F-Class Type Matches that Allow Muzzle Brakes?

[Berger.Fan222]

Alabama has one (called F-Un, http://centralalabamagunclub.com/main/f-class/ ), but it is only 300 yards. Louisiana has one (called Field Precision Rifle, http://www.paloaltogunclub.com/documents/FPRProgram2015.pdf ) at 600 yards.

Are there others that shoot mid and/or long range, prone off a bipod, and allow muzzle brakes?

 

[missed]

Central Texas silhouette association will allow brakes, but your in the fun class then, no NRA score. shoot 500 yard.

 

[r bose]

I shoot at Palo Alto Gun Club regularly. The Field Precision Match is great for someone that has a rifle equipped with a muzzle brake, silencer, etc. that wants to compete. I've seen lots of interesting rifles show up that would not be legal for the Typical F-class matches. The FPR match is run exactly like a 3x600 prone/f-class match. I don't have a rifle that meets the FPR criteria so I just shoot my prone rifle for practice. Good match run by great people.

 

[Immike]

The St.Louis matches allow this on the line for anything except the NRA approved matches. It's part of the introduction to official play that gets people started with what they have on hand. Serious competitors start building a real rifle pretty quick so it doesn't really interfere with the leading scores.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Why not just take it off?

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Why not just take it off?

300 magnum, very high BC heavy .308 bullet, hurts without the brake.

The goal is to shoot with the brake and test performance of the whole shooting system under the added pressure of a match.

There has been some thought of developing a lighter recoiling load for competition (without the brake), but then one is learning to compensate for a load that will move a lot more in the wind.

 

[Mozella]

Why not just take it off?

300 magnum, very high BC heavy .308 bullet, hurts without the brake.

The goal is to shoot with the brake and test performance of the whole shooting system under the added pressure of a match.

There has been some thought of developing a lighter recoiling load for competition (without the brake), but then one is learning to compensate for a load that will move a lot more in the wind.

It's not just the rules to consider. You should consider your fellow competitors too. Depending on the venue, shooters are positioned pretty close together. There's nothing more irritating than shooting next some guy with a powerful rifle equipped with a muzzle brake even if it's just a fun day at the local range. Nobody want's to try to shoot his best in competition when the next guy over is blasting you and your equipment every 30 seconds because he has a muzzle brake. Why do you think they're banned by the rules?

You'll get a lot warmer reception if you show up without your muzzle brake, even if you do find a place where you might be allowed to enter a "fun" class. If you can't stand the pain, make up some light loads. The excuse that slower rounds are more effected by the wind doesn't count for much unless you're trying to gain a competitive edge using heavy loads with a muzzle brake. And in that case, expect to get a little bit of the "stink eye" from your fellow competitors.

Bottom line: If you want to enter a match I think you should either find a match suited to your weapon or bring a weapon suited to the match. Your fellow competitors will appreciate it.

 

[XTR]

Why not just take it off?

300 magnum, very high BC heavy .308 bullet, hurts without the brake.

The goal is to shoot with the brake and test performance of the whole shooting system under the added pressure of a match.

There has been some thought of developing a lighter recoiling load for competition (without the brake), but then one is learning to compensate for a load that will move a lot more in the wind.

if this is not a heavy barreled rifle you may want to reconsider shooting it in competition. Shooting 20 rounds for record + sighters will get a 308 to hot to touch with a heavy palma, and I've seen a "bring what you got" sporter contour 243 start to melt the OEM stock after a long string (35+ rounds). The F class format is designed for target rifles, if this is a hunting setup you will want to fire very slowly, use all of your time.

Bring it and shoot it, but it takes a while to figure out the wind to 1000 yards, and nothing is immune.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

if this is not a heavy barreled rifle you may want to reconsider shooting it in competition. Shooting 20 rounds for record + sighters will get a 308 to hot to touch with a heavy palma, and I've seen a "bring what you got" sporter contour 243 start to melt the OEM stock after a long string (35+ rounds). The F class format is designed for target rifles, if this is a hunting setup you will want to fire very slowly, use all of your time.

