Is F-Class for second class shooters?
- Thread starter Travelor
- Start date
It’s all, PRS included, classifiable as an equipment determined endeavor, and if a true “sport”, not a traditionally athletic one, that is until you strap on snow skis and lug a .22 LR cross country, under a timer, to shoot standing up with a pounding heart. A biathlon shooter would position the well-equipped and garbed prone sling shooter slightly closer to a rail gun operator, than what they do.
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
You give them mauls? Why are you coddling them so much? At Bayou Rifles, our sling shooters split firewood on their head.
DR_2297
Silver $$ Contributor
It’s the other way around in Michigan… at most (if not all) mid and long range matches sling shooters are the minority. Mostly F Open shooters on the line anymore. I am in my late 40s and I am generally the youngest shooter in a sling at most matches unless wr have a junior show up. Sadly it is a dying discipline..
Forty five years ago, I worked as a gunsmith in a shop where the shipper/receiver was George Farquharson; the father of "F" class. George was a fine shot and had also developed an interest in rifle precision. He was impressed with my sub-3/8 moa 308 and liked the idea of shooting rifles and ammunition with greater accuracy potential. "F" class grew out of his desire to attract new shooters to the sport of long range rifle shooting and to extend the shooting life of older shooters. In addition, he was aware of the potential for improved accuracy with more shooters who were interested in experimentation in rifle precision.
Today, the original intent of inclusiveness and experimentation has been somewhat obscured and many some regard "F" class shooters as a bunch of prima donnas who, in turn, regard the fullbore shooters as dinosaurs. Personally, I seldom shoot "F" class anymore since I don't see the point of shooting BR without the bench!
Regarding the "old and fat" comment: The wife of one of the shooters who travelled to a palma match in New Zealand, commented that it was interesting to see so many of the Canadian team scooping out hollows in the sand to accommodate their ample girth. This may have been directed mostly at her husband who certainly possessed a "sand scooping" physique! WH
Today, the original intent of inclusiveness and experimentation has been somewhat obscured and many some regard "F" class shooters as a bunch of prima donnas who, in turn, regard the fullbore shooters as dinosaurs. Personally, I seldom shoot "F" class anymore since I don't see the point of shooting BR without the bench!
Regarding the "old and fat" comment: The wife of one of the shooters who travelled to a palma match in New Zealand, commented that it was interesting to see so many of the Canadian team scooping out hollows in the sand to accommodate their ample girth. This may have been directed mostly at her husband who certainly possessed a "sand scooping" physique! WH
Johnny isnt going to like the fire wood part.
Johnny’s the worst. We even make him keep his coat on when he’s chopping.
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
And at my range I've seen Fclass shooters down a 5th of Jack D and still show up at the line the next morning and win the friggin' match. That is, if you are attempting to establish the measure of a "real man" ?
Sandstorm
Gold $$ Contributor
A true Visionary.
George was a great guy and quite a character. One morning, a radio talk show featured an interview with Pierre Trudeau (possibly the father of the current PM). George listened for about five minutes then, with a Webley air pistol, put a .177 pellet through the middle of the speaker. It was a good shot; one handed, at about 40 feet. George had to buy another radio but the immediate gratification was worth it, he said. WH
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
We Drink Bullet in the PNW . Jack is for Small Bore .
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
Maybe you should grab an Fclass rig and go up against the women and juniors who hold national records and get back to us on how you faired. Since Fclass is such a push-over, you should have no problem, huh?
Downeast
Gold $$ Contributor
I've been trying to get my friends involved in simple (300 yard) F class shooting at my little private range but I'm already getting requests for 3 gun and PRS. They shoot F class because that is what I want but given the choice no one would shoot a match. Evidently it's a lot more fun to bang away at various targets with different scenarios with multiple firearms than to sit or lay down and shoot a very repetitive and "boring" benchrest or F class match. Anyway, that seems to be the trend. And you can buy a rifle, pistol, and shotgun at your local big box store and go have fun but to shoot F Class or BR you really need a dedicated rifle that no one sells at a reasonable price. The only company that I know of that sells a introductory target rifle suitable of F Class or benchrest is Savage. And they may have dropped that line too. The same with optics. Look at how many "tactical" scopes are out there at very reasonable prices vs Benchrest or F class scopes. And to put the final nail in the coffin there are very few dedicated ranges. You can shoot 3 gun on just about any range, as well as PRS. F Class and Benchrest are dying. The only thing that will save them are draconian gun laws that prohibit everything except a single shot rifle. If you don't believe me, do a search for PRS websites vs Benchrest and F Class. PRS sites are exciting and "cool" while BR and F Class sites look like they are selling cemetery plots.
But I like "belly shooting" and I will continue to shoot whether anyone shows up or not.
But I like "belly shooting" and I will continue to shoot whether anyone shows up or not.
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Yep we still have fun no matter what it's called. LOL.I've been trying to get my friends involved in simple (300 yard) F class shooting at my little private range but I'm already getting requests for 3 gun and PRS. They shoot F class because that is what I want but given the choice no one would shoot a match. Evidently it's a lot more fun to bang away at various targets with different scenarios with multiple firearms than to sit or lay down and shoot a very repetitive and "boring" benchrest or F class match. Anyway, that seems to be the trend. And you can buy a rifle, pistol, and shotgun at your local big box store and go have fun but to shoot F Class or BR you really need a dedicated rifle that no one sells at a reasonable price. The only company that I know of that sells a introductory target rifle suitable of F Class or benchrest is Savage. And they may have dropped that line too. The same with optics. Look at how many "tactical" scopes are out there at very reasonable prices vs Benchrest or F class scopes. And to put the final nail in the coffin there are very few dedicated ranges. You can shoot 3 gun on just about any range, as well as PRS. F Class and Benchrest are dying. The only thing that will save them are draconian gun laws that prohibit everything except a single shot rifle. If you don't believe me, do a search for PRS websites vs Benchrest and F Class. PRS sites are exciting and "cool" while BR and F Class sites look like they are selling cemetery plots.
But I like "belly shooting" and I will continue to shoot whether anyone shows up or not.
That's my answer to someone that asked a question! I don't need anymore junk! I've won enough junk to fill up a garbage truck!
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
I participate in both disciplines. I don't use a closed-minded approach. I'd accept all disciplines on the line if it means building the sport.
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