Sometimes the lines get a bit blurred on this forum when it comes to defining "Precision Rifles" or "Precision Shooting". The terms "Benchrest", "F-Class", Tactical", "Sniper" and "Service Rifle" get tossed around and many folks wanting to poke their noses into competitive shooting are a bit timid about where to start or what to try.
300M and dead calm winds... a cake walk? Hmmm. No 50-10V's, trickier than meets the eyes!
Each discipline has one common theme: The aim (no pun intended) is to place your shot exactly where you want it, and success is judged by those that are most effective at doing so. The ultimate pursuit of accuracy falls on the shoulders of benchrest shooters, where specialized equipment and attention to minute detail is paramount to success. Placing that shot is not possible without good equipment, but more importantly, you must have a shooter that has the skill to place that shot as well. Just as few of us could go out and win a PGA event with the best clubs in the world, few shooters could win their very first Benchrest or F-Class match with the best rifle and ammo, but success is relative to the quality of the best shooters there and most matches are more about fun than dead-serious competition.
As this forum has demonstrated on many occasions, people would like to invest in equipment that will provide the best accuracy they can afford, and with few frames of reference, the neophyte precision rifle consumer is often at the mercy of salesmen, sales propaganda, anonymous forum opinions, or even simply how a rifle "looks". The reality is that most factory rifles produce accuracy that is adequate for their intended purposes, and the amount of money spent is no indicator of how well they will shoot.
our own CGN "CyaN1de" putting on a clinic at the BC Provincial F-CLass Championships
Like most elite sportsmen, the tools of the trade for ultimate precision shooting are often composed of customized and specialized components that you simply will not find on the shelf at "Bubba's Grub "n Guns". The problem is, there are few one-stop-shopping sources for these components. It is almost impossible to learn about F-Class shooting from hanging gout at Walmart.
The result is that when someone shows up for their first Benchrest or F-Class match, they will typically see firearms that bear little if any resemblance to the rifles they see on the shelf at the local sporting goods store. This is very intimidating and makes new shooters feel inadequate and uncomfortable. Frankly, the money invested in many of these rigs is frightening.
CGN "Unibomber" drilling them home with a factory Remington 700, AICS and S&B scope!
It need not be!
We have a precision shooting sport that was born in Canada, and is now one of the most popular and fastest growing shooting sports in the world: "F-Class".
This is a precision sport shot with a centerfire rifle, using an optical sight (scope) and either a front rest (ala benchrest) or a bipod. In addition, a rear bag is used as well. The sport is shot prone, although disabled shooters can be accommodated. The objective is to place shots as close to the center of the target as possible and point values are less the farther from the center you go. Basically, try and hit the bull's eye!
The targets are large enough that a scope of 10X will suffice, but more is better! The targets themselves are pulled down after each shot (the targets are on retractable frames) and a bright shot inticator is stuck in the bullet hole to show you where you hit. In addition, a score value is displayed aoround the edge with different positions representing different scores (a marker at 3 o'clock means you hit the bull!).
You shoot your next shot when the target is pulled back up.
Shooters are generally paired-up two per target and one keeps score for the other. You take turns shooting at each exposure of the target. It is a great way to learn from other shooters and a great way to learn to read conditions. One learns VERY fast!
Vokes Rifle Range: I defy anyone to show me a more beautiful rifle range in the world! Our dry BC summer shows in the normally emerald grass.
Being from the range where F-Class was born and the late George Farquharson (after whom F-Class was named) was a life-long member, it seemed particularly important to me that we remain committed to the promotion, advancement and refinement of the sport.
In Kamloops BC we hold a number of matches each year and two matches are tailor made for shooters wanting to try competitive shooting for the first time: The "Frosty Farky 300M match" and now the "Running of the V-Bulls!" match.
In the V-Bulls match, we will be introducing two new classes to allow new shooters a far better chance of success with the equipment they own - without having to invest in all that expensive specialized equipment.Firstly, We are introducing a "sporter/factory" class that will allow anyone with a factory rifle and a scope to come out and compete on equal terms with others using the same type of equipment.
Stevens 200's in 223 will not have to compete against full-on custom 6BR's, and the targets used will be more representative of the accuracy of a factory rifle. This match will be 300, 400 and 500M with .8 and 1MOA targets being used. The difference will be determined by the nut behind the bolt, not the value of the gun.
Secondly, Tactical shooters (whose focus is a more applied type of shooting) will be able to come out an compete in F-Class using the target to which they are most familiar and used to using, the Figure 12/14.
