Shooters Poll -- Sling and F-Class

[Jarrett Van Curen]

Started in NRA Service Rifle in 2009 and have progressed to sling and irons prone only this year

 

[noload]

2008 I Started in F/open and will die there too. At my age, I would suck if I tried sling.

 

[338 Mollett]

Let's keep an open mind and give credit where credit is due.F class opens the door to be called belly bench rest.Now make no mistake I understand the body breaking down!!!But to be a good f class shooter it is more of a gadget game,like getting 12 barrels at a time to see which is the best one.Keeping an open mind top slingers can do the same thing but you still have to hold it!And a miss read in the wind has the same penalty!Although I have the distinguished honor of sucking at both,sling brings back memories of bow hunting where man,machine ,and target are one!And it is more of a feel than anything else,but that could be GAS!

 

[Longtrain]

I did start F Class when we shot on the LR target, X count game. I've watched the game evolve since we had one or two targets on the line, to now 1/2 or more of the targets, which is great for the sport.
The equipment race bothers me a bit, I know it's part of all shooting games. But the..."Come one throw a Harris on your 308 hunting rifle and come out and have fun with us". Not so much any more. ;-)

 

[XTR]

When I finally started shooting rifles competitively I started with F-TR in '10 shot my first real NRA sanctioned match in '11. It's all I've done since. (I haven't gotten bored yet )

 

[SF-Guy]

I've shot with a sling for some years but recently started shooting F-Class as well, so I'm curious about the journey others have had. If you shoot or have shot both with sling and F-Class, please tell me:

1. Did you start with one of them and then move permanently to the other?

2. Did you start with one and now shoot both?

3. Have you gone back and forth?

Thank you.

Dave Rabin

1. I shot like 40 years with a sling and have tried F class and it is a practical way for me to check loads...but I'd still shoot them prone with a sling for the final pick.
2.I like shooting with a sling but think that it's great to have integrated shooters on the line. We desperately need more shooters in highpower and this is one way to accommodate a bunch more folks

3. Gone back and forth? You mean like "bisexual"? 'Cause if that means twice a week, clount me in!

 

[js2013]

Started with the sling and still shoot sling. This year I shot a few times off a pod and it was fun, I could get into doing more of that, but I think sling will still be my favorite for a long time.

 

[ShootDots]

I shoot F-Open for a couple of reasons, primarily because I like ABSOLUTE accuracy and I like shooting a vast array of excellent cartridges. I like trying out various wildcat cartridges and some lesser used cartridges. I can only do that with F-Open, so there is where my interests lay..

 

[Fulvio]

Started with sling, iron sights. Done that for a few years then started to have wrist and elbow pain. Moved to f-tr and f-open. Now I only do f-open as HM in both mid and long range. While in sling shooting the key to success seems to be the shot execution, in f-class, particularly at long range, it is the ability to read the conditions. The two disciplines and the skills required are quite different. It is like picking up a new sport....fascinating!

 

[ptf18]

Have shot "slung up" for 20 years or so. Now that "optics" are allowed on the AR S/R, which I now shoot with, I'm shooting mid-range with an optic equipt rifle.... slung up. It's AROS class. Not real popular yet but perhaps in time as we all get "older" it will be.

 

[Heman]

Started shooting f-class in 2007/08 for long range and was shooting course. Went to sling for prone in 08 and I've only shot Fclass a couple times since. I like doing it, just enjoy sling more.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I stated in Br, tried service rifle and FO. If the comradery is there they are all fun. It has gotten to be more about the people I shoot with than what we shoot. Hell, I dont even shoot at the moment but still go to the matches. I like BR the best still, basically f/o from a bench, not much different. But I like to see small groups, obviously groups are not measured in f-class. There is also something very rewarding about shooting a good score with iron sights.

 

[noload]

Alex, I actually find that F Class is practiced by shooting for groups, then match day, he who groups in the X best,... is normally the winner.

 

[Bob3700]

Started benchrest shooting in 1986 and got board pretty fast. It was nice to shoot little dots off a rest with a 6 PPC but I lost interest. Learned a lot about the fine points of reloading and building precision rifles.

Started reduced XC with SR in 1989 and shot full distances starting in 1990.

Once I earned Distinguished badge, Presidents 100, and HM with SR, I turned to a match rifle XC. That was OK but just got tired of constantly lugging all of my gear. Lazy I guess.

Started Midrange and LR prone along with SB Prone and enjoy the challenge. I avoid the really hot days so usually just shoot matches in the Spring and Fall.

The challenge of sling shooting is what I enjoy. It is not the equipment, it is the discipline. Holding the rifle, refining your position, adjusting iron sights, reading the wind, to my mind that is what constitutes a rifleman.

Once I can no long compete with a sling, will probably just give it up and focus on my flyfishing.

 

[USMCDOC]

Started out with Service Rifle, then to Space Gun, to Bolt Rifle XTC, then started shooting Long Range, made High Master in one season with a Palma Gun using Nosler 155's. It was sling for 14 years, then i tried F-Class.. i like it, just don't have the energy anymore.. so now.. i am shooting another difficult sport.. Benchrest both rimfire and centerfire.. And the club i belong to will be having UBR and ABRA matches starting next year as well!

 

[USMCDOC]

Started with FClass in 2005 with the help of a sling shooter, Reid Perry. I've stayed with FClass.

Reid was a good man, back when i was first shooting, i had the pleasure of shooting with him at some 300 yard walk up matches in Boone NC

 

[DE-F-Open]

Started off life shooting trap as a kid and while in the Navy in the 60's, then went to NRA PPC in the early 70's, from there to conventional & international pistol, back to trap & sporting clays, then I shot my first F-Class match in 2004 at Camp Butner with borrowed gear. From there went to sling, shooting XTC with a service rifle and then I broke my shoulder and several ribs and couldn't get into a sling - when I was able to do so, went back to F-Open and have stayed there..... tried to go back to Service rifle for the fun of it but found that my coat didn't fit - so I guess I'm an F-Open guy forever...I'm not buying another coat and I can't seem to lose weight....

John

 

[kzin]

Signed up at a club two summers ago knowing they had CMP shoots monthly and expecting to participate. Found out my bad shoulders won't allow a decent slung prone and I can hardly hit the target offhand because of general shakiness. Discovered f-class on the internet and decided that was made for me. Also tried a canvas coat in 80 degrees ONCE.

My first choice might be the AR Midrange Tactical. Hope it takes off but in a world where 'sling or f-class' is a common question the NRA cleverly positioned the new class as neither!

 

[big john 5394]

Went from cast bullets to f open and long distance bench rest at age 68 now 70 and i love it

 

[people]

Let's keep an open mind and give credit where credit is due.F class opens the door to be called belly bench rest.Now make no mistake I understand the body breaking down!!!But to be a good f class shooter it is more of a gadget game,like getting 12 barrels at a time to see which is the best one.Keeping an open mind top slingers can do the same thing but you still have to hold it!And a miss read in the wind has the same penalty!Although I have the distinguished honor of sucking at both,sling brings back memories of bow hunting where man,machine ,and target are one!And it is more of a feel than anything else,but that could be GAS!

This is what I basically do for my PD uppers. I have two standard loads if they do not shoot great with either load down the road they go. Most end up shooting great with some other load.