F-Open Cartridge Selection for new guy?

[Zilla]

I had another conversation with the smith today. I asked him specifically if I could do a single-shot Defiance Deviant switch barrel .284 Win/6mm BRA. He actually said he would have no problem with that. Specifically, he mentioned it may not extract a loaded round without removing the bolt with that combination, but didn't see that as much of a problem. He specifically said he would recommend the .284 for 1,000 but would like me to do 6mm to save money for the 600 yard matches locally (they aren't windy like out west).

For now, I'll get a .308 barrel spun up and start shooting again in the spring off my bipod and maybe sometime later in the year I can have an open rig up and running.

^^ This.

 

[sdean]

I had another conversation with the smith today. I asked him specifically if I could do a single-shot Defiance Deviant switch barrel .284 Win/6mm BRA. He actually said he would have no problem with that. Specifically, he mentioned it may not extract a loaded round without removing the bolt with that combination, but didn't see that as much of a problem. He specifically said he would recommend the .284 for 1,000 but would like me to do 6mm to save money for the 600 yard matches locally (they aren't windy like out west).

For now, I'll get a .308 barrel spun up and start shooting again in the spring off my bipod and maybe sometime later in the year I can have an open rig up and running.

You getting in the wrong game if the difference in powder between a 284 and 6br is a factor.

 

[drop_point]

You getting in the wrong game if the difference in powder between a 284 and 6br is a factor.

Not powder difference, but it does help. 6mm bullets are $30/100 vs $60/100 and it has double barrel life. While it isn't make or break, it is a factor if there isn't real advantage at 600 yards on a calm day.

Some quick math :

4000 rounds which should probably last two seasons for initially getting started would cost $5014 for .284 Win at current prices while the 6mm BRA will cost $2733. This doesn't include brass. While the $2281 isn't "make or break", that is significant savings if there is no tangible benefit shooting the local 600 yard club matches. Heck, the savings would buy a second action and stock after two years. So yeah, the cost is in the though process.

 

[swd]

It blows out west in Nevada. The last 2 mid range state championships there were won by a BRX and a Dasher by two different friends of mine. I built both rifles. At 600 they can get the job done but you had better be in the zone especially at a bigger match. And I can also tell you there is a lot of satisfaction beating 284’s with a little 6, lol

Now would I shoot a 6 at the Nevada LR championships, not a chance! Lol

Also in this day and age saving 20gr of powder EVERY shot might also be important.

 

[davidjoe]

Deciding to have both choices after trying to select just one, welcome to F-class.

 

[drop_point]

Haha, yep. May as well do a barrel of each and use whichever is appropriate.

 

[sdean]

Haha, yep. May as well do a barrel of each and use whichever is appropriate.

That will add up expense. My advise is pick one and learn it. There is a whole lot to learn about tuning a gun. One at a time is enough. If you can’t get your gun up to FTR weight then go 6mm and Fopen. Way less recoil. Good luck. Stephen

 

[Longtrain]

I shoot a Dasher for a number of reasons, and have actually won FClass 1K matches with it…provided everything aligns in your favor. If you really want to buy once and cry once, go with some version of the .284, shooting an 180 gr+ high BC bullet in the mid 2900’s. You’ll be a leg up on everyone by just showing up at a match. Then there’s the days the stars align and a Dasher will beat you, maybe…

 

[F Class John]

Just get something and start shooting if you can't make a decision now. You'll probably change at some point anyway so get the range time in with whatever you can get built and load for. Whether it's a .308, 6 or 7 it'll be what you need to learn how to tune loads, tune guns and get your position consistently repeatable and if you end up shooting a lot of F Class you'll ultimately end up with a .284 at some point anyway.

Put a 6 in Doug's, Roger's, Norm's, Tod's, Jay's, Erik's, Dave's or countless other people's hands and can they win a 600 or 1000yd match, of course because they're badd asss shooters, but most of us who shoot a lot (and I mean A LOT) go for the long game and that means having the gun that statistically works most of the time accepting that it may not be the best gun every time. Heck Ian Klemm or Peter Johns can run circles around most Open guys with their .308 TR guns. Calibers matter, shooters matter more, so the top guys load the calibers that work 99% of the time and focus on their shooting, not chasing calibers.

Roger's Dasher is a laser and he crushed mid-range this year, but even he knows when or when not to shoot it and that's his experience, not the gun talking. Roger's the same guy that brought a 6.5C out at National's a few years back and shot some killer scores just because he knew it was his best shooting gun, but again that's his experience talking, not the caliber.

Personally I try to keep it simple now. I load one caliber for all my F-Class needs and never have to decide which gun to pull out because of the conditions. I shoot between 5,000 and 6,000 rounds of .284 a year and my brain just hated when it was a mix of 6 and 7 which is what I used to do. More powder, more bullets, more primers, more dies and more time keeping it all straight. Not my thing even though it works for others.

