F class noob

[muleystalker]

I assume you have a limited budget to build a rifle and buy components to practice and compete. Shooting FTR is an easier route because not as many choices to make and easier on the pocketbook. If you choose Open then IMO nothing wrong starting out with a 6 Dasher, BRA or similar. Will be considerably cheaper to shoot than a 7mm like 284. Recoil is less, barrels last longer, less powder and cheaper bullets. Once you have some matches under your belt you can then decide if you think the 6mm is holding you back. Stay away from barrel burners and heavy recoil. If you have an accurate load that will hold waterline then reading the wind is what separates the best from the rest.

Some good advice here but I would say the .308 could be little more cost prohibitive ,if you want to be competitive ,compared to the other cartridges. Most guys shooting FTR with .308 are shooting the heavies and pushing them, it's hard on the brass with many only getting 2-3 loadings on LAPUA brass. The 6 Dasher, 6 BRX, 6BRA are a great choice to start, they are a joy to shoot and a lot cheaper to shoot than the big 7's, enabling you to shoot more if your on a budget. They will make you learn the wind also. I would avoid the 6 Creedmoor, 6x47L and such, they go through barrels a lot faster in this game and don't beat out the Dashers, BRX and BRA's at the end of the day, I have tried them. The 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 140 Hybrids or 153.5 Bergers is a great choice to start with also along with a 6.5x47L shooting 140 Hybrids. I know a few guys shooting the 6.5 Creedmore that have taken several State F-Open Championships and a couple shooting the 260AI also. As far as using a HOWA action I would try and stick with a 700 footprint action, if not going a target tang action, since it will make finding new and used parts way easier thus saving you more money in the long run, believe me I have been there. Used Triggers, stocks and such. Remember you can still shoot in F-OPEN using a Bipod and at a local level you can be very competitive with a good F-Class bipod like the SEB JOYPOD. I bounce between my SEB rest and my SEB JOYPOD in F-OPEN often, depending on the rifle I'm shooting that day.

 

[muleystalker]

Just a thought, new F- Class shooters that enter open competition don't usually fair well. First master F-class with the entry .308 Win before stepping up to open class, otherwise be prepared to get your butt kicked for several years which might not be much fun. JMHO. If you are not competitive ( at least all rounds in the ten ring) with the .308 used for entry level, starting at open class for masters of the .308 isn't going to be very rewarding unless you meet up with a bunch of other newbies that haven't shot the .308 course of fire.

I know many FTR shooters who will shoot circles around F-OPEN shooters, I have seen them win overall match many times. Either way you are going to have to put in your trigger time and take your lumps to be competitive, at least at the places I shoot at. But thats what makes it fun.

 

[Beluebow]

I know many FTR shooters who will shoot circles around F-OPEN shooters,

Maybe on a club level occasionally but not head to head on a national level.

 

[muleystalker]

Maybe on a club level occasionally but not head to head on a national level.

I have seen it done at state level. I'm just saying starting at TR class isn't going to give you any advantage at placing over if you start in F-OPEN class. Some clubs offer an F Tactical... Bipod, any cartridge and muzzle brake ok. This is to help get newcomers to try it out.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I have seen it done at state level. I'm just saying starting at TR class isn't going to give you any advantage at place over if you start in F-OPEN class. Some clubs offer an F Tactical... Bipod, any cartridge and muzzle brake ok. This is to help get newcomers to try it out.

Wow I was going to try to shoot my 19 lb rifle off hand! Would have impressed them at the least!!!!

 

[M118LR]

Just imagine if your in a competition where all the competitors have been required to shoot expert level scores at 200 yards with their possibly more than 19 pound rifles offhand! Makes impressing them even more difficult. JMHO.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Just imagine if your in a competition where all the competitors have been required to shoot expert level scores at 200 yards with their possibly more than 19 pound rifles offhand! Makes impressing them even more difficult. JMHO.

You know that they have to carry everything that they are using up to the line by themselves????

 

[bamban]

Particularly when shooting with a sling!

And, irons

 

[M118LR]

Just consider that the guy next to you on the F-Class line may have had to carry everything in the FM 23 10 for a couple of years afield on deployment. Take a couple of whacks at the 1K KD line at Fort Stewart. Oops, only 7.62 x 51 shooters are allowed. YMMV.