Interest in long range sporter class?

[Alex Wheeler]

This is a point well taken.

In Benchrest, all aspects of rifle performance are sacrificed for extreme accuracy in a very controlled situation with no consideration for terminal ballistics. This includes unrealistic feeding and ejection in any situation besides sitting at a Bench with the rifle secure.

The real aspects of a good rifle designed for hunting in an uncontrolled situation is good accuracy combined with dependable feeding from a magazine and flawless extraction and ejection.

Any competition set up for hunting rifles should at the very least incorporate these features.

I agree. I think the class should require mag feeding.

 

[Fuj]

I agree. I think the class should require mag feeding.

As of late, Pa allows us to hunt predators with our AR's and now
whitetail deer with restrictions. It's a hunting rifle. What can of worms
would I cause if I wanted to compete in this class with one of my AR's ??
Of course, I'd be using a brass catcher so not to hot neck anyone......

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Well its not a real class, at least its not now but I see no problem with an AR.

 

[Tom E]

We actually have been doing this for sometime, not necessarily the same as you stated, but foldable bipods and rear squeeze bags, I didn’t put a weight limit or cartridge due to the mass amount of PRs rifles in our area. I wanted to grow long range benchrest and get more people associated with it. It worked, in the last few years, we have had 6 shooters go on to buy or build 17lb benchrest guns, they all are amped and enjoying the matches. success

Your weight limit is not a bad idea, but so many guys these days are using heavier rifles, and some may not even have hunting guns??
The caliber restriction, could and would be super fun imho,
But once again in my area, most all coming in have some sort of lil 6mm

The Tru Tac class will help grow it ever so slightly I feel like.

 

[Jet]

I'm all for it. Could use the NRL Hunter Open Light Division rifle configuration but mandate shooting off a bipod (not FTR style and a rear squeeze bag). See below.

2. Open Light Division is any rifle configuration up to a 12 lbs. maximum.

a. No restrictions on gear, equipment attached, build, or configuration, as long as it is under the prescribed weight for this division.

b. Minimum Power Factor (PF) is 380,000. The Bullet Weight in (gr) multiplied by Muzzle Velocity in (fps). For example, 143 gr @ 2670 fps = 381,810 and makes the minimum. With a Muzzle Velocity maximum of 3275 fps 6mm with 115gr will not be able to make the minimum PF.

c. Use of factory sealed box ammunition, .264” (6.5mm) and 130gr or above, is not subject to meeting the PF requirement under this section, however PF will be used in the case of a tie.

 

[std7mag]

@Alex Wheeler,

Personally, I love the idea!
I shot my first F-Open match with my Stevens 200 with factory sporter barrel. Though I did ream the chamber to 7mm-08AI.
Scope was a Sightron STAC 4-20X56. I still use this scope on other rifles for hunting.

A scope power limit could really hinder depending on what that power limit is, the distance, and type of target.

@Fuj,

F-Class already has provisions for ARs.

 

[Sechrist2015]

I actually shot the full IBS 600yd Season as well as the Nationals with a factory hunting rifle. I found out too late that there was no guarantee that the factory class would be recognized this year, but it was fun none the less. Rifle was capable of under 2" at 600yds if I could keep the idiot working the trigger in check.

Notes below on the scope are due to the reticle lock ring coming loose during the nationals. It did not completely fail, just let the reticle rotate about 30 degrees. Point of aim/impact and tracking were still fully functional. This was with 800ish rounds on the rifle/scope combo

Specs:
Bergara Premier Approach 6.5 PRC(factory Grayboe stock, WSM Box mag, Triggertech Special out of the box, factory Bergara 30cal Omni Brake)
Athlon Argos BTR Gen 2 10-40x56mm (Great scope, do not recommend on a magnum)
Lapua Brass
Hornady 135gr A-Tips
H4831SC
Load Developed and Tuned by Open Range Solutions in Hickory Grove SC
Package weight: 11lb 7oz

 

[Petersp3]

First I'll say that I have not talked to any organization about adding a class. But Im wondering how many guys would be interested. I have always enjoyed building, tuning, and shooting hunting rifles. Maybe even more so than BR rifles. Its just really rewarding to shoot tiny groups with a hunting rifle thats not designed to do that as its primary goal. I have thought of the rules for over a decade. Id keep it pretty simple. Folding bipod, rear squeeze bag, and a realistic weight limit. Something like 10 or 12 pounds with the bipod. Something you would actually take hunting. I even thought about a minimum cartridge to avoid everyone building 6mms on the BR case. Just a way to get a little more use out of our actual hunting rifles and keeping the rules in a way to avoid full blown BR rigs finding a way in. How many of you guys would shoot something like that?

