Competing in F-class or learning to compete in F-class

[SGK]

So... this is a wee way away for me but I am thinking ahead. There aren't any F-class comps shorter than a 3-4 hour drive from me but so be it. What I am wondering about is do you need some sort of registration (other than range/club membership) before competing or is it a case of signing up for a particular match and then turning up? Also, I assume club matches are the best way to start.

I guess I'd love to start with a day (or 3) where someone would guide me during the day, right from overviewing the course of play/schedule to making sure I follow correct procedures and provide some wind guidance (I wouldn't care if that meant my scores were disqualified from the actual competition). I can practice alone at my 'home' range in Homestead (40 minutes south of me) out to 500 yards but that's rather different from the somewhat daunting thought of rocking up at an actual competition day with all its formality/seriousness. (I haven't seen anyone with anything like an F-class rig at this range.)

 

[mike mccormick]

Just show up the day before the match. Most events, the range is open for practice, and it will give you a chance to meet some of the others. In regard to the seriousness of the match, you will not meet a more laid back bunch of shooters, and the match routine is quite straight foreward. Come play

 

[_Raining]

The 2 club matches I have been to were run differently, you might have better luck asking about a specific match/range and how they operate.

I live in GA and have attended the River Bend Gun Club's match once. I just showed up and paid in person. It can be a bit confusing when to go to the pits and when you are shooting but people there will let you know what to do if you ask. Make sure to get a rundown of the scoring. At RBGC I was told to look at the berm and watch for the shot impacting there, then have a black sticker ready to go. When you see the impact, you pull the target down, move the little disk that goes in the shot hole to the new hole, put a black sticker over the previous hole and change the location of the scoring disk on the outside then lift the target back up again.

At Talladega CMP I register and pay online ahead of time and there is no pit duty because they have electronic targets. I have been to Talladega many more times than RBGC because the electronic targets make the whole situation a lot less stressful.

 

[rardoin]

Homestead FL? If so I would guess Port Malabar is your closest range. If that is correct I would send pm's to some of the members that shoot there who posted on this thread:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/port-malabar-orange-blossom-f-class.3969051/

 

[kzin]

Not sure if it's part of the question but at many shoots you'll need to supply an NRA membership number or possibly sign up for a membership at the same time.

Sometimes there is a state association involved also.

 

[SGK]

Yes @kzin that is part of the question. I was a member of the UK NRA but have not joined here yet. Are all F-class matches 'adjudicated' by the NRA and official scoring maintained by/reported to them? I see people talking about reaching certain levels of distinguished shooting (High Master?) - I presume this is also an NRA recognition.

Yeah I think Port Malabar is likely the closest with F-class matches. I'm going to try to make it up to a comp as a spectator sometime soon. Looks like they also have some training days. Shame it is so far away. Not really a day trip.

 

[rardoin]

Our local range does not require NRA membership to shoot our monthly F-class matches but your scores will not be submitted to NRA for classification/recording purposes. I could not imagine a range not allowing one to compete without NRA membership as we want as many shooters as possible to participate.

 

[kzin]

F-class is either NRA or not sanctioned at all( and usually using the NRA rules for reference). No alternative like CMP for service rifle or the various benchrest orgs. Sounds to me like you might as well get the NRA membership as soon as convenient.

 

[sdean]

Show up with a gun and 80 rounds of ammo. Arrive early and tell them you are new. Have fun, What caliber do you shoot?

 

[chkunz]

The NRA rules do not require NRA membership for Approved matches and most clubs simply go by the NRA rules.

 

[Crow]

Point of interest, perhaps....

I'd always assumed an NRA membership number was required to receive an NRA classification, but then I read this:

How Does a Competitor Receive a Classification?
You begin the classification process by competing in a sanctioned, registered tournament. The match sponsor then sends the scores to the NRA within 30 days. If you are an NRA member, your NRA membership number is your classification ID. Non-NRA members are assigned a classification number.

Found it on the internet, so it must be true....

 

[chkunz]

Point of interest, perhaps....

I'd always assumed an NRA membership number was required to receive an NRA classification, but then I read this:

How Does a Competitor Receive a Classification?
You begin the classification process by competing in a sanctioned, registered tournament. The match sponsor then sends the scores to the NRA within 30 days. If you are an NRA member, your NRA membership number is your classification ID. Non-NRA members are assigned a classification number.

Found it on the internet, so it must be true....

This is correct, you can also find it in the rules, which can also be found on the interweb.

 

[swadiver]

come up to Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol club on either or both the 2nd Saturday or Sunday of the month and shoot the 600 yd match with us. F Open, F/TR, match rifle, AR 15 tactical rifle, etc all welcome. you do not need to be a club member to shoot but i think you need to be an NRA member. it's $25 to shoot the three strings. let the match Director know you are new. people will be more than willing to help you out. bring 75 or 80 rds of ammo and have a chrono data driven idea of what your come up will be at 600 yds (12 to 14 or so moa usually is close). the gate is electronically locked, but just tell a member entering why you are there and they will let you in. follow the sign to the 600 yd range. bring an I Pad or tablet for viewing the electronic targets, if you don't have one, the club will lend you one to use. the 600 yd line is covered overhead and you are shooting prone on astroturf type stuff.

our next match is February 9th/10th

 

[Kurt Blasser]

In addition, Port Malabar offers an Orientation day at 600 yards on the fourth Sunday of the month which would fit your needs perfectly. Low stress orientation. See the Port Malabar website. PMRPCrifle.com

 

[SGK]

Thanks guys. I will try to visit Port Malabar in the near future. It will be a long day trip (or perhaps I try to time it with a kids' visit to the grand parents in Vero). As to what I am shooting, at the moment I am only shooting sporter rifles - Blaser R8 Pro in 308 and 223. Superb sporting rifles but not up to the standards you guys use in competition. I have a custom build 6mm Creed in the works (Defiance Elite action, Bartlein barrel etc). Like watching paint dry as I wait for parts. If I get a liking for F-class then I'd follow with a purpose built single-shot for that. My big limitations as far as practicing is concerned is optics and a local range which only goes to 500 yards. I have good glass (Swarovski Z6i) but because it was purchased for hunting it caps out at 15x. I need to learn to read wind.

(My previous local range was the 3000 acre Bisley camp in the UK at which I could shoot to 1100 yards but because I was more interesting in stalking I mostly did the running boar and running deer disciplines at the British Sporting Rifle Club rather than static long range.)

 

[DirtySteve]

I would take your 223 sporter and shoot the match just to get familiar with the way things run. the 308 might get too hot. Just go to learn and have fun. I don't know about other clubs but the one I used to shoot at was any thing but serious about the competition. The only serious part is once the RO say you may fire when your targets appear. Other than during that time they are quite jovial. Joking all around. I have never been to a match any place where they would not go out of their way to make a new shooter feel welcome.