F class ?

[rebs]

what is your caliber of choice for F class 300 to 500 yds ?

 

[dcali]

You see lots of 6BR variants out to 600. On a tough (windy) range at 600, some step up to a .284, but it's probably overkill for most 600 yard ranges, and definitely fro 300.

If I know I'm never going to shoot 1000, a straight 6BR, BRA, or Dasher is a good option.

For TR, pick your poison - at 600 a .308 or properly set up .223 are about equal, each with its own tradeoffs.

 

[ShootDots]

what is your caliber of choice for F class 300 to 500 yds ?

To be honest, your question is a "loaded question".. 1.) If you are in a relatively calm area, the cartridge choice will be different; 2.) When you say 300 to 500, does that mean 300, 400 and 500 OR is it 300 AND 500? I have shot extensively at 300 and 500. There is a substantial difference between 300 and 500. I used to shoot 300 yards nearly every month at Bayou Rifles in Houston. Bayou is a tricky range BUT at 300 it is not too bad, simply because of the distance compared to 600 there. I now shoot in Arizona and shoot 500 at 2 separate ranges. One is very difficult and the other is not near as difficult. I am a firm believer in "using the correct tool" for the job. If you have ONLY 1 rifle to do BOTH jobs AND the range is relatively calm, a 6mm Dasher would be hard to beat. If, on the other hand, you have 2 rifles, I would choose a 6mm Dasher for 300 and "depending on the wind levels" either a .260 Ackley (if the wind is not too bad) or a 7mm / 30 cal. IF the winds are substantial at 500 yards. If I had ONLY 1 rifle for both ranges under windy conditions, either a 7mm or a 30 cal. would do you just fine.

 

[Jennb]

To start with you need to decide open or ftr?

 

[Zilla]

I shoot a .284 for mid-range. For long range, I use a .284.

 

[Falfan2017]

For f open a 6br, 6bra, dasher or brx with 105 gr bullets is hard to beat. The targets are small enough at those distances that the accuracy you get from a well tuned 6 will help a lot.

 

[Jennb]

I shoot FTR and .308 is for every distance from 300 to 1000. Never change a thing!

 

[MikeMcCasland]

If we're strictly talking 300-500, I'd be shooting a .223 with 80s or 90s.

 

[Rope2horns]

Just for the record Mid-range Nationals (300-500-600) has been won by a 300wsm four years in a row. Overkill? Depends if your name is John Meyers holding the winners trophy.

 

[Jennb]

If we're strictly talking 300-500, I'd be shooting a .223 with 80s or 90s.

I also have a 223 with 90’s. Even at shorter distances when you get double digit winds a .308 shooting 200’s will prevail!

 

[MattPeetz]

Just for the record Mid-range Nationals (300-500-600) has been won by a 300wsm four years in a row. Overkill? Depends if your name is John Meyers holding the winners trophy.

Shush. Let them shoot the 6’s. The 6’s win at everything

 

[Ned Ludd]

Just for the record Mid-range Nationals (300-500-600) has been won by a 300wsm four years in a row. Overkill? Depends if your name is John Meyers holding the winners trophy.

I'm sure it's classified as gross and ridiculous overkill in the minds of his competitors .

To the OP - the choice of caliber depends first on whether you're asking about F-TR (Target Rifle) or F-Open, as Jennb mentioned above. F-TR must be either .223 Rem or .308 Win. Generally, F-TR competitors shooting a .223 Rem will be using heavy bullets (80-90 gr) at those distances. F-TR competitors shooting a .308 Win will generally be using bullets in the 185 to 200 gr weight range (or higher). In challenging wind conditions, 200+ gr bullets in the .308 Win will have an edge over 80-90 gr bullets in .223 Rem.

Many F-Open midrange matches have been won using a straight .284 Win, or some variant thereof. There have also been many shooters that have successfully used alternatives such as 6 mm cartridges (BR, Dasher, etc.), 6.5 mm cartridges (Creedmoor, 6.5x47 Lapua, etc.), .260/.260 AIs, .280/.280 AIs, and magnum calibers such as .300 WSM or .30 RSAUM. In other words, you have a plethora of choices in F-Open. Keep in mind that although the smaller caliber cartridges listed above can certainly be competitive at 300/500/600 yd, the .284s and magnums have the advantage in challenging wind conditions, analogous to the .223 Rem versus .308 Win as mentioned above.

 

[Falfan2017]

Just for the record Mid-range Nationals (300-500-600) has been won by a 300wsm four years in a row. Overkill? Depends if your name is John Meyers holding the winners trophy.

Yeah hard to beat a 300wsm in the right hands but I suspect John could win with a BB gun.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Well for me it’s the Fun Factor . I am 70 Plus .
I have been Shooting From Camp Perry to Sacramento Ca .
I have a 6 Norma Dasher and a .308 . I shoot them F/TR Style on a Joy-Pod . Yes the Dasher puts me in F-Open .
The Dasher out to 600 is a Dream ..
If I only shot 300 I would still do a Dasher .
If you want to be F/TR .223 .

Best of Luck

 

[Immike]

what is your caliber of choice for F class 300 to 500 yds ?

Other than trying to win the nationals, a small caliber will be very satisfying to start your adventure with. You need deep pockets on the upper tier, so work your way there with what’s affordable to shoot until you need it...

 

[swd]

If you want to compete at a high national level a 284 or 300WSM. But to shoot well at a state or club level a Dasher or BRX will get you there. I shot our 2018 mid range championships with a BRX and came in third. Second was a 284 and first was a 260 Ackley. Now if you want to have any chance at the Berger S/W Nationals you’d better be shooting at least a 284 because every shooter as good or better than you will be shooting one..

 

[Jennb]

Truth be told not matter what caliber you chose learn it. People who shoot the same caliber all the time no matter distance or conditions become masters of what the shoot. They may give up a ballistic advantage for a smaller caliber but the gain in knowledge can take the win

 

[BronzeArcher]

If you have to ask, the answer is .223. Accurate, inexpensive, easy to reload for, easy to shoot.

Once you make Master or High Master at those ranges with a .223, then you'll be good enough to make use of a larger caliber in windier conditions. But that will likely take a few thousand rounds.

See:

 

[XTR]

For starting out and for most local mid range matches I'd pick the 223. Cheaper and easier all around, and it can and does win at mid range. Personally I won the Spirit of America short range agg in '15, placed third using one on the short lines at the Sinclairs in '17, and won the '17 NH State mid range Championship with my 223.

These days, on windy ranges the 223 does give up a little to the 200s in a 308 at 600 yards, but until you are shooting for the podium at Phoenix or Raton it's not going to make a difference, the 308 isn't going to make a mid ring 9 into a 10, and for many of people the near absence of recoil offsets the slight windage advantage of the heavy 308s.

In F-Open, at mid range, a good shooter running 6 (pick one) can be unbeatable in moderate conditions. If you are shooting at Raton and it's blowing 10 to 15 and shifting then the 6s usually don't agg as well as a 284. Not saying they can't but it's harder.

 

[F Class John]

I’ve found that some people just shoot some calibers better so for me it’s more a function of “find the caliber you enjoy shooting, can load accurately for and are able to shoot accurately”. I’ve seen guys who clean targets every night with a 6mm variant never clean with a .284 because it just isn’t their thing for some reason. I’ve also see some guys shoot a 6mm variant at 1000 better than they shoot a 7 or 30 variant. Not every pro tennis player uses the same racket and string tension and not every shooter uses the same caliber. Try some friends guns in different calibers and see what you fall in love with. Shoot enough calibers and one will speak to you.