Can an AR15 style rifle be used in F-TR matches?

[jimbo88mm]

I have yet to try my hand at competition but it's something I have been interested in trying out.

I just read article (b) F-Class Target Rifle (F-TR) of the FClass rules and I didn't see any mention that the rifle had to be bolt action.

Also it looks like a rear bag is good to go.

I have an AR with a bull barrel that I think could get me started if its permitted. All I need is a bi-pod for it.



Thanks

 

[jbpmidas]

I believe it just has to be .223 and must be single loaded.

 

[Taildrag15X]

You read the Rules correct, Any Centerfire Rifle in .223 Rem. or .308 Win., along with the Bi Pod you'll need a Single Shot Sled as F-Class is fired Slow Fire only no loaded magazine.

Good luck,

 

[NateG]

You might want to consider where your brass gets tossed as a courtesy to your fellow shooters. If it goes out at 3 o'clock or so and is likely to be pelting the guy to your right, you might want to pick up a brass deflector or put something next to your gun to keep it off your neighbor. (A string woven through some holes cut on one side of a small towel, then tied around your scope rings and draped over the ejection port will work pretty well in a pinch.)

If it throws it back at 5:00 or so, or tosses it forward, then you're fine.

But, yes, you can shoot an AR-15 in F-class. (If it's a .223 or .308, makes weight, and is shot off a bipod, then it can be F/TR, if not, you can still use it in F/Open) Oh, and it can't have a muzzle brake.

 

[XTR]

as stated above the only surprise in the rules you may not have anticipated:

1. single fire, no loading from mags

As stated you may want to consider controlling the brass

To consider:

Barrel length, muzzle velocity, and bullet selection. If you are shooting at 600 yards you should be OK with most of them. If you want to back out to 1000 then you will find that the selection of bullets and loads that will reach gets shorter and your barrel will need to get longer. If you start loading hot for this you may want to look into a gas block that limits the pressure to the action.


Give it a whirl.

 

[effendude]

Jimbo,
A 24" barreled Ar-15 with a 1-8" or faster twist makes an excellent starter rifle for F-class in the midrange game to 600 yards. Easy to load, no recoil, and relatively inexpensive to shoot. If you already have an AR, have fun!

Most shooters use the 80 grain SMK or similar for 600 yards. 69 and 77 grain bullets are designed for magazine feeding and really get pushed around hard in the wind. Going further than 600 gets tricky. Buy a SLED for a magazine and have fun.

Many of our shooters just put their hard rifle case along side them when they shoot to act as a brass catcher, simple and effective.

Get ready to get hooked!
Scott

 

[Nodak7mm]

"You might want to consider where your brass gets tossed as a courtesy to your fellow shooters"

Please.....

 

[effendude]

When I started shooting OTC, the older guys used to show their brass burns as badges of honor. Take a .30-06 or two down the shooting coat during a rapid fire sitting string and you learn new meaning for the word focus. Now we want brass catchers? What is next, shooting rifles off bags with scopes? ;D
Scott

 

[Nodak7mm]

I am of Nordic descent, I burn easy.... ;D

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I have some experience shooting an AR-15 in F-T/R competition, all the way to 1000 yards, and I am happy to share what little I know and answer any questions you may have.

Let me describe my rifle first; it's what is commonly known as a Franken-gun, made up of parts. The upper is from Armalite and it has a 26 inch 1:7.7 Krieger barrel with their 5.56 Match chamber in an Armalite free-float tube. It is a tight chamber with a long leade to accomodate the long bullets I use. The bolt is Armalite with the springs replaced with chrome-silicon springs and the CWS with heavy insert from Tubb's outfit. On top of the upper, I have currently installed a Weaver T-36 in a canted rail mount from Brownells. I also have another railmount with a Nikon 6.5-20X for other games besides F-T/R. The mounts come off by twisting two knobs.

The lower is a regular lower but with virtually all aftermarket parts. Some of the parts are for ease of use, others are for enhanced precision and yet others are for high pressure loads.
The trigger is a Geissele Hi-Speed Match two stage set for 1.8 pounds on the first stage and 3-4 ounces on the second stage. The stock is the MagPul PRS. The buffer is Armalite but with a chrome/silicon spring for enhanced stiffness and no boing sound. I have installed a MagPul winter trigger guard and a through-the-triggerguard bolt release. This last gadget is very useful. The pistol grip is the one from Tubb and is the best for precision prone shooting. I use the Bob Sled to handfeed the cartridges.

