Caliber choice for 600 yd F class newbie.

[USMCDOC]

What bullet?

The choice of course is limited.. i have stated before that the .25 cal is not supported as well.. but that also comes from popularity too. But have seen this chamber pull out a can of whoop a$$ and do so well that i was truly impressed! It was the only time i ever saw that person with that round.. but i never forgot it either!

If i remember correctly, i believe that he was using the 100 gr SIE MK

 

[SG4247]

Another vote for the 6BR !

 

[Mozella]

You seam (sic) to forget that Lapua does make loaded ammo for both the 6BR and the 6.5x47.

No, I'm aware of that. I have no experience with the 6.5x47 so I can't comment, but I do own and shot a 6mm BR and I've tested quite a bit of Lapua factory ammo in that gun. The results were certainly not good enough to compete with, even at our relatively low-on-the-food-chain local matches.

By the way, I would say the 6mm BR would be a fine choice for 600 yd F-class shooting, but not because of the available factory ammo.

 

[seymour fish]

The choice of course is limited.. i have stated before that the .25 cal is not supported as well.. but that also comes from popularity too. But have seen this chamber pull out a can of whoop a$$ and do so well that i was truly impressed! It was the only time i ever saw that person with that round.. but i never forgot it either!

If i remember correctly, i believe that he was using the 100 gr SIE MK

Or the old Fowler 110 gr flat base !

 

[Grimstod]

No, I'm aware of that. I have no experience with the 6.5x47 so I can't comment, but I do own and shot a 6mm BR and I've tested quite a bit of Lapua factory ammo in that gun. The results were certainly not good enough to compete with, even at our relatively low-on-the-food-chain local matches.

By the way, I would say the 6mm BR would be a fine choice for 600 yd F-class shooting, but not because of the available factory ammo.

Then why did you recomend factory Creedmoor? I am confused now.

 

[Boyd L.]

The choice of course is limited...

I’ll say it’s limited.
I’ve shared before that when my 100 grain SMK windage corrected at 500 was blown an additional 10+ inches at 600 while my 260 Rem AI buddies were pushed about 5 inches. I didn’t know the velocity of my load, but I do know that all of us were hitting a 6 inch plate at 500. It got real tough for me while they seemed to plow ahead at 600 with minimal correction.
I’m thinking it may be time to check with Mr. Robinett about his next anticipated run of his 110 grainers, especially if the 115 Bergers won’t hunt.
A smart man would install something with the physical properties to be competitive before the trigger is ever pulled. I may have a 25-45 Sharps project barrel soon.

 

[Snuggie]

To the OP. Not sure if you’re looking to get into F-Open or F/TR. F-Open is a totally different ball game than TR. VERY COMPETITIVE! Not to say TR is not by ANY means!!
I have been shooting a “Pea Shooter” ( .223 ) for a few years now. Started with the 80 Bergs then went to the 90’s. It’s a laser and Match Winner!! Regularly out shoots the .308’s at 600. It’s easy to load for but case prep is ALL IMPORTANT ( with any round ) !! My goal was to make HM with a .223. Got my card last month. Try it, you’ll like it!! For Open I went with the 6.5 X 47 Lapua. Another laser!! Best of luck to you, go for the GOLD!!

 

[ShootDots]

To the OP. Not sure if you’re looking to get into F-Open or F/TR. F-Open is a totally different ball game than TR. VERY COMPETITIVE! Not to say TR is not by ANY means!!
I have been shooting a “Pea Shooter” ( .223 ) for a few years now. Started with the 80 Bergs then went to the 90’s. It’s a laser and Match Winner!! Regularly out shoots the .308’s at 600. It’s easy to load for but case prep is ALL IMPORTANT ( with any round ) !! My goal was to make HM with a .223. Got my card last month. Try it, you’ll like it!! For Open I went with the 6.5 X 47 Lapua. Another laser!! Best of luck to you, go for the GOLD!!

HM with your .223! Congrats Dwight! That is a HUGE accomplishment! Dwight is an excellent shot and loader>>>>Should you happen to be in a match, where he is your opponent in T/R at 600, you will see just how good he is!

 

[Snuggie]

Wow! Thanks so much for the very kind words Ben! Still waiting for you to make a cameo at P/A !! We miss you my friend!!

 

[ShootDots]

Wow! Thanks so much for the very kind words Ben! Still waiting for you to make a cameo at P/A !! We miss you my friend!!

T-Rust me Dwight, I miss Y'all and shooting at the toughest 600 yard range anywhere! Loads of fun! Oh and not to forget the excellent time at The Vineyard? afterwards! LOL!!!

 

[Rope2horns]

Not so fast Norm....This guy might be a real man, and we all know real men shoot TR.

Well so much for new year resolutions. Mine was to not type anything tacky on here. Made it 7 hours and 55 minuets.....Oh well, let the flogging commence.

Dean, real men carry 40lb rests and 22lb guns with a 30lb rear bag to the line then shoot free recoil so we don't hurt our shoulders.

 

[Medic505]

Dean, real men carry 40lb rests and 22lb guns with a 30lb rear bag to the line then shoot free recoil so we don't hurt our shoulders.

