F-class for first time competitior or ? Top caliber choices?

[mdavis78102]

The 6br would certainly teach you to read the wind better, like shooting Palma with 155s and peep sights.

 

[6BRinNZ]

A factory rifle like the Savage F-Class (I have two, one is still almost stock) can do pretty well at F-Open club matches. At events like Berger SW LR or the National Championship, it is unrealistic to expect that it might do well, regardless who is behind the butt.

Hi Steve - I'm kinda curious on this one....interested in your opinion....I would have thought a factory savage with a custom barrel would be competitive? I have gone down the full custom route but in the back of my mind I have always been thinking...Savage with a custom barrel....I am making the assumption that good scope (NF and up) - rings and bipod/bags came along for the ride with the savage.

A little 6 br story - went to a Regional match recently 8,9 and 1000...attendance numbers were down as its a smaller part of NZ (putting some perspective here), winds were light no more than 4moa but fishtailing...I hung in there 800 and 900 first equal (the other .284s and 6.4-284s got toasted in the fishtail) - expected to get spanked at 1k - ending up winning the match by 1 point...why - the other guys 300 wsm load fell apart at 1000 and a lot of points were lost to vertical - my little 6br kept doing its thing - big lesson for any load - consistency over a series of relays will keep you up there. Anyway - everyone knows this just a real world example.

 

[Steve Blair]

The difference at big tournaments is mistakes and how much they cost you. If you give up points to top shooters, you will almost certainly not get them back. They don't make many mistakes. If you underestimate the wind speed by one mph and make a perfect center hold shot, it will cost you ~6.5" with the 6BR and ~5" with a .284 Shehane. One is a 9, the other a 10. Over the course of a multi-day tournament, it starts to add up and will get you. That is not to say that a very well shot 6BR cannot win but the chances are significantly reduced. [br]
The Savage problems are several. Factory barrels are iffy. Triggers are not as good as some others. The stock is less than ideal. So, if you replace the stock, trigger and barrel, have the action trued, maybe put in a PT&G bolt head and body, it would be pretty competitive. By that time, you might just as well have gone the custom route.

 

[6BRinNZ]

That is not to say that a very well shot 6BR cannot win but the chances are significantly reduced.The Savage problems are several. Factory barrels are iffy. Triggers are not as good as some others. The stock is less than ideal. So, if you replace the stock, trigger and barrel, have the action trued, maybe put in a PT&G bolt head and body, it would be pretty competitive. By that time, you might just as well have gone the custom route.

Totally agree - IMO a 6BR is in no mans land in the FO world...given that I have to change cartridge in order to be realistically competitive in FO and not just a bit lucky on the day I figure I may as well switch to FTR....

Having said this - cutting my teeth with gear I had (6br) and competing in FO (second season) has taught me a huge amount....

Thanks for the opinion on the Savage...

 

[mgx1138]

6BR is a good choice for 300-600 yard competition. Not as good for 1000. If there is any significant wind, the little cartridge is at a distinct disadvantage. I agree with those who suggest shooting F-T/R until you build your chops. You may find that the challenge of shooting a .308 well from a bipod is very gratifying and never go to an Open rifle.

Not sure what you call a "distinct" disadvantage? The ballistics for best 6mm target bullets compare very well with the best 30 caliber target bullets... especially when you consider that you can easily push the 6mm bullets 200fps faster. Add to that the reduced recoil with the 6BR and I'd say that the .308 is at a "distinct" disadvantage.

In F-Class, there are two classes.
F-T/R allows 223 and 308 only.
F-Open allows anything under 33 caliber. (Might be 35 cal)


If you buy a 308 you will go up against F-T/R guys shooting mainly 308's at 1,000 yards. So pretty level playing field.

If you buy a 6BR and want to compete at 1,000 yards with it, you will be going up against F-Open guys shooting 284's, 7mm short magnums, and some 300 WSM's.
So, a DISTINCT disadvantage to shoot a 6BR at 1,000 yards.

Right you are Eric.... I just missed your point. Still, the 6BR is accurate, fun to shoot, and pretty competitive... not a bad first gun to run IMHO.

 

[kelbro]

I believe that if you put a Savage in front of a top shooter, he would still win or place. Putting a $4000 rifle in front of a mediocre shooter will not make him win or place.

I think what you are seeing is that the Savages are generally used by folks that are not quite as experienced and therefore not quite as competitive. As guys mature in any sport, they migrate towards more expensive (and usually better) equipment looking for an edge.

The Savage team makes a good showing most places that they shoot.

Good barrels, triggers, and a time & true job won't hurt but you're only talking $600-700 over the cost of a stock rifle.

