Match Competition calibers?

thebuckhunter

thebuckhunter

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What are the most common calibers used in LR Match competitions? What is generally the most accurate caliber? What is a good caliber to use out to 1000 meters? The reason I'm asking is I'm debating either the Rem 700 or Savage platforms to start off with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

One more question, the ORA matches @ CFB Kingston, are they open to the public or is membership required?


Thanks,

-Jason
 
Go to www.ontariorifleassociation.org for information about attending ORA shoots. You should really consider the introductory days. The single most common caliber for Target Rifle shooting, which is a specific discipline is .308, with a bullet under 156gr. If you wish to shoot in F Class (scope, rest), you have more choices. Look around the ORA site. There are three F Classes on ON. Open, .223/.308, or factory. The latter being an essentially unaltered factory rifle. This could be the easiest to try. But do consider getting out to an introductory day. For Open F, the sky is the limit, subject to range safety templates. 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges have a wide following. I am sure Maynard will have more to add.
 
First determine the class you want to shoot and the rules you must shoot under.

In recent years, when rifle weight is restricted to some degree, the 6.5 has been dominant. The cartridge most often used is the 6.5-284. Over the years it has set some very amazing results however, quite hard on barrels.

There are many smaller cases to help reduce that problem. 6.5X55, 260 and the AI versions of both are very common now. My 6.5 Mystic is my idea of a better mouse trap.

The goal is to get a 140gr class VLD match bullet to at least 2750fps (2900 to 3000fps prefered). Ballistics are superb by way of wind drift reduction and relatively low recoil.

Over the last 5 or so years, the 6mm has really come into its own. First the 6BR but that had to be run at pretty elevated pressures. Following are a variety of improved versions. Most are excellent but also run pretty high pressures.

To help reduce any risk of locking up actions, some went to the next larger case, the 22/250. Many versions now all with positive results.

David Tubbs has been promoting his proprietory cartridge the 6XC. Of course, it has had a great match record but then David knows a thing or two about shooting.

If rifle weight is not restricted, the 7mm, 30 and 338 offer better ballistics but recoil and shooting cost goes up dramatically.

The 308/223 fall into service/tactical rifle classes and do well when paired against themselves. Not very competitive against the 6mm and larger cals due solely to increased wind drift. Now there are some very skilled Palma shooters that can shoot possibles in a tornado but for the average joe learning, having as much as 50% less wind drift helps.

The 6.5 in a 'better' cal based on paper ballistics but look at match scores and the 6mm is not giving up anything much. New bullets will push the 6mm into the lead.

www.6mmbr.com is a wonderful site to learn all about this stuff. There is no one perfect combo in the LR game, unlike SR BR.

Just look at how many shooters are shooting what classes. Sometimes just having others to shoot with will determine what you use.

For me, shooting in a light rifle class, I would use my 6.5 Mystic of course but the 6mm is getting my interest as new bullets come out. If someone makes a quality 6mm bullet with a BC over 0.6, this cal will take over all light rifle LR shooting.

For the heavy classes, the 7mm would get my nod.
Good luck...

Jerry
 
Come up to Connaught when things get rolling and talk to the F shooters. There is no magic that you can buy that has not been considered by others. Don't buy until you see what is in use. Both the Rem and Savage are bottom of the line so wait until you talk to the pros on the range.

Ian
 
mysticplayer said:
Over the last 5 or so years, the 6mm has really come into its own. First the 6BR but that had to be run at pretty elevated pressures. Following are a variety of improved versions. Most are excellent but also run pretty high pressures.
If someone makes a quality 6mm bullet with a BC over 0.6, this cal will take over all light rifle LR shooting.


Jerry
Click to expand...


We will just have to wait and see what Richard Graves will be able to put out when he gets his new dies. If anyone should be able to make the high BC 6mm bullet he appears to be the man.


Calvin
 
Good post mysticplayer!

I'll give 7mm (WSM or SAUM) another vote for accuracy and overall use. With the 7mm, you can pretty much hunt everything you can here, restricted only by common sense (IE no bears ;) ).

And if you'd like to see what the 7WSM is capable of achieving on a paper target, check this out:
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

This is what I'm trying to build :).
 
Chronos said:
Good post mysticplayer!

