Hello all. I am hoping you all can help me out as I am new to comp shooting and taking it slow. Have been going out with my Rem 7mm Mag just having fun however would like to get a new rifle that I can setup for FClass comps. I have been reading a lot and still not sure where to turn. I am back and forth on a Savage 6mm BR and a Rem 700 Tactical 308. I read everything that said the 6mm is the way to go but I do not reload and factory ammo seems to be hard to find so leaning 308. I just need the rifle. I have a Vortex Razor HD 5x20x50. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Advice needed - What rifle buy for 1st timer in F Class
- Thread starter ChrisTheJarhead
- Start date
DennisH
Life Time NRA member
Learn to reload and go with the 6br to start with.
6br . . . F-Open Class
308 . . F/TR Class
Up to you which class you want to shoot, F/TR is limited to 223 or 308's only.
F-Open, you can shoot just about anything.
Many still use a 6br or something close to this day (F-Open). They are very easy to reload and are very accurate.
Once you decide (after watching a few matches) which caliber you might like, then build you a full custom rig.
Any further questions, just ask.
Dennis
6br . . . F-Open Class
308 . . F/TR Class
Up to you which class you want to shoot, F/TR is limited to 223 or 308's only.
F-Open, you can shoot just about anything.
Many still use a 6br or something close to this day (F-Open). They are very easy to reload and are very accurate.
Once you decide (after watching a few matches) which caliber you might like, then build you a full custom rig.
Any further questions, just ask.
Dennis
Most guys "tend"(don't hold me to that) to start out with a F-T/R rifle for the first "Competition rifle". But i would seriously get into a reloading setup and try to pick up something with a longer barrel 26"+ . The great Savage vs Remington debate still continues, but i would look at overall price point if i was in your place. And save the rest of it for a reloading setup, that alone will help alot more than a whole lot of upgrades for your rifle.
Also addressing the use of a bipod and which one you want one that you can pre-load or a ski type , and a rear bag setup as well.
Side note: there is a Rem 700 Varmint 308 win i believe in the classifieds for sale right now
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3834669.0
And a sinclair f-class bipod for sale as well for $150
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3830724.msg36316697#msg36316697
Also addressing the use of a bipod and which one you want one that you can pre-load or a ski type , and a rear bag setup as well.
Side note: there is a Rem 700 Varmint 308 win i believe in the classifieds for sale right now
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3834669.0
And a sinclair f-class bipod for sale as well for $150
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3830724.msg36316697#msg36316697
effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
Chris,
Welcome to the forum and competitive shooting. Your question will generate as many answers as there are forum members here. Many members have custom rifles and tend to lean that way with our answers.
You didn't specify whether you want to shoot midrange, long range or both F-class events. Midrange is 300, 500, 600 yards while long range is 1000 yards. I have ran an F-class league for 6 years, getting new shooters into the sport. Many of us started as OTC shooters and used those rifles to start with. It has been quite a learning curve. I highly recommend you find a mentor to help you down this path, maybe someone who has a rifle you can borrow or use to determine of the sport fits your personality before you spend a bunch of money on it. My club has a starter rifle we loan out and I have a couple rifles on loan with friends who are starting out.
Eventually you will reload your own ammo so plan accordingly. Reloading is a huge part of the sport.
If you are going to shoot just midrange, I recommend you buy an flat top AR-15 with a 24-26" 1-8" barrel. The .223 is easy to shoot for everyone (don't let your wife shoot or you will be buying two of everything), good ammo is available (Federal Gold Medal or Black Hills 77 gr). If you already have an AR, even better, just get the upper. You can get by with a Harris type bipod or go with the Sinclair F-class. Many shooters use the AR as a learning tool and get to the point where they are shooting Master level scores with the rifles. That is about what an AR is capable of, generally speaking. Look at Rock River Arms and White Oak Precision for starters.
I bought a couple of the Savage F-class rifles when they first came out. Many shooter still start out and continue ot use them. For about $1200, they are amazingly accurate at times. Some will curse the triggers, others curse the barrels, but for the price, they really are amazing starter rifles right out of the box. Aftermarket barrels are available and easy to swap. Again for mid range, get the .223 F-TR rifle and have fun. The other option would be the 6mmBR rifle in the F-open configuration. Low recoil, easy to load for, but factory ammo is nearly impossible to find. The 6mmBr will get to 1000 yards so that is something to consider. The other Savage F-TR rifle in .308 would work too for both mid and long ranges, ammo is available and eventually to reload for. The Savage F-TR is a slower twist barrel so it won't shoot the real heavy bullets. The 6.5-284 is an amazing cartridge but it eats barrels and you don't need it for starting out.
