Question: Is F/TR becoming too specialized?

[mysticplayer]

Well....I'm TORQUED.. :-\ ..to see NRA HP turn into F/TR and F Open!! But since some folks like the 'easy way' of not having to learn how to stand up on their hind feet and shoot offhand....it was bound to occur!! An 'old phart' game also for folks what's blind!! ;D :-\

Sorry, F class has nothing do with NRA HP. It has everything to do with Commonwealth Palma shooting and the option for older shooters to keep on playing.

This Sport started in Canada and has evolved and changed in various ways over the years. Today, the rules are pretty stable with the NRA and ICFRA handling their respective chucks of the world.

The sport has always been prone precision LR shooting. Now we have evolved to include a variety of tech that has really helped many different shooting arenas. All good stuff.

It is interesting to see how the comments of 2yrs ago reflect how F TR and Open are today.

In FTR, despite woes of impending super laser beam ray guns, that has not occurred. In fact, we have a pretty stable middle ground where many shooters can develop and excel. Sure, there will always be those that want to look over the next hill but the middle is competitive and wins pending driver error.

Open is still pushing the edges hard but that too seems to be finding a point of diminishing returns.

If you have not tried it, please do. It is a lot of fun regardless of how you place. For me, it is the perfect marriage of tech and skill.

I hope to be playing this game for many years to come.

Jerry

 

[xswanted]

I'm pretty new to Fclass but seeing the F/TR rigs that are out there its pretty interesting. However the rules are pretty well stated, and the guns that are there, are following them.

Would a guy take an Eliseo tube chassis gun out in the field hunting with the F/TR setup ready to go? probably not, but he COULD if he wanted to.

I've shot a lot of archery over the years, and if you are familiar with the NFAA's classification system...the "Bowhunter Freestyle" class is FAR from what most guys are taking out to the treestand, however, the bows are still set up within what the rules specify.

I like the idea of having a "hunter" style class of some sort.

Separate calibers....up to 6mm and over 6mm.....
Harris style bi-pods, use of a rear bag is acceptable
11 1/2 pound weight limit.
26" barrel max
2 pound trigger minimum
"factory" action
And the kicker....eliminate sighting shots....scoring starts on the first shot fired, maybe only shoot 10 shot strings so the gun wouldn't heat up so bad.

Seems likes itd be fun to give it a try. It'd be more like a "hunting" style rifle.

Not to say I don't like the target side of it, but for the guys that want to get better at shooting, a "hunter" class might draw more shooters into the sport as well. Somebody that has a .243 or a .270 and knows how to shoot it may have a shot at competing in that class and not have to drop a ton of money to have a competitive rifle.

 

[Steve Blair]

I'm pretty new to Fclass but seeing the F/TR rigs that are out there its pretty interesting. However the rules are pretty well stated, and the guns that are there, are following them.

Would a guy take an Eliseo tube chassis gun out in the field hunting with the F/TR setup ready to go? probably not, but he COULD if he wanted to.

I've shot a lot of archery over the years, and if you are familiar with the NFAA's classification system...the "Bowhunter Freestyle" class is FAR from what most guys are taking out to the treestand, however, the bows are still set up within what the rules specify.

I like the idea of having a "hunter" style class of some sort.

Separate calibers....up to 6mm and over 6mm.....
Harris style bi-pods, use of a rear bag is acceptable
11 1/2 pound weight limit.
26" barrel max
2 pound trigger minimum
"factory" action
And the kicker....eliminate sighting shots....scoring starts on the first shot fired, maybe only shoot 10 shot strings so the gun wouldn't heat up so bad.

Seems likes itd be fun to give it a try. It'd be more like a "hunting" style rifle.

Not to say I don't like the target side of it, but for the guys that want to get better at shooting, a "hunter" class might draw more shooters into the sport as well. Somebody that has a .243 or a .270 and knows how to shoot it may have a shot at competing in that class and not have to drop a ton of money to have a competitive rifle.

[br]
You described a format similar to many tactical matches. Why not shoot them? I've heard some of them pay pretty reasonable money, too.

 

[mysticplayer]

A modern loaded 30-06 would lay the boots to any 308. Glad they aren't allowed

Then why not the 6.5X55 Swede?

It was simply a way for aging Palma shooters to keep playing and the rules at the time were specific to 223/308.

Honestly, it has created one of the most competitive arenas for LR wind reading and the spin off tech has served many shooting disciplines beyond F class.

Jerry

 

[AR Shooter]

What I like the best about F-Class is the fact that I can lie in the shade (assuming the line is covered, like most I shoot) in shorts & t-shirt & sandals in the 95F/90RH weather rather than standing/laying in sun at 200/300yd in a heavy coat with a sweatshirt underneath. Several folks who planned to shoot our mid-range/F-Class this past Sat and XTC on Sun bailed on the Sun match as they did not want to be in coats two days in a row. Can be a tough game on a 70yr-old body when you add in the fun of pulling targets to the fun of shooting. Give me the shade and cooler clothing.

 

[Brad from ND]

Xswanted, it sounds like you're talking about my rifle..... I like the idea of a "hunter" class for club matches and league play. Didn't GFK go to that on their practice matches for 300 yds.

My problem with changing the rules is this....I don't like factory rifles. I don't own a rifle that is not custom built. Some people like fast cars, some like motorcycles, some like to drink themselves into a coma......I like to spend my time and hard earned money on nice rifles. Even with a custom built, top tier F T/R rifle shooting at 1000yds still is not easy. There is a lot of stuff going on between the barrel and the target and a slow 308 takes a lot of skill to steer it into the x-ring at over a half mile. I tried Open last year and could not get comfortable shooting off a rest. I've shot off a bipod for too long to train myself to shoot off a rest. I went back to 308 because if I shot off a bipod, I might as well so it against the other guys shooting off bipods.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Ya Brad, and if you still had that F-Open 6MM Competion Match, I'd be owning it !!!

 

[Brad from ND]

Ya Brad, and if you still had that F-Open 6MM Competion Match, I'd be owning it !!!

You should have bought itast year before I had to part it out. Lol that was a pretty gun.....I wish I could have afforded to keep it in the stable just to look at it.

 

[xswanted]

Xswanted, it sounds like you're talking about my rifle..... I like the idea of a "hunter" class for club matches and league play. Didn't GFK go to that on their practice matches for 300 yds.

My problem with changing the rules is this....I don't like factory rifles. I don't own a rifle that is not custom built. Some people like fast cars, some like motorcycles, some like to drink themselves into a coma......I like to spend my time and hard earned money on nice rifles. Even with a custom built, top tier F T/R rifle shooting at 1000yds still is not easy. There is a lot of stuff going on between the barrel and the target and a slow 308 takes a lot of skill to steer it into the x-ring at over a half mile. I tried Open last year and could not get comfortable shooting off a rest. I've shot off a bipod for too long to train myself to shoot off a rest. I went back to 308 because if I shot off a bipod, I might as well so it against the other guys shooting off bipods.

Haha yep sure was!

Yeah they put in a "hunter" class at 300 but there are some interesting interprations of "hunting" rifles! Need some more rules, but it's a great way to try get a few guys into the sport.