I would certainly invite and encourage anyone interested in giving competitive "precision" rifle shooting a try, to come out to one or both of these matches. The Farky is a popular match and fills quickly. The V-Bulls match is new, and this will be fist first annual.
The experience one can gain from coming out and chewing the fat with experienced precision shooters and seeing what accomplished shooters use and recommend is an education in itself. Actually participating in one of these matches will teach you more than I can possibly express in this long-winded posting.
F-Class is a CANADIAN sport! It was created by one of us!
If you would like to know more about this sport or these matches, please feel free to email (NO PM's Please!) me or post your question here for all to see. CyaN1de is the Fullbore director of the Kamloops Target Sports Association and he is arguably the best F-Class shooter in Canada. He and I would love to see you come out and try this incredibly fun and addictive sport!
Edit, as of 10 April 2010
A few great things have been happening since I posted this thread that will hopefully make it much easier to come out and give this sport a try (FYI, I have to put in an atta-girl for my wife... today she was dragged to her first ever F-Class match. She considers this "my" thing and has had little interest... She placed first in her class at the Mission season opener, with a rifle she'd never used before, much less in competition!!!)
In BC, we formally adopted the Factory Sporter Class. This means that if you have an unmodified factory rifle (original unmodified factory action and barrel, trigger adjustment is fine and any stock is fine), you can come out ant compete on a larger, more forgiving target that is WELL within the capabilities of most factory rifles. You need not spend thousands on custom stuff.
Secondly, we have the BC and Alberta F-Class schedules on-line in a format that is fairly easy to figure out. You can easily see where and when the next F-Class matches will be held. (Hint!! The "Sierra" matches held in each province are a 300M match only... no very long distance stuff... these are fantastic first-time matches.
Thirdly, in BC, the Mission R&G club and the Kamloops Target Sports Association will be holding beginner clinics in competitive precision fullbore shooting each year. We will alternate locations on an annual basis to maximize exposure. This sell-out event was just held in Mission; if sufficient demand exists, we may hold a second clinic in the fall in Kamloops.
While I think trying to compete with Dad's old open-sight 30-30 might be a bit tough, I do want to emphasize that we have specifically tried to appeal to shooters that are curious about experiencing this sport, without having to feel inadequate or self-conscious about equipment. I certainly encourage you to come on out with what you have and give this a try!
300M and dead calm winds... a cake walk? Hmmm. No 50-10V's, trickier than meets the eyes!
Each discipline has one common theme: The aim (no pun intended) is to place your shot exactly where you want it, and success is judged by those that are most effective at doing so. The ultimate pursuit of accuracy falls on the shoulders of benchrest shooters, where specialized equipment and attention to minute detail is paramount to success. Placing that shot is not possible without good equipment, but more importantly, you must have a shooter that has the skill to place that shot as well. Just as few of us could go out and win a PGA event with the best clubs in the world, few shooters could win their very first Benchrest or F-Class match with the best rifle and ammo, but success is relative to the quality of the best shooters there and most matches are more about fun than dead-serious competition.
As this forum has demonstrated on many occasions, people would like to invest in equipment that will provide the best accuracy they can afford, and with few frames of reference, the neophyte precision rifle consumer is often at the mercy of salesmen, sales propaganda, anonymous forum opinions, or even simply how a rifle "looks". The reality is that most factory rifles produce accuracy that is adequate for their intended purposes, and the amount of money spent is no indicator of how well they will shoot.
our own CGN "CyaN1de" putting on a clinic at the BC Provincial F-CLass Championships
Like most elite sportsmen, the tools of the trade for ultimate precision shooting are often composed of customized and specialized components that you simply will not find on the shelf at "Bubba's Grub "n Guns". The problem is, there are few one-stop-shopping sources for these components. It is almost impossible to learn about F-Class shooting from hanging gout at Walmart.
The result is that when someone shows up for their first Benchrest or F-Class match, they will typically see firearms that bear little if any resemblance to the rifles they see on the shelf at the local sporting goods store. This is very intimidating and makes new shooters feel inadequate and uncomfortable. Frankly, the money invested in many of these rigs is frightening.
CGN "Unibomber" drilling them home with a factory Remington 700, AICS and S&B scope!
It need not be!
We have a precision shooting sport that was born in Canada, and is now one of the most popular and fastest growing shooting sports in the world: "F-Class".
This is a precision sport shot with a centerfire rifle, using an optical sight (scope) and either a front rest (ala benchrest) or a bipod. In addition, a rear bag is used as well. The sport is shot prone, although disabled shooters can be accommodated. The objective is to place shots as close to the center of the target as possible and point values are less the farther from the center you go. Basically, try and hit the bull's eye!
