F Class build - Single Shot or Repeater

[Rainbow1]

Was wanting to get a read on what is generally being used. I assume a Repeater with follower fill might save a little weight. Does a short/long action come into the reasons for on or the other.

I’d like to hear opinions and rationale.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[lawman29]

Single shot
Action length cartridge dependent

 

[MikeMcCasland]

If you're building a dedicated F-Class rifle, then single shot without question. Making weight in either Open or TR should be fairly simple.

That said, I've shot F-Class with a repeater before. I don't feel like you lose much in terms of on-target performance. Just a little more rattling from the mag/sled, single feeding isn't as smooth, and you perhaps run the risk of hanging up on something while shooting.

I'd run a short action in either division. 6mms aside, most everyone (to include TR) is throated such that they have to pull the bolt to eject a loaded round.

 

[Retired Grunt]

I agree, I have repeaters, one I shoot in F-Open. When I build a rifle to replace it, it will be a single shot.

 

[Rainbow1]

I was thinking of a single shot short action. I have a single shot SA (308) for TR, was wanting to build one with barrel swaps for both TR and open. Open I was looking at going with a 284. Kinda figured most have single shots and I've read that SAs are used with the 284 length cartridges, just have to remove the bolt if extracting a live round.

 

[Retired Grunt]

Here is something to consider, My Savage 12LRP Open rifle is in a MDT Chassis. I bought a AICS Bob Sled for single shot loading.

 

[Liven The Dream]

700 with Glue in Single Shot Follower will work just fine.
I have one for F/Open and not holding me back at all.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Single shot. Long actions best - easier to get the brass. Repeaters are fine - my 223 is a Tikka action and my 6SLR is a Savage 10 action. So sit on my fence!, but any future builds will be single shot

 

[dthomas]

If you're building a rifle and having to buy an action get a single shot if you're wanting to use something you already have than use that. A 284 works fine in a short action for f class because you won't be feeding from a magazine.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I was thinking of a single shot short action. I have a single shot SA (308) for TR, was wanting to build one with barrel swaps for both TR and open. Open I was looking at going with a 284. Kinda figured most have single shots and I've read that SAs are used with the 284 length cartridges, just have to remove the bolt if extracting a live round.

I've done something similar with my Panda actions before. It works.

I think the challenge you run into is that it becomes a chore swapping barrels/maintaining zero (more than you'd think), and just generally keeping two barrels "competitively accurate" without their own dedicated action.

I still occasionally swap barrels around across several actions pretty frequently. I just don't do it on guns I 'seriously' compete with.

 

[One Eye Pete]

When I built my F Open rifle I went with a long Kelby F Class Panda action.
It's a 284 Shehane and even with the bullets hanging way out of the case there is no problem ejecting loaded rounds. (you can always use a shorter cartridge in a long action but the reverse isn't always true)
My other rationale for a long action was for extra bedding surface. With that 1.25 in diameter straight 32in long barrel hanging on the front I figured I would need all the bedding surface I could get.
Other considerations in choosing this action were:
1. It utilizes a trigger hanger which makes it easier to achieve proper timing and also makes it easier to service the trigger.
2. It utilizes a mechanical ejector so I can control where it throws the spent cases by how fast I pull back on the bolt.
3. Also with the mechanical ejector I don't have to remove a spring plunger ejector when I want to find the rifling touch point using the Wheeler method.
4. Kelbly's service.

The other excellent action that I considered was a Borden BRMXD. A friend of mine has this action and it is really smooth and timed to perfection. The only thing is I believe it used a spring loaded plunger ejector (which isn't necessarily a bad thing I just favor mechanical ejectors). If you are going to seriously shoot F Class I don't think you could go wrong with either of these actions.

As far as using one gun for both F Open and F TR it would probably end up being a compromise and in the long run you would be better off going with two guns one for each class. Or better yet just shoot one class and become good at it. Its hard enough keeping one gun in perfect tune.

 

[chromatica]

I am running a Bighorn short action on my 260 Remington. When I shoot A-tip 135s, they are too long to fit in a magazine but F-Class requires me to single-feed anyway. (I use a Bob sled.) I have seen those who have disabled ejection - they pull the bolt back and pick out the empty case with their trigger finger.

 

[chromatica]

A member of my club has been very successful with his custom 284 at 1,000 yards. I suspect that 6 and 6.5 mm calibers are more effective at 600.

 

[Ned Ludd]

My first couple F-TR .308 Wins have Badger M5 DBM systems and standard bolt faces. After shooting those for a couple years, I learned that single feeding with a rifle having no DBM system, a coned bolt face, and no ejector was a little better. My reasoning for the statement "a little better" is as follows: The coned bolt face makes for slightly better feeding and lessens the chance you will try to close the bolt and slam the bullet meplat of a round that may be slightly off center in the raceway against the side of the action, rather than going straight into the chamber. Further, if you're strictly single feeding rounds as required in F-Class, there is no need for a magazine, as our loaded rounds are generally much too long to fit in one anyhow. Finally, ejectors with moderate to strong springs can create flat spots on the side of case necks by slamming them into the side of the action as they are withdrawn from the chamber. That doesn't happen when the bolt has no ejector.

In fairness, I still use the two .308s with DBM systems in matches. In fact, they are my "go to" .308s for F-TR. So it's not like having a standard bolt face, an ejector, and a DBM system actually "precludes" their use in F-Class. However, setting the rifle up with a coned bolt face, no ejector, and no DBM system makes it a little easier to use IMO.

 

[Rainbow1]

Great feedback! The point about planning to swap barrels is a something I didn’t really think about. With tr and open matches being sprinkled in the months of the season, it makes sense the swapping out that frequently can become challenging to keep a consistently performing rig.

I’m probably going to setup a dedicated rig for each and see if provisioning for optional barrels might work out in the long run.

As for the L/SA option - I have a short action 308 setup that is close to what I need for TR. I’ll look for a LA to start an Open rig. Probably depends on what opportunities show up as in can’t afford to just piecemeal the optimum Open rig ($$$)

 

[boltman13]

700 with Glue in Single Shot Follower will work just fine.
I have one for F/Open and not holding me back at all.

I have 2 Remington actions a 700 and a 40X with glued in single shot followers and a Savage and Mauser 98 as well. All are accurate with the right load and when I do my part. The Mauser has had work on the extractor but still requires force to chamber a round. The other three chamber very smoothly. I do have one single shot action a sleeved Remington XP-100 that also is very smooth. That said, if you do not have a donner action to start you will probably spend about as much getting one, trueing it, timing it, bushing the bolt, and getting a decent trigger as a custom single shot action costs in time and money. It will also bring more in resale.