Remington rifles are sort of the industry standard and the aftermarket is geared that way. You could get a Remington 700 in .308 and upgrade trigger, stock, etc as time allows. You would have a great platform for truing and future customizing. The fastest twist they make in a .223 is 1-9" I believe so you wouldn't be able to shoot the 80 gr bullets. Again, for midrange and starting out, that would be an acceptable compromise.
Most clubs that have leagues will allow darn near any safe rifle to be used. We don't weigh rifles, nor follow the F-TR/Open designations too much for starters. We just want shooters to have a good time and learn.
The classified ads here are a great start for what is available. Don't disregard a used rifle as an option. One more time, eventually you will reload so keep that in mind when you make your decisions.
Good Luck,
Scott
Welcome to the forum and competitive shooting. Your question will generate as many answers as there are forum members here. Many members have custom rifles and tend to lean that way with our answers.
You didn't specify whether you want to shoot midrange, long range or both F-class events. Midrange is 300, 500, 600 yards while long range is 1000 yards. I have ran an F-class league for 6 years, getting new shooters into the sport. Many of us started as OTC shooters and used those rifles to start with. It has been quite a learning curve. I highly recommend you find a mentor to help you down this path, maybe someone who has a rifle you can borrow or use to determine of the sport fits your personality before you spend a bunch of money on it. My club has a starter rifle we loan out and I have a couple rifles on loan with friends who are starting out.
Eventually you will reload your own ammo so plan accordingly. Reloading is a huge part of the sport.
If you are going to shoot just midrange, I recommend you buy an flat top AR-15 with a 24-26" 1-8" barrel. The .223 is easy to shoot for everyone (don't let your wife shoot or you will be buying two of everything), good ammo is available (Federal Gold Medal or Black Hills 77 gr). If you already have an AR, even better, just get the upper. You can get by with a Harris type bipod or go with the Sinclair F-class. Many shooters use the AR as a learning tool and get to the point where they are shooting Master level scores with the rifles. That is about what an AR is capable of, generally speaking. Look at Rock River Arms and White Oak Precision for starters.
I bought a couple of the Savage F-class rifles when they first came out. Many shooter still start out and continue ot use them. For about $1200, they are amazingly accurate at times. Some will curse the triggers, others curse the barrels, but for the price, they really are amazing starter rifles right out of the box. Aftermarket barrels are available and easy to swap. Again for mid range, get the .223 F-TR rifle and have fun. The other option would be the 6mmBR rifle in the F-open configuration. Low recoil, easy to load for, but factory ammo is nearly impossible to find. The 6mmBr will get to 1000 yards so that is something to consider. The other Savage F-TR rifle in .308 would work too for both mid and long ranges, ammo is available and eventually to reload for. The Savage F-TR is a slower twist barrel so it won't shoot the real heavy bullets. The 6.5-284 is an amazing cartridge but it eats barrels and you don't need it for starting out.
Remington rifles are sort of the industry standard and the aftermarket is geared that way. You could get a Remington 700 in .308 and upgrade trigger, stock, etc as time allows. You would have a great platform for truing and future customizing. The fastest twist they make in a .223 is 1-9" I believe so you wouldn't be able to shoot the 80 gr bullets. Again, for midrange and starting out, that would be an acceptable compromise.
Most clubs that have leagues will allow darn near any safe rifle to be used. We don't weigh rifles, nor follow the F-TR/Open designations too much for starters. We just want shooters to have a good time and learn.
The classified ads here are a great start for what is available. Don't disregard a used rifle as an option. One more time, eventually you will reload so keep that in mind when you make your decisions.
Good Luck,
Scott
Thank you all for the posts and PM's. Appreciate the feedback. I ended up going with a Remington 700 TT. Got a lightly used one at a good price and took effendude's advice that I can swap stuff as needed.
Thanks for the warm welcome all!
Thanks for the warm welcome all!
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