Looking to start 600yd F-Open, suggestions on caliber, etc.....

[Kenny474]

As the title states, I am looking to try some 600yd F-Open in the spring, as I have recently moved very close to a 600yd range. I have a 1-8" twist 6mm Krieger HV contour blank that I had planned to chamber in 6BR, but I am second guessing that now, as I had not planned on competing when I made that choice. Should I be looking to a Dasher or another higher velocity round, or will the 6BR be enough? I know it's plenty capable for 600yds, I just wonder if I may benefit from a round with less drop/drift being a new 600yd shooter. I really want to figure this out soon, as I plan to order my reamer in the next week and get the barrel chambered ASAP.

I am planning on using my existing stock and action, a Steven's (has been trued a bit) with a Rifle Basix SAV-2 trigger and single shot tray in a SSS Dog Tracker stock (fore-end is off-set to the left to counter torquing). I am wondering if this stock will be suited to this type of shooting? It feels OK to me, and I can shoot reasonably well with it on the ground, but I have never really used anything better, so I am unsure. ???

Also, any suggestions on other equipment that I will need are appreciated.

I have been using a Caldwell Rock BR windage top rest for a long time, but have also acquired a Caldwell Fire Control rest with the top modified to take a standard size front bag, as I feel the joy-stick rest is better suited to laying down than the standard windage top. I know it's not as good as other joy-stick type rests or tops, but it's what I have for the time being. I have gone through it a bit, and it doesn't move under recoil or from the weight of the rifle, so it's not too bad for now. If I can't get it to work for me, I will switch to the Rock BR. I will likely upgrade to a joy-stick top for my Rock BR base at a later time. I also have a Protektor Deluxe rear bag that fits my rifle well and is comfortable for me to use, so I am good there.

I understand much of my equipment is lacking and is lesser quality than most on the forum have, but I really just want to give F-Open a shot before I go and upgrade everything I own. If I can do reasonably well, I will likely start to upgrade as needed. But for now, I would like to try to get by with purchasing as little new equipment as possible.

If there is something I should know, or something I have missed, please fill me in. I have very limited competition experience, basically just some unsanctioned short-range BR and WW1+WW2 rifle, so 600yd F-Open is going to be a whole new world. I don't plan to win, but hope to have fun and at least keep my rounds on my target.

I could also use some suggestions for low-budget optics, as I doubt my current 10-40X50 Tasco likely won't be up to the task, though it is reasonably clear and tracks and holds zero well. I have been thinking about a Weaver T36, as they have decent glass and don't cost a ton. I would love a NightForce, but it's just not in the budget.

Thanks for any and all help.
Kenny

 

[BobLor]

6br caliber wins a lot of our local 600 yd F open matches and I think you already answered your own question. You seem satisified with what you have to start. So start with what you have, see if you like the game, look over or try other equipment and then upgrade as you feel is necessary.

 

[GermanS1]

Kenny, I would suggest starting with that barrel in 6BR. That will avoid all of the headaches (and cost) associated with a non-standard cartridge.

Additionally, the accuracy of the 6BR is fabulous - that's what a new shooter really needs. Your primary task once you get your equipment set up is to learn to read the wind, not to find a cartridge that makes you think you can ignore the wind (you never can). An accurate cartridge like the 6BR gives you excellent feedback on just how well you did your wind reading job.

Go with the scope you have until you determine exactly what you might like that's different based on your experience in matches. The learning curve is steep but fun, so just jump in and be prepared to learn something new each week.

 

[15Tango]

If it were me I'd run the 6BR, if I felt I needed additional velocity after trying the 6BR I'd open the chamber up to a BRX.

Wayne

 

[Kenny474]

BobLor, German, thanks for the advice.

I had originally planned to use the 6BR because of it's stellar accuracy, and had considered a round with less drop/drift not so much to "make up" for my lack of wind reading ability, but to help a bit when I missed a wind change or in similar situations. But I do understand what German is saying about the 6BR being able to show me when I screw up, and also understand it should help me get better as well.

