6XC for F-class

[reimers84]

I found a range in my area where they shoot F-class, I've always wanted to give it a shot but I don't have a rifle for it. The only rifle I have is my model 12 savage in 22-250. I was thinking of getting it re-chambered and putting some money into it so that I could use it as my first F-class rifle next year. what do you guys think about the 6XC toped with a 115 DTAC? the one article I read said that you can order 1000 pieces of brass for $300 that doesn't sound to bad to me, Im not sure what the DTAC's cost but from what I have read there a pretty great bullet. Im not incredibly serious about shooting competitively,don't want to put a second mortgage on the house) but I have $2500 banked for the rifle. As far as optics go I have already ordered a night force for my 300 wsm, figured Id just use that scope. Id also use the rifle to shoot prarie dogs, I was already thinking of moving up to a 6mm for the dogs because the 22-250 drifts allot out there. just wondering what you guys think :wave:

 

[356tsw]

They shoot F class where I am 6br is good . Shoot 107 Sierra 30gr of varget in a 8twist barrel. You can buy a already made barrel and put it on yourself.

 

[effendude]

Reimers84,
I run an F-class league here in MN. I see every caliber being used from 223 Rem to 300 Win Mag. I have two 6XC rifles, one for XC, and the other for F-class. It is an excellent cartidge, but I have limited experience with the DTAC 115's. The only loading I did with them produced virtually one hole groups with match sights off the bags at 100 yds. but I have not had time to play with them anymore. I used 107 Sierras which shot well also.

Any large based caliber will work for you with your existing rifle bolt, but I suggest you also consider a couple others. 6BR is awesome, very accurate, and easy to reload for. It also makes a great PD rifle. Don't overlook the lowly 308 Win either. The 308 may not be as glamorous as some of the new cartridges but it holds its own very well, and you would be in the F-T/R class which is a great class for more casual shooters to grow and learn. There are usually some 'big guns' lurking in the open class. My last suggestion would be to purchase a AR-15 in 223 Rem. Everyone should have an AR. I have friends who regularly shoot 193 to 197 at 600 yds. with their RRA 1-8' flattops and $300 Supersnipers. Ammo is easy to make, components are available, and no recoil. These same rifles make awesome PD guns when not shooting F-class. You give up a little to the 6mm's in the wind, but I make up for that with fast followup shots and more economical ammo. $1200 for RRA flattop with 1-8' 24' barrel,,usually can be found for less), a Sinclair F-class bi-pod for $200, and you have the scope already... What are you going to do with the remaining $1100?
Good Luck,
Scott

 

[KaiserNorton]

I think your Savage is a good vehicle to get started without a major expense. I would contact Sharp Shooter supply for one of their triggers and recoil lug. Many barrel makers will fix you up a fully chambered barrel , though they may not have the 6XC reamer. I'd give the 6mmBR a serious thought, too. The beauty of the 6XC, though, is you can form your .22/250 brass into it.

With a few tools, perhaps a new stock, the above mentioned can get you into F-class for around/under the $1000 mark (assuming you already have that NF in hand).

Kaiser Norton

 

[Hammer]

If one does not mind buying additional barrels due to reduced barrel life, does the 6XC offer anything over the 243 Winchester for F-class ?

.

 

[dc45]

Id also use the rifle to shoot prarie dogs, I was already thinking of moving up to a 6mm for the dogs because the 22-250 drifts allot out there. just wondering what you guys think :wave:

I shoot the 6XC with DTAC 115's in F-class out to 1,000, and have no complaints. I would suggest you consider buying your own reamer (Hugh Henriksen makes them for Tubb & McBros), and make sure you get one which will allow you to seat the DTAC's long enough that the base of the bullet is ahead of the neck/shoulder junction. This probably the biggest advantage the 6XC has over the .243 Win & variants. David Tubb wrote a pretty comprehensive article about the development of the 6XC if you search around for it. I have never shot prairie dogs, but I have dispatched a mulie & a couple of coyotes using the 115 DTAC with spectacular results.

