caliber for F-class rifle?

[Performance Shooting]

Looking for suggestions on best caliber for F-Class rifle....I will be shooting matches from 300 to 1,000 yards. I dont want to have to fire form brass....and I want something mild on recoil...I welcome all opinions? Thanks, Mike

 

[MikeMcCasland]

That's easy, .308 Winchester.

Seriously though, if you're building an F-Open rig where 1,000 yards is on the menu with any regularity, a straight .284 Win is pretty hard to beat. Just neck up 6.5x284 brass and you're good to go.

Edit: Most everything else that's 'popular' in F-Open is either going to require forming, or have more recoil. Probably wise to stay with 7mm or larger bore diameter.

 

[jr600yd]

And if your not into necking up Lapua get some Peterson!

 

[Bill Rodolph]

Less recoil think about the 260 Remington or the 243 Winchester

 

[HTSmith]

Less recoil think about the 260 Remington or the 243 Winchester

The 260 is not far behind the 284 with the new heavy bullets and still with a lot less recoil.

 

[Performance Shooting]

the 260 vs 6.5 creed, my understanding is you gain a little more case capacity with the 260 and can get a few more fps?

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I guess a follow-up question would be: Do you want to participate, or do you want to compete?

6.5s can hold their own at MR, but at 1k the 7mms+ are going to walk on you.

 

[Performance Shooting]

I guess a follow-up question would be: Do you want to participate, or do you want to compete?

6.5s can hold their own at MR, but at 1k the 7mms+ are going to walk on you.

 

[Performance Shooting]

def want to compete...how is the recoil on a 284?

 

[MikeMcCasland]

def want to compete...how is the recoil on a 284?

Pretty tame in a 22lb gun with a RAD.

 

[Medic505]

Or, build a 18 pound .308 and shoot TR with the rest of us warped souls. No heavy front rest to lug around, barrels last 3 times longer, burn way less powder, plus no worry about recoil. Can't beat it!

 

[Dub]

my vote for TR as well

 

[dbduff]

I guess a follow-up question would be: Do you want to participate, or do you want to compete?

6.5s can hold their own at MR, but at 1k the 7mms+ are going to walk on you.

Where is the source of this info?

 

[ShootDots]

I have employed nearly every cartridge you could think of for "F-Open / Competition". The .300WSM is, in MY opinion, the best of the best.. However, evidently you are somewhat averse to recoil. In that case, I would STILL use the .300WSM BUT only shooting the 200-20x bullets. They are SUPER accurate and recoils only slightly more than the .284 Shehane. You would do well to consider this avenue to traverse.

 

[swd]

I guess a follow-up question would be: Do you want to participate, or do you want to compete?

6.5s can hold their own at MR, but at 1k the 7mms+ are going to walk on you.

With the new Berger 153.5 and 156 the 6.5’s aren’t loosing anything. And those two bullets shoot and hold excellent waterline.

 

[Falfan2017]

I’ve used a 6dasher and a 284. You can do well with either although in my hands the 284 has way more margin for error with the wind especially at 1000. Both are easy to tune and assuming your bag and rest setup fits your stock they both track and recoil pretty mildly.

 

[Scott Harris]

I guess a follow-up question would be: Do you want to participate, or do you want to compete?

6.5s can hold their own at MR, but at 1k the 7mms+ are going to walk on you.

^^^^^^^^^THIS IS YOUR ANSWER^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For mid-range, there are a variety of cartridges that are competitive from 6mm up to 30cal. For long-range, the list shrinks considerably: 7mm & 30 cal in F-Open. By a large margin, the 284 WIN is the most popular long-range FO cartridge. This is because it offers the optimal blend of brass choice, barrel life, pure accuracy, recoil, and wind-bucking ability. It has modest recoil in a 22 lb rifle, is amazingly accurate, easy to load for, and has decent barrel life (no FO cartridge has great barrel life)

Based on your criteria of minimal recoil and being competitive at 1,000 yards, I would recommend a straight 284 WIN. Push 180 Hybrids at the "David Gosnell velocity" of 2770 fps and you will be a very happy shooter! We are using no-turn brass: .319 chamber neck for Lapua brass. I'm not sure how thick Peterson brass is, but you might want to get a .322 chamber neck if it is thicker.

 

[dthomas]

The 284 is the way to go for what you want. Mine is 20 lbs and i don't even notice the recoil. I don't have a rad system just a shotgun but pad from trapdude.com. I started with a 6.5x55 and it won't compete with the 284 at long range.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Any of the 6.5’s, 7’s or 30’s will get it done. A Creedmoor, 284 or one of the short mags, either WSM or SAUM will work. Gun weight will help dampen recoil.
Personally, I use a 6.5x47 for short/mid range, a 264WM & 300WM for long range depending on conditions.
Currently getting a rifle together in 6.5SAUM to try next season. Has a Bartlein 5R groove 7” twist 32” finished length with a Palma contour.
Going with a tight neck GAP reamer.

Cheers.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I will vote ! .284 for Long Range .
That is 8,9&1000 yards .

I also am a Dasher Fan .
6 Norma No Fire Forming .

.308 F/TR is my all around Rifle 300 to 1000 yards . Very easy on everything.

Think Hard this is a Funnel for your Cash . Oh what Fun .