Survey

[J.d. Popkes]

I started shooting a local match. I have a strategy question for the members here. What rifle/chambering would you choose given these rules. 600 yds, 3” X ring, any rifle under 40 cal, 30 minutes, as many shots as you want, keep your last 10 for score.

Would there be any advantages to running a larger magnum with the speed and wind drift gains since you can take 30 minutes and not melt a barrel? Or is a little br still my best option? I’m curious what y’all say because I’m not a structured/organized match shooter.

Thanks

 

[joshb]

I’m not a match shooter but I’d go with the gun you have that shoots the best and doesn’t kick like a mule. The little 6br is great at that range. So is the 6.5-47 or (do I dare mention) the Creed mare.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I started shooting a local match. I have a strategy question for the members here. What rifle/chambering would you choose given these rules. 600 yds, 3” X ring, any rifle under 40 cal, 30 minutes, as many shots as you want, keep your last 10 for score.

Would there be any advantages to running a larger magnum with the speed and wind drift gains since you can take 30 minutes and not melt a barrel? Or is a little br still my best option? I’m curious what y’all say because I’m not a structured/organized match shooter.

Thanks

Lol, Comstock scoring f class!
Whoever brings the most ammo wins.

 

[ShootDots]

I don't know what shooting discipline you're referring to, so I can give you my opinion from F-Open that has a 3" X ring at 600 yards. If there are only 10 shots for record, you won't need 20 shots to get to the X ring. You might shoot 15 shots tops. I have a .300WSM that shoots 200-20Xs and I use it primarily for 500 and 600 yard F-Open. It is super accurate, shoots right with or maybe even a little inside a .284 and is not difficult to control.. After 7+ years in F-Open, I think it is the BEST of the BEST!

 

[Evan]

I'd stay small, personally. I just don't like the cost, blast, or recoil of big stuff. I'd vote 6 Dasher or 6.5x47 if you want the best accuracy possible. I don't believe you will be handicapped by either of these 2.

I've got a 22BR coming to shoot 90s from 300 out to 1000, so that tells you which way my preference leans.

 

[swd]

I started shooting a local match. I have a strategy question for the members here. What rifle/chambering would you choose given these rules. 600 yds, 3” X ring, any rifle under 40 cal, 30 minutes, as many shots as you want, keep your last 10 for score.

Would there be any advantages to running a larger magnum with the speed and wind drift gains since you can take 30 minutes and not melt a barrel? Or is a little br still my best option? I’m curious what y’all say because I’m not a structured/organized match shooter.

Thanks

Everything is a compromise..
Is there a maximum gun weight and if so what is it? That can make big difference in what you choose. Muzzle brakes allowed or not?? Another game changer.

In light to moderate conditions any of the 6BR based cases will be right there as will most of the 6.5’s. In bad conditions the 284, 7SAUM and 300WSM will be king.

My first choices would be 6BRX/Dasher or 6.5x47L for easier to shoot guns. If you want big than pick your poison. The 300WSM would be king in drift and recoil.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Lol, Comstock scoring f class!
Whoever brings the most ammo wins.

It’s fun as hell come shoot it with me

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Is there a maximum gun weight and if so what is it? That can make big difference in what you choose. In light to moderate conditions any of the 6BR based cases will be right there. In bad conditions the 284, 7SAUM and 300WSM will be king

That is what I kinda thought. No weight limit or anything. I was kinda thinking about a saum or whatever cheats wind better. Because ya can take your time and pick your spots or start over if needed.

 

[swd]

Something else to consider is some of the magnums have well under a thousand rounds of barrel life. I know the 7SAUM is very short. The 300WSM probably a bit longer. Maybe ShootDots can chime in in that cartridge.

Still what your going to see is the best shooter of the day winning. I bet it will be 50/50 small guns and big guns winning on different weekends..

 

[Damfino]

Everything is a tradeoff and lots of good info and insights above. I've shot a .308, .284, 6.5X47L, and a Dasher in mid-range (600 yards) F-class. The Dasher produced the smallest groups, the highest scores, the least amount of recoil with the most fun. Compared to a .308, it's just like cheating. If the light is right I can even see the bullet wake. Good luck with your choice.

 

[ShootDots]

Something else to consider is some of the magnums have well under a thousand rounds of barrel life. I know the 7SAUM is very short. The 300WSM probably a bit longer. Maybe ShootDots can chime in in that cartridge.

Still what your going to see is the best shooter of the day winning. I bet it will be 50/50 small guns and big guns winning on different weekends..

