New Mid-Range Game for AR's in 2016

[DE-F-Open]

NRA Mid-Range (Prone) Tactical Rifle (AR)

For those clubs and match directors who have members with AR's who want to shoot Mid-Range Prone but who don't want (or can't afford) to shoot traditional "sling" or F-Class, we have a new opportunity to get those AR's out of the closet and onto the range with very little in the way of additional costs:

It's called Mid-Range Tactical Rifle (AR). A copy of the description and the Rules (Provisional) are attached as a PDF file and should be published by NRA very soon... CAUTION - these are NOT official.... but I think they are accurate:

In brief, here's how it works:

1. To be fired concurrently with any other Mid-Range event, alongside of F-Class & "sling"
2. Fired on the "sling targets"
3. Rifle as follows:
..........223/5.56 up to & including .308/7.62; overall weight not more than 14 lbs; Harris-type "tactical bipod"; scope not more than 12x; bbl not more than 20"; trigger pull not less than 4.5 lbs;
4. This is NOT F-Class - this is designed to be closer to "tactical" - - F-Class competition gear is generally illegal; competition stocks are generally illegal.... designed to attract more law enforcement and/or military (maybe local National Guard?) and other "tactical shooters" out to the range shooting for precision.....

For more info check out the attached PDF file......

Sent as an FYI,

DE-F-Open

 

[SG4247]

If the 6mm and 6.5 AR's are allowed to participate, I certainly will.

 

[MNFinn]

Cool. Unfortunately, now I'll be wanting to build another AR

 

[XTR]

I think it's cool. I think it is a great idea. That said I'm probably not going to have time to play this but I will make the following comments, take them for what they are worth.

"Tactical stocks with an adjustable cheek piece and/or an adjustable butt plate are permitted." - The term "tactical" kind of ehh? here but I think this would make a magpul PRS legal? Tactical is hard to define here, there are people running tactical Eliseo platforms in bolt guns

Here is a concept that the NRA competitive shooting guys probably don't fully understand. Tactical guys are cuckoo crazy over optics. They are more than willing to spend more on their optics than rifles. After reading the National Match boards for a while since the latest rule change hit the streets re: 3.1 rifles it is pretty obvious that the NRA sling and irons crowd is not so much (well, duh...) So, saying that:



With regard to scopes on an AR platform I might suggest either limiting the magnification to 8x which puts pretty much all of the current AR platform designed scopes in the game, or take the max up a bit. (actually taking the max to 6x is probably what needs to be done in 3.1 but that is a different discussion)

It was obvious that the NRA and the CMP are a little behind the curve on optics with the 4.5x max in the new HP rules, unless they were just giving a nod to Trijicon. Most of the AR designed optics out there are now 6x and there are a few 8x, and most of the tactical mid range magnification scopes out there are in the 14-16x range, and have been for several yrs now since all of the top of the line tactical scopes from all the manufacturers went to the 25-30x range.

I think I understand limiting the scope magnification to keep the F class scopes on F class rifles but if limited to 12x is mostly second tier optics. Just a thought.

One last thought, using a bipod and a scope I think it probably should be shot on the F class target, sling and iron guys can clean the 600 yard target with pretty good frequency, but if this does become a real and not provisional class the scores will determine that detail.

 

[1shot]

+1 to everything XTR said. I would like to add, that in "real life" tactical ops. they are often conducted with a suppressor. I think they should be allowed and encouraged as a lot of European countries. Not mandatory mine you, but allowed.
Food for thought,
Lloyd

 

[XTR]

+1 to everything XTR said. I would like to add, that in "real life" tactical ops. they are often conducted with a suppressor. I think they should be allowed and encouraged as a lot of European countries. Not mandatory mine you, but allowed.
Food for thought,
Lloyd

The NRA will likely never allow suppressors, or brakes, it's been argued to death, well not so much argued but complained about by the tactical crowd, esp. regarding F-TR.

 

[mac86951]

I'd wish for a 24" barrel allowance

 

[DE-F-Open]

If the 6mm and 6.5 AR's are allowed to participate, I certainly will.

Yep, any AR in any caliber. 223/5.56 up to and including .308/7.62, and everything in between

 

[Highpower-FClass]

Looks like a great new addition.

The PDF document says rule 7.20 for course of fire which is mid-range slow fire. I believe all slow fire is currently 'one round loads'. The PDF explicitly states 10, 20 or 30 round magazines and no sleds. Does anyone know if this new discipline would be fired from-magazine or one round loads?

Shooting from magazine would be keeping with the 'tactical' aspect and enforcing mag-length loads. But it does not seem to jive with the 'one round load' currently stipulated for slow fire?

 

[mac86951]

Looks like a great new addition.

The PDF document says rule 7.20 for course of fire which is mid-range slow fire. I believe all slow fire is currently 'one round loads'. The PDF explicitly states 10, 20 or 30 round magazines and no sleds. Does anyone know if this new discipline would be fired from-magazine or one round loads?

Shooting from magazine would be keeping with the 'tactical' aspect and enforcing mag-length loads. But it does not seem to jive with the 'one round load' currently stipulated for slow fire?

I would hope that they would require magazine fed course of fire, though I could see either way.

If nothing else, magazine length ammunition agreed would keep the 'tactical' and help keep costs in check too.

-Mac

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

Sounds like a great concept, but I feel like they left the rules too open. I would've stuck with .223/5.56 and spec'd military stocks (A1, A2, CAR, SOPMOD). I've seen this too many times in racing where they try to make an affordable class to attract more participants, but leave the rules so broad that equipment/money makes up for a lack of skill. As these rules are presented, there is nothing that makes this more affordable than a traditional f-class or sling rifle.

 

[Medic505]

Hopefully they will all be squadded together so they can throw hot brass on each other.

 

[Endyo]

I'm guessing this class will be very popular. I'm excited to try it.

I just sold my Harris bipod the other day though...

 

[XTR]

Sounds like a great concept, but I feel like they left the rules too open. I would've stuck with .223/5.56 and spec'd military stocks (A1, A2, CAR, SOPMOD). I've seen this too many times in racing where they try to make an affordable class to attract more participants, but leave the rules so broad that equipment/money makes up for a lack of skill. As these rules are presented, there is nothing that makes this more affordable than a traditional f-class or sling rifle.

This is just a balloon to see what they get, it will get refined. It's a provisional at this point so it's all really just for fun. The NRA has realized that the only growing class of HP shooting is F class and they are looking out there to see where they can appeal to more people. The AR platform rifle is the best selling rifle in the US. Hmmm... maybe we can come up with a way to get more AR owners out on the line.

 

[Cigarcop]

Hopefully they will all be squadded together so they can throw hot brass on each other.

+1!!!!!

 

[johara1]

Keith, Nothing gets your attention more than hot brass down your neck. Look at it as a test on concentration …….. lol….. jim

 

[Cigarcop]

Keith, Nothing gets your attention more than hot brass down your neck. Look at it as a test on concentration …….. lol….. jim

Jim I've been there!!!

 

[DBailey]

Sounds fun. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Cujo]

I'd wish for a 24" barrel allowance

Me too.

 

[mac86951]

I wonder if they'll allow a NM M1A with optics into this class.

-Mac