F Class build

[BORGY76]

Getting interested in precision long range shooting more and more.

I see majority of Top F Class guys are shooting the .284. I know nothing about this cartridge and assume it's a hand load only. What are the differences between the Shehane and the Wheeler?

Actions: Is this more of personal preference? Or is Panda better than others, Borden, Defiance.... you get where I'm going right?

Barrels: I gather guys find a vendor that meets their expectations and just stick with them.

Bottom metal: I'm assuming this just needs to match up with your action and stock, also keep trigger and mag held in place.

Stocks: Is a Mcmillian Kestros going to provide same results as a gorgeous piece of walnut/other fancy woods? Is there an advantage to one vs the other?

Thanks for reading/responding in advance, and excuse my ignorance. As a precision tool maker for the last 28 yrs, I am fascinated by what some folks are capable of doing with a rifle at 1000+ yards. I understand this isn't a cheap hobby, I'm more concerned with building something with only the best. I'm ok being the week link in my setup.

 

[DumpHollow]

Forget the bottom metal, short of a trigger guard. Build a single shot.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Yes you will need to hand load, even if you did not you wouldnt be competitive without a well tuned load.

The Shehane has less body taper in the case, the Wheeler has some things in the throat and lead that are unique that the 180 hybrid responds well to.

You will see a handful of actions, none of the popular ones will hold you back if they are right.

Brux and Bartlien are the most popular barrels, at least with my customers

No bottom metal, all single shot actions.

Stock design and how comfortable you are on them is more important in F class than what its made of. Ideally you could go to a match and ask some guys to let you get behind their rifles. After the match of course.

 

[DumpHollow]

Good advice on the stock. Probably the most difficult to get right the first time around. Grip radius, profile and trigger position are pretty much fixed. Although cheekpieces are adjustable, that comb shape is also an individual preference. I built an F-T/R rifle on an Eliseo R1 tube chassis with a Borden simply to have the adjustment ability. I have subsequently acquired a Kelbly F-T/R stock and a McMillan F-Open. I haven't spent any time behind them to have an opinion but found the Kelbly very pleasing to the grip hand.

Bottom line, you spend a lot of time on your belly and the man-machine interface has to be comfortable and stress free.

 

[Will Henry]

In the beginning, the building of an "F" class rifle was pretty easy. You barreled your high power rifle in the cartridge of your choice, put a scope on it, and shot off a rest or bipod.
Today, "F" class is, essentially, unlimited benchrest without the bench; so recommendations are different. F/TR is usually a chassis gun with a bipod (no more shooting over a sack of sawdust!). While some guys will still contend using their Model 70 target rifle, you won't see many of them. WH

 

[rsbhunter]

Also, if you haven't already, plan on using a tuner....seems all of the top shooters use them, and no reason to not give yourself every advantage possible...rsbhunter

 

[BORGY76]

So, if a guy was going to shoot the .284 shehane or wheeler, the action would be a 284 win. The barrel would be chambered to shehane/wheeler specs correct?

The Panda action, is this an aluminum housing with a steel insert pressed in? Just going off a few photos I've seen, and the assumption that many on here are familiar with this particular action.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You would want a .308 boltface short action. Some guys like a long but the short is most popular. The Panda does have steel inserts were needed. You can have the chambers cut to any on the same action.

 

[BORGY76]

You would want a .308 boltface short action. Some guys like a long but the short is most popular. The Panda does have steel inserts were needed. You can have the chambers cut to any on the same action.

What would be the advantages of short vs a long action? I figured they had to have some type of reinforcement somewhere.

 

[Will Henry]

The advantages of the short action are:
Greater rigidity. Given the same cross section, shorter is stiffer.
Lighter striker mechanism with lighter firing pin and shorter, quicker spring yield very slightly quick lock time.
Overall weight, the short action will be a couple ounces lighter.
Ultimately, the advantages are more evident in the brochure than in the field! WH

 

[BORGY76]

The more components I order and purchase, the more I'm realizing the most important components (ammo and ammo components) seem non existent.

 

[memilanuk]

In the beginning, the building of an "F" class rifle was pretty easy. You barreled your high power rifle in the cartridge of your choice, put a scope on it, and shot off a rest or bipod.
Today, "F" class is, essentially, unlimited benchrest without the bench; so recommendations are different. F/TR is usually a chassis gun with a bipod (no more shooting over a sack of sawdust!). While some guys will still contend using their Model 70 target rifle, you won't see many of them. WH

Having been around F/TR since back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - and the Harris bipod and a bean bag ruled the world - I've seen a lot of FTR guns. Very, very few of them have been chassis guns. Jim Grissom ran one for years. Drew Rutherford still does. Jade Delacambre won the 2019 FCNC with one, IIRC. And of course there are others. But... those tend to be the outliers, from what I've seen over the years. Maybe that varies regionally?

 

[Will Henry]

Could very well be a regional thing. I never really got involved in F/TR because I don't particularly like bipods and the requirements diverged from the original rules and intent of "F" class IMO. I switched to shooting with a sling years ago; about the time F/TR became a thing, and like it more. WH

 

[butchlambert]

For accuracy and barrel life doesn't the 300SAUM do well?

 

[BORGY76]

Panda F Class action options, I'm assuming right, left bolt, right, left or dual ports? Anything else I'm missing? They're closed and I'm not sure I'm gonna get a chance to call this week. Or are there anodizing color options? Got some emails and messages fired off for stock options last week and haven't heard back from anyone. Muscle car hobby might be more attainable

 

[TylerFromMS]

Same

 

[Davidheart]

All good answers here.... but the best thing to do at the end of the day is to discuss all these options with your smith. He/She will be the one to help guide you through the final process.

 

[X Count]

For accuracy and barrel life doesn't the 300SAUM do well?

FTR is 308 or 223 only. 300saum is not very common. No reason it couldn't do well but brass availability and being very similar to an off the shelf 300wsm would be the main things holding it back.

F class is a little different to BR. f class shooters probably lean more towards BC than absolute accuracy because of the speed targets are pulled, 3" limit on stock width, 22lb weight limit and setting up on uneven ground vs a concrete bench means you can't just rail shots as fast as BR. Electronic targets has influenced that slightly. Also we shoot a lot more ammo so although there are F class shooters using all the bells and whistles we generally have 100s of cases and 1000s of projectiles that we need to keep "very good" vs BR having small batches that are exceptional.

Most common Cal's I see is

6br / dasher etc for shorts
Straight 284
284 improved in some form
7saum
300wsm

Obviously there are reginal things that influence and bring in other suitable Cal's but this would be the bulk. All will give good BC, acceptable accuracy and be manageable in a 22lb / 3" wide gun if built correctly.

 

[butchlambert]

I don't believe the OP mentioned FTR. With a good coaxial rest they get their shots off in a very quick manner if needed to catch a condition.