I do have one other question as well; what should I be looking at for barrel length? I have been thinking a 28" to 30" barrel will give me a bit of extra velocity, and will leave me enough barrel length so I could move up to a Dasher or ???? at a later time if I so choose. I am not too concerned with balance, as I have a 26" HV contour barrel now, and it is still just a bit heavy in the rear.

And before I order my reamer, will the 100-105 class bullets be best for this, or should I look to one of the 80-88gr Berger FB bullets, or even the 90-95gr Bergers? I remember reading something about lighter bullets at mid-range performing better in the 6BR is why I ask.
I have also read that the standard Boat-tail bullets are easier to tune seating depth for than the VLD's. Is this true and should I use a standard BT, like the 105 or 108 Berger BT, or just use a VLD?


Thanks again for taking time to answer.
Kenny

 

[Dgd6mm]

Kenny, the stock you have will be fine for F-Open prone shooting. I asked last year about barrel lenght for the 6BR and the replies were mixed, 28-30 inch. That stock should balance a 30 HV Krieger. The guys I shoot against and do well at 600 prefer the 90-95 grain Bergers over the 105. Their grouping is smaller at 600, when stretched out to 850 the heavier ones are better. All the equipment you have is fine to compete with, have fun enjoy and learn, you'll make it to the top.

 

[spclark]

Fun is the operative word here, Kenny! As you're new to 600 yards, go with something that's proven and quite accurate enough: 6BR. You won't be disappointed by its performance and you won't be distracted or frustrated with learning the ins and outs of shooting a cartridge that's less commonly used.

As for bullet choice, I'm a fan of Berger's 105VLD in two 6mm cartridges I shoot but neither are 6BR... yet; that's next. One's a space gun, the other's a bolt & both are absolute hammers at 600 yards! I use the bolt gun for 1000 yard too & that new 6BR barrel (for another rifle I use for Palma) was purchased to take the load off the 1000-yard & extend its barrel life.

Your Tasco ought to serve you well while you learn & grow your skills. A T-36 is a great optic (I have one) but there will be times the mirage is so bad you'll want to pull back on the magnification just to be able to see more clearly & a T-36 won't do that. You have a lot of options well before you get up to Nightforce / SB price levels.

 

[Kenny474]

Having fun and being challenged is why I want to give it a go. I just don't feel challenged in the matches I attend now, as I normally do quite well, probably better than I should or would in a real match. I want to lose and lose bad, so that I want to get better and try my ass off to do so. Not just show up, shoot and make top 5 nearly every time, as that just sucks. I know I am not all that good, so I should be losing, not winning, so I try harder and get better.

I am hoping that by stretching the distance beyond what I have ever shot at, I will be out of my comfort zone and need to really try hard to do well at all. I don't care if I win, I just want to feel challenged and like I need to really put in some effort just to keep up.

As a final note, I would like to optimize my rifle for shooting 600yds max, as that is as long of a range as there is within about an eight hour drive of my house, as far as I know anyway. Is there anything I can do to accomplish this? I think I would like to shoot the Berger 90 or 100gr BT's instead of the VLD's, as I have had issues trying to get VLD's to shoot in the past. They seem very sensitive to seating depth, and I have had better luck with standard ogive bullets in my other rifles. And I should still have plenty of other options should I not have luck with the Bergers.


Thanks for the replies, they are appreciated.
Kenny

I also have a 1-12 twist 22BR barrel in the works as well for a planned coyote rifle. Would this be suitable for 300yd F-Class, as they shoot that as well? Or should i stick with the 6BR for everything?

 

[BobLor]

Hum, want to be challenged. Sounds like you must be shooting pretty good at a closer distance right now. Using the equipment you have right now. Chamber the barrel for 6xc or 6CM, leave the barrel at 30 inches long. Then travel to as many different mid and long range F class friendly matches as you can. With a priority on 1000 yd matches and set your goal to shoot and place in the F nationals in Lodi Wisc the last week of September in 2011 and then improving yourself for the International Fclass championship in Raton NM in 2013.

To really be serious about improving your shooting you have to travel to different ranges and shoot against top national and international shooters. Sounds like you already know this and it sounds like being really challenged at a match is what you are looking for. Sounds good! Go for it.