I knew there was a reason I shoot TR!

 

[Snuggie]

I knew there was a reason I shoot TR![/QUOTE


Indeed sir!

 

[WEL]

To the OP. Not sure if you’re looking to get into F-Open or F/TR. F-Open is a totally different ball game than TR. VERY COMPETITIVE! Not to say TR is not by ANY means!!
I have been shooting a “Pea Shooter” ( .223 ) for a few years now. Started with the 80 Bergs then went to the 90’s. It’s a laser and Match Winner!! Regularly out shoots the .308’s at 600. It’s easy to load for but case prep is ALL IMPORTANT ( with any round ) !! My goal was to make HM with a .223. Got my card last month. Try it, you’ll like it!! For Open I went with the 6.5 X 47 Lapua. Another laser!! Best of luck to you, go for the GOLD!!

I'm not sure at this point. I see you are a Palo Alto member. I live in south LA as well and trying to get into PA this spring when membership is open. Quite an accomplishment to beat the 308 guys with the .223. I enjoy reloading and shooting so now that things have slowed down in life a bit I finally have time to give competition a try. Looking forward to the challenge.

 

[raptor1ronin]

If you go F/TR then both the good old 308 and 223 meet the requirements for brass prep and barrel life. If shooting 600 then easier to be competitive with the 308.

I have a .223
That says otherwise

 

[Mozella]

Then why did you recomend factory Creedmoor? I am confused now.

Because I had the idea the OP didn't really want to reload. After reading some of his replies, I think it might be more correct to say he wanted to avoid fire forming wildcat brass or something like that which would be more complicated than what you might call "normal" reloading. Anyhow, the Creedmoor has darn good factory ammo available at a good price in the event someone didn't want to reload. But just because good ammo is available off the shelf, don't take that to mean that I recommend people with a Creedmoor should stop reloading.

The 6mm BR is also a caliber I shoot regularly and I know it works well for 600 yd F-Class, although I haven't been real impressed with readily available factory ammo. For for those who reload, which is most competitors and would apparently include the OP know that it seems clear he was just trying to avoid getting too far out in the weeds in the reloading department, I stand by my statement that the 6mm BR would make a fine 600 yard gun. But, certainly not the only one or even the best one.

Bottom line: For any particular discipline at a particular yardage, I suppose you could come up with a caliber best suited to the job based purely on potential accuracy specifications. But as soon as you get into why one particular caliber is the most accurate, someone else will point out that it has excessive recoil, or that the bullet selection is limited, or that the best powder is sometime hard to purchase. The point is that there are lots of ways to win. Shooting a 6.5mm Creedmoor is one way, but so is shooting a 6mm BR rifle and many other calibers.

 

[DirtySteve]

I have a .223
That says otherwise

I am not the best shot.(Please, no one needs to back me up on this) But you can be competitive with the 223. I would usually shoot 195's and 194's unless the wind was switchy. I shot my first 199 after going back to my 308. Funniest match I shot I used my 223 and shot 12-X's in a 15 shot course of fire and still managed to place out of the ribbons. Seems I missed a wind change and shot two 7's then a nine. I discounted the first 7 because I was sure my bipod moved at the shot for the first one.

 

[tclaunch]

Looking to ease into F class sh ooting at the local range. 600 yds is max. I would like a caliber that requires minimal brass prep as I would like to spend more time shooting than reloading and has decent barrel life. Thank you for your input.

I`d be looking hard at the 6 Dasher, and use brass made by Norma, and sold by Bullets.com as the F-Class Dasher Brass. Perfecto for minimal brass prep, and a great case for midrange, and will hold its own at 1000.

 

[rardoin]

I'm not sure at this point. I see you are a Palo Alto member. I live in south LA as well and trying to get into PA this spring when membership is open. Quite an accomplishment to beat the 308 guys with the .223. I enjoy reloading and shooting so now that things have slowed down in life a bit I finally have time to give competition a try. Looking forward to the challenge.

WEL... Show up at Palo Alto on any first or second Saturday at about 07:45am and talk to any of us before a match (F-class/sling 1st Sat./ Field Precision Rifle 2nd Saturday). I have a RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor that shoots very well that you can use for a match if you shoot factory ammo or I can load up some for you if you can wait until March as I will be busy with preps for the Berger's until then. Just show up and observe/discuss and we can get you on the line by the next match most likely. You will meet a great group of fellows....I even include ol' Snuggie among them.

Robin

 

[WEL]

WEL... Show up at Palo Alto on any first or second Saturday at about 07:45am and talk to any of us before a match (F-class/sling 1st Sat./ Field Precision Rifle 2nd Saturday). I have a RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor that shoots very well that you can use for a match if you shoot factory ammo or I can load up some for you if you can wait until March as I will be busy with preps for the Berger's until then. Just show up and observe/discuss and we can get you on the line by the next match most likely. You will meet a great group of fellows....I even include ol' Snuggie among them.

Robin

Thanks. I work shift so not off every Saturday but will try and make a match just to see firsthand. What is field preciscion rifle?