What caliber for 500-1000 yd F-Class

[Tempest]

If you stick with FTR, the 200's are an improvement over the 185's at 1,000 yards.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I don't mind moving to F-Open, I have the Joypod which would also work for F-Open as well and I could, if I decide to, upgrade to a NEO Mini down the road. Besides it isn't unusual for me to be grouped into the F-Open as we often have too few F_TR shooters to set aside a stand alone group. The rest of my setup would be fine although I may want to upgrade to a heavier rear bag if I go to the Mini.

I shoot the 185 Juggernauts and they work fine out to about 600 yards but for 1000 yard they have way to much drop and according to my ballistics will drop out of supersonic at about 850 yards. Not conducive to to 1000 yard matches.

 

[KWeigel]

This is really easy for me to decide.... 284! I use to shoot smaller rounds at Mid-Range and did very well with them at both state and national levels. Last year shot my lr 284 at almost all the matches I went to and found that I shot better across the board. Now I’ve completely decided to run 1 round and be done.

 

[Peebles24]

I shot last season with 6.5 creedmoor and did well for a beginner i think. I shot one mid range match and 2 1k matches. I just bought a 284 win and will be shooting it at both ranges and my son will be shooting the creedmoor.

From what i have seen so far the creedmoor wins hands down in recoil. My savage weights in at 17 pounds compared to the 284s 21 pounds and still has less than half the recoil. Now ballistics is a different story. The 284 is running 180s about 100 fps faster than the creedmoors 140s and at 1k the 284 has 60 inches less drop.

As a all around rifle i enjoy the 6.5 creedmoor, it is cheaper to shoot, xan shoot it all day never sore, and accuracy is great. I do think the 284 will improve my fopen scores though.

Chad

 

[badmitn88]

The load you are shooting has more than enough oumph to get to 1000 yards. I've shot 190 sierra's out of a 24 inch barrel to 1000 yards. Not the best setup but do able. If you are committed to making the switch check out the equipment list from the Berger SW Nationals http://www.bergerbullets.com/SW_Nationals/2018-swn-equipment-list-open.pdf . You will see a vast majority of shooters shoot a straight 284.

 

[Down South]

I am getting 2745 fps average with Varget 42.9 gr, Lapua Win brass, CCI BR-2 primers.

I ran Juggernauts in FTR for a couple years and did very well in 1000 yard matches with them running 2650-2660 ftps, that's where the accuracy was at in that particular barrel. They drift more in the wind than the heavier higher BC bullets but they shoot VERY good vertical when tuned right. On calmer days you can be very competitive with Juggernauts, it's the rougher windy days that seem to give the higher BC bullets the real advantage.

 

[Hermantk]

I have just finished my first year in F-open. Assuming that Open is what you want to do, there are almost endless options. As a newbie to this, I asked about 20 of the best Open shooters in Canada, the US and England what I should start with. They were almost unanimous in their recommendation of the 284 Win.
The 6 and 6.5 are brilliant in the short and mid ranges but do not handle wind well at the longer (800 to 1000 yard) matches. The Shehanes, Walkers and other wildcats are apparently brilliant but as there is so much to figure out in reloading, perhaps better to start with the 284 win. The ballistics on the 300 WSM and RSAUM are fantastic, but you will likely spend over 1000 rounds figuring out how to cope with the recoil so that you don't lose more in rifle movement (jump, twist) than you gain with the ballistics. And then there's the shoulder damage from these beasties. I note at matches that the guys who shoot the mags usually do so for 800 to 1000 yards and have another, more tame rifle like a 6 or 6.5 for 300-600. So I took the advice of the experts and am doing extraordinarily well with my 284 WIN

 

[Zilla]

I have two F-Open rifles. One is a .284. The other one is a .284.

 

[C. Collins]

284win or one of the improved variations, and don't look back

 

[XTR]

If you want to stay in F-TR then keep shooting the 308. You are set up for it and you don't need to buy a bunch of stuff. You can shoot 185s and the 200-20x from the same chamber if it's got a .170ish freebore.

If you are going to stay at mid range you could build a 223 to shoot the 90VLDs and have the same ballistics as the 185s with effectively no recoil. Shooting the 90s in mid range is about as fun as it gets.

If you want to go F-Open there are a lot of options for mid range. There are a number of low recoil 6s running the 105 class bullets that work great in conditions that aren't taxing; however, if you want to go to 1000 now and again then you should be looking at a 7, and the best option out there seems to be the 284Win or one of the 7mm wildcats based on the case.

Pick something that will use the 308 boltface you have (there are a lot of them) you'll need another stock once you get a front rest.

 

[big john 5394]

I have two 284 love them both if recoil is a problem get the rad system it makes a 284 fell like a 6 dasher my second 284 has is and i shoot it in ibs heavy gun.
big john

 

[skibar_tx]

I have two F-Open rifles. One is a .284. The other one is a .284.

David, you need another .284. That way, when you take one out to the range, the other won't be lonely.