I'm just starting to reload and looking to get into competitive shooting, however, a huge hurdle is the cost for quality equipment. So, with that being said, I would really like to compete with one of my off the rack rifles. I would like to compete against someones shooting ability and not what they can afford to build. That level of competition may come later for me, but for someone who just wants to get started and not have to take a second mortgage out, what's my options? The rifles I would like to shoot are my .223, .243, or my .308. Are there any classes set up for this type of shooting. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's a bit overwhelming when just getting stated.
Brand New Competitor
- Thread starter Roooster_11
- Start date
Is F-Class 1000 yds only? If it is I'm not sure I would want to start out shooting that far. Was looking more for maybe 1, 2, and 3 hundred yds.
F-Class can be shot at various distances, depends on what's available. 300, 600 or 1000 yards.
If you are looking for short range shooting, try benchrest. The clubs I compete at have a variety of classes depending on your equipment. Factory class, Factory modified or full custom. These are club level shoots and are lots of fun, enabling you to develop your abilities using the gun you have. I got started shooting a .223 in Factory class.
If you are looking for short range shooting, try benchrest. The clubs I compete at have a variety of classes depending on your equipment. Factory class, Factory modified or full custom. These are club level shoots and are lots of fun, enabling you to develop your abilities using the gun you have. I got started shooting a .223 in Factory class.
Where are you located at? Someone my be able to tell you what's available in your area. Around here all the F-class is 600yd. If you've never shot it's sounds intimidating. But once you have a zero it's just shooting again. It's not that hard and you will learn much, quickly. Tune up your 308 and 223 see which one shoots best get a bipod and good rear sand bag and go play.
Larry
Larry
drumcorpschamp
Silver $$ Contributor
In the Northeast, some clubs run Groundhog shoots. You're shooting at paper, off of a bench, they have factory classes and the people that I have met are very welcoming. I have been getting my feet wet at some groundhog matches this summer and am having a ball.
Fear not, no matter what you bring to shoot, you'll have fun. Basic equipment would probably look like this:
-Centerfire rifle of a caliber that is available off the shelf. (You have 3 of them already)
-Decent bench set-up. i.e.: front and rear bags or rest or bipod that you are comfortable shooting from.
-Reliable scope. (You'll most likely be shooting at 3 different distances in a match. Being able to repeatably dial your distances will take a lot of frustration out of your match.)
-Decent ammo. You want to get into reloading....good. There is some factory ammo that would serve you very well.
I have attended a few groundhog shoots this summer and have had a ball. Every time I show up, I am meeting people who are helpful and very inviting into their sandbox. Good folks all!
I am shooting a factory Remington 700 varmint in .308 and after every shoot or every time I spend some time on this forum, I am making improvements to my rig and my skills. I have been shooting Federal Gold Medal match 168 grain factory ammo and have pounded 5 shots into the 10 ring at 200 yards with a couple X's and have raised some eyebrows from other shooters. One of the biggest improvements to my rig was getting a scope with a LOT of magnification. Boy, what a difference that made.
Bottom line.....get out and shoot with people at the clubs. I doubt that you will not enjoy yourself. Yes, there will be lots of people there with some pretty fancy guns. Don't worry, if you want, you can be "that guy" some day. Have fun.....learn from others.....and maybe I'll see you on the firing line. Whatever form of shooting you take on or is available to you, I wish you good luck.
Jerry
Another "new guy"
Fear not, no matter what you bring to shoot, you'll have fun. Basic equipment would probably look like this:
-Centerfire rifle of a caliber that is available off the shelf. (You have 3 of them already)
-Decent bench set-up. i.e.: front and rear bags or rest or bipod that you are comfortable shooting from.
-Reliable scope. (You'll most likely be shooting at 3 different distances in a match. Being able to repeatably dial your distances will take a lot of frustration out of your match.)
-Decent ammo. You want to get into reloading....good. There is some factory ammo that would serve you very well.
I have attended a few groundhog shoots this summer and have had a ball. Every time I show up, I am meeting people who are helpful and very inviting into their sandbox. Good folks all!
I am shooting a factory Remington 700 varmint in .308 and after every shoot or every time I spend some time on this forum, I am making improvements to my rig and my skills. I have been shooting Federal Gold Medal match 168 grain factory ammo and have pounded 5 shots into the 10 ring at 200 yards with a couple X's and have raised some eyebrows from other shooters. One of the biggest improvements to my rig was getting a scope with a LOT of magnification. Boy, what a difference that made.
Bottom line.....get out and shoot with people at the clubs. I doubt that you will not enjoy yourself. Yes, there will be lots of people there with some pretty fancy guns. Don't worry, if you want, you can be "that guy" some day. Have fun.....learn from others.....and maybe I'll see you on the firing line. Whatever form of shooting you take on or is available to you, I wish you good luck.
Jerry
Another "new guy"
Man, thanks for all of the info. I just joined a club here in Southern Louisiana, so unfortunenitely I won't be shooting at any groundhogs 
. But I have family land of about 300 acres that I can shoot feral hogs and yotes on. Tomorrow will be my first trip to the range I joined, and I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the guys and girls there and picking thier brains. I have a 8x32x44 on my .223 and a bipod and a set of pretty good bags, so I think I will start with that gun. Still working up loads to tighten up my groups. Basically, I'm work in progress, and enjoying every minute of it.....now, if I could just get paid to do this 
. But I have family land of about 300 acres that I can shoot feral hogs and yotes on. Tomorrow will be my first trip to the range I joined, and I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the guys and girls there and picking thier brains. I have a 8x32x44 on my .223 and a bipod and a set of pretty good bags, so I think I will start with that gun. Still working up loads to tighten up my groups. Basically, I'm work in progress, and enjoying every minute of it.....now, if I could just get paid to do this Rooster,
I was in the same place as you back in April. What I've found in this brief period is that there's 4 areas that need to work together in order to do well. The gun itself, your reloads, your technique, and your wind reading. All of these areas have pretty steep learning curves.
If I had a single word of advice to give, it would be to find a local mentor. Somebody with a kind heart who's been down this path who can help you, and then listen to them. Eventually you'll figure out what works for you and what does not.
It's up to you to how serious, how fast, and how expensive you want to go (or said another way, how competitive you want to be). Like any endeavor, the last 5% is the hardest, most expensive to achieve.
In any event, have fun! That is the point after all.
-nosualc
I was in the same place as you back in April. What I've found in this brief period is that there's 4 areas that need to work together in order to do well. The gun itself, your reloads, your technique, and your wind reading. All of these areas have pretty steep learning curves.
If I had a single word of advice to give, it would be to find a local mentor. Somebody with a kind heart who's been down this path who can help you, and then listen to them. Eventually you'll figure out what works for you and what does not.
It's up to you to how serious, how fast, and how expensive you want to go (or said another way, how competitive you want to be). Like any endeavor, the last 5% is the hardest, most expensive to achieve.
In any event, have fun! That is the point after all.
-nosualc
In addition to what nosualc said about things to work on with technique is a good rest/bipod rearbag setup that works well with your rifle and stock shape for the type of copmetition you decide on.
Larry
Larry
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