Looking to start shooting F Class

[Tony1320]

Hey guys I'm looking to start shooting F Class to see if it's something I would be interested in. I'm looking to pickup a Tikka T3x CTR but was wondering if it would be better for a beginner to compete in the F/TR or F Open .308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor matches are 300-900m

If there is another suggestion for a rifle let me know, at this time I'm not looking for a dedicated F Class rifle until I commit to it.

 

[swadiver]

my take as a serious F/TR shooter and a part time F Open shooter, is that it's easier to be competitive in F/TR than F Open without "breaking the bank". I shoot F/TR with a couple of.308's and occasionally a .223. My F Open rifle is in 6BR. most serious F Open guys are shooting a .284 or a 7mm of some type. when the winds blowing they have an advantage. also, I don't have a $1200 front rest, again what most serious F Open guys are using.

either way, it's a lot of fun

 

[JBO]

Tony, Load your wallet up and go shopping.
IMHO, if I had to do it over and I'd save a shit load of money too, just by doing more research regarding equipment. Buy a custom used F Open rile is worth doing. If your interested in building, look at some of the top F Class shooters then find a great gunsmith to build one for you. That old saying," buy once cry once " is really true in this sport and a custom rifles built right will hold value pretty much.

 

[Dos XX]

CTR's have 20" barrels. If you want to shoot F/TR you have to shoot .308 or .223. You need a longer barrel. You might could make a 20" 6.5mm work for F Open, but it really isn't the right tool.

I own or have owned a couple of Tikkas, one of which was a CTR in .260 REM. Great rifles. Not going to be competitive in F Class with factory barrel length or accuracy. Rebarrel and put it in a chassis or stock, you might have something workable.

Savage F/TR rifle is a good get in the game now out of the box solution in .308 or .223. I have a .308. It was my first competition gun. It shot pretty good in stock form. I had it bedded in the original stock and an aftermarket barrel installed shouldered to the action, no barrel nut. It shoots.

 

[Ringostar]

Another option to try the sport, would be a 223 varmint rifle with a basic bipod. Start with midrange matches. If you decide to go further into F-class, then you can decide if you want to go TR or open.

 

[Mulligan]

I accompanied a friend to an F-class shoot two years ago, he and his son brought some extra rounds and I shot their rifles while they were in the pits or scoring.
I loved it!
Saved a few $ sold some safe queens and waited for a good used rifle to show up in the classifieds. It was painless and I could easily sell the rifle today for what I paid for it.
CW

 

[swd]

We have a guy that shoots TR with a Tikka 223 heavy barrel in a chassis. It shoots very well at 600 and not as well at 1k as expected with a medium twist 223. For a very reasonably priced mid range gun it's not a bad way to go.

If an Open rifle is in your price range a Dasher or BRX is nice way to start. You can get by with a non adjustable rest for along time. Great used BR and F Open rigs come up here frequently. Some of new high BC 6mm bullets even out the playing field against the 6.5 and 7mm's. A Nightforce BR or Vortex Golden Eagle will do everything you really need optic wise. If you can't place with that a $1200 rest and a March won't buy you a win.

 

[mac86951]

As others have mentioned; F-class is fun; and my local high power 600y match will hang an F-class target for us load testers... I've seen a 338-06 do very well off a Caldwell rest with a 10 power scope; though not sure I'd want to do that once a month...

F T/R can help keep costs down initially; but I see it as a handloaders equipment race meaning quickly the equipment upgrade is needed. A 6BR or 6XC can do well at 1K in F-open and calmer conditions will give the 7s a good run.

-Mac

 

[Tony1320]

I'm not from the US so F Class rigs don't come up very often. I don't want to go with a dedicated F Class rifle off the bat in case its not for me. I was very interested in the 6 dasher but it's not an option unless I want to build a rifle.

Most matches here are 3/5/600m on occasion they are 900m

I already have a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 I will be using. I'm also already setup for reloading .308.

If the Tikka T3x CTR is a good choice especially in case F Class isn't for me I can still use it would you go .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for my application

 

[mac86951]

I'm not from the US so F Class rigs don't come up very often. I don't want to go with a dedicated F Class rifle off the bat in case its not for me. I was very interested in the 6 dasher but it's not an option unless I want to build a rifle.

Most matches here are 3/5/600m on occasion they are 900m

I already have a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 I will be using. I'm also already setup for reloading .308.

If the Tikka T3x CTR is a good choice especially in case F Class isn't for me I can still use it would you go .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for my application

In that case; 308. Run it, try it, if you really enjoy you can do F T/R with a bipod and have fun; or the 308 bolt face will allow you to rebarrel to 284; or 6.5 creedmoor at a later time. You can still shoot 308 in F-open if you want to use a front rest.

