F-Class participation?

[1911mag]

New to FTR this year, 4 matches in. I am hooked and holding my own for 1st year. I built a .223 to shoot 90VLD so not a lot of dollars spent on it. But I have fun, enjoy going to matches and meeting new people. And best of all have yet to be beat by a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I am so over the hipe.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

New to FTR this year, 4 matches in. I am hooked and holding my own for 1st year. I built a .223 to shoot 90VLD so not a lot of dollars spent on it. But I have fun, enjoy going to matches and meeting new people. And best of all have yet to be beat by a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I am so over the hipe.

Kudos to you. Most of my buddies are also shooting .223s and consistently posting higher scores than every 6.5 Creedmoor on the line. When we get beaten, it's usually by custom 6mms in wildcat cartridges (when F-O and F-TR are grouped together) and by other .223s (in F-TR). We've won a few, came in 2nd to 4th in a lot, but not been beaten this year by a .308 or 6.5 Creed.

 

[sfldiver]

As others have mentioned, the lack of availability/proximity of high powered ranges, plus the rifle, reloading and accessory equipment expense can be an obstacle for increasing the number of new shooters entering the sport. I'm going on close to 2 years since I started shooting mid-range FTR (no 1000yd ranges within reasonable driving distance for me). Despite it being a 150mi drive each way, I try and shoot every monthly match at my local club (Port Malabar in Central Florida) - If it were closer I'd shoot FTR much more often. I shoot 100yds most other weekends to practice. I'm already in the process of having my 2nd custom 308 rifle put together (approx. $5k/each w/ Sightron Scopes), because I'd like to have 2 identical rifles (1-competion, 1-practice rifle). You add my reloading station, bipod (Joypod), Bags (Protektor), chronograph (Labradar), reloading supplies (lots of Berger Bullets, Lapua Brass, Varget Powder, and CCI Primers!), and other miscellaneous supplies and it gets pricey. Certainly, it can be done a lot cheaper, but it's still pricey if you get hooked! Then there's the time factor - between reloading and shooting every weekend to tune bullets and practice my technique, it takes lots of time that not everyone has available.

Fortunately, I can afford the toys, have the time and can travel to the occasional event to supplement my local shooting. In fact, shooting 1000yd event in a couple of weekends at Butner, NC for the first time! I also try to encourage shooters at my local 100yd range that show interest in longer range shooting whenever possible. However, for many of the reasons listed above, I'm not sure this sport will ever get the mass numbers of participants that other sports do - shame!

 

[Grimstod]

New to FTR this year, 4 matches in. I am hooked and holding my own for 1st year. I built a .223 to shoot 90VLD so not a lot of dollars spent on it. But I have fun, enjoy going to matches and meeting new people. And best of all have yet to be beat by a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I am so over the hipe.

The creedmoor is very over rated.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I am enjoying this post.
Now from a Long Time Sling long Range Shooter. I am into my Grand Senior Classification in Shooting.
I still love my Palma Rifle and keeping those 155 gr. Bullets in the Middle. I have made jump to F-Class, this coming Spring ?
I am having two Rifles built a F/TR and s F-Open . This for me is try to stay with the game, it is a changing.
That Hot Old Coat is getting old, not to mention the eyes.

This past Spring at a match outside Portland Oregon, we had 12 Targets for F-Class and 4 Sling Target.
I make a Trip to Vale Oregon once in a while. I have been the only Sling shooter for the past two years.

Hold Center !!!!

 

[Immike]

It's been shifting some in Missouri, not sure what to if anything. Busy year for construction and other things has an effect. With several clubs up and running it's distribution has widened out also. It's been a good thing overall I think because of choice and location. It's been a shooter friendly environment in Missouri all along and will always be as long as we can shoot!

 

[mdlandolfi]

I've landed twice now in locations where F class is in the minority.

Where in the Northeast are you?

 

[dcali]

It's been shifting some in Missouri, not sure what to if anything. Busy year for construction and other things has an effect. With several clubs up and running it's distribution has widened out also. It's been a good thing overall I think because of choice and location. It's been a shooter friendly environment in Missouri all along and will always be as long as we can shoot!

This is a good point. More clubs within a few hours drive of me are hosting good matches than there were a few years ago. Overall attendance at any one match maybe lower, but more people could be shooting. Why drive three hours when there's a good match closer? Now if I could only get a close 1000 yard range.

 

[XTR]

Lebanon, NH.

 

[Immike]

This is a good point. More clubs within a few hours drive of me are hosting good matches than there were a few years ago. Overall attendance at any one match maybe lower, but more people could be shooting. Why drive three hours when there's a good match closer? Now if I could only get a close 1000 yard range.

Prizes and atmosphere make any match prosperous and exciting. My math says reward the shooters and gain the club membership if you truly want to grow the sport. Making a match worth practicing for and they will join in. Membership is the only and best resource a club needs to thrive.

 

[jdh47]

Like most other threads around here. Two pages about F class participation and it ends up turning into a cartridge bashing thread. If you want to enhance participation the first thing I'd do is not bitch about what people show up to compete with. Just a thought.