HTH,

David Smith

 

[1000yardstare]

My first F Class rifle was a Savage 12FV in .243 Win. Biggest bang for the buck to get started - rifle is cheap, brass is plentiful and cheap, the 9.25 twist stabilizes 107s out to 1000 yards, no fancy custom gunsmithing. Took first with it in the Friday Agg (300, 500, 900, 1000) in Factory F Class at the 2008 Ontario Fullbore Champs. Factory is a special class in Ontario to get guys out with their out-of-the-box target rifles. I would assume in the U.S. that a .243 Win would put you in F(O).

I don`t think you want a cartridge smaller than the .243 Win because of the wind. I know guys are shooting with the 6BR and variations of the 6/250 but I see them struggling at 1000 yards on a windy day.

The suggestion to go with the .308 is a good one. Again brass and bullets are plentiful. Nothing fancy required. Would put you in F(R) and let you ease into competition without going up against the big rigs in F(O). A .308 in F(R) beat all the F(O)s in the Saturday Agg (300, 500, 600, 900) at the 2009 Ontarios.

I wanted more horsepower for windy days at 1000 yards so went to a custom 6AI. Put me in F(O) with the big boys. Got second in the Friday F(O) Agg at the 2009 Ontarios. I mention this because it is a logical progession. You will shoot for a year, get bitten by the bug and start planning your dream machine.

 

[Laurie]

You don't quote what distances you plan to shoot over - this is pretty crucial to cartridge choice!

If it's up to 600 yd, 6mm BR Norma is a really good choice and gives reasonable barrel life. 6.5X47 Lapua is an alternative, and the barrel should last a fair bit longer too. Whether accuracy is as good as the 6BR is debatable.

If you plan to shoot up to 1,000 yd, you want better ballistics. 6XC is a good cartridge, but you're always at a disadvantage against the hotter sixes, 6.5-284 and the bigger-cased sevens. Sooner or later, you'll find it frustrating if you're using second-best kit.

The other choice is between F-Open and F/TR limited to .223 and .308. Over here in the UK, there is a steady move to F/TR because Open has become an 'arms / cheque book race'. .308 Win is a good 1,000yd cartridge providing you can get the velocity, and that needs at least a 30" barrel. The issue in this class is the trade-offs between barrel profile and length, bipod model, type of scope etc as you'll find you can't have the best (heaviest) of everything and stay within the 8.25 Kg (18lb 3oz) weight limit including the bipod. So some people put all the weight into the action and barrel and save it on the scope and bipod; others go for a Palma or medium Palma profile barrel to save 1.5 / 1lb and have a Nightforce scope. The Savage 12 F/TR rifle is realtively light, and depending on the stock on your rifle you're presumably in a similar position, so weight shouldn't be too big an issue, but even so if you go down the F/TR road, go for barrel length rather than the heaviest profile.

Hope this helps,

Laurie,
York, England

 

[Obtunded]

If not incredibly serious (your words), I tend to concur with Laurie. A 308 or even a 223 can be loaded to shoot extremely well to 1000 yards. Ballistically, they are near identical.

I must say though, the ubiquitous 6BR is arguably the most inherently accurate long range cartridge going. I personally feel (being a hopelessly addicted F-Class shooter) that one can never become a really good long distance shooter without first becoming a really good short distance shooter.


A 6BR with a good barrel will provide you with all the tool and entertainment to get you shooting both short and long distance very well. I don't care if you shoot a 300-338 or a 223: 1000 yard shooting requires the skills to read conditions and know what to adjust. No cartridge eliminates the need to learn loading and learn condition reading. An accurate cartridge DOES eliminate many guesses as to why a shot did not land where you wanted it to. If your gun shoots 1 MOA you will likely never become better than a 1MOA shooter.

I shoot mine to a mile with 105 bullets and they never cease putting a smile on my clock.

 

[MarkS]

One more to add, the 6BR IMP's 6BRX and 6 Dasher. A lot of guys are winning at 1000 yd matches with the IMP's and 6BR, 6BRX, and 6 Dasher are THE rounds at 600 yds.

Mark Schronce