There is little point in building a F1 car if you can't afford the tires.

Third, decide what your rifle will be like when it is completed. Go in with a game plan and set goals. Nothing worse then changing stuff mid stream. It is expensive, drives gunsmiths nuts, and usually leads to compromises YOU do not want.

For components,start with the parts that will take the longest to get. This usually but not limited to barrels, stocks, actions (if going custom). Most everything else is readily available.

Contact the gunsmith you want to have the rifle built with and ensure, your goals matches what he/she is willing to build and how you want to build it. Get a firm delivery timing. The worst I heard was a shooter waiting for over 1 1/2yrs for a custom rifle.

For me, I prefer that ALL rifle parts be in hand BEFORE sending to me for the build. Nothing worse then be one part short causing unnecessary delays. For most projects, the goal is a 30day turnaround once all parts are received.

If I can help with pricing and build design, let me know...

Jerry

 

[Jefferson]

you need to answer a question first,

HOW FAR ARE YOU GOING TO SHOOT IT AND HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GOING TO COMPETE,

example, if your range is only 500-600 yards or meters 6BR or 6.5-47 will do quite nicely,

IF you are NOT going to travel to compete (except once a year) then see the above,

IF you can handle recoil then a .284 may also do, if you compete once a year,


BUT if you only shoot at home (or the closest range) and it is only 600 yards, then building a BOOMER may NOT be the best choice,

so once the range or distance you will be shooting at MOST OF THE TIME then the experts can chime in and will gladly do so, until then we just nibble at the answer

Jefferson

 

[justsomeguy]

If you are over, you dont get to play. There is no grey area here and the match scale is ALWAYS right. At the Western Nationals in 2011, I saw a shooter take a hack saw to his stock to make weight.



Jerry

Oh god that brings back memories.......30+ years ago in Scouts, at the provincials for the cub scout car races (you remember them, those little things you ran down a ramp) the scales were obviously reading way high and a bunch of kids were getting disqualified. I remember a friends dad grabs his car, runs down to the grocery store (we were in a big mall) and went to the butcher shop....they cut 1" off the tail end with a band saw and he made weight.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

Where do you live? If you have the opportunity to visit and/or compete at some rifle matches, that can better help form your opinions of what you want.

F/Open weight limit is 10kg, and because human nature is what it is everybody seems to try to build rifles that weigh 9.995kg. If the weight limit were 8kg they'd build 7.995kg rifles, which would be just as good. Moral of the story is, don't risk exceeding the weight limit by even one gram because that will prevent you from competing, but don't worry that an 8.5kg or 9.0kg rifle is giving up even one iota of performance.

F/Open is highly competitive. Easiest way to get performance nearly as good as the winners, is to more or less clone what they are doing (calibres, powders, bullets, barrels, rests, scopes etc). No it isn't innovative, but it's pretty effective.

When building a custom gun, it can be false economy to use a commercial action such as a Rem 700 (yes they are fine actions, they can be made to shoot as well as the best target actions in the world, and they have won many many matches. BUT.) Regardless of your choice of action, you'll be spending the same amount on your barrel, mounts, stock, rest, scope, trigger etc -- it is often the case that for very little extra money you can have a purpose built target action (e.g. Barnard, RPA etc)

Build a wonderful rifle, and enjoy shooting it lots!