Cartridge/platform combo for F-Class, LR plinking, and a little hunting

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gvnwst

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Cartridge/platform combo for F-Class and LR plinking

I am wanting to get into F-class, but i need a rifle that i can hunt with too, and is fairly cheap. I have been looking a lot, and i have narrowed it down to the .260 remington, (AI maybe) the .243 winchester, (AI maybe) and the 6mmBR(X?). I have heard that the short action AI cartridges don't feed well in most rifles, espically out of mags, this true? Are there any other downsides to the AI cartridges?

The .260 has good barrel life, is accurate, and the AI version has 6.5/284 ballistics, but there is not a lot of good brass available. Could also go with the 6.5x47 lapua, but that is even more expensive.

The .243 has the worst barrel life, but very good ballistics with 115gr DTAC bullets, the AI version even more so. Good brass is available.

The 6mmBR(X) has the best barrel life of the three, REALLY good factory ammo is available (normal BR), as with brass, and i can get a AR upper for it. Then i could use my current trigger and lower set up.


Any other cartridge suggestions? I am wanting to stay in the 6mm/6.5mm range, smaller, i have a .223, bigger, too much recoil, cost, and too large a rifle. This rifle is going to "pass off" as a hunting rifle, but due to my budget, i might as well get a rifle that i can shoot F-class and other matches with, right?:D

Also there is the platform selection. I have been thinking something like the savage 12 F/TR, but rebarreled. Then i have heard good things about the MAK tubeguns, and i would transfer all my AR pratice easily with those. For the BR(X), there is this AR upper, but would a bolt be a better pick? I would prefer a mag fed rifle, but i realize these are more expensive, and so if i can't get one....


So, basically, what would you pick and why? Are there any details i have missed, things that i should know?

Thoughts; Suggestions? Thanks.
 
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gvnwst,

I would suggest you get a .308, and here is why. Aside from the fact that the .308 is an excellent hunting cartridge, with readily available factory ammo, by using a .308 you would compete in the T/R division of F Class with quite a few other factory rifles. With any of the other cartridges you mentioned, you would have to shoot in the F Class Open division, along sides with a great many custom built rifles. Simply put, you stand a much better chance of being competitive in the T/R division of F Class.

Don
 
USSR--thanks for the suggestion, but i am really looking for something with better ballistics. I have shot a .308 at long ranges, and found it quite harder than the .243... Also, as i wrote, i have a .223, a "match grade" AR, which, IIRC, can be used in F-class? Also, i am a smaller guy, (5'8" and 150lb) so a lot of .308 would not be fun on my shoulder. So, i allready have a rifle that can be used in T/R class... Thanks.
:)
 
I have a friend who shoots .260 Ackley and it feeds OK out of the AICS magazines. He got about 3000 rounds before he rebarreled, but it was still shooting 3/4 MOA.

My would personally rather have a better overall long-range cartridge than choose .308 to place higher in my class in F-Class; however, USSR does make a good point.

It sounds like you want to stay in a short action. If this weren't an issue, 6.5-284 would be easier to load (no fireforming) vs. .260 Ackley.

For larger game animals, the .260 has more heavy/high sectional density bullet selection than .243.

From the perspective of bang for buck, the .260 Ackley doesn't have a huge advantage over the regular .260, since you're shooting the "same" bullet, just a little bit faster.

Overall, I'd choose .260 (again). There's a good chance that the Remington brass will be fine. If not, it's easy to neck up your choice of .243 brass (Winchester is fairly cheap but good). No fireforming needed. Barrel life is good. There are a lot of bullet choices. Good for hunting.

In the .243, you get less recoil, better off the shelf brass choices with no prep (e.g. Lapua 243), but less barrel life and the high-BC bullet selection is much more sparse (just 2-3?).

-z
 
I shoot a .243 Savage 12 FV. I don't worry about barrel life because I can change it out at home in about 10 minutes. I have not tried the 115 DTAC but the SMK's work really well in weights from 70-105 grains. There are a lot of bullets over 95 grains including the big manufacturers and specialists like Berger with their VLD's.

savage12fv2.jpg

This group was when I was working up loads with the 70 grain Nosler that I use out to 300 yards and is representative of what it does all the time now, except when my finger is really twitchy.

243target005.jpg
 
I have the savage ftr in 308 and can print .5 MOA 5 shot groups most of the time. Best to date is .398:D
I don't do any comps or anything, I don't think I'm that good. Its all just for the fun of doing it.
 
...i have a .223, a "match grade" AR, which, IIRC, can be used in F-class? Also, i am a smaller guy, (5'8" and 150lb) so a lot of .308 would not be fun on my shoulder. So, i allready have a rifle that can be used in T/R class...

Uh, while you could use the .223 in T/R F Class (I am assuming 1,000 yard F Class), the .308 dominates that division (I know of no one who deliberately shoots a .223), and for good reason. If you shoot the 155gr Scenar bullet at the 2950fps that it is typically shot at, you will have a relatively flat shooting cartridge. Also, regarding recoil, weight is your friend, and you can always add weight to your stock and have it be a pussycat.

Don
 
Zak--thanks for the info. Would te 6.5x47 be a good choice vs the .260, as good brass is allready there, and it duplicates the .260 in all other ways?


Uh, while you could use the .223 in T/R F Class (I am assuming 1,000 yard F Class), the .308 dominates that division (I know of no one who deliberately shoots a .223), and for good reason.
I actually don't know of any 1k ranges around where I live, but you do make a good point. I am thinking pretty much what Zak said; "I would personally rather have a better overall long-range cartridge than choose .308 to place higher in my class in F-Class".


On platform, if I can find a good condition used savage 12 F/TR, that is the way I would go, but for near the same money I could get a MAK tubegun, repeater model. Both I would need a new barrel for, and so the only difference is that the savage is really easy to change barrels on, and I can do it at home, while the Remington I can’t. Anything else I should know?
Thanks for the help guys, and keep it coming.:)
 
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Cool, i once got some stuff for my MKII there, didn't know they did centerfire stocks...

Does anyone know where to get a savage short action, used, just the plain action with accutrigger?
 
gvnwst the group i shot in the postal match in my sig line was done with a Savage with a Shilen 6.5x47 barrel. It shoots sub MOA at 300 meters as well.
 
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