As a side reference, I run a 600yd club and we shoot several leagues every year. Our winter league saw the top 12 people shooting a .284 of some kind and after 5 targets here's the scores, so yeah .284 is just fine for mid-range too.

1000.084
1000.082
1000.082
1000.081 < me fwiw
1000.080
1000.077
1000.076
1000.075
1000.074
1000.070
1000.070
1000.069

 

[6MMsteve]

John Has hidden peanuts also... be on the lookout

 

[drop_point]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, John. I appreciate your videos, too.

 

[davidjoe]

All prevalent caliber choices were represented in the top ten F-Open scores at this weekend’s Texas midrange championship. The scoresheet this time did include caliber (diameter) choice, not to be construed as the cartridge used that may go by the same name.

300 mags aggregated 1st and 2nd place, followed by a pair of 6’s and a pair 7’s. Even a 6.5 appears. While the earliest relays were calm, wind reading skills determined score for everyone for at least two of the three matches both days.

 

[Average joe]

All prevalent caliber choices were represented in the top ten F-Open scores at this weekend’s Texas midrange championship. The scoresheet this time did include caliber (diameter) choice, not to be construed as the cartridge used that may go by the same name.

300 mags aggregated 1st and 2nd place, followed by a pair of 6’s and a pair 7’s. Even a 6.5 appears. While the earliest relays were calm, wind reading skills determined score for everyone for at least two of the three matches both days.

For the record David: despite the scoresheet, the 1st place was shot with a 6mm.......
just shows that Tim can win with a big or small gun.

 

[tvaught]

In the next year or so, I'll be moving to an area with F-class matches in reasonable driving distance. I've considered building a rifle and getting involved. Locally, there are more PRS-style matches. I fear my magazine-fed PRS rifle with a break and bipod just wont' quite cut it and I'll quickly plateau. Therefore, I'd like to flirt with building an F-class dedicated rifle. I have shot PRS rifles in F-Open in the past, even winning a few at the local club but that has been years ago.

After talking it over with my gunsmith, he made the suggestion to build a 6mm Dasher because I could use the same reamer, dies, and components on my next PRS barrel as well. He suggested since the more local clubs shoots 600 yards, that it would be just as competitive as anything and it would save me money.

While I expect to rarely venture out to the clubs with more range, the collective information I'm seeing on the interweb is to go .284 Winchester or some variant of.

What do you the Pros here on the Shooter's Forum say? Some friends have suggested I just spin a .308 barrel for my PRS rifle and shoot F-T/R and save the cost of a rest and new rifle. I'm not opposed to that idea.

What does your Mentor say to shoot? Do exactly like he says, when he invites you over to watch a piece of brass go from fired in the chamber to back in the box labeled "LR Nats Ammo" copy that to a T until you can do better than him. When he shows you how to clean a barrel, copy that to a T. When he shows you how to approach load development, setup your bags and rest, how to interpret your testing targets, how to learn how to discern conditions, develop competitive strategies, copy all those to a T.

Focus on the Mentor first, second follow his blueprint to a T.

Lots of good advice in this thread, this is just my own 2 cents.

 

[drop_point]

What does your Mentor say to shoot? Do exactly like he says, when he invites you over to watch a piece of brass go from fired in the chamber to back in the box labeled "LR Nats Ammo" copy that to a T until you can do better than him. When he shows you how to clean a barrel, copy that to a T. When he shows you how to approach load development, setup your bags and rest, how to interpret your testing targets, how to learn how to discern conditions, develop competitive strategies, copy all those to a T.

Focus on the Mentor first, second follow his blueprint to a T.

Lots of good advice in this thread, this is just my own 2 cents.

I don't have a mentor.

 

[JLT]

All prevalent caliber choices were represented in the top ten F-Open scores at this weekend’s Texas midrange championship. The scoresheet this time did include caliber (diameter) choice, not to be construed as the cartridge used that may go by the same name.

300 mags aggregated 1st and 2nd place, followed by a pair of 6’s and a pair 7’s. Even a 6.5 appears. While the earliest relays were calm, wind reading skills determined score for everyone for at least two of the three matches both days.

David, another clarification. The 6.5 was actually a 6mm, too. Game day decision to go with a Dasher. So, 50% of the top 10 were shooting 6s.

 

[LGKLAS]

What does your Mentor say to shoot? Do exactly like he says, when he invites you over to watch a piece of brass go from fired in the chamber to back in the box labeled "LR Nats Ammo" copy that to a T until you can do better than him. When he shows you how to clean a barrel, copy that to a T. When he shows you how to approach load development, setup your bags and rest, how to interpret your testing targets, how to learn how to discern conditions, develop competitive strategies, copy all those to a T.

Focus on the Mentor first, second follow his blueprint to a T.

Lots of good advice in this thread, this is just my own 2 cents.

As in all things in life: 'Never give up your mentors'....