Bring it and shoot it, but it takes a while to figure out the wind to 1000 yards, and nothing is immune.

Thanks for your comments. It's a heavy barreled rifle with all the features not to get too hot shooting 20 shots plus sighters in the alloted time.

I appreciate the "Bring it and shoot it" attitude. Perhaps you could provide some insight on where it would be allowed?

Arguments for not allowing brakes run two ways. One is they provide an unfair advantage to the shooter. This is mitigated by allowing them to shoot but considering their participation as non-competitive in the match (or giving them their own class). The other argument for not allowing brakes is that they smack nearby shooters every time the trigger is pulled. A shooter may be willing to take a shooting position to ameliorate this problem, but I'm trying to determine where this would be allowed without having to email dozens of match directors.

I thought the info would also be useful to other shooters with similar interests, so lets try and keep the discussion on where brakes are known to be allowed. Most shooters will have NRA compliant rifles, but many have rifles with brakes that they would like to get into their mid and long range shooting rotations. I'm sure a lot of also have friends who would like to try F-class, but would prefer to shoot a rifle they have with a brake.

 

[RStewart]

We generally have the folks with the muzzle brakes together at one end. We also try to put an empty target slot next to them.
The whole purpose of the FPR match was to allow folks an opportunity to compete with rifles that would not be allowed in NRA matches.
Or, they need coaching. Or, they just want to see what competition shooting is all about without pressure.
We have had several transition from FPR to F class after shooting a few of these matches.
We usually get 25-30 at these matches. It's a mix of tactical style rifles, F class and Prone.
If we didn't allow folks a place to shoot what they have, there a number of folks shooting F class today that might not have ever known about it.
We also hold the FPR match on a different day than the monthly Mid-range NRA match.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

We generally have the folks with the muzzle brakes together at one end. We also try to put an empty target slot next to them.
The whole purpose of the FPR match was to allow folks an opportunity to compete with rifles that would not be allowed in NRA matches.
Or, they need coaching. Or, they just want to see what competition shooting is all about without pressure.
We have had several transition from FPR to F class after shooting a few of these matches.
We usually get 25-30 at these matches. It's a mix of tactical style rifles, F class and Prone.
If we didn't allow folks a place to shoot what they have, there a number of folks shooting F class today that might not have ever known about it.
We also hold the FPR match on a different day than the monthly Mid-range NRA match.

Awesome! It's to late for us to make this month's match, but we're looking at the schedule. Is there likely to be an FPR match the 2nd Sat in January in 2016?

 

[RStewart]

We generally have the folks with the muzzle brakes together at one end. We also try to put an empty target slot next to them.
The whole purpose of the FPR match was to allow folks an opportunity to compete with rifles that would not be allowed in NRA matches.
Or, they need coaching. Or, they just want to see what competition shooting is all about without pressure.
We have had several transition from FPR to F class after shooting a few of these matches.
We usually get 25-30 at these matches. It's a mix of tactical style rifles, F class and Prone.
If we didn't allow folks a place to shoot what they have, there a number of folks shooting F class today that might not have ever known about it.
We also hold the FPR match on a different day than the monthly Mid-range NRA match.

Awesome! It's to late for us to make this month's match, but we're looking at the schedule. Is there likely to be an FPR match the 2nd Sat in January in 2016?

We shoot year round.
Come on out and have a good tme.

 

[JarheadAZ]

My approach to LR shooting without the Muzzle Brake involves the .280 Rem and 168gr Projectiles (Custom Competition Nosler, .520 published BC. It can achieve similar ballistic performance to High BCs in the .300WM without generating the sort of recoil that could make the brake mandatory.

There is also the Nosler Accubond Long Range 150gr with a published BC of .611 and an attainable 2850fps MV. I'm looking to acquire some of these.

I am recoil sensitive due to repeated thoracic surgeries and reconstructions, but can manage the .280 fairly well. I also shoot the .30-'06 with 165gr and 168gr bullets.

No solution is perfect, but I think this one could have some valid appeal.

Greg