F Class, the red headed stepchild?

[Terry]

On many Club websites and in their communication. F Class is not clearly presented. You see a lot about Palma, but little about F Class.

If you are new to F Class shooting this is frustrating. One should not have to know the code. It should be clearly shown when F Class will be shot and any detail needed.

 

[243Mendoza]

These may be clubs that time forgot Fclass has become popular to the point that it now dominates many previously traditional sling-dominated clubs. Look around for other clubs.

 

[kzin]

1. A lot of club web sites are well behind what's really happening at the club.

2. Sometime the people doing the work to run shoots really are old time slingers who believe that's the one right way to shoot and only grudgingly accept f-class as unavoidable.

3. I think smallbore f-class in particular is now where HP f-class was a few years ago and a few clubs still are where sling shooters and even MDs are barely aware that f-class exists.

4. The majority of clubs are fine.

 

[asyoung]

yes

 

[BronzeArcher]

When I first started attending F-Class matches, the hard thing was figuring out that it is a subset of NRA High Power Prone, so I needed to search for Prone matches in NRA High Power, and then drill down to the match program to see if F-Class was included.

A lot of clubs didn't list "F-Class" near the top level of their web sites or anywhere on their calendars.

This is still the case for many places, like Bayou Rifles, to pick an example. Without knowing that "F-Class" is a subset of "Long Range Prone" (1000 yards) or "Midrange Prone", it's easy to miss at their web site. The phrases "F-Class", "F-Open", and "F-TR" don't appear even on the high power page or the calendar. One has to drill down to the match programs or results. Some other clubs (RBGC) list it on their calendars as HP 3X600. How in the world is a newbie supposed to know that means "F-Class"? One has to drill down to the match program or results to see the words "F-Class" or similar.

Other clubs (Palo Alto, for example) do a bit better by listing matches on their calendars as "Mid-Range Prone/F-Class."

Red headed stepchild? Dunno if they don't want to be found or if they don't realize how hard they are to find for newbies who don't know "the code."

 

[Rtheurer]

Prone... Thats what your looking for. First step is to Read the actual Rule book which i am sure you have. It is free and available by the Simple google of " NRA Highpower Rule book".... Going to a match and not knowing what the rules are.. Well I am sure none of you guys do that.
NRA High Power Prone. F Open, FTR, Service RIfle, Conventional sling Palma. Plus the AR Tactical class now.

 

[Terry]

Prone... Thats what your looking for. First step is to Read the actual Rule book which i am sure you have. It is free and available by the Simple google of " NRA Highpower Rule book".... Going to a match and not knowing what the rules are.. Well I am sure none of you guys do that.
NRA High Power Prone. F Open, FTR, Service RIfle, Conventional sling Palma. Plus the AR Tactical class now.

Having and reading the rules for not alter the poor communication from clubs.

 

[DR1586]

F-Class is not a stand alone sport. It is a part of NRA Highpower, specifically the prone courses of fire. If you have questions, email or call the club. As Russ mentioned, the NRA rule book is your friend and will help with gaining understanding of the sport. There are volunteers writing match bulletins in their spare time, so sorry if you have to do a little digging. Doesn’t seem to prevent most from finding their way.

Which club is it? Maybe they don’t realize it’s not 100% transparent and we can help everyone out. I assume you’ve contacted them to inquire about anything that is unclear or to ask about their F-Class participation?

 

[DR1586]

So not being super familiar with the matches in Wisconsin, I did a quick research project using google. I found the following.

Winequah in Lodi - Specifically calls our F-Class participation in the Long Range segment of their website.

La Crosse specifically calls it out on their highpower page.

Eau Claire has it in their match bulletins.

So within 10 minutes, on my phone, I found information regarding F-Class at three well established ranges in your area.

 

[Terry]

http://www.illinoishighpower.org/10-state_schedule/10-state_schedule.html

His is helpful.

 

[Liven The Dream]

For what it it is worth ?
F/Class in the PNW Area is more popular than sling as of late. I think it has a lot to do with age ?
In my case Age and Health moved me , I still want to be there.

Our local Range COSSA 1000 yard 12 E Targets Welcomes All .
They have a Class for Tactical , they want Shooters and Turn out...

 

[XTR]

As noted above, you need to understand that F class is part of High Power Prone. There have been some other complaints but I’ve yet to show up at a HP prone match that didn’t have F class, and I’ve shot on about 20 different ranges from Maine to AZ, MI to TX and a lot in between. FWIW have you ever looked at how many “classes” the sling and coat shooters have? Service, match, Palma, any/any, any/irons that I can think of.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Another item to consider is that there is no way to know why F-Class information might be sparse or seem to be under-represented at a given shooting range website. There could be a wide range of reasons, and it could fall on a number of different people, including the F-Class match Director; we simply have no way of knowing. Rather than to assume nefarious intent on anyone's part, I would simply send a note to the F-Class Match Director requesting more information and offer the suggestion that more complete information on their website would be a welcome addition.

Regardless of the discipline, we're all in this together.

 

[r bose]

Funny, All our matches around me are called F-Class matches. I have had to call to see if the club even owns prone targets and allows prone, sling shooting.

I Think we have become the red headed step children.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Now the trend is that run and jump shooting.

 

[DR1586]

http://www.illinoishighpower.org/10-state_schedule/10-state_schedule.html

His is helpful.

Very helpful for folks in that area. It’s gives you a 10k foot view of the overall schedule of events and then directs you to the host clubs who publish the match bulletins. In these bulletins, you’ll find the specific course of fire and any restrictions related to types of firearms and classes.

 

[6fatrat]

Agree with R Bose, it seems like for every new prone shooter we pick up F class picks up 10.
Glad to see all the new shooters as we generally share the range at matches.
Steve Bair

 

[rardoin]

Funny, All our matches around me are called F-Class matches. I have had to call to see if the club even owns prone targets and allows prone, sling shooting.

I Think we have become the red headed step children.

Don't kid yourself Robert...you've always been a read headed step child . Kidding aside, to reflect accurately, NRA approved matches should be called HP prone and list the disciplines that will firing if more than F-class is participating.

 

[r bose]

Don't kid yourself Robert...you've always been a read headed step child . Kidding aside, to reflect accurately, NRA approved matches should be called HP prone and list the disciplines that will firing if more than F-class is participating.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/2020-louisiana-f-class-long-range-championship.3993539/

This is what I'm talking about. No prone shooters allowed.

 

[XTR]

That’s an F class state championship that’s sold out. The range has limited capacity.

In Tennessee they have separate F class and Prone HP championships too, but I don’t believe either one has ever sold out to the point that it was exclusive.