Benchrest vs. F-Class
- Thread starter Gunracer
- Start date
Thank you everyone for all the input. Having read it all I come to the conclusion that benchrest shooters are looking for a cartridge with "good" ballistics but allows quick follow-up shots. They need to get ten rounds on target before the condition changes. Hence the transition from moose-killers to the 6BR family. F open has much less control over when they shoot and need to put 20 rounds in a group. This has lead to the need for "great" ballistics and bullets that will be affected less by changes in conditions. Also, no worries about shooting quickly and tracking perfectly. Is that about it?
By the way, the "vs" in the title of the thread wasn't meant to imply one discipline was superior to the other. Just the variation in popular Calibers for shooting from the bench or the belly.
By the way, the "vs" in the title of the thread wasn't meant to imply one discipline was superior to the other. Just the variation in popular Calibers for shooting from the bench or the belly.
Gunracer it is not all about the quick follow-ups. I feel it has more to-do with raw accuracy. You can have a heavy gun with a brake and it can weigh over a hundred pounds. You can shoot a lot of different cartridges in this that you could shoot fast. I shoot a 300 WSM in the light 17 pound class. It recoils pretty hard. Not exactly one that you can shoot extremely fast.
In the last 5 years or so a lot has changed. The chambering's went from 6.5-284, 300 WIN and 308 Baer to 300 WSM and 6 Dasher. In the light 17 pound class it went more Dashers. I feel recoil had more to do with that. Shooters found they got good accuracy but didn't get beat-up real bad. In heavy you see more 300 WSM's. I feel they shoot as good but score a hair more consistent. The competition in that period has tightened up a lot more. It seems there are way more good guns on the line making it harder to win. Matt
In the last 5 years or so a lot has changed. The chambering's went from 6.5-284, 300 WIN and 308 Baer to 300 WSM and 6 Dasher. In the light 17 pound class it went more Dashers. I feel recoil had more to do with that. Shooters found they got good accuracy but didn't get beat-up real bad. In heavy you see more 300 WSM's. I feel they shoot as good but score a hair more consistent. The competition in that period has tightened up a lot more. It seems there are way more good guns on the line making it harder to win. Matt
Just to be clear, F-class is (normally) shot for score, not group size. I suspect you know that, but I would hate for your post to mislead anyone.
I don't want to say there aren't any F-class matches where group size is scored, but where I shoot the F-class matches are concerned only with accuracy; i.e. you're shooting to hit the X ring and group size has nothing to do with the score.
This is getting misleading to believe that all BR. shooters are machine gunners. I'm a picker most of the time, run them if the condition allows. I pick a repeatable condition to shoot in and wait till it comes and run what i can, improvise if i don't have time for it to return. i remember what it was like laying in the mud and rain and targets getting blown out of the carriers. this is not my idea of fun anymore. jim
This is EXACTLY what most F-Classers do if they have a decent target puller.. We try, as best we can, to shoot in the same conditions. We want to get as many shots down-range in the same conditions as possible. Two of the fastest shooters in the conditions they like, are David Gosnell and Mark Walker. I have scored for these gents and you had better be on your toes scoring or you will miss a shot>>>>and I don't like to do that!
dmoran
Donovan Moran
Even most FClass shooters load develop from a bench, which tells me their BenchRest at the heart of it.
Those who do both, understand how it takes different mind sets and demands. Both are exciting and both are a challenge to win !.!.!
The last few years, I just prefer to be sitting up with my gear.... Donovan
Those who do both, understand how it takes different mind sets and demands. Both are exciting and both are a challenge to win !.!.!
The last few years, I just prefer to be sitting up with my gear.... Donovan
If you are only considering the American (and Australian) style of F-Class that is shot single string then I think the comparisons are inevitable, although there are distinct differences. If we're talking about F-Class they way it was intended to be shot, in pairs 
, then it is COMPLETELY different.
, then it is COMPLETELY different.XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
...If we're talking about F-Class they way it was intended to be shot, in pairs
I really get a kick out of the reactions I get, esp from Open shooters, when I suggest that we should do more pair firing. (kind of like sling shooters reacting to F class at Camp Perry) I guess I'll have to be content with trying to catch the Sinclair Fullbore matches in NC and the Spirit of America in Raton every yr to get my pair firing fix.
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
"this is the US, go to England or Canada if you want to pair fire" was one memorable response.
FYI for electronic targets, new rules from NRA will state a 7 second delay. So there will be a break. We cannot have Zilla finish a 20 shot string in under 45 seconds! Wouldn't be prudent! Wind is your friend in F class, your enemy in benchrest. That will stay the same.
AWESOME!!!
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
Yea, but I am already collecting parts for a dual port 223. I was thinking that with the right setup (bipod being crucial here) I could run 20 shots in well under 2 minutes, probably closer to a minute and a half. (the start of my evil plan was to have a second port milled into my franken-gun savage 223 as a test platform to see how fast and accurately I could rip them off, if it worked I was calling Kelbys.
The plan was to run some tests and see just what I could do with it and if it worked test a setup at the MW Palma. Guess now I need to go back to working on a good 308 load .... *kicks dirt*
The above is true, but I am very happy to see that there is going to be a delay built in.
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Hey Bob:
I like the idea, but how is it going to be enforced? Why 7 sec, seems pretty short? Because that is about as fast a a really good puller can pull?
Morgen
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