I'll give 7mm (WSM or SAUM) another vote for accuracy and overall use. With the 7mm, you can pretty much hunt everything you can here, restricted only by common sense (IE no bears ;) ).

And if you'd like to see what the 7WSM is capable of achieving on a paper target, check this out:
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

This is what I'm trying to build :).
Click to expand...
I've been considering long range target and was thinking 1000 yrds. I didn't really grasp how far that really is. After checking out the link and seeing what 1000yds looks like, I'm amazed you can actually hit the friggin target. Holy crap that's far!!!!
 
As far as 1000yds is, top level shooters are now GROUPING under match conditions sub 5" groups. Under practise conditions, there are many 3" and 4" 5 rds groups.

Great gear, great bullets, even better condition doping. The common thought is that the weak link is now the bullet. All sorts of techniques are being used to try and reduce the variations from bullet to bullet.

Will be interesting to see what the future holds. I really hope that is improved QC with so called match bullet makers.

I would not say that a factory based target rifle is a total waste of time as there have been no shortage of rifles built on Rem that hold/have held world records in many shooting disciplines. Savage has also had success with a few records held/have held.

Of course, the custom match actions will extract the most from the gear but does add some to the overall rifle cost.

Go have a look at what is shooting and in what classes. The next most important step is get any rifle and start shooting.

Wind doping is the hardest skill to learn and will always separate the shooters. Missing the wind by a few MPH's will have a more profound effect then shooting a factory but tuned Savage vs a full up BR rig.

The difference between a good and great rifle is at most 1/2 MOA (more then likely 1/4 MOA these days). Misjudging conditions and you may very well miss the paper (that can be as big as 3' across).

Don't be discouraged or overwhelmed by the gear you see. That is an enormous investment put in over time and by those with the skills to benefit.

Get shooting, learning, practising. At some point, your skills will exceed the abilities of your rifle. That is a truly happy day. Save up for the rifle that suits your needs then.

You don't start car racing with an Indy car either...

Jerry
 
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Thanks for the responses people. I've been shooting 150+ yards for the last month using a .22LR. I'm having a blast. I fired off a 1.2" group at 150 yards on Tuesday morning (0630 hrs) with NO wind. Later that morning (1130 hrs) the wind was gusting to 14 kmh, my groups were in the 3.5" range, with one 10 shot group @ 5". I'm just looking for a good action and caliber that I can "grow" with and it can grow with me. Here is a pic of my .22 rig.

Thanks again,

-Jason
22gun001.jpg


Here' my target stand.
22gun004.jpg
 
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The WSM case is a fairly large capacity thing for some guys to deal with.
If you shoot a lot, you will be rebarreling or at least rechambering every summer if you want to stay competitive.
I know, as I own two 6.5WSM wildcats, and the one rifle had 4" of throat gone in about 2,000 rounds.
It was still shooting MOA at 500 then, okay for hunting but not anywhere near the accurcay needed for matches.
At 1.500 it shot three consecutive goups at or slightly less than .5 MOA at 100 yards.
That same rifle would put three into les than 6" at 1,000 meters when it was fresh.
These rifles were not built with competition in mind however, but for fun .
Everything has its price, and there is no free lunch in the competitive world.
A guy can have a whole bunch of "YAHOO!" however , with a rifle costing less than a used car!:D
Cat
Please excuse the editing, I sometimes get on this thing without my "readers " on!
 
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Tiriaq hit the nail on the head, the only thing I have to add is...
Target Rifle is shot off the elbows with a jacket and sling supported by the shooter, using iron sights.
F Class Open is just about anything you do not have to tow to the range within the range restriction of the range safety template. No rail guns or return to battery rifles allowed.
F(F) class is .223 or .308 with the same bullet restriction as Target Rifle, 80 gr and 156 gr.
F(M) is an off the shelf rifle any caliber within the safety template, any sight any rest, with a few mod to the rifle. Factory barrel, no improved chamber.
The ORA has some Intro Days coming up, a good deal for $30. This way you can find out the type of shooting that fits what you are trying to accomplish, and fits your wallet.
 
The 308 F class is a good way to start, you sure don't need a barrel burner when you are trying to learn. Enough to deal with without constantly chasing the lands and new barrels. Doesn't hurt to plan ahead with an action you can use for a better cartridge down the road.
 
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