I'd like to see a new F class Category. "F-TAC"

[Old Navy]

On 40x?

Bigger the caliber = more heat.

 

[drop_point]

If I showed up to a PRS match with a 6.6-.284 running a 135gr bullet at 3400fps, would the MD react by saying "We want to welcome new shooters so we will let you shoot this illegal gun. Next time keep the velocity under 3200fps per our rules"? Probably not. Why should an F-class competitor suffer potential hearing loss by getting hammered by a braked rifle next to him/her? If a new shooter shows up that unprepared as to not have read the rules in advance, that is on them.

OP is talking about creating a new class, not allowing somebody to break the rules of an existing class. Apples and oranges.

 

[rardoin]

OP is talking about creating a new class, not allowing somebody to break the rules of an existing class. Apples and oranges.

Uh, no, red apples to green apples. The OP stated:
“Is it time for F class to incorporate an "F Tac" or "precision rifle" category. The rules SHOULD be in my opinion any 30 cal rifle and lower shot off a foldable bipod, muzzle break and squeeze bag.”

He propose adding another category to F-class. The rule in F-class is no muzzle brakes allowed. I, for one, would be opposed to a rule change allowing such. I would support suppressors though. In a previous life I raced cars on road courses. The main sanctioning body had dB limits for all classes and would station a decibel meter somewhere on the track and black flag any car exceeding the limit. Should they have allowed anyone interested in racing that showed up in a exceedingly loud car to race so as not to alienate a potential new competitor? The SCCA would have looked at me like I had 3 eyes if I would have proposed that.

 

[LVLAaron]

No brakes.


This is what an FTR rifle should be.


Current FTR rules allow, basically, an open rifle that shoots 308.

 

[saunaking]

Umm...we shoot prairie dogs suppressed and go over 50 rounds before we let em cool, that would get you through a relay easily. Most dogs are around the size of the x ring

You are not shooting a 6.5 manbun or 308 for pdogs...big difference in the heat generated in a typical 22 centerfire caliber. In New Zealand some of the guys had suppressors on their rifles, but most of the strings of fire were only two sighters and 10 shots for record.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Because most rifles when the brake is removed moves the POI so would need to be re-zeroed every time coming off and then back on. The range where we shoot f-class does not provide a 100 yard zero board so for most folks that is a real PITA. Again this thread is about creating a new class to bring in new shooters! We shoot a local PRS match that fills up every month with about 100 shooters while the local f-class match is less than 20...go figure!

This is not what I have experienced, last year in Valdosta Georgia during a 600 yard f class Match. On my target was one of two well known, brothers, PRS shooters that brought their PRS rifles. Both of these fellas shot their rifles without the brakes on. Both shot their PRS rifle loads. Both shot HM scores for all 3 relays. Both brothers shot fast with a 7 second delay. I've seen this more than once.

Edit: also they used squeeze bags and Harris type bipods.

Brakes should not be allowed in any F Class sanctioned Match.
In a fun Match squad them together separate from the other shooters and let them enjoy their rifles with brakes on them.

 

[Twdmar]

I’ve never had a magnum open gun roll up the corner of my mat. About 3 shots into the string, that was when I figured out I was shooting next to a brake and not just a freakishly loud rifle or that the shooter on my left was set up too far back. Yea, as noted above at the end of the match the concussion left me sort of dazed well after I got home. It was just as bad sitting in the scoring chair.

That blast wave is unhealthy for your brain, hence the dazed feeling you had. There is evidence that all the guys using 10" rifles in the GWOT are suffering brain injury from the repetitive concussion from the blast of their own rifles, often used in enclosed spaces.
It's similar to CTE that the NFL is dealing with or that boxers have dealt with. Energy deposited from the shock wave can cause microscopic injury. Will you suffer long term damage from a rifle match, who can say? The brakes are a little unpleasant to be nearby though.

