Help me on F class Open build please

[Parsons]

Ok so I am looking at getting into F/TR competitions and will be building two guns starting in January. One will be the basic Remington 700 that I will true and put into a new stock used for hunting. Now here is where I need your alls help. The second gun I a building to use for F/TR and have been doing a bunch of reading but haven't found exactly what I am looking for. I am interested in using a BAT VR action. I see most people are using a single shot action in their guns and have read it is for a stiffer action. I will probably be using a McMillan A5 stock or something similar. Is there any real draw back to using a repeater action as long as it is done correctly? My local range is only 400 yards. I am not sure of a thousand yard range near me. Any info would be greatly appreciated on if action would work or if another would be better.

I have a couple more questions to ask if this action is ok to build on.

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

I would consider shooting open but I have my mind set on a repeater type action and seems all open guns are single shot actions. The caliber choice does not matter, I just don't really want to have to resize brass as I do not have a reloading bench yet. I have a friend that does and I could use his if needed until I buy my own. So if there is a caliber that I can buy decent ammo for until I can get a reloading press that would help. I am just a little confused on where to start on this project. The more I read the more I question my initial plan.

 

[DennisH]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

One of my first F/TR rifles was a repeater. I still use it to this day. Remmy 700 action.

223 and 308 are your F/TR choices, I love my 308. I will be building a F/TR 223 soon.

Anymore questions, just bring them on.

Dennis

 

[butchlambert]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

To be competitive, you will need to reload.

 

[nosualc]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

I'm inferring that you want to be competitive, as you're discussing the purchase of a top-dollar grade-A action...

If you're going to go whole hog building a rifle with a BAT action dedicated for F-class, I think it'd be foolish to mess with a repeater.

Per NRA rules, you can only load and shoot one round at a time. A repeater is an unnecessary complication, and will result in a less stiff action/stock.

Go to a match and see what competitive shooters are using. They aren't using single-shot actions by accident. There's a reason.

+1 that you will need to reload. To be competitive you'll need to do so at a high level.

-nosualc

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

Thanks for the reply guys. I plan on getting a reloading bench in the near future. Also, I am living in NC for 2 more years and then moving back to WV and have not found a range close to me in WV that shoots F class. I live about 2 hours from Butner, NC so while I am living here I can shoot there. There is another range closer to me that just divides shooters into factory guns and then anything that has a modification. I guess my worry on building a single shot designated Fclass gun is that if I move back to WV and still can't find a range that shoots Fclass I will have a gun that is not practical for anything else where as if I build a repeater it could be used for hunting or some other type of competition if somewhere starts it up.

I will be doing all the work myself for a project for school. F/TR interests me for the fact that I just use a bipod and not a fancy rest and open I like for the choice of calibers.

Not sure if any of what I just wrote will help with any info but keep it coming please.

 

[butchlambert]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

You can shoot here.

http://whitehorse.thomassmith.us/index_files/RangeDirections.htm

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

Thank you for the link Butch that is about 2 hours from me in WV so that is probably where I will shoot when I move back. From what you all have said I may go with a single shot action. This means I will probably need to change my stock from the A5 correct? Also have to decide on a caliber which will help decide on action. I have seen talk of the .260 I believe and the 6 dasher. Are there any that I should stay away from?

 

[butchlambert]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

What part of WV? My Grandson lives in Morgantown and plays football for the WV Mountaineers.

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

I live near Charleston. What position does your grandson play? I watch all the WVU games that come on the TV down here in NC.

 

[butchlambert]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

Josh will be the starting kicker as a redshirt freshman. Number 8.

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

That is awesome! I will watch for him.

So is there a certain BAT action I should look at? I have seen some people mention the M is a good one,

 

[Tahoe Shark]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

If you really want a repeater then buy a quality repeater action. My FT/R rifle is a GAP built FT/R repeater that I single load. There are others quality repeaters that shoot in our matches. They shoot just fine. It can take you to national level scores. Can you win the Nationals? I dunno, but if that is what you want to build, do it.

IMHO your score on paper will not be significantly impacted for F Class. Way more things will impact your scores than the type of quality action.

Respectfully submitted

Tim

 

[Parsons]

Re: Help me on F/TR build please

Ok guys I think I am going to stick with a repeater as this will be a gun to get introduced into the sport and if I happen to get out of the sport later will be able to use it for other things. With that said I am looking at building a 284 Win. I am now down to what action should be used. I was set on the BAT HR but read that some other makers are making actions with the mag included which I do not think BAT does. If I go with the bat how hard is it to set it up with a magazine?

 

[butchlambert]

I would take a long look at Stiller's receivers or John Pierce receivers.

 

[Parsons]

I have looked at those companies a little bit and thanks for recommending them. I have found bottom metal that works and talked to a guy today that built a 338 and used Badger ordinance (he believes) lower metal that he got with his McMillan action. I have also strongly considered the Kelbly Kodiak.

 

[butchlambert]

If you have decided on a repeater, be sure and check with others to make sure they will feed with your cartridge. I love the 284, but it doesn't feed as well as some.

 

[Parsons]

Butch thank you for all the help. The 284 i read was originally made for short action but loads better from a long action. The Bat VR is their short action and the HR being their long as almost an inch longer. The kelbly kodiak seems to be a medium action coming in between the two BAT actions and the long kodiak being about another half inch longer than the BAT HR.

 

[bholcomb]

I was in the same boat you are in about a year ago and wanted a rifle I could shoot tactical matches(repeater) with and still have an f class rig. If I had it to do over, I would have built a straight f class rifle or a dedicated tactical rifle. I went with a stiller tac 300 so I could hunt with a 7stw, shoot tactical matches with a 260 and fclass with a 6 dasher. I had to order two bolts for the action to achieve this and it has worked great so far but looking back I wish would've built a straight fclass rifle. I have to put a plate on the front of my manners stock so it will fit in my farley rest. Ended up being a lot hassle. Just my .02

 

[Parsons]

Bholcomb thanks for the reply. I am probably going to build this more as a hunting tactical rifle as it will be most practical for my current situation being able to hunt and use in competitions if wanted. Also, as a new comer I do not want to build a full blown F class gun and then end up not being able to get to many matches. I have talked to a few companies and I think I am going with the Kelbly Long Kodiak in 284 winchester. Hoping to have a 20 inch barrel for hunting/tactical and a 28 inch or so for going to F class matches. Kelbly told me there would be no problem using this action for hunting. Was told by another manufacturer that I needed to have the action melonited if I wanted to be sure the gun was reliable to take hunting.