Very new to competitive shooting, where do I begin.

[sixdrumquads]

Little back story since I am very new here. I recently got a chance to meet some long range F class guys, one of them was Dan Pohlabel, at a local club's open house which has spurred an interest in competitive shooting and hunting. I have started to browse the internet for resources regarding some of the basics tips and tricks everyone uses, where to shoot within the Ohio area and some close out of state places, and if my gear is adequate for what I plan to do. My goal for the coming year is to get my feet as wet as possible with the 600yd prone (f class?) water.

1. My current setup is a Savage LRP chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, Harris swivel bi-pod 6-9 in, with an osprey 10-40x scope mounted on a 20 moa rail. I think that should be plenty sufficient for starting out? What other things should I bring to any matches I attend?

2. I found this website http://www.shootfclass.com/p/thanks-go-to-rod-vigstol-for-putting.html and was wondering if there were any more events nearby and especially, how to start getting into these ranges and the events. Registering, who to contact, etc.

3. In general what are some things I should know about competitions that will help me out, should I wear my lucky underwear? Will there be chances to learn from some of the more experienced shooters at the competitions? What is the general flow of a competition?

4. What are some basic skills I can work on at 200yds (max at the local range), how should I practice, etc.

5. Any other information you can give me is greatly appreciated, just looking around on the internet has me a little overwhelmed and a little confused about getting into this activity.

 

[Steve Blair]

Your current rifle's chambering will put you in F-Open. That's ok to start. You may find yourself up against some heavy hardware but don't worry about it. You will need a rear bag of some kind to support the rifle butt. The Harris bipod will work but you may also use a front rest (tripod) in F-Open. You will find experienced F-Class shooters at matches who should help you. I did and profited greatly from their advice. [br]
I've attached a scaled-down 200 yard target that you can use to practice. Print it at actual size. It is not an official target in any way but will serve adequately for practice. You should be able to put most of your shots touching the 10 ring at which you are aiming. Don't mind if a few do not, it happens to everyone. [br]
Pick up a copy of Linda Miller and Keith Cunningham's book, read it and put what you learn into practice. The rest is up to you. [br]
http://www.amazon.com/The-Wind-Book-Rifle-Shooters/dp/1581605323/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386654385&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wind+book+for+rifle+shooters

 

[broncman]

Welcome!

I would highly recomend practicing your target divisions to scope adjustments. In other words, you hit at 10:00 in the 8 ring...do you know what adjustments to make to get center at 600? Sometimes that trips up newer shooters.

Learn the scoring system on the F Class target as well, where the scoring sighting discs are placed for what score etc, a miss, an x etc....

Have fun!

 

[Immike]

Fclass is a good choice and easy to get started in. I see people getting into it from all directions and other disciplines with no end in sight. Very popular match world wide now and everyone sure loves it ! Equipment needed: Mat to lay on, range bag, front rest and rear bag, spotting scope and stool to score the other shooters on your target. You will be able to absorb enough information by spring to show up well prepared. Good luck to you.

 

[johara1]

I'm no F class shooter but the first thing is to learn to read the wind and know how much to move to compensate for the round your using. If you learn to dance with the wind you will do well…….. jim

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Lots of good replies. One thing you may want to consider is a pre fit barrel in .308 so you can shoot f-tr. It would put you up against much more similar rifles to yours. Mcgowen should have them i stock for about $300.

If you didn't know. There are two classes in f-class.
F-open, full blown target rifles, expensive rests, 22 lb weight limit.
F-TR 223 or 308 only, must use a bipod, 18 lb weight limit.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Blow the dust off your check book

 

[nosualc]

We have a 600 yard f-class league at my local club, and we have 20-30 new guys every year. As the season progresses, some will really get into it, and some will fade away. Some general hints I always tell the new guys.

1) The first couple of times, everything will be a blur. Concentrate on learning the routine and having fun.

2) You have more time than you think you do, concentrate on your set up and making good shots.

3) At first, you're competing against yourself, later against others in your classification. The goal is to learn and have fun.

4) Don't think you need to compete with High Masters on day 1. They've done the time and likely spent a lot of money. You haven't.

5) To do well, you'll need good equipment, good technique, good ammo, and learn to read the wind.

6) Attention to detail. Attention to detail. Attention to detail.

7) You can learn a ton talking to your fellow shooters. Ingratiate yourself to them by showing up early, staying late. Offer to help with the mundane chores required before and after shooting. Give the best pit service you can give. It's all about attitude.

8) Shoot as often as you can.

-nosualc

 

[Medic505]

You're off to a good start. Best advice I could give you is don't be afraid to ask questions. F Class shooters for the most part are a great bunch of people. I've only been shooting F Class for three years and would have never dreamed how much I've learned in that short time. Ohiodan (Dan Pohlabel) is one of the best guys in the game. He gave me tips that greatly improved my shooting.

Pick up a copy of Nancy Tompkins' "Prone and Long Range Rifle Shooting". It should be required reading for any new shooter.

