Starting f-Class

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blarby

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Ok, so I'm very seriously considering taking the plunge and starting to compete with a rifle.

Either F-class, or just highpower. Not quite sure what would be the way to go.

I've had about all of the "practice" and challenge I can get from the areas around me, and this is the next logical step.

I'd like to start with 300 yard, and eventually move to 600 yard, and eventually 1000 yard F-Class matches.

Only hitch is, I'm not exactly loaded in the cash department.

I know that without a $5k + rig, I can't reasonably expect to win any matches anytime soon. What I'd like to do is start on the path, hone my skill to whatever degree I can, and bank for the day a competition rifle thats in league with the big boys is in order.

I do have a Ruger MkII target rifle in .308, with a very nice ( to me) two stage trigger, and a 24" bbl. With my handloads, its capable of all of the accuracy I can muster out to about 200 yards- and this regularly includes 5 shot groupings of less than 1" from a bench rest.

What I need some advice on is a piece of glass that would work for these types of ranges, and will allow me to become comfortable with adjusting turrets, and beginning to dope for wind- but economy is going to be the number one concern. I went and priced some 20x (ish) glass around town- and $1500 is really not in the works anytime soon.

So, if thats not possible- lemme know and I'll shelve this one until I have more funding.

If it is, please lemme know whats out there, as my knowledge of glass pretty much extends to hunting grade optics- not this.

Thanks !
 
Mueller has a pretty good reputation, but 20 moa of adjustment (half of 40 total) is not going to carry you to 1000 yards. It might could manage 600 if your 100 yard baseline sight setting did not use up too much.

Vortex Viper and Sightron II have some more adjustment but not a whole lot more at that power range. Still 600 yard scopes.

I don't know if you can get a tapered base for the Ruger integral mounts, which is what most F class shooters use.

The SWFA Super Sniper fixed power scopes claim a wide range of adjustment.

CAUTION: I do not own any of the above, I got my Leupolds back before prices took off.
 
Can some one fill me in a little bit on the number of rounds commonly fired in the various matches >?

I'm getting some varying info, and I'd like to get the real deal from the folks who do it regularly.
 
A match is typically 20 shots for score plus unlimited sighters. In 30 minutes at 1000 yards. In 20 minutes at 600 and closer.
There may well be three individual matches in a day's program for a 60 shot, 600 point aggregate, five matches for 100 shots, 1000 points in a weekend program. Plus sighters.

Sometimes F class will run beside Palma shooting, which is 15 rounds each at 800,900, and 1000 yards, 45 shots, 450 points. Unlimited sighters at 800 yards, only two each at 900 and 1000, if I remember correctly.


You have to pull targets and score, too.
A match may be set up in three relays, one shooting, one scoring, one pulling targets.
Sometimes four relays with two pulling targets which gets them marked faster for the shooter but stretches the match out longer.
 
Excellent.

I was only looking at 600 yards, so that # is perfect.

In my 100 lapua cases, the largest I was able to get was a weight sorted batch of 61 pieces, using .6grs from highest to lowest in that batch. I'll use the rest of them for sighters.

I appreciate the awesomely quick feedback !~
 
And, I know its probably not as benefical as range time....but can anyone recommend any good books on the subject at hand >?
 
for a scope a high powered variable is almost a must for mirage (i have a 10x50x60 and 8x32x40 and a 8x32x50 on my other .clarity is the key you can have a high power scope but if isnt clear your just pissing in the wind. i see a few fixed power scopes but they are far and few inbetween. if your going to shoot f /tr get a harris bipod for now i shoot with one for 4 years until i switched to a sinclair f class bipod. the post above is correct to shoot 1k you will need somewhere between 30-34 moa i use a 20moa base and have plenty of adjustment and can still shoot @ 100 if needed(i also shoot an across the course match from time to time.
 
You'll just have to check the match's program.

The mid-Range (600 yard) matches I commonly shoot are referred to as a "3x600". Three 20 shot individual matches, with 2 sighters each, in a total of 22 minutes. The three matches are then combined to determine the winner for match #4 - the total aggregate of matches 1 - 3.


Again, it'll be clear on the match announcement what the format is.
 
I believe Nancy Thompkins wrote a good book on long range shooting. You might get the video series from Applied Ballistics on long range shooting as a primer.
 
As Jim Watson alluded to, you have a problem using a Ruger as a platform. You need a 20MOA picatinny rail and a scope with a lot of W&E adjustment to reach 1k with a .308. Using a 20MOA rail, you need a scope with a bare minimum of 40MOA of adjustment. Without a 20MOA rail, you'll need more than 60MOA of adjustment, and these scopes are rarer and much more expensive.

Don
 
Kind of around Robin Hood's Barn, you could get Ruger to Weaver adapter and Burris Signature Zee rings with offset inserts.
Still need a good range of adjustment, though.
The Super Snipers have a lot but I don't know their overall quality. Wish they didn't all have that coarse mil dot reticle.
 
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