Current F-Class National Records

[effendude]

I am only interested in F-TR because I don't want to have to be always getting the latest darling cartridge to be competitive and I don't want to have to take my components to bed to make the absolute most perfect ammo. Add to that the need to have a cart-mounted crane to move the latest front rests while F-TR shooters are seeking the lightest bipod made of ionized Unobtainium.

[br]
I'm very interested in your loading technique described above, Denys. What exactly is the purpose of taking the ammo to bed? Does it improve vertical? [br]
BTW, that cart-mounted crane is called a davit. Just wanted to get the terminology straight.

My wife accuses me of having only three things on my mind: hunting, shooting and s** with her. If she finds out that I am cheating on her by bringing ammo into the bedroom, I am in big trouble!
Scott

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I am only interested in F-TR because I don't want to have to be always getting the latest darling cartridge to be competitive and I don't want to have to take my components to bed to make the absolute most perfect ammo. Add to that the need to have a cart-mounted crane to move the latest front rests while F-TR shooters are seeking the lightest bipod made of ionized Unobtainium.

[br]
I'm very interested in your loading technique described above, Denys. What exactly is the purpose of taking the ammo to bed? Does it improve vertical? [br]

I'll leave that to your considerable imagination.

BTW, that cart-mounted crane is called a davit. Just wanted to get the terminology straight.

I constantly get snide remarks about using words of which many people are ignorant. Add to that the fact I could not decide between gantry and davit, I opted for the easy-to-understand "cart-mounted crane," which also allowed me to highlight the need for yet another piece of gear, the cart.

I did resist the temptation to precede the word cart with "power-driven, battery operated." I think I should get points for that, maybe even Xs.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

My wife accuses me of having only three things on my mind: hunting, shooting and s** with her. If she finds out that I am cheating on her by bringing ammo into the bedroom, I am in big trouble!
Scott

The ministrations some people bestow on their brass would rival their attention in other matters (said delicately.)

 

[saunaking]

Apparantly I've been doing something wrong. I started shooting f-class open two year's back and it has been a blast. I didn't realize that all the bullshit and bickering about who shoot's what discipline or what classification you shoot was the important thing. Here I was stupid me having the time of my life sending bullet's down range and having fun hanging out with people that love to shoot. Afterward's a couple beer's and talking smart. Well I guess I'll just keep doing it my wrong way and have fun! Sorry to interrupt.Carry on gentlemen.

Spoken like a true cement-head that is a HM ;D!! Can't wait to get the season started. See you this weekend.

 

[jscandale]

No scope or rest, just a 4x bigger target.

Just a joke! I shouldn't have, but I had to!

-nosualc

ETA: Really just a joke, I've nothing but the highest respect for the sling and coat guys. Again, another shooting discipline with its own set of challenges.

Are you sure this isn't cigarcop?? Ha ha, he and I go back and forth on this one all the time at our local range. We are both more or less at the top of the pile in our corresponding disciplines and have the "Tastes great! Less filling!" arguement just for the hell of it.
I built a .308 F/TR gun last year, but never get the time to shoot a match. I am quite sure I'll be a full time F class shooter at some point once the eyes and body don't want to cooperate anymore.

JS

 

[Lbart]

LBart,
Do you happen to recall the % of overall F-Class HMs at long range?

Mark,
Here are the figures from the NRA Jan 24, 2012 (26 months ago). Should be higher now.
1. FC Mid-Range – UN 1338, MK 331, SS 244, EX 362, MA 219, HM 223 = 2717
2. FC Long-Range – UN 1171, MK 510, SS 202, EX 232, MA 106, HM 54 = 2275
3. FC Fullbore – UN 186, MK 21, SS 13, EX 18, MA 30, HM 13 = 281 Grand Total = 5273
For the heck of it I figured the HM % of each classification -
MR = 8.2 %
LR = 2.2 %
FB = 4.6 %

 

[Steve Blair]

LBart,
Do you happen to recall the % of overall F-Class HMs at long range?

Mark,
Here are the figures from the NRA Jan 24, 2012 (26 months ago). Should be higher now.
1. FC Mid-Range – UN 1338, MK 331, SS 244, EX 362, MA 219, HM 223 = 2717
2. FC Long-Range – UN 1171, MK 510, SS 202, EX 232, MA 106, HM 54 = 2275
3. FC Fullbore – UN 186, MK 21, SS 13, EX 18, MA 30, HM 13 = 281 Grand Total = 5273
For the heck of it I figured the HM % of each classification -
MR = 8.2 %
LR = 2.2 %
FB = 4.6 %

[br]
Good work, Larry. Very interesting.

 

[Erud]

Those #'s are interesting, but pretty misleading. I think the "unclassified" group really skews the stats. You'd need to throw all of them out to get close to an accurate measure. The unclassified generally only fall into 2 groups:

1. Those who tried it once and decided it wasn't for them - won't be back, but their unclassified status stays on the books for a long time, maybe forever?
2. Those who just started and will be classified in their next match or two - won't be unclassified for long

Lots more in group #1 than #2 because they never move out of the "Unclassified" class, while group #2 will. So basically, those numbers include a lot of non-shooters as shooters. If you look a these #'s in the context of a local match, it's not even close to accurate. Without sitting down and looking over old match scores and doing a bunch of math, I'd say that at F-class matches in my area, it's more like 40% High Masters, 40% Masters, and 20% other. Look at the numbers for big matches like the SW Nationals and I'd bet that mine are closer than the stats above. Just an observation, I do not shoot F-class.