 

[jthor]

As a PRS shooter I’m going to say it would be flat out stupid to have an “F-Class” category that allowed brakes. It sucks to shoot side by side and not to mention doing a string of 20 rounds to the right and left of the shooter. That’s asking for members to start flinching and just have an all around unpleasant experience.

I shot a stage at the 2023 PRS finale where we were all on a flatbed trailer and shot one after another with no wind sharing. Once the person next to you shot you would soon be firing once the stage RO squeezed your foot and this repeated for 5 separate targets (2 shots each target and 10 seconds). Getting blasted by 2 brakes sucks a lot. It was my least favorite stage at the finale, but that stage with suppressors is very nice. Which is normally how that stage is run during that venues 2-day suppressor only match.

 

[abishai]

My club offers free use of a wrench .

 

[Hohn]

At the range I shoot at, they have a piece of plywood up, everybody with muzzle breaks shoot on one side, everybody without them shoot on the other.

A completely solvable problem. Let the braked rifles make each other go deaf, and keep them a good 20+ feet away from the rest of the firing line. (Shock decays with inverse square until it’s basically an acoustic wave).

 

[Hohn]

And, there should be fewer complaints about muzzle brakes too.

Agreed.

But there’s a way to mitigate brake blast a good bit— use it with a long barrel. The blast of a brake from a 26” PRS rifle shooting a short action 6mm is nothing at all like the brake blast of a 16” 308 or even a 20” .308. Heck, a 5.56 gun with a 16” barrel has much worse blast than a 26” tube 6.5 does.

It’s simple then, allow brakes as long as barrels are 20” minimum. The rules out the worst of the worst without negatively impacting almost anyone with a PRS/Tactical style rifle since the majority of those are over 24”, never mind the handful of 20” 308s in the tactical style rifles..

 

[jxb]

I was at the range Saturday and three slots down from someone with a long barrel and a brake. I don't compete at this time but thinking I'd like to in retirement, but I simply will not consider it if I'm next to someone with a brake. Not going to happen.

 

[LVLAaron]

I built a short (16 inch) FTR rifle, just for fun. No brake. It was definitely annoying to the people next to me.

No brakes.

 

[Warren Dean]

Agreed.

But there’s a way to mitigate brake blast a good bit— use it with a long barrel. The blast of a brake from a 26” PRS rifle shooting a short action 6mm is nothing at all like the brake blast of a 16” 308 or even a 20” .308. Heck, a 5.56 gun with a 16” barrel has much worse blast than a 26” tube 6.5 does.

It’s simple then, allow brakes as long as barrels are 20” minimum. The rules out the worst of the worst without negatively impacting almost anyone with a PRS/Tactical style rifle since the majority of those are over 24”, never mind the handful of 20” 308s in the tactical style rifles..

No brakes. Period.

 

[Tacticalintervention]

No brakes for f class. Suppressor I am for.

 

[Warren Dean]

No brakes for f class. Suppressor I am for.

Ditto. As soon as they become available to everyone. But shooting a 20 shot string with a suppressor will give you worse mirage than you've ever seen....even worse than Ben Avery.

 

[swd]

Suppressors are fine with me. Nice and quiet to shoot next to and I don’t mind if the guy can’t see the target after a few rounds. LOL

 

[Tacticalintervention]

Ditto. As soon as they become available to everyone. But shooting a 20 shot string with a suppressor will give you worse mirage than you've ever seen....even worse than Ben Avery.

I make a suppressor mirage shield that will cancel most of the mirage for a 20 rd string out

 

[DirtySteve]

I would be fine with an F-Tac class that let folks with brakes compete. They should have their own relay or have at least an empty slot or barricade between them and the next shooter.

They should have their own set of rules regarding weight bipods, etc…

 

[Belly Benchrester]

I would be fine with an F-Tac class that let folks with brakes compete. They should have their own relay or have at least an empty slot or barricade between them and the next shooter.

They should have their own set of rules regarding weight bipods, etc…

Exactly! If theyre one their own relay i dont see what the complainers can be left to complain about. It just simply gets everyone into the sport.