Magazine length ammunition for AR Mid-range tactical

[KiloTrooper]

Hoping someone on the forum can assist. I've read and re-read the Provisional AR tactical rules, but I cannot find where it is explicitly stated that ammunition COAL must be service/magazine length. One can easily interpret the rule under provision 3.18 that long bullets over magazine length COAL violate the "intent" of the AR tactical classification. Could someone help me identify the NRA rule that specifies service/magazine fed ammunition for AR tactical?

Thanks

'... just an old cavalry scout from K Troop'

 

[mac86951]

Watching thread. That said; at 600y; I see the advantage of 80+gr or the 75Amax over a 77 seated to magazine length.

-Mac

 

[TonyR]

We started promoting the new class at the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club in August. We have had a few people give it a try, one of who shot some scores in the 190s with hand loads. We have interpreted the rule to mean "loaded to magazine length" for our matches after reading Rule 3.3.3.g

"3.3.3.g Magazine–Standard 10, 20, or 30 round magazines must be used. Reduced capacity magazines and “sleds” are prohibited. Magazine may not be used for support and may not touch the ground during firing or recoil. See Rule 5.2"

In my opinion, the prohibiting sleds means they want the ammo to be able to load through a magazine. I could be wrong. The best way to settle it would be to contact the NRA High Power Competition Committee.

A rule requiring magazine length ammo does make the choice of loads more interesting because the heavier bullets give up case capacity. We have had people shooting everything from 55gr to 80gr bullets and it's too early to tell what will work best. We have encouraged people to use at least a 68gr bullet at 600 yards just for the safety off the people in the pits, but the 55gr bullets got down there just fine on a 90 degree summer day!
At this point, the AR people we have on the line are so new to competitive shooting that other factors are effecting their results more than their ammo. Of course, bringing new shooters to competition is the whole point of the new class so I guess we will see quite a few refinements to the rules as time goes on.

 

[KiloTrooper]

Thank you for the replies. I agree with your interpretation as well. I wrote NRA High Power early last week and have yet to receive a response.

We had 3 competitors compete in the monthly Mill Creek Rifle Club, DeSoto KS Mid-Range/F-Class on 10 Sep. Our club goes to 500 yards and the AR M/R-Tactical class uses the 500 yard MR-Targets.

The 3 scores posted were: 590-26x, 586-26x, and 506-12x.
There is a lot of interest, but shooters seem to be sticking with their chosen disciplines until the Provisional nature of AR M/R-Tactical is sorted out.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Where could one find the provisional rules? I've looked at NRAHQ.org, with no luck.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

Where could one find the provisional rules? I've looked at NRAHQ.org, with no luck.

Chapter 23 of the rulebook (for some reason not listed in the table of contents):

http://rulebooks.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-book.pdf

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Thanks, Fredrick. BTW, good shooting this weekend!

EDITED TO ADD:

Hmm, loading from a regular magazine is going to be an issue mixing in with the other disciplines that MUST fire one round load. They will need to make allowances for sleds, (which are specifically prohibited in the proposed rules,) in order to shoot alongside others.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

Thanks, Fredrick. BTW, good shooting this weekend!

Thanks Deny, just wish I would have shot as well as you with your 200-13X, very well done

 

[Berger.Fan222]

A rule requiring magazine length ammo does make the choice of loads more interesting because the heavier bullets give up case capacity. We have had people shooting everything from 55gr to 80gr bullets and it's too early to tell what will work best. We have encouraged people to use at least a 68gr bullet at 600 yards just for the safety off the people in the pits, but the 55gr bullets got down there just fine on a 90 degree summer day!
At this point, the AR people we have on the line are so new to competitive shooting that other factors are effecting their results more than their ammo. Of course, bringing new shooters to competition is the whole point of the new class so I guess we will see quite a few refinements to the rules as time goes on.

I've seen a number of 600 yard matches fired with 53 and 55 grain VMAX in from both .223 and .222 rifles with 22-24" barrels. Scores average in the mid 180s on an F-Class target, so there is no trouble keeping them on paper. This is usually when folks taking varmint rifles out for a spin in F-Class as more of a skill building exercise than real attempts to be competitive. But it does show that a decent rifleman can do OK at 600 yards with the lighter bullet weights.

But I agree, the spirit of the rules suggests a COAL that would fit in an ordinary magazine. It's an interesting new category (AR Mid Range Tactical). I can see it catching on. Once things shake out a bit, I see bullet weights in the 69-77 grain range being the most competitive most of the time. But on still days or at 300 yards, 50-55 grain flat base bullets are capable of astounding inherent accuracy.

 

[TonyR]

We only allow single loading of each round. I am not familiar with the AR, but I saw one AR shooter dropping his magazine after each shot, load the bullet into the magazine a put the magazine back in the gun. He is the guy who shot the best scores by far.

With the F-Class Nationals coming up at Lodi, the NRA HP staff in Virginia may be a little thin for a couple of weeks so it might take a while to get a reply.

 

[Auto-X Fil]

The Berger 77 OTM should be a great choice. It's designed to mag feed accurately and still have a good BC.

I won't shoot any competition that requires single-loading an AR-15. That feels very contrived to me. I have a high-power gun, but shooting Service rifle is just a painful experience given the capabilities of the AR.