I can't say what MY barrel life is going to be>>but with slightly over 500 rounds on the one shooting the 200-20Xs, I have right at 500 rounds on the barrel. With my borescope the very, very beginnings of firecracking is barely starting. If it continues in this fashion, I see no reason to not get a "comfortable" 1800-2000 rounds of accurate barrel life>>> but it's my first barrel>>we shall see. But my instincts tell me in the vicinity of 2000..

 

[Milo 2.0]

It’s fun as hell come shoot it with me

Where? All shooting is fun.

 

[X-Caveman]

I started shooting a local match. I have a strategy question for the members here. What rifle/chambering would you choose given these rules. 600 yds, 3” X ring, any rifle under 40 cal, 30 minutes, as many shots as you want, keep your last 10 for score.

Would there be any advantages to running a larger magnum with the speed and wind drift gains since you can take 30 minutes and not melt a barrel? Or is a little br still my best option? I’m curious what y’all say because I’m not a structured/organized match shooter.

Thanks

How do you know which are your last 10 shots? Is there a break where they put up a new score target? What color(s) are the targets? Are they marked between shots or can you run them quickly? Do you shoot over flags? Do the conditions at the range normally allow you to see a 6mm hole at 600? Lots to consider, but...

If you can run them quickly at any time during the 30 minutes, and see where you are hitting during the record string or a very short time before the record string, I would go small - 6BR, 6BRA, Dasher, maybe 6.5x47. It's hard to beat their accuracy and "shootability". Try to run them as long as you think the condition is holding.

If you must pace the shots over more than a minute or so, or you have less feedback (no flags, poor optical conditions, etc) I believe I would go larger for the ballistic advantage. Unseen condition changes shouldn't push you around as much.

Most importantly - and this is one of the many ways that I falter - know that you can be successful via either route. Pick a caliber, learn to tune it, practice, then stick with it for a few seasons to learn what it does in various conditions.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

How do you know which are your last 10 shots? Is there a break where they put up a new score target? What color(s) are the targets? Are they marked between shots or can you run them quickly? Do you shoot over flags? Do the conditions at the range normally allow you to see a 6mm hole at 600? Lots to consider, but...

If you can run them quickly at any time during the 30 minutes, and see where you are hitting during the record string or a very short time before the record string, I would go small - 6BR, 6BRA, Dasher, maybe 6.5x47. It's hard to beat their accuracy and "shootability". Try to run them as long as you think the condition is holding.

If you must pace the shots over more than a minute or so, or you have less feedback (no flags, poor optical conditions, etc) I believe I would go larger for the ballistic advantage. Unseen condition changes shouldn't push you around as much.

Most importantly - and this is one of the many ways that I falter - know that you can be successful via either route. Pick a caliber, learn to tune it, practice, then stick with it for a few seasons to learn what it does in various conditions.

Flags are there. Each shot is marked in the pits. So ya pick your last 10. Kinda quit while ahead deal or keep shooting and ya might erase a good shot and start another string. So ya know your score in real time

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Where? All shooting is fun.

Everything is a tradeoff and lots of good info and insights above. I've shot a .308, .284, 6.5X47L, and a Dasher in mid-range (600 yards) F-class. The Dasher produced the smallest groups, the highest scores, the least amount of recoil with the most fun. Compared to a .308, it's just like cheating. If the light is right I can even see the bullet wake. Good luck with your choice.

that’s my question. If a dasher is like cheating compared to the 308, would a cartridge that is ballistically better than the dasher be really cheating? Don’t have to run it hot or anything. I’m just curious if the errors would be smaller. As in a 180 hybrid vs my 105 vld, the little 105 has way more drift, making a difference in scoring. Might get shot in the back because of the brake, but....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Light kick and fast shooting is the key to small groups. Taking 30mins to shoot a group has to make it yuge at 600yd

 

[Evan]

Or, you could show everyone how it's done and bring a 375 cheytac. You aren't bettering those ballistics while remaining in the rules. Plenty of time to recover while they pull your target to mark it.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I guess I either need to read, or read the whole post, I thought, shoot 50, score 10, even I could be good doing that crap, lol

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I guess I either need to read, or read the whole post, I thought, shoot 50, score 10, even I could be good doing that crap, lol

Yea shoot 50, no need to pit the targets, the best 10 were my last ones that ill keep

 

[Puzzaz01]

With theses rules, we'd have a lot of high masters.

Darrin