Look for 185gr hybrid or 200.20x. I personally wouldn't bother with lighter than 175 for F-class; but the Palma guys have a separate trick with 155s (mainly a 30"+ barrel)

 

[swd]

I'm not from the US so F Class rigs don't come up very often. I don't want to go with a dedicated F Class rifle off the bat in case its not for me. I was very interested in the 6 dasher but it's not an option unless I want to build a rifle.

Most matches here are 3/5/600m on occasion they are 900m

I already have a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 I will be using. I'm also already setup for reloading .308.

If the Tikka T3x CTR is a good choice especially in case F Class isn't for me I can still use it would you go .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for my application

It really depends on hard of a lesson you want on wind reading. It will take a lot longer to master the 308 than the Creedmoor. Depending on how much time you have to practice that may be a good or bad thing. You can be pretty competitive at a local level in Open with a bi pod and rear bag. Out here we have a third unofficial class, F Tactical. Basically PRS type rifles or anything that is more or less an open cartridge but shot off a bi pod and rear bag. Think open cartridges more or less in a TR platform. I shoot it frequently, and myself and others have shot plenty of scores that would place pretty high in Open. And it's a hell of lot of fun!

Where are you from Tony?

 

[Tony1320]

Maybe I will lean towards the .308. What about the 185 Juggernauts? I read a lot of good things about them on here.

I shoot twice a week

I'm from East coast of Canada

 

[Tony1320]

I shot my first F Class match today and loved it, everyone was very nice and few guys were helping me out all day. I decided to go with F-TR. Everyone is running a custom rifle though so looks like that will be my next step instead. What would you guys suggestion for an action, barrel, etc?

 

[Knotwild]

Tikka did make some CTR's with 24" barrels recently. However, I don't see them on their website now.

 

[Tony1320]

Tikka did make some CTR's with 24" barrels recently. However, I don't see them on their website now.

I believe the 24" CTR is only available for 6.5 Creedmoor and could be months before we see them in Canada

 

[swd]

What would you guys suggestion for an action, barrel, etc?

What price range and what is easy to get in Canada? A 700, Savage or Tikka action can be just as competitive as a custom action, the customs are just a lot nicer. Pick a stock and bipod. You'll need those first to figure out how heavy of a barrel to order to make weight.

 

[Tony1320]

What price range and what is easy to get in Canada? A 700, Savage or Tikka action can be just as competitive as a custom action, the customs are just a lot nicer. Pick a stock and bipod. You'll need those first to figure out how heavy of a barrel to order to make weight.

Around 2500usd, Barnard, Kelbly, Defiance, Bighorn are actions that wouldn't be too difficult to get, Barnard being pretty easy. Bartlein and Krieger, Lothar Walther barrels.

I have a factory Remington 700 5r that I'm shooting right now and I held my own with it using a cheap caldwell bipod would I see much benefit going to a custom or should I just rebarrel and continue practicing?

I have my eyes on a Duplin bipod but I also have an Atlas bipod on the way and a McMillan A5 or maybe a F Class stock.

 

[swd]

Around 2500usd, Barnard, Kelbly, Defiance, Bighorn are actions that wouldn't be too difficult to get, Barnard being pretty easy. Bartlein and Krieger, Lothar Walther barrels.

I have a factory Remington 700 5r that I'm shooting right now and I held my own with it using a cheap caldwell bipod would I see much benefit going to a custom or should I just rebarrel and continue practicing?

I have my eyes on a Duplin bipod but I also have an Atlas bipod on the way and a McMillan A5 or maybe a F Class stock.

If the 5R is shooting well I'd get a Duplin and go with it for a while. Get to know some of the guys and you never know what rifle and gear might turn up. And you'll probably get to test drive some of it. It's probably better to wait and see things first hand when possible.

When the time comes, Barnard, Kelbly and Krieger, Bartlein. Take your pick, all are world class.

 

[Knotwild]

I believe the 24" CTR is only available for 6.5 Creedmoor and could be months before we see them in Canada

I have seen some listed for sale here in the US lately. I personally love shooting my 6.5 CTR. I do shoot it suppressed and recoil is negligible.

 

[Tony1320]

If the 5R is shooting well I'd get a Duplin and go with it for a while. Get to know some of the guys and you never know what rifle and gear might turn up. And you'll probably get to test drive some of it. It's probably better to wait and see things first hand when possible.

When the time comes, Barnard, Kelbly and Krieger, Bartlein. Take your pick, all are world class.

Will do thanks for the help