Hello All,
Shooting for 60 years, mostly competitive pistol shooting, from Bullseye in the early days to IPSC for the most recent twelve years. Retired and moved to Canada (2012) and am still enjoying shooting. Right knee went ‘kaput’ two years ago and am looking at a replacement in the near future. Meantime (2 years ago) I got interested in long distance F Class rifles (1000 yard), started with a Tikka but soon realized I needed something different. Photo below is my only and probably last F Class series rifle. Equipment as follows:
Kelbly F Class Panda aluminum action with all three bolts (223 and 308, FTR) and (7mm SAUM, OPEN)
Krieger 34”, FTR Heavy Palma contour, Bartlein 34”, OPEN Straight 1.25” contour barrels (2 per caliber)
McMillian XIT F Class FTR carbon fibre stock (action fully bedded). Left hand - right bolt configuration
March ‘Majesta’ 8 to 80 by 56mm High Master Wideband scope. March color matched titanium rings (3)
Bix ‘n Andy competition trigger (currently set at 0.9 ounce)
SEB NEO-X front rest (OPEN)
SEB Joypod X bipod (FTR)
SEB Bigfoot rear bag
Carbon fibre barrel shield
The “magic” is the Majesta scope with the new WFD reticle, perhaps the finest F Class scope on the planet. Also, Swarovski 115mm spotting scope for mirage and target bullet holes ….. lol.
Originally started loading 9mm for IPSC shooting (relatively simple) then moved to precision rifle …. what a change. The photo shows my setup for F Class FTR in 223. Also have additional bolt / barrels for F Class FTR in 308, one with a tuner the other without. FTR rifle as shown with bipod weighing in at 8.2 kg. Finally, added additional bolt / barrels for F Class OPEN in 7mm SAUM. Barrels, again with and without tuner, rifle weighing in at 9.9 kg.
There are several ‘rabbit holes’ when loading F Class, each costing $1000 (average) and take time to do. Examples are many; case cleaning and preparation (trimming and chamfer, neck turning, primer pocket, annealing etc). Very accurate powder measurements (0.02 gr accuracy), very accurate case sizing (neck or full), and very accurate arbor press seating depth control (base to ogive measurement within 0.001”). I am sure I forgot some. Then, bullets with very accurate bullet prep (weighing / sorting, concentricity, etc).
I live by the rule that if a ‘rabbit hole’ does not show on the target (typically 600 yards), it is not worth the time and expense, thus I do not use it. An example, cleaning cases.
Finally, both mandatory comprehensive powder load and seating depth testing at the 200 yard range. Total testing typically puts 100 rounds through each new barrel. Looking for best velocity node with very low es (less than 15) and sd (less than 7), specifically to reduce longer range vertical dispersion. Lastly, tuner testing for best groups.
Results for my rifle with 3 calibers and six barrels. After above, I shoot 5 - 5 shot groups as a final test (using 2 foulers, then 5 shots, barrel cool down and cleaning (35 shots total). All calibers have all 5, 5 shot groups at sub-caliber size at 100 yards. Testing only on a good day; no wind, very slight (if any) mirage, etc. The barrels with the tuner have slightly better groups. End result is simply one ragged hole, what I work for.
Then, time for competition at longer range. Success is then how well I can read the wind and mirage.
Whew …..
Shooting for 60 years, mostly competitive pistol shooting, from Bullseye in the early days to IPSC for the most recent twelve years. Retired and moved to Canada (2012) and am still enjoying shooting. Right knee went ‘kaput’ two years ago and am looking at a replacement in the near future. Meantime (2 years ago) I got interested in long distance F Class rifles (1000 yard), started with a Tikka but soon realized I needed something different. Photo below is my only and probably last F Class series rifle. Equipment as follows:
Kelbly F Class Panda aluminum action with all three bolts (223 and 308, FTR) and (7mm SAUM, OPEN)
Krieger 34”, FTR Heavy Palma contour, Bartlein 34”, OPEN Straight 1.25” contour barrels (2 per caliber)
McMillian XIT F Class FTR carbon fibre stock (action fully bedded). Left hand - right bolt configuration
March ‘Majesta’ 8 to 80 by 56mm High Master Wideband scope. March color matched titanium rings (3)
Bix ‘n Andy competition trigger (currently set at 0.9 ounce)
SEB NEO-X front rest (OPEN)
SEB Joypod X bipod (FTR)
SEB Bigfoot rear bag
Carbon fibre barrel shield
The “magic” is the Majesta scope with the new WFD reticle, perhaps the finest F Class scope on the planet. Also, Swarovski 115mm spotting scope for mirage and target bullet holes ….. lol.
Originally started loading 9mm for IPSC shooting (relatively simple) then moved to precision rifle …. what a change. The photo shows my setup for F Class FTR in 223. Also have additional bolt / barrels for F Class FTR in 308, one with a tuner the other without. FTR rifle as shown with bipod weighing in at 8.2 kg. Finally, added additional bolt / barrels for F Class OPEN in 7mm SAUM. Barrels, again with and without tuner, rifle weighing in at 9.9 kg.
There are several ‘rabbit holes’ when loading F Class, each costing $1000 (average) and take time to do. Examples are many; case cleaning and preparation (trimming and chamfer, neck turning, primer pocket, annealing etc). Very accurate powder measurements (0.02 gr accuracy), very accurate case sizing (neck or full), and very accurate arbor press seating depth control (base to ogive measurement within 0.001”). I am sure I forgot some. Then, bullets with very accurate bullet prep (weighing / sorting, concentricity, etc).
I live by the rule that if a ‘rabbit hole’ does not show on the target (typically 600 yards), it is not worth the time and expense, thus I do not use it. An example, cleaning cases.
Finally, both mandatory comprehensive powder load and seating depth testing at the 200 yard range. Total testing typically puts 100 rounds through each new barrel. Looking for best velocity node with very low es (less than 15) and sd (less than 7), specifically to reduce longer range vertical dispersion. Lastly, tuner testing for best groups.
Results for my rifle with 3 calibers and six barrels. After above, I shoot 5 - 5 shot groups as a final test (using 2 foulers, then 5 shots, barrel cool down and cleaning (35 shots total). All calibers have all 5, 5 shot groups at sub-caliber size at 100 yards. Testing only on a good day; no wind, very slight (if any) mirage, etc. The barrels with the tuner have slightly better groups. End result is simply one ragged hole, what I work for.
Then, time for competition at longer range. Success is then how well I can read the wind and mirage.
Whew …..
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