 

[Rtheurer]

I looked hard at the 6BR but decided to get my feet wet with my Savage .243 since I have all the reloading stuff I need for it.

Got a SS Criterion 28" 1 in 8 twist bull barrel for it and I'm hoping to get a nice load/bullet combo figured out in the next few months. Looking at numerous ballistics tables/charts I figure I should be able to come up with something that should be competitive out to 600 yards with a .243. as long as I can learn to do my part behind the gun.

I was saddend a little to see you went this route. After owning both the 6BR and 243 and shooting them in matches I believe the 6BR at the mid range matches is a better tool for the job. Im afraid you may have let the ballistics computer and Velocity game sway you away from a better shooting rifle. Im certainly not saying the 243 cant win or is in accurate but the Little 6BR is just that much more at the mid range game. Its soooo easy to shoot well.
I also believe you may have compromised thinking the extra speed of the 243 for Varmints with the Vmax was the better choice as well. Understandable there, along with not getting set up for another cartridge.
The good thing is that once that 243 burns out in 1200 to 1500 rounds you can go forth with the 6BR which will last twice as long. I hope it doesnt take you long to find that great load as the throat does not last all that long in a Standard 243.
I think everyone here wishes you the very best, and either way we will be glad to have you on the line side by side.

Once you shoot a few matches you have a better understanding of what you need to get the job done.

Russ T

 

[Medic505]

Freddy Haltom shot a Savage in Phoenix at the Berger SW nationals. He also used a Caldwell Fire Control rest. There was a really nice artical here about the winners gear and I thought what a shame they didn't do one on Freddy's stuff. I would be the first to say that Freedy's rifle probably wasn't stock, but would he have shot better with a custom rifle? I scored him Friday morning when he shot a 150-14X at 800 yds. It would have been nice to see that you don't have to invest 10K to shoot well.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Freddy Haltom shot a Savage in Phoenix at the Berger SW nationals. He also used a Caldwell Fire Control rest. There was a really nice artical here about the winners gear and I thought what a shame they didn't do one on Freddy's stuff. I would be the first to say that Freedy's rifle probably wasn't stock, but would he have shot better with a custom rifle? I scored him Friday morning when he shot a 150-14X at 800 yds. It would have been nice to see that you don't have to invest 10K to shoot well.

If he would spend another $5K on his rifle he would have shot 15X's, not a mediocre 14X on that string! ;D

Freddy can definetly shoot, make no mistake about it.

 

[Medic505]

One more X wouldn't have made any difference. 1 more point would have.

 

[IA_shooter]

I looked hard at the 6BR but decided to get my feet wet with my Savage .243 since I have all the reloading stuff I need for it.

Got a SS Criterion 28" 1 in 8 twist bull barrel for it and I'm hoping to get a nice load/bullet combo figured out in the next few months. Looking at numerous ballistics tables/charts I figure I should be able to come up with something that should be competitive out to 600 yards with a .243. as long as I can learn to do my part behind the gun.

I was saddend a little to see you went this route. After owning both the 6BR and 243 and shooting them in matches I believe the 6BR at the mid range matches is a better tool for the job. Im afraid you may have let the ballistics computer and Velocity game sway you away from a better shooting rifle. Im certainly not saying the 243 cant win or is in accurate but the Little 6BR is just that much more at the mid range game. Its soooo easy to shoot well.
I also believe you may have compromised thinking the extra speed of the 243 for Varmints with the Vmax was the better choice as well. Understandable there, along with not getting set up for another cartridge.
The good thing is that once that 243 burns out in 1200 to 1500 rounds you can go forth with the 6BR which will last twice as long. I hope it doesn't take you long to find that great load as the throat does not last all that long in a Standard 243.
I think everyone here wishes you the very best, and either way we will be glad to have you on the line side by side.

Once you shoot a few matches you have a better understanding of what you need to get the job done.

Russ T

Being a total newbie at this I'm sure I'll make more than a few mistakes along the way and I'm sure I'll learn from them. I guess I like a challenge.

 

[Immike]

IA shooter : if you can top some of the mistakes I made starting out you will have to try harder than this. Lol. You have a good time this year and follow your instincts. Competition leads us all in a similar direction as for cartridges that give us a lasting tune and results. What ever you can't beat then you will want. Be a better wind reader and you will win with anything accurate that puts a hole in the paper. Good luck

 

[IA_shooter]

What ever you can't beat then you will want. Be a better wind reader and you will win with anything accurate that puts a hole in the paper. Good luck

I chuckled to myself when I read this part because I had JUST finished watching 6 different youtube videos in the last 45 minutes concerning wind reading techniques prior to reading your post. ;D