I’m in. Could break it up by caliber. Run the 25’s, 6’s, 7’s, 30’s in separate catagories. Maybe 4 different distances out to1000yards . That would even the playing field. Walk the 4 distances just like hunting. Carry all of your ammo and equipment just like hunting. Targets animal silhouettes with appropriate sized scored bulls eye.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Even though I would like to see a minimum cartridge and weight limit, it probably doesn't make sense to start that way and break up an already small class. Im thinking folding bipod, rear squeeze bag, and mag feeding. If it grew in popularity that there was enough to ad the weight class and cartridge limit then great but I doubt it.

 

[Mulligan]

A limit on the optics may help?
Both click adjustment and power.

Our tactical shooters laugh at the “ bench gun” conversions in the class. Getting rid of 1/8” click scopes and having a max power of 24 or 30ish is what I hear most.

CW

 

[moondog]

NRL Hunter series pretty much covered exactly this. Weight, power factor, no silly special Olympic props, just Field conditions. It didn't get big turnout in the beginning, so they opened it up to include an "open" division. Any Weight, any caliber.
Less money for the match fee, and no prize table. I'm going to shoot a couple next year for fun. I would like to shoot some other disciplines with my existing rigs if they opened to different divisions.

 

[RPSGuns]

First I'll say that I have not talked to any organization about adding a class. But Im wondering how many guys would be interested. I have always enjoyed building, tuning, and shooting hunting rifles. Maybe even more so than BR rifles. Its just really rewarding to shoot tiny groups with a hunting rifle thats not designed to do that as its primary goal. I have thought of the rules for over a decade. Id keep it pretty simple. Folding bipod, rear squeeze bag, and a realistic weight limit. Something like 10 or 12 pounds with the bipod. Something you would actually take hunting. I even thought about a minimum cartridge to avoid everyone building 6mms on the BR case. Just a way to get a little more use out of our actual hunting rifles and keeping the rules in a way to avoid full blown BR rigs finding a way in. How many of you guys would shoot something like that?

I would definitely like to see this happen.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My goal here is not to create a new class that guys build new rifles for. But a class that allows them to pull out the rifle they already own and get more use out of it. I think the bipod and squeeze bag will be the big equalizer.

 

[nakneker]

I like the idea Alex and I think there’s enough guys that also like the idea that I bet you’d get a decent showing, might take some time to build the event up but I think it could be done.

We do something similar amongst our groups of friends who all hunt and enjoy shooting. We use the rifles we hunt with and 5-6 of us go out into the bad lands and drive around in razors looking for targets. Everybody gets their turn to pick a target. When a target gets picked we stop and shoot a round. We usually shoot 20-25 rounds. Our little group wagers $5.00 per shooter per round. When we added the money aspect to it our friendly competition got fairly serious and has been a lot of fun not to mention has helped sharpen our shooting skills. We shoot anywhere between 500 and about 1200, no rests other than bipod prone. It’s been fun.

Best wishes if you give it a try!

 

[280ai]

Funny you should start this thread now. Last summer our local BR club tried a hunter class so I decided to go try it. Got there with Bergara hmr with bipod and rear bag, entered and took rifle to bench. Other guys I know are setting up for it too with seb and other big fancy front rests and 500 dollar rear bags so I said I thought this was supposed to be a hunter class thing? The retort was well ya BUT you can't shoot good groups off just a bipod and a cheap bag. So much for HUNTER class!!!!!!! I think a basic Hunter class no frills would be a breath of fresh air and it may stop scaring off the average guy with all the fancy AND expensive equitment.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Make it a minimum .308 cartridge size. .243, 7-08,.308 ect.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Then there is the inevitable muzzle break discussion that will have to happen. Side discharge breaks make more sense on a gun that would be shot off the ground while hunting......Right?

Regards
Rick

 

[jackieschmidt]

Then there is the inevitable muzzle break discussion that will have to happen. Side discharge breaks make more sense on a gun that would be shot off the ground while hunting......Right?

Regards
Rick

Defining a “hunting rifle” also depends on what part of the Country you are hunting.

In the North East Woods, You will see a lot of 30/30, 35 Remingtons, and 12 gage slug guns. In the Texas woods, you will probably see more 270 Winchesters than anything. Of course, out in the western mountains, shooters tend to want something that retains at least 1800 ft lbs of energy at 600 yards.

In the North East, you are walking. In East Texas, you are probably taking White Tails out of a stand. In the South West, you might be hiking and shooting off of cross sticks.

My point is, the term “hunting rifle”, and how you use it, means different things to different hunters in different parts of the Country.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Thats true. I may be assuming theres more long range hunting rifles than there are. My time in Mt and my job probably has my thinking skewed.

 

[nakneker]

Thats true. I may be assuming theres more long range hunting rifles than there are. My time in Mt and my job probably has my thinking skewed.

I don’t think it’s skewed, there’s certainly more long range hunting rifles out west but I think long range has become very popular amongst many guys who hunt, east included. Only one way to find out…