Have fun. The friends I've made and the people I've met have been worth every penny I've spent on equipment.

Last but not least, HAVE FUN! Don't beat yourself up if you don't shoot as well as you think you should have. None of us ever shoot that well.

 

[DRNewcomb]

My mistake in starting out was to get a cheap rear bag. I'm asking Santa to bring me a nice big, heavy, flat base, Protektor bag for Christmas.

 

[Jdne5b]

The first 4 matches I shot were with that exact rifle. If you have an accurate load, you can learn a lot and do pretty well shooting it.

After the first match, I bought a used Sinclair Gen 2 Bipod which was not as good as a rest, but much better than the Harris I had and it served me well. After the first year, I decided I liked F-Class enough to buy a rifle in .308

 

[Joe Maisto]

Blow the dust off your check book

Super funny and most accurate response ! ;D ;D

 

[Bart B.]

Compete against yourself.

Compete with all the others.

 

[338 Mollett]

If you have a competitive nature name your rifle after your wife.Then your mind will open for the rabbit hole you will travel.If you are happy go lucky,your gonna have a blast ! Good Luck!

 

[savagedasher]

My mistake in starting out was to get a cheap rear bag. I'm asking Santa to bring me a nice big, heavy, flat base, Protektor bag for Christmas.

I don't shoot f class but if I did I think the right height heavy rear bag would be a must. Don't buy cheep anything. Don't be imitated by what others have. A spotting scope is nice but don' buy a cheap one . Remember you are only shooting against your self. Listen to others .Ask them several times over a period of time .If you get the same answer they are ok.to listen to. Most good shooter will help and nerve try to Imitate. Larry

 

[ShootDots]

I shoot F-Open and I NEED and USE 2 rear bags. Both are Protektors and both are "Mid-Ear" with Codura ears and leather bodies.. Now WHY two bags? One has a 1/2" bottom and the other has a 1" bottom. The difference is amazing. We shoot on VERY uneven ground and sometimes I need the extra height>>>as a matter of fact more often than not. There has been a time or 2 where I needed the 1" bottom AND one of my leather "spacers" or I would be shooting in a most uncomfortable position... Something to think about when calling Protektor for YOUR CUSTOM bag!!

 

[boltman13]

s







I will relate my sad story in hope you do not repeat it. I also went to my first F-class match, in my case a practice one and not a sanctioned match, with my 10X40 Osprey scope. I had a solid 300 yard zero and a solid balistic program generated come up for 1K yds based on an accurate BC and cronographed load. During prep I made a windage calculation, dialed it in, made the appropriate elevation adjustment, dialed it in and fired my first shot. Shifting to my spotting scope I fully expected to see my target pulled down. Sorry Charlie nada. Could I have cross fired? I don't think so. Swallowing my pride I ask to have my target pulled and checked. Down it went, down it stayed, for what seemed like an hour then up it came with two bright orange meetballs at the bottom on each side. A miss! Good grief! I did cross fire. Another round into the chamber, another 140 gr A-max at 2,875 fps in 6.5 Creedmoor. Checking very carefully to be sure of my target number I let'er fly again. Same result. No way! Again I ask for a recheck and again came the same two bright orange circles on my target. Then the line officer came over and said the guy pulling my target said my bullet impact was barely hitting the top of the berm. He suggested I come down at least 6 MOA. I did this and let my third round go. Still nothing as far as my target disappearing was concerned. Word came back that my bullet had impacted lower on the berm but not on the target. Now what? Swollowing all my pride I cranked down my elevation another 4 MOA and off went round four. Down went my target, long, long pause, up came my target with the spotter at the extreme top right of the target face, up wind and barely on paper. I had completely lost track of the wind. Oh well, at least I was on paper. Consulting my scoring book I made the required scope adjustments, carefully noted my target number, double checked the wind for any major change and away flew my fifth shot. Down went the target, up came the target, a solid 7 at 2 o'clock. WTF! Reconsulting my scoring book I made the approprate windage and elevation changes and away went shot six , again being carefull to check for wind changes, and the target number. Down went the target, up came the target, an 8 at 7 O'clock. Good Lord now what? Then the light bulb went on. I left the scope set where it was. Held on the 8 ring at 2 O'clock and away went my seventh shot. Down went the target, up came the target, a 10, just barely at 3 O'clock. For the rest of that string and subsequent ones I just held off. Luckely there were no major wind changes the rest of the day, and I was able to stay in the 9 and 10 ring with a few 8's. Do not trust the verticle or horizontal tracking of your Osprey. Check it. Use Brian Litz's meathod of a tall target with a perfectly plumb line. Find out how much off your horizontal and verticle tracking is and at as long a range as you can, place 2 targets directly above each other and the same distance apart in the center as your balestic program states. Aim at the lower one, and make corrections with your scope until you are centered up on your upper one. Then you will at least be on paper at 1K yds after making a windage adjustment for the conditions at the range. Better still, get a better scope ASAP. Good luck.