The ammo depended on the yard line. I used the cheaper 80gr SMKs for 300 yard and the more expensive 80gr JLKs for 500-1000 yards. The load was higher for LR by a full grain of Varget but since I switched to a .308 bolt gun for LR, I just standardized on a nice warm and precise load using 80gr JLKs from 300 to 600 yards. I use Winchester brass, Varget and Remington 7 1/2 primers. The COAL is right close to 2.5 inches and the bullets are moly-coated.

I started with a VersaPod bipod attached to the sling swivel on the front tube and later went to the Sinclair bipod.

This AR-15 is a dream to shoot, accurate as heck, no recoil and just comfortable to hold and aim. I think that last part has a lot to do with good marksmanship. Using the Bobsled, I will put a cartridge in the ejection port and when I am ready to shoot, I push the cartridge into the chamber with my pinky (finally found a use for that digit besides a keyboard.) Then I aim on the target, get my wind info and I then press the bolt release with my trigger finger and I finalize the shot and pow! I can stay on the target in the scope and it's fun to watch the potter disk get hit when it's in the X-ring (I just wished it happened more frequently.)

In a match, with a fast puller and a scorer who is paying attention, I can put downrange multiple bullets without ever moving away from the rifle and scope. I've done that in 300 yard comps when the conditions are just right. The only thing that moves is my right hand feeding the cartridges and pressing the trigger.

Let me see if I can find pictures of the rifle and setup.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Here's one. You can see how I set up my case to catch the brass. I tuned the rifle to eject softly at about 4 o'clock and the brass would pile up in the case. Never lost a piece of brass.

Here's another view showing the controls on the left side. Notice the bubble level mounted on the rail.

 

[Heavies]

A friend of mine is build one for our mid range matches. It will be interesting when he gets it done.

You might want to use the heavier bullets in .223. The 55 grainers will go subsonic before the target.
Have fun!

 

[jimbo88mm]

Great feedback Everyone! Very interesting setup bayou shooter, thanks for the photos.

Looks like I just missed the TSRAs mid range match but plan on checking it out next year. In the meantime I'll have to look for some other local matches.

Any thoughts on the honrnady 75gr amax bullets?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

The 75 A-max is a fine bullet and should work ok to 600 yards. I had difficulty keeping it supersonic at 1000 yards, especially when it got cold(ish). The 80grainers are really what you want to look at; SMK, JLK, A-Max, Nosler. They will do better for you at 5-600 yards.

Yeah, I missed TSRA mid-range this year and I understand this was the last time at Swift. Next year it will be at Bayou Rifles, it looks like. Where are you located?

 

[jimbo88mm]

Yeah, I missed TSRA mid-range this year and I understand this was the last time at Swift. Next year it will be at Bayou Rifles, it looks like. Where are you located?

I'm in Round Rock, just north of Austin.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Hmm, probably the only thing close is Bayou Rifles for F-class. We shoot mid-range every third Sunday on the month. It varies between 300 and 600.

www.bayourifles.org

 

[jimbo88mm]

That's a long drive ... I assume you have to be a member to participate in the matches.

There's a range in New Braunfels that holds monthly FClass.. it's still a bit far (1.5 hours) so I've been hesitant to fill out an app.

The only range in the Austin/RR area that goes beyond 300 yards that I know of is Best of the West. I've heard a lot of good things about that range but I don't believe they do Fclass.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Incorrect assumption. We allow anyone to compete in monthly matches.

I've heard of Best of the West but I have never been there. I am not aware of any F-class in San Antonio or Austin. We get people from SA come to our matches, as well as folks from Dallas and other places.

 

[jimbo88mm]

Incorrect assumption. We allow anyone to compete in monthly matches.

I've heard of Best of the West but I have never been there. I am not aware of any F-class in San Antonio or Austin. We get people from SA come to our matches, as well as folks from Dallas and other places.

Good to know... hhhmmm the wife wants to do a weekend at the coast this summer... maybe I can make this work

 

[LESLEY]

Incorrect assumption. We allow anyone to compete in monthly matches.

I've heard of Best of the West but I have never been there. I am not aware of any F-class in San Antonio or Austin. We get people from SA come to our matches, as well as folks from Dallas and other places.

Good to know... hhhmmm the wife wants to do a weekend at the coast this summer... maybe I can make this work

We have had this question before. I am not trying to talk you out of F/TR. But trying to run an AR-15 With custom built bolt guns wont be fun. It will get you started but it wont compete with the F/TR guns most shooters are using. I say give it a try see if you like it but an AR base gun wont cut it. I could bewrong you could be the first to do it