The targets are large enough that a scope of 10X will suffice, but more is better! The targets themselves are pulled down after each shot (the targets are on retractable frames) and a bright shot inticator is stuck in the bullet hole to show you where you hit. In addition, a score value is displayed aoround the edge with different positions representing different scores (a marker at 3 o'clock means you hit the bull!).
You shoot your next shot when the target is pulled back up.
Shooters are generally paired-up two per target and one keeps score for the other. You take turns shooting at each exposure of the target. It is a great way to learn from other shooters and a great way to learn to read conditions. One learns VERY fast!
Vokes Rifle Range: I defy anyone to show me a more beautiful rifle range in the world! Our dry BC summer shows in the normally emerald grass.
Being from the range where F-Class was born and the late George Farquharson (after whom F-Class was named) was a life-long member, it seemed particularly important to me that we remain committed to the promotion, advancement and refinement of the sport.
In Kamloops BC we hold a number of matches each year and two matches are tailor made for shooters wanting to try competitive shooting for the first time: The "Frosty Farky 300M match" and now the "Running of the V-Bulls!" match.
In the V-Bulls match, we will be introducing two new classes to allow new shooters a far better chance of success with the equipment they own - without having to invest in all that expensive specialized equipment.Firstly, We are introducing a "sporter/factory" class that will allow anyone with a factory rifle and a scope to come out and compete on equal terms with others using the same type of equipment.
Stevens 200's in 223 will not have to compete against full-on custom 6BR's, and the targets used will be more representative of the accuracy of a factory rifle. This match will be 300, 400 and 500M with .8 and 1MOA targets being used. The difference will be determined by the nut behind the bolt, not the value of the gun.
Secondly, Tactical shooters (whose focus is a more applied type of shooting) will be able to come out an compete in F-Class using the target to which they are most familiar and used to using, the Figure 12/14.
I would certainly invite and encourage anyone interested in giving competitive "precision" rifle shooting a try, to come out to one or both of these matches. The Farky is a popular match and fills quickly. The V-Bulls match is new, and this will be fist first annual.
The experience one can gain from coming out and chewing the fat with experienced precision shooters and seeing what accomplished shooters use and recommend is an education in itself. Actually participating in one of these matches will teach you more than I can possibly express in this long-winded posting.
F-Class is a CANADIAN sport! It was created by one of us!
If you would like to know more about this sport or these matches, please feel free to email (NO PM's Please!) me or post your question here for all to see. CyaN1de is the Fullbore director of the Kamloops Target Sports Association and he is arguably the best F-Class shooter in Canada. He and I would love to see you come out and try this incredibly fun and addictive sport!
Edit, as of 10 April 2010
A few great things have been happening since I posted this thread that will hopefully make it much easier to come out and give this sport a try (FYI, I have to put in an atta-girl for my wife... today she was dragged to her first ever F-Class match. She considers this "my" thing and has had little interest... She placed first in her class at the Mission season opener, with a rifle she'd never used before, much less in competition!!!)
In BC, we formally adopted the Factory Sporter Class. This means that if you have an unmodified factory rifle (original unmodified factory action and barrel, trigger adjustment is fine and any stock is fine), you can come out ant compete on a larger, more forgiving target that is WELL within the capabilities of most factory rifles. You need not spend thousands on custom stuff.
Secondly, we have the BC and Alberta F-Class schedules on-line in a format that is fairly easy to figure out. You can easily see where and when the next F-Class matches will be held. (Hint!! The "Sierra" matches held in each province are a 300M match only... no very long distance stuff... these are fantastic first-time matches.
Thirdly, in BC, the Mission R&G club and the Kamloops Target Sports Association will be holding beginner clinics in competitive precision fullbore shooting each year. We will alternate locations on an annual basis to maximize exposure. This sell-out event was just held in Mission; if sufficient demand exists, we may hold a second clinic in the fall in Kamloops.
While I think trying to compete with Dad's old open-sight 30-30 might be a bit tough, I do want to emphasize that we have specifically tried to appeal to shooters that are curious about experiencing this sport, without having to feel inadequate or self-conscious about equipment. I certainly encourage you to come on out with what you have and give this a try!
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When Mick finishes off my 5R i will be at as many matches as i can attend next spring , Hope you guys are not too hard on a newbie 
).
But with that being said I have no shame, I am competitive when I am good, but when I suck... I just want to get good!! 
