First let me say that I am not new to long distance shooting, but I will be new to F-class. I picked up a Panda actioned 6ppc a while back and am going to re-barrel this action for F-class. I am currently considering 6 dasher, 6 br, 6xc, 6.5x47, 284, and 284 shehane. If you have any other suggestions I would love to hear them. I am looking for barrel life of at least 2000 rounds. I'm not worried about recoil as I think the rifle will end up weighing roughly 18 pounds. Also, I am leaning towards a heavy palma as the contour for the barrel. Is this a common contour for F-class.
Help me choose a caliber for my first F-class rifle.
- Thread starter bward
- Start date
If you intend to shoot F-Open, use all of the 22 pounds. A heavy varmint or even straight cylinder of 30-32". 18 pounds with a heavy Palma is more common in F-TR.
Select a stock with both adjustable cheek piece and butt plate.
Good optics are a must. That 5" X-ring looks pretty small at 1000. Buy the best variable you can afford that provides at least 30X at the top end. I prefer ⅛ MOA clicks but lots of folks shoot with ¼ MOA clicks. ¼ MOA is more than half the X at 1000.
A Co-Ax rest is helpful but not necessary. Big feet on the rest help with soft soil or sand, like the 900 yard line at Ben Avery.
The .284 Shehane is very popular. Erik Cortina does good work with his.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/11/results-from-arizona-and-california-long-range-championships/
Select a stock with both adjustable cheek piece and butt plate.
Good optics are a must. That 5" X-ring looks pretty small at 1000. Buy the best variable you can afford that provides at least 30X at the top end. I prefer ⅛ MOA clicks but lots of folks shoot with ¼ MOA clicks. ¼ MOA is more than half the X at 1000.
A Co-Ax rest is helpful but not necessary. Big feet on the rest help with soft soil or sand, like the 900 yard line at Ben Avery.
The .284 Shehane is very popular. Erik Cortina does good work with his.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/11/results-from-arizona-and-california-long-range-championships/
I think the 6 Dasher would be a great choice for anyone who is looking for an easy to tune and very accurate 600yd round. It's easy to form brass for and has a lot longer barrel life than many of the larger rounds.
But I do have concerns about one area of your build, and though I am no expert in this area, I feel there are better actions to hang a 28" to 30" heavy palma barrel from than a Stolle Panda, which is an aluminum action designed mainly for use in short range BR. I may be wrong in my assumptions, but it's not what my first choice would be for an F-Class action. However, if you plan to use a barrel block, than I wouldn't question the action in the least. But in a standard stock where the action supports the weight of the barrel, I would want something constructed of steel rather than aluminum when the barrel gets any longer than 24".
As for barrel contour, I don't see why you couldn't use a Heavy Palma, though I think Heavy Varmint or other straight taper designs are more common in F-Class, at least in what I have seen in the few matches I have attended and what I have read about other rifles. And even straight contour barrels that are 1.10" to 1.25" diameter for the full length are reasonably common. I personally like the Varmint contours better than the stepped Palma contour, mainly because they fit the type of shooting I do and they balance well on the bags. I'm not sure a HP would have the same balance point, as they are made for off-hand and prone shooting that is not supported.
I too am building a rifle for F-Class, and it will be a 6BR with a 28" Heavy Varmint contour barrel. It will use a Savage action with a Kiff bolt and a SSS Dog Tracker Stock.
Good luck with the build whichever way you decide to go.
Kenny
But I do have concerns about one area of your build, and though I am no expert in this area, I feel there are better actions to hang a 28" to 30" heavy palma barrel from than a Stolle Panda, which is an aluminum action designed mainly for use in short range BR. I may be wrong in my assumptions, but it's not what my first choice would be for an F-Class action. However, if you plan to use a barrel block, than I wouldn't question the action in the least. But in a standard stock where the action supports the weight of the barrel, I would want something constructed of steel rather than aluminum when the barrel gets any longer than 24".
As for barrel contour, I don't see why you couldn't use a Heavy Palma, though I think Heavy Varmint or other straight taper designs are more common in F-Class, at least in what I have seen in the few matches I have attended and what I have read about other rifles. And even straight contour barrels that are 1.10" to 1.25" diameter for the full length are reasonably common. I personally like the Varmint contours better than the stepped Palma contour, mainly because they fit the type of shooting I do and they balance well on the bags. I'm not sure a HP would have the same balance point, as they are made for off-hand and prone shooting that is not supported.
I too am building a rifle for F-Class, and it will be a 6BR with a 28" Heavy Varmint contour barrel. It will use a Savage action with a Kiff bolt and a SSS Dog Tracker Stock.
Good luck with the build whichever way you decide to go.
