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NRA is sanctioning Small Bore F Class

Couple thought on this: They did not say what distance? If it's truly going to be an F class, it should be 200-300 yards. Don't see the point if its less than that. Otherwise, you might as well call it a rimfire match.

Next thought: If it indeed would be longer range for a .22 (which I would love to see) how many people are going to have a rifle capable of being competitive? I've had this discussion with a local range owner. He wanted to do a similar thing but the number of people who could participate would be limited. A Marlin 60 'aint going to cut it.
To have any kind of accuracy at 200-300 yards w/ a .22LR, you need a gun capable of sub MOA at 100 yards on a good day.

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea and would jump at the chance to shoot one of these. I just hope it's not a 50-100 yard thing.
 
Why would it have to be 200-300 yards in order to be considered F-class?

What the OP is referencing is the NRA encouraging more shooters to participate in conventional smallbore matches. This includes individuals using bipods and other set-ups. Going forward, these shooters will compete against one another in their own class and shoot at the same time as the sling shooters. The NRA is just trying to standardize. For example, defining targets that will be used.

FYI - Smallbore conventional matches are shot at 50 yds, 50 meters and 100 yds. Not 200-300 yds. That would require target pullers, pits, spotters, etc, etc. and would no longer resemble the conventions of the past 100+ years. Smallbore ranges are typically 100 yards max and matches have 20 shot stages before targets are scored and changed.

Dennis L
 
I haven't been able to find the provisional ruleset yet. I really want to see that. It looks like there is a provisional target for this too. Posted link in the original post

how many people are going to have a rifle capable of being competitive?

Depends on who they are shooting against doesn't it. If everyone shows up with their 10/22 then it's pretty even. How many people have rifles that are truly competitive against top shooters at 1000 yards in F-TR when they start out?

I've got a CZ453 that shoots just under MOA at 50 yards with SK Jagd Rifle Plus or Wolf Match Target (this $5.** a box ammo) Then again I also have a 40X with an Ilja barrel too. I don't shoot smallbore competition... yet.


As to course of fire the article states "When starting F-SBR at your club it is suggested that you allow F class to shoot along side your target rifle (sling shooters) using the F-SBR recommended targets, while shooting the same course of fire and time limits" So it sounds to me like at this point we (F class shooters) would be shooting the same course of fire currently shot by smallbore competitors. Sounds like 50 and 100 yards. Personally, being a long range shooter I'd like to see a 200 yard class, and maybe we eventually get something like that, but for now I think it's a good start.
 
I'll second the 200 yd. rimfire F-class. My local club shoots a monthly 200 yd. "run-what-ya-brung" 3x20 match on the MR-52 target, and after shooting this course with my rimfire for a few years I feel that target would be ideal for rimfire F. Under ideal conditions it would be possible to shoot a clean with high X count, but under switchey conditions be a challenge to stay inside the 9 ring...kind of like shooting 1000 yds.
Pete
 
As a long range shooter I agree that 200 yards is and would be a challenge, but this is being incorporated under the existing SB shooting. Maybe if we get a ton of participation the rules can be modified to accept a unique to F class match format at 200 yards, but right now it's going to be a part of the matches that are already out there, which is more than we F class shooters have now. The answer now is get out and participate, and if your club wants to run a 200 yard match nothing is changed. You still can, and just like today, it's not going to be recognized. So be it.

I think it's pretty cool myself.
 
They shoot a lot of 200 yard 22 F-Class prone here close to home...how serious and what kind of guns? Here is a picture of a friend of mines gun...had an exact copy of his F-Class rifle built using a Anschutz 2000 22 action...
 

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I'll take one more shot at this.

Within the conventional smallbore prone format, distances will be limited to 50 and 100 yards. The ISSF or international targets will be used by those wishing to compete in F-class. For practical purposes, this reduces the ring diameters by approximately one half. For example, 10 ring at 100 yds is one inch on the metric target. These matches are 20 shot strings per target with a block time of 20 minutes. Beyond 100 yds, it is not possible to scope your shots reliably.

That being said, our club also has had a 200 yard rimfire program for years and this is shot on the highpower range with each shot pulled and marked as in a HP match. Our matches have "classes" for irons and scope sling shooters as well as F-class. See - http://rbgc.org/200YardRimfire/200YardRF.html

It is very popular and, as others have said, very challenging. I use my same Anschutz 1913 and it is very accurate at 200 yards, but extremely sensitive to poor wind calls.

Dennis L
 
falconpilot said:
They shoot a lot of 200 yard 22 F-Class prone here close to home...how serious and what kind of guns? Here is a picture of a friend of mines gun...had an exact copy of his F-Class rifle built using a Anschutz 2000 22 action...

I'm building mine on a 40X to be exactly like my PR&T stocked F-TR rifles right down to the Jewel triggers and the Nightforce scope.
 
WE have been shooting .smallbore Fclass at the Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club in Palm Bay, FL for over a year. We shot 50 yards with the ARA target and 100 with NRA target. Most of the guys are building rifles that duplicate the stocks and feel of their F open or FTR guns.
 
Veddy interesting, I would like to give it a try. I'll check with you Eric and if possible I would like to get involved.
Paul Larson
 
I've never shot SB competition, but I understand that the sling and irons guys can wear the targets out. With artificial support in F class I can see this going the same way F class did in the beginning. Three yrs from now the NRA adopts it with a smaller target, and that is not a bad thing.

I really like the challenge that the F class target is today. It's news when someone shooting TR cleans it. There have been what, maybe three or four ever, and all in the last yr since Phil shot the first one?
 

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