F class shoots and Bench Rest in and around Knoxville Tn ?

[JimSC]

Next summer I plan on relocating to Knoxville. I currently do some F class out to 800 and have found the Oak Ridge Sportsmans Association website and plan on applying there next spring but have yet to see where any of the local clubs do any F Class or long range benchrest. By local I mean within a hour or two drive. I do plan on some weekend trips over to hawks Ridge when we get settled in, but that would be a overnighter for me. I will get a used short range BR rifle and give that discipline try if it is popular in the local area.

I do this more for the camaraderie and as a retirement hobby so casual is good. Any links and or contacts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[brshtr]

I'm pretty sure that Oak Ridge has F-Class as part of its highpower matches; it did the last time I was there. It's a gorgeous range with a first-class clubhouse. If you'll be in Knoxville, it should be a short drive. I don't know whether they do benchrest.

If you don't mind driving three hours, River Bend Gun Club in Dawsonville, Ga. has a 100/200 yard benchrest match every month of the year. We alternate between group and score. The calendar is here: http://rbgc.org/calendar/Calendar.htm. It's always on the second Saturday of the month, with some two-day registered matches thrown in.

During most months of the year, River Bend has a 600-yard highpower match the next day (Sunday) where you can shoot F-Class. You could shoot two different matches the same weekend to make the drive worth it. You do not need to be a member to shoot in our matches at River Bend. I do it for the same reasons you do and both matches are casual, though, as you'd expect, we're diligent about safety. PM me if you want more info.

Dave Rabin

 

[dirtworks5]

You get in touch with GreyFox! Check out Ultimate Benchrest!

 

[morpheus]

You are landing in one of the best places in the country for 1000-yard highpower matches. There are no less than 3 venues supporting F-Class very close to Knoxville that run a considerable number of matches throughout the year:

AEDC in Tullahoma (run by MidSouth Marksmen): http://www.midsouthmarksmen.com/
ORSA in Oak Ridge: http://orsarandp.com/hp-events/
Dead Zero near Spencer: https://www.deadzeroshooting.com/

They do not have 2020 schedules posted yet, but I expect they will in another month or two...

 

[JimSC]

You are landing in one of the best places in the country for 1000-yard highpower matches. There are no less than 3 venues supporting F-Class very close to Knoxville that run a considerable number of matches throughout the year:

That is great news. ORSA and the Clinch River trout fishing are two of the prime reasons we decided on Knoxville. We were just up there doing a preliminary scouting expedition a couple of weeks ago and love the area. Memphis and Deadzero would be worthwhile for a weekend trip but are a fur piece for a daytrip. I have already bookmarked Hawks Ridge in Ferguson NC which is doable as a overnighter once a month. Same with Hendersonville, I am too old for 18 hour days with a lot of driving. I am waiting till we get the house on the market before contacting ORSA but that will definitely be first order of business

Thanks for the info all I am going to bookmark this thread

 

[Toejoe12]

S

That is great news. ORSA and the Clinch River trout fishing are two of the prime reasons we decided on Knoxville. We were just up there doing a preliminary scouting expedition a couple of weeks ago and love the area. Memphis and Deadzero would be worthwhile for a weekend trip but are a fur piece for a daytrip. I have already bookmarked Hawks Ridge in Ferguson NC which is doable as a overnighter once a month. Same with Hendersonville, I am too old for 18 hour days with a lot of driving. I am waiting till we get the house on the market before contacting ORSA but that will definitely be first order of business

Thanks for the info all I am going to bookmark this thread

Southern Indiana Rifle and Pistol Club is about 4 hrs North of Knoxville just across the river from Louisville. It's a 500 yd range with monthly 3 X 500 F Class matches. One of the toughest little 500 yd ranges you'll run across. Add another 1.5 hrs North is CIHPRS Central Indiana High Power Rifle Shooters club. All matches are shot at Camp Atterbury. There are midrange and long range F Class matches every month there as well. Both clubs use electronic targets now so matches aren't as rough for old bones. Private rooms on base at Atterbury are $35 a night and as nice as any mid-level hotel. Many shooters stay on base for the state and regional 2 day matches. Both clubs have websites and post their match calendars. 2020 dates should be up soon

 

[shoot4fun]

Next summer I plan on relocating to Knoxville. I currently do some F class out to 800 and have found the Oak Ridge Sportsmans Association website and plan on applying there next spring but have yet to see where any of the local clubs do any F Class or long range benchrest. By local I mean within a hour or two drive. I do plan on some weekend trips over to hawks Ridge when we get settled in, but that would be a overnighter for me. I will get a used short range BR rifle and give that discipline try if it is popular in the local area.

I do this more for the camaraderie and as a retirement hobby so casual is good. Any links and or contacts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

ORSA has a website. Also, I know member @XTR used to live in the area and participate in matches around there. Might want to see if he can help you out.