 

[Steve Blair]

The breakdown at 2014 Berger, in F-Open, was: 22 HM, 31 MA, 13 EX, 7 SS. That translates to 30.1%, 42.5%, 17.8% and 9.6%, respectively. [br]
But, similar to your comment above, the composition here is skewed. Not all shooters will attend an event like the Berger and serious shooters, such as those who have attained LR MA or HM, will be heavily represented. This is particularly true this year because the F-Class Nationals will be held at Ben Avery for the next two years. Shooters who aspire to win Nationals would likely attend to accumulate more range time at Ben Avery.

 

[Erud]

But, similar to your comment above, the composition here is skewed. Not all shooters will attend an event like the Berger and serious shooters, such as those who have attained LR MA or HM, will be heavily represented. This is particularly true this year because the F-Class Nationals will be held at Ben Avery for the next two years. Shooters who aspire to win Nationals would likely attend to accumulate more range time at Ben Avery.

Steve,
That is a good point about the representation ay larger matches. Also, after looking at some local scores from last year, it appears that my guess-timated percentages above are not quite right. For the MN Mid Range Regional match last fall, the F-Class shooters broke down like this, F-TR and Open combined:

13 High Masters
3 Masters
1 Expert
5 Unclassified
= 22 total shooters with HM's making up nearly 60%. Not surprisingly, a HM won this match.


At the 2013 Long Range Regional, F-Class looked like this:

1 High Master
2 Master
3 Experts
2 Sharpshooters
2 Men of the Marks
6 Unclassified
= 16 total shooters. This match was won by an expert.

The number of unclassified shooters for the LR regional is probably due mainly to the fact that there is only 1 club in the state to shoot LR at and they typically only host 2 or 3 matches.

So, what's it all mean? Heck if I know, but it's somewhat interesting...

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Thanks Larry.

54 HM @ LR in the whole Country. It's not easy.

Erud, your likely right about the unclassified, but taking them out I still get about 6% HM out of the rest. Its not easy, even in Open…

While we share a classification with our TR brothers, we don't shoot against each other so I also don't see the issue. Its no easier to win in Open then TR, just because the ballistics are better - cause the other monkeys shooting Open with you are using the same "better ballistics" as you.

So, in either Open or TR, or every other discipline SR, MR, PR, it all boils down to this - the better wind reader wins. Equipment within in your discipline (either Open or TR) is a wash. Wind reading is the name of this game.

 

[Erud]

Looking further into last year's MN LR F-Class scores, it would appear that HM in LR is definitely not easy. The F-Class LR State Championship had this for shooters:

HM = 0
MA = 3
EX = 7
SS = 1
MM = 2
MU = 7
= 20 total shooters. This match was also won by an Expert(the same sandbagger ;-) that won the regional - from looking at the scores from these 2 matches, I think he is now a HM)

Again, just providing data for anyone interested and killing time while waiting for my wife to finish dinner...

 

[Erud]

Out of curiosity, does anyone have the stats for sling shooters similar to what Larry posted for F-Class?

 

[nosualc]

I believe the "expert" in question, and a few others, got their LR classifications after crazy wind conditions the year before.

We are, unfortunately, primarily a MR state. We need more 1k venues

-nosualc

 

[Erud]

I believe the "expert" in question, and a few others, got their LR classifications after crazy wind conditions the year before.

We are, unfortunately, primarily a MR state. We need more 1k venues

-nosualc

I remember that, now that you mention it. The wind was so severe at the 2012 regional that there were no HM agg scores in the sling class with 12 HM's shooting! Tough weekend...

 

[jscandale]

Ya know, all of you can be high masters. Just add a remote control and wind activated servo motors to your already rested, highly magnified rifles. Easy peasy, right... 8)

JS

 

[Cigarcop]

Ya know, all of you can be high masters. Just add a remote control and wind activated servo motors to your already rested, highly magnified rifles. Easy peasy, right... 8)

JS

Ah your a funny guy Mr. Scandale!!!! Lol

 

[jscandale]

Ya know, all of you can be high masters. Just add a remote control and wind activated servo motors to your already rested, highly magnified rifles. Easy peasy, right... 8)

JS

Ah your a funny guy Mr. Scandale!!!! Lol

 

[Ont0001]

Just finished "an interesting read" over the last 9 pages.It jumped around a wee bit.
For what it's worth, we do not (yet) have a classification system here in Canada.It is being looked at and a system has been developed (by another Canadian poster on here and should be in place this? year)
We do not have a National Records Dept. either. Again,that should be added sometime this year.

Regardless of FTR ,FO,TR,SR,PR, Benchrest, Short Range,Long Range there is ONLY one classification that really matters ,
and that is…MATCH WINNER.
FWIW regardless of what shooting sport you choose to compete in,it's ALL challenging.
The rest is just to help encourage/monitor developed improvement in the "community" and provides for opportunities to recognize performance beyond Match Winner.
IMHO the most important thing is that for all your efforts,time,money and travels….you have some fun and
enjoy the camaraderie of "like minded" enthusiasts and learn something along the way..
Sure not gonna get "rich n famous" in our F 'ing game !!!
Regards
Gord O

 

[Jay Christopherson]

....
Regardless of FTR ,FO,TR,SR,PR, Benchrest, Short Range,Long Range there is ONLY one classification that really matters ,
and that is…MATCH WINNER.
FWIW regardless of what shooting sport you choose to compete in,it's ALL challenging.
The rest is just to help encourage/monitor developed improvement in the "community" and provides for opportunities to recognize performance beyond Match Winner.
IMHO the most important thing is that for all your efforts,time,money and travels….you have some fun and
enjoy the camaraderie of "like minded" enthusiasts and learn something along the way..
Sure not gonna get "rich n famous" in our F 'ing game !!!
Regards
Gord O

Hear, hear. Well said.