The new F-Class 1000 yard target

[Travelor]

For those of us that have not shot this new center - man is it tough. The X-ring is now 5" and the other rings are 1 point value less that the old centers. We shot it yesterday in blustery conditions at Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas. I shoot a 308 in F-TR class from a bipod.

My first string of 20 was a 188-3x,this would have been a 198-10x on the current centers). Next string was a 191-6x,this wold have been a 199-12x on the old target.) The last string went to h*ll in a handbasket as wind became variable and I kept missing it, a 179-2x,this would have been a 194-5x on the old center). Net result, the new centers reduced my scores by 33 points.

Was the target accepted by the other shooters as "better"? All liked and cussed it, especially liked by the iron sight shooters as they don't have to shoot it.

Get your loading hats and wind hats on for next year!

 

[chuckw2]

Travelor,

I have shot the new targets at 600 and 1000. At first I did not like them at all, they are tough as heck. After shooting several matches on them, I have warmed up to them somewhat.


As long as we are all shooting the same target, I don't guess it makes any difference. It is just going to be much harder to shoot a clean....


Chuck

 

[RAVEN]

Hi Travelor
Here in the land down under we have been shooting on a .5MOA centre for about 4 years the smaller centre does take a bit of getting use to but once U have your head around it your scores will improve
BTW we have full value,no X count out)
Cheers
Good Shooting
RB

 

[JER]

What is the point of shooting what is mostly prone benchrest on a target meant for iron sights and a sling?

Ego stroking?

 

[RAVEN]

Whats the point having an X coutout when 99 9X looses to 100 with non

 

[JER]

Whats the point having an X coutout when 99 9X looses to 100 with non

Because highpower isn't benchrest. It's not about the prettiest group. It's about who can get all their shots inside a 2 MOA 10 ring. The one who shot 99-9X lost concentration on one shot and dropped a point. His x count becomes irrelevant.

The x ring is a tie breaker, nothing more. X = 10 points.

While F-class was not invented in the US, it followed right along the American craze for making the shooting sports as easy as possible. At least someone is trying to redress the balance of sport.

 

[RAVEN]

JER I agree with what U say
I have no issue with sling shooters having a count-out that comment was about F-Class

 

[JER]

JER I agree with what U say
I have no issue with sling shooters having a count-out that comment was about F-Class

Ah, got it.

I am still opposed to this whole F class thing. I think it will siphon new shooters away from conventional prone.

I mean, who wants to work to learn how to shoot with just your body and a leather strap for support when you can plop this cast iron tripod and swivel your "rifle" like a gun mount......

And how you can see a target 1000 yards away without a lunar telescope?

 

[RAVEN]

Jer
F-Class is very challenging the target we use in AUS has .5MOA centre there is still allot of skill required to get them in the middle and the competition is just as serious as the slingers
Never think because we rest the rifle its easy have a go one day it might give U a gauge just how good some of the F-Class shooters are.
F-Class is just an evolutionary thing as was the change from open blade sights to aperture and the eagle eyes

 

[JER]

F-class is HARDLY evolutionary.

The technique and equipment are radically different from ANYTHING that has been used before in prone and position shooting.

You've just taken benchrest equipment and laid it on the ground. F-class is alien to conventional bullseye rifle shooting.

F-class will kill conventional prone in the US. The attraction of the easy way is simply too strong for new shooters, particularly since practically no one in the US learns to shoot with irons first any more.

Another evidence of that is the strong rumor that Savage will introduce two factory built rifles for F-class. They could have just as easily added a handstop rail, adjustable comb, adjustable buttplate, and a .75" diameter section at the muzzle to their 12 BVSS for a factory conventional prone/Palma gun but they didn't. I wonder why?

And don't tell me F-class,especially F Open) is not dramatically easier than conventional prone with irons and a sling. Such a statement simply defies logic and the evidence I have seen. Even with the new 1 MOA ten ring, the win and probably the top three will be decided by x counts.

F-class is unfortunately here to stay, but I don't have to like it, welcome it, or support it.

 

[FatBoy]

JER,

what you're not considering is,,, conventional prone has been on it's way out in the US for some years. The average age of a prone shooter on the line is over 50. Youth are not coming to the sport, and senior shooters are quickly hitting an age where we may have 5 or 10 more years of decent matches before it's gone forever.

Will F class take over conventional prone? Maybe,, I don't know. If it does, at least we'll have shooters on the line, which is more then many of the prone matches can claim now.

Chris...
,conventional prone shooter, generally the youngest on the line at 33yo, and f class advocate)

 

[JER]

FatBoy, the demographic situation you describe is not apparent in my local,western Ohio, eastern Indiana) area.

 

[AlanWarner]

JER:
There is not one iota of difference in a rifle for prone from what we build for F Class other than the stock.
You will also find that almost every open F shooter today has years and years of prone shooting behind them. I can think of only one member of the 05 team,myself included) that didn't earn a HM LR card with iron sights and a sling.
There is a higher percentage of F/TR shooters that have never competed with irons and sling. SO WHAT? they are out there, paying entry fees and enjoying the day just like everone else. If that bothers you, build your own damn range and shoot by yer lonesome.
I just finished up a prone rifle in the same caliber as my F gun for any/any matches. God gave me the eyes I have and they are just not good enough any more.
Those of us who have lost all ability to see well enough to be competitive with irons continue to be able to get out and read wind.
The winning score at Sacramento was a 97.6 average. I was runner up with 97.4. It is not the arrow, it's the indian.
Seeing as you think it's such a cake walk, I'll offer the use of my rig at any match we can find that schedules permit.
By the way, I can teach a new shooter good wind skills in HALF the time it takes in a sling.

Alan Warner

 

[RAVEN]

JER
F-Class was born from Full Bore NOT from Benchrest,F-Class was started in Canada. It was started as a fun class. In the beginning, it was mostly old time shooters, who put a scope and bipod on their rifle and shot along with the rest of the TR shooters. Mr. Farquharson came up with the idea of F-Class to enable he and other older long-range shooters to continue shooting along side of the people they had been competing with for most of their lives.)

This extends the sporting life of those that physically can not elbow support the rifle anymore would U begrudge them this?

It is true it’s becoming popular. Here in Australia we also suffer from the narrow mindedness of a few
U need to take the blinkers of and think well this is good for my club as it puts bums on the mound.
I will also mention the clubs that have embraced F-Class have health membership numbers those that haven’t are fading fast.

JER what are U doing to promote your chosen discipline to new ppl?

Here in my state we have a club that runs a Long range shooting educational day. Full-Bore and F-Class work together with the students,potential new club members) in a theory and practical day. If my memory serve me correctly out of 4 courses with a class of 10 each they get about 3 - 5 new members and some of those now shoot prone.

If u want your discipline to grow U need to go sell it not sit back and blame or criticise f-class for you demise
BTW I respect your opinion as U are entitled to it but it doesn’t mean that is right.

Cheers
RB