out of curiousity: why .223 and .308 in F-T/R?

[Detritus]

call it a pang of curiousity while on cold meds (finally getting over a head cold after 6 days).But earlier today the thought struck me, What was the logic (or process) behind the decision to limit the F-T/R Division to just .223 and .308? Not meaning this as any kind of argument, or complaint. Just wondering if it was just something done to make an easily defined and easier to enter division, or if there was a further reasoning behind it.

I mean if the idea was to have a division where a shooter isn't pretty much required to have a high dollar rig to make it worthwhile to show up (My last truck cost less than most of the F-Open guns i've seen), wouldn't it make more sense for the allowable caliber selection to be a little wider and include say, some of the popular US hunting rounds, or other common chamberings?

It's my understanding that as it stands now a new shooter that shows up with a rifle that would otherwise fit into F-T/R but chambered in say 30-06, .243, .260Rem , or something in an old Mil-surp round like 7.62x54 or .303Brit, is going to be lumped in with F-Open and shooting in the same Div. as guys with $3K+ just in their rifle not to mention the rests etc.

Just a random thought running through my head.
As always thank you for your time and anything you wish to share

 

[Jim Watson]

In my opinion, it is rampant political correctness.
NRA will now tell you that F-T/R stands for F Class, Target Rifle, but early on I had the definite perception that it meant TACTICAL Rifle and was therefore limited to current USGI chamberings.

I started out with a .30-06, went on a wild goose chase with a souped up AR .223, and settled down with a .308 like everybody else in F-T/R.

I don't think a hunting rifle or mil-surp would be any more competitive against the present crop of refined .308s than it would be versus a 6.5 Lapua.
If you want to shoot on the cheap, shoot.

 

[Detritus]

If you want to shoot on the cheap, shoot.

Actually, on the rare occasions (twice in 3 years) when I get a chance to shoot one of the local Mid-range matches i shoot a .308 in F-T/R. Have a 700 SPS-V I've been slowly tinkering with for the past almost 4 years. B&C stock, timney trigger, and just for the experience/hell of it I turned down and threaded the bolt handle for a "tactical" bolt knob.

early on I had the definite perception that it meant TACTICAL Rifle and was therefore limited to current USGI chamberings.

See THAT actually makes sense. keeping it limited to 5.56 and 7.62 would be natural if it's "Tactical Rifle" or at least would have at the time F-class became offically recognized etc. Now though and esp. in light of the offical line becoming that T/R is target Rifle, well the rule doesn't fit the party line as neatly any more.

I guess my perception is that it would be a little easier to get folks interested in the matches if they were able to show up with say a decent Varmint/predator rifle in a common caliber (Ex .270) and not be Bumped into Open on the caliber alone.


Personally since i already shoot a .308 I don't currently have a stake in it one way or the other. Now if my wife decides to try it out, which i am kind of working on, and wants to shoot the LR matches. Then i might wish that .243 or .260 was allowed in F-T/R (she's more recoil sensitive due to shoulder surgery).

But i've rambled on and that wasn't my intent.

thanks for the comments/ insights.

certainly welcome any others as well

 

[helotaxi]

If you think about it, F T/R has probably the most level playing field in the F-Class game. Neither the .308 nor the .223 are great at the ranges in question and the shooter, not his super-hotrod cartridge, are the star. The playing field is level with regard to wind drift and the best shooter will win 99.9% of the time. In the open class, the middle calibers with the super sleek bullets and higher velocities reduce the shooter in the equation; their resistance to wind drift means that the effect of being slightly off on a wind call is reduced by the cartridge and if you can reduce wind drift more than the other guy, you're at a distinct advantage. Open class is completely an arms race at this point, T/R not so much.