 

[Kenny474]

It's not that I am a great shooter, as I am not and will openly admit it. It's more that the competition is lacking at my local range. The matches are unsanctioned and basically "run what you bring" as far as equipment goes. I do put in a good bit more effort than most of the others do, and my rifle is more purpose built than all but a few as well, and I think it's why I do better than them most of the time. Not because I am better, but because I try a lot harder. I don't win every match, not by a long shot, but I am almost always in the top 5 for group and score and I do occasionally win as well, which is pretty sad considering I really don't see myself as a good shooter. Especially considering there are usually about 25 other shooters that show up to the matches.

I don't see myself placing in any kind of National competition any time soon, as I have never shot longer than 300yds, let alone done so against the best shooters in the country. And where I live 600yd ranges are few and far between, and 1000yd ranges require some serious driving to get to. I think I will end up shooting at the one 600yd range that is now local to me, as it's about a 30 minute drive away. The next closest is about 3 hours away I believe, and it too is 600yds.

Granted I would love to go shoot against the best of the best just for the knowledge and experience i could gain, and really wouldn't care if I finished dead last. But for now, I would be happy just to shoot against people that are better than I am, that I can actually learn from and be challenged by, people that take it seriously and want to do better.

I would like to travel to some of the bigger matches in the future, but I need to just see if I can hit the target at 600yds first, and then improve my equipment and technique a bit before I start to think about bigger matches.

Thanks again
Kenny

 

[spclark]

Where are you / where do you shoot now?

I think it'd be safe to say many of us on this forum would be glad to see you show up at any of the 600 - 1,000 yard ranges we frequent. We're always glad to see new shooters want to try their skills alongside us.

I myself am in north eastern Illinois & am fortunate to live well within a five hour drive to several excellent ranges, two of which permit shooting out to 1,000 yards. Four 600 club-owned ranges are 3 hours or less though one's new & as such doesn't have pits.

 

[memilanuk]

For the most part I would echo the comments regarding the 6mm BR. I might also suggest looking at a 6.5x47L. I had a 6-6.5x47L, runs in the same general range as the 6XC/CM/whatever - good cartridge, very accurate. Little bit non-standard (wild-cat), and I think 6.5 version should have a slight edge in barrel life pushing 130gr pills.

Just another option... hard to really go wrong with any of the choices offered

 

[HPMike800]

Where you are at I would go 6BR - the barrels last very well and it's easy to load for. Most target shooting is done at 600 or less. There's nothing stopping you from shooting it at 1,000 for good experiance.

For target shooting, I know nobody that would shoot a 22 when they could shoot a 6. I think the rifle would double well for coyotes, just change bullets.

95's are good and I've shot a few, but, if you can out shoot a 6BR w/105's you are one of the few. Your giving up 1/2 a point in BC to do it though. Use the "hunting VLD" for 6BR.

 

[fayettefatts]

Hi Kenny. I was in a similar situation as to which caliber to start with for 500-600 yard F-class shooting. I got a 6br and have used the 95gr VLD as well as the 105gr VLD with good results. After 2 seasons of competition, I decided to buy a new barrel to have on hand when this one quits shooting. Caliber I chose for the replacement? 6br! I think the rest of your equipment will be fine to start with and experience will show you what you may want to change. Hope to see you on the range!

 

[hardrock6]

105 JLK's are the bomd

 

[Taildrag15X]

You can bring that 6BR over to VT fo the State Shoot in May, keep an eye on the web site for the Match Program:

www.vsrpa.org

 

[Kenny474]

Taildrag, thanks for the invite, I may do just that. Looks to be a nice range.

 

[kochie]

Taildrag, thanks for the invite, I may do just that. Looks to be a nice range.

I would do a 6 bra than if you wanted to push a little further you can .

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Stick with the BR. Accurate, easy to tune, cheap to run. You have all the components already - now invest in a really good scope that will stay with you. Your minimum is 32x. Anything less won't help at longer ranges in the future. I will be shooting mine at 800 next weekend.

 

[sdean]

I would do a 6 bra than if you wanted to push a little further you can .

Probably made up his mind since 2010