 

[txdan]

Next summer I plan on relocating to Knoxville. I currently do some F class out to 800 and have found the Oak Ridge Sportsmans Association website and plan on applying there next spring but have yet to see where any of the local clubs do any F Class or long range benchrest. By local I mean within a hour or two drive. I do plan on some weekend trips over to hawks Ridge when we get settled in, but that would be a overnighter for me. I will get a used short range BR rifle and give that discipline try if it is popular in the local area.

I do this more for the camaraderie and as a retirement hobby so casual is good. Any links and or contacts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

You are in the middle of UBR country. Great folks to be with. There is a class for whatever ya got, not over .308 cal.
Heck I made the trip from Texas a few times to shoot with them.

 

[JimSC]

I definitely will be contacting ORSA and applying for membership just before we do the move. Hopefully late spring or early summer if all goes well. At txdan, UBR was a new term for me but doing a little Googling found the Dixon Springs range which is only a 2 or 3 hour drive. Sounds like a perfect excuse to get a new Tikka for factory class.

Thanks to all for the info, I am 100% sure now that we have made the right decision for our new place of residence

 

[ttfreestyle]

Dead Zero shows 1 hour 55 mins to Knoxville, they have a full schedule of prone/f class and long range benchrest as well. Good luck

 

[Lone Hunter]

As TTFS and Morpheus said Dead Zero is a great place to shoot. Another plus is from Knoxville it's freeway once you hit I40. AEDC (Tullahoma) is about 50 minutes from Dead Zero,also a very nice range. You will not be disappointed with the shooting opportunities.

 

[Shooter13]

You get in touch with GreyFox! Check out Ultimate Benchrest!

Exactly what I was going to say!!

 

[Shooter13]

You are in the middle of UBR country. Great folks to be with. There is a class for whatever ya got, not over .308 cal.
Heck I made the trip from Texas a few times to shoot with them.

I don't think we met but I was at the Nats also, great time and people!! I'll look you up next year wherever it is!!

 

[Greyfox]

I definitely will be contacting ORSA and applying for membership just before we do the move. Hopefully late spring or early summer if all goes well. At txdan, UBR was a new term for me but doing a little Googling found the Dixon Springs range which is only a 2 or 3 hour drive. Sounds like a perfect excuse to get a new Tikka for factory class.

Thanks to all for the info, I am 100% sure now that we have made the right decision for our new place of residence

We will begin holding registered matches at Dry Branch (Dixon Springs) again in March, although if the weather is decent we will have a match on the first Saturday of the month until then. As was said you are somewhat centered in UBR territory with Rocky Road, near Jonesville VA, Somerset KY, Sparta NC to name a few. If I can help you with info, PM me and we'll exchange emails.

Rick

 

[JimSC]

We will begin holding registered matches at Dry Branch (Dixon Springs) again in March, although if the weather is decent we will have a match on the first Saturday of the month until then. As was said you are somewhat centered in UBR territory with Rocky Road, near Jonesville VA, Somerset KY, Sparta NC to name a few. If I can help you with info, PM me and we'll exchange emails.

Rick

thanks, will definitely do so UBR looks real interesting so you will see me at one or more of the matches. We are still in the beginning phases of getting our house on the market next spring.

 

[mtnman31]

ORSA is as great range. The cost is very reasonable, nice facility. Convenient drive for me. I usually go mid-week to avoid crowds. Their rules are common sense i.e. treated as adults. 50 BMG is prohibited, if that's one of your things but they can accommodate pretty much any flavor or shooting discipline.

 

[M99]

I shoot at F-Open at ORSA and am a club member. I also shoot at Dead Zero which is the best range I've ever seen. They shoot BR as well as F-Class. There is another club that holds matches at Tulahoma as well. All good ranges to shoot at. I started shooting F Class after moving here and seeing the great ranges available.

 

[JimSC]

Glad to here ORSA has F class matches, we liked west and northwest Knoxville so it should be a convenient drive. Currently my range is a 45 min drive each way which isn't bad and 800 yards. Looking forward to seeing ORSA, some guys at my club have shot some pistol matches there and had nothing but good things to say about it.

 

[M99]

I live in West Knoxville and ORSA is 20-25 minutes drive.
Dead Zero is about 2 hours.
AEDC in Tullahoma is 2-1/2 hours
River Bend in Georgia is about 3-1/2 hours.

All have regular matches and most are NRA Registered or Approved.

Bring your best game though. Some of those guys are the best shooters in the nation at these matches.

 

[JimSC]

Bring your best game though. Some of those guys are the best shooters in the nation at these matches.

Good I am out to learn and have fun, not to stroke my ego. We have half a dozen or so high masters at my current club several of which hold or have held NRA records. I have only shot in competition for one season so my best game is not all that but I am learning