 

[243Mendoza]

Suspect the newbies may underrate the difficulties in shooting good scores in Fclass competition. When they realize what it takes in time and equipment to win, they give up.

 

[dcali]

Suspect the newbies may underrate the difficulties in shooting good scores in Fclass competition. When they realize what it takes in time and equipment to win, they give up.

I think it's just the opposite. F class is probably the most beginner friendly shooting discipline out there. I would even call it easy. That's why it got so popular in the first place - you just show up and shoot. The very first match I shot, with a converted sling rifle, was a master level score. It doesn't get any easier than that. No shooting sport is easy when your bar is top dog at the nationals, but compared to my never ending battle trying to be a respectable (not even good, just not embarrassingly bad) service rifle shooter, F class is a breeze.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I think it's just the opposite. F class is probably the most beginner friendly shooting discipline out there. I would even call it easy. That's why it got so popular in the first place - you just show up and shoot. The very first match I shot, with a converted sling rifle, was a master level score. It doesn't get any easier than that. No shooting sport is easy when your bar is top dog at the nationals, but compared to my never ending battle trying to be a respectable (not even good, just not embarrassingly bad) service rifle shooter, F class is a breeze.

eh, there's a difference between shooting a "good" score and being competitive. Classification (for F-Class), especially at mid-range, is a joke, IMO. If your bar is just to level up, then I'll agree with you. If your bar is being competitive (truly competitive, not just tearing up your local club matches), then I'll have to disagree.

 

[rardoin]

Jay, I will side with Damon...with a bit of explanation. I began competitive shooting in March of 2016. I had a Ruger RPR and experience in loading cartridges and trying for small groups at 100-300yds off a bench with sand bags etc.. I showed up at a F-class MR match near my home and was invited to come back ready to shoot. I was told all I needed in addition to my current gun was a bipod, good loads that would get me on paper within two shots (and they would help me with that), a rear bag of sorts and a mat (if I didn't want to roll in the dirt). That was it. I showed up and shot and had a blast. I realized I needed much more gear to really do it right but I was hooked. So from the aspect of a new shooter getting started at a minimal expense, I say it is easy (at least at Palo Alto). To be competitive and win a match when all the HM's are on the line....far from easy. In the spirit of the thread and as to F-class participation I think it is an easy class to get started in. Winning is another matter.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

... To be competitive and win a match when all the HM's are on the line....far from easy. In the spirit of the thread and as to F-class participation I think it is an easy class to get started in. Winning is another matter.

Which is exactly my point... maybe that was Damon's point too and I just misread it, but that's not how I interpreted it.

 

[Hoodoo]

I think it's just the opposite. F class is probably the most beginner friendly shooting discipline out there. I would even call it easy. That's why it got so popular in the first place - you just show up and shoot. The very first match I shot, with a converted sling rifle, was a master level score. It doesn't get any easier than that. No shooting sport is easy when your bar is top dog at the nationals, but compared to my never ending battle trying to be a respectable (not even good, just not embarrassingly bad) service rifle shooter, F class is a breeze.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I think the hardest part for a new shooter is just showing up. People at these matches aren't just overly friendly, they are insanely friendly, and open to helping other shooters improve. What other sport out there has that?

The most difficult part of getting into shooting, is just that. Showing up. Once you do that and realize just how friendly and fun it is, your hooked.

 

[XTR]

When I think of F class mid range only enters my consideration as an afterthought. My first and main thought is long range, and at long range that target is anything but easy.

I've won or placed well in a few national/world level long range matches, and I still carry an Expert card in long range. Yea, when I finally got around to shooting mid range for something other than load testing I got a HM card. (I've had the same classification for 7 yrs. I've averaged close to 10 long range matches a yr)

As I've noted in a few places I have started to dabble in XTC and mid range with a service rifle so I have some understanding of the differences. Yes, it is easier to keep it in the black with an F class rifle than with a sling when you are starting. And I doubt anything is has hard as off hand with a service rifle, thought initially mastering sitting probably ranks up there, but that is something that you eventually get and it's done.

Long range F class is easier to get started but harder to master, prone seems to be harder to get started but once you master prone it seems to be easier.

Mid range F class may need another target adjustment. Thinking the 300 yard target at 600 and the smallbore targets at 300 would definitely make it more interesting.

 

[Down South]

eh, there's a difference between shooting a "good" score and being competitive. Classification (for F-Class), especially at mid-range, is a joke, IMO. If your bar is just to level up, then I'll agree with you. If your bar is being competitive (truly competitive, not just tearing up your local club matches), then I'll have to disagree.

+1

 

[Down South]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I think the hardest part for a new shooter is just showing up. People at these matches aren't just overly friendly, they are insanely friendly, and open to helping other shooters improve. What other sport out there has that?

The most difficult part of getting into shooting, is just that. Showing up. Once you do that and realize just how friendly and fun it is, your hooked.

No doubt......