F-Class - If there was one thing you could do...
- Thread starter 3081FTR
- Start date
Short answer: read the wind better. The statement that leads to a better answer: It depends on what level you are shooting at. If you are already shooting 95%+ (High master, or damn near) regularly, then its fine tuning here and there. If you are shooting 70%, then there is probably something major you need to fix
I guess it depends on one's priorities. Some buddies and I are getting tired of the equipment races, so we expect to be shooting some matches with our hunting and varmint rifles this year.
The expectation is that we should improve our shooting with the $300-$800 rifles we actually use in the field, but that most of the improvement will be from the 85% to the 95% range rather than the equipment race that dominates attempts to improve from 95% to the HM range.
There is considerable interest in seeing who can do the best with a light, inexpensive factory rifle.
Practice until it's easy. I've seen average guys turn themselves into top shooters by routinely practicing.
My loads are, as far as quality goes, are within a hairsbreath of a L/R Benchrest fellow. So there is some room for improvement there>>>BUT the B-I-G-G-E-S-T gain I would have would be in the "wind-reading" department. On calm, slightly overcast days, I can shoot my 1000 yard rifles into 5" or less "fairly" consistently... So "theoretically" my rifles could shoot almost ALL, if not all "X"'s.. BUT you look at my scores out there and that certainly is not the case. Once I get to 1000 yards my wind reading ability drags my scores into the toilet! So reading the wind CORRECTLY would be the biggest boon to my scores!
"On calm, slightly overcast days"
Been doing this for more than 5 years and have never experienced that. When and where is that?
OP: wind reading. If you're shooting 1K, then ammo / load / bullet selection matters quite a bit also. Squeezing the last bit of accuracy out of a rifle, and tuning your rifle and technique so you can shoot with extreme consistency ALL THE TIME" requires a huge effort. Think 80/20 rule. Keeping rifle / load in tune is like tuning a Formula One car.
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
I'm not sure how much of an "equipment race" F-TR is in reality. On more than one weekend I've seen an out of the box Savage F-TR kick lots of butt, granted that is a $1400 out of the box rifle. Yea, ok, showing up with a factory R 700 with a 24" barrel and a Harris bipod, shooting FGGM isn't going to get you far, but name a competition of any kind where showing up with off the shelf will win.
If you look around this site there are a whole lot of varmint guns that cost a whole lot more than $800. In fact, I'm curious what Varmint rifle someone shoots that comes in less than $800, as soon as you toss on a Jewell trigger you're probably over than mark, and if you've put on a new barrel then you are at about $750 just in the barrel, gunsmith work and a trigger.
I do shoot custom actions at long range, but I do not see that they afford me a higher score than my R700; in fact at mid range my main gun is my R700 chambered in 223, and I routinely shoot High Master scores with it, granted it's in a non-factory stock, and it has a Lilja barrel and a NF scope. That rifle cost:
The "equipment race" in F-TR means:
To the original question. Pay better attention to the wind and don't lose points due to being inattentive or impatient.
If you look around this site there are a whole lot of varmint guns that cost a whole lot more than $800. In fact, I'm curious what Varmint rifle someone shoots that comes in less than $800, as soon as you toss on a Jewell trigger you're probably over than mark, and if you've put on a new barrel then you are at about $750 just in the barrel, gunsmith work and a trigger.
I do shoot custom actions at long range, but I do not see that they afford me a higher score than my R700; in fact at mid range my main gun is my R700 chambered in 223, and I routinely shoot High Master scores with it, granted it's in a non-factory stock, and it has a Lilja barrel and a NF scope. That rifle cost:
- R700 action $450
- Lilja Barrel $300
- Chamber and mount $200
- Stock $750 (the last stock I bought from PR&T, and I paid too much)
- Jewell Trigger $230
- Duplin Bipod (that I use on 3 rifles) $350
- EGW Rail $40
- All in w/o scope $2320
The "equipment race" in F-TR means:
- a good bipod (you can get a Duplin for about $350 I think)
- a 30" barrel (it's competition, everyone eventually needs a barrel, this is hardly a race)
- a good scope (nobody ever lost a point shooting a Sightron, we buy more expensive ones because we like them)
- good loads (you need that anywhere)
- a good rear bag
- Stock, this is totally personal and subjective. You can spend a lot or a little and get one that works well. Right now I'm spending the money for pretty wood because I can and I want to, they don't shoot any better, but dayum they look good.
To the original question. Pay better attention to the wind and don't lose points due to being inattentive or impatient.
Well if you have never experienced that, you must not live anywhere near Houston, Texas! LOL!! It is like that (in the early morning) often!
Most places are good early in the morning. The wind usually doesn't start till the match does. Matt
That is correct Matt.. When I do load testing out at 600 or 1000, I get there and we shoot as soon as we can see the target good enough to hold steady at a good aiming point.. Usually by 8:30 or so, the wind starts it course..
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
There is always that isn't there.
Cigarcop
Silver $$ Contributor
If Mike can do it...... Anyone can!!!!
If I can assume the OP is a relatively new FC shooter I would recommend he find a very experience HM or Master class competitor to act as his mentor. This along with shooting in multi-day championships will do more to increasing a newbies scores than anything else. Multi-day championships act to reinforce things learned the days before and allow contact with to better shooters and good free knowledge in most cases.
coford
Gold $$ Contributor
Be patient while firing. I have dropped more points by not waiting until a condition returns than for any other reason. I see the pickup or let up and don't wait long enough for my original condition to return. I don't know how many times I have waited 3 or 4 minutes and If I had waited 5 or 6 I could have saved myself several points. Just because others are done shooting doesn't mean you have to. Look down the line when conditions get tough (wind changes or bad mirage) and the best shooters generally are the last ones to finish. There are exceptions like David Gosnell, but the majority of the top shooters take more time to shoot when things get tough.
Coming from tactical matches and 1000 yard benchrest (Running a condition), being in a hurry was the norm. One of the biggest mistakes I made in my first F-Class match was not waiting/not being patient for conditions.
I would encourage practicing in terrible conditions, and be ready for walks of humility. Getting the wind/mirage figured out is pretty big in my book.
I would encourage practicing in terrible conditions, and be ready for walks of humility. Getting the wind/mirage figured out is pretty big in my book.
boltman13
Gold $$ Contributor
I like Kings X's consistency, confidence, and calmness. I have discovered over time to reduce each 20 shot string to a series of 20 one shot matches. Try to concentrate only on the shot you are taking, not the ones before. Relax and concentrate, which is very hard to do at the same time. When you can consistently do this for 20 shots with a decent rifle/load/position you will see definite improvement. Wind reading is important and practice and match experience will help you to get better. After you develope your style and stick to it your scores will improve as your ability to "read the wind" does. At the High Master level they all have perfect rifle/load/position, consistently and this gives them confidence and calmness to deal with whatever wind or range conditions they encounter.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.