Kenny
The action is already glued in a Mcmillan BR style stock. I picked up the rifle for less than the cost of the action so I am viewing this as a "starter" F-class rifle. I already have a scope for it, a 10-60 March. Does anyone else view that a heavy barrel only supported by the action is a bad choice with the panda?
Scroll down to Jeff Rorer's F-TR rifle.
http://demigodllc.com/articles/introduction-to-f-class-1000-yard-competition/
Seems to work for him.
http://demigodllc.com/articles/introduction-to-f-class-1000-yard-competition/
Seems to work for him.
bward said:
You are correct. They are both aluminum actions with steel inserts for the barrel tenon and locking surfaces. I have shot against Pandas in F-Class and they work just fine. Kenny can be concerned about the barrel cantilever. I'll be concerned when I see one on the line because they shoot well.
OK, I just looked into it more, I'm wrong. I thought the F-Class actions were beefier, I guess not. I'm just leery of the aluminum with such a long barrel, but if it's proven to work, who am I to say otherwise.
Like I said in the beginning, "I may be wrong in my assumptions".
I'm not positive about anything, EVER.
Like I said in the beginning, "I may be wrong in my assumptions".
I'm not positive about anything, EVER.
Kelbly F-class rifle.
no problem wit the big bbls.!!! The Kelbly F-class has the 20 moa rail and ""Integral recoil lug"",,,,a std. Panda is fine for what you are wanting...I notice your action was PPC!!!???,,is the bolt face PPC??......if so you will have to open it up or get another bolt for the .308 class ctgs!!!!!,,,,Roger
no problem wit the big bbls.!!! The Kelbly F-class has the 20 moa rail and ""Integral recoil lug"",,,,a std. Panda is fine for what you are wanting...I notice your action was PPC!!!???,,is the bolt face PPC??......if so you will have to open it up or get another bolt for the .308 class ctgs!!!!!,,,,Roger
Erik Cortina
Team Lapua Brux Borden Captain
It sounds like a 6.5x47 Lapua is what you need. Since I got back from Phoenix I started playing with it again, and it is a lot of fun to shoot. I also have a 6 Dasher, but I think the "47" is more versatile and just as accurate!
As you know, I also have a 284 Shehane, but I only use it for long range, for everything else I reach for the "47"!
Good luck on your build!
As you know, I also have a 284 Shehane, but I only use it for long range, for everything else I reach for the "47"!
Good luck on your build!
I shoot a lot of F-Class, both TR and Open. The Open Class is more challenging due to a higher level of wind bucking ability of the cartridges.
If I were you I would get either a 6mmBR or a 6mm Dasher - depending on my level of reloading experience. Either cartridge is a real laser at 600 yards and the Dasher's extra velocity helps out to 1000 yards. You will love the mild recoil and excellent inherent accuracy of either.
The 6mmBR can be shot with Lapua cases with no modification using Redding Competition Neck Bushing dies. The 6mm Dasher requires you to fire form the cases from 6mmBR cases and the above dies are not available for the Dasher. Once fire formed they reload just like everything else.
As far as barrels, I would look for a 28"-30" Krieger 8 twist barrel as heavy as your stock barrel channel will allow as you indicated the action is glued in.
George
If I were you I would get either a 6mmBR or a 6mm Dasher - depending on my level of reloading experience. Either cartridge is a real laser at 600 yards and the Dasher's extra velocity helps out to 1000 yards. You will love the mild recoil and excellent inherent accuracy of either.
The 6mmBR can be shot with Lapua cases with no modification using Redding Competition Neck Bushing dies. The 6mm Dasher requires you to fire form the cases from 6mmBR cases and the above dies are not available for the Dasher. Once fire formed they reload just like everything else.
As far as barrels, I would look for a 28"-30" Krieger 8 twist barrel as heavy as your stock barrel channel will allow as you indicated the action is glued in.
George
Fire forming 6mm Dasher brass in NOT a problem.
I tighten the neck an extra 0.002", load the bullets into the land about 0.020" and fire away.
I won more than one match fire forming.
Fire forming example:
Load Testing, fire forming 100 Yards
Varget 33.0 gr. MV = 3000 fps, 5 shot group = 0.160”
I tighten the neck an extra 0.002", load the bullets into the land about 0.020" and fire away.
I won more than one match fire forming.
Fire forming example:
Load Testing, fire forming 100 Yards
Varget 33.0 gr. MV = 3000 fps, 5 shot group = 0.160”
Travelor said:
George - Why does that make it more challenging? Do you mean the competition is tougher? My take is that F-TR is more challenging because of the .308's inherent limitations, marginal 1000 yard performance, weight limit and bipod requirement.
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