What discipline would you recommend

[DeadWoodDan]

I would like to learn to read the wind. Even if this means breaking bad habbits and / or starting over from a shooting perspective.

Have always thought about competing, and to be transparent most likely a participator. Like many I started as a hunter who started reloading and wanting to do my best at it. Found this and a few other forums to help me along my way. I'm over 50 so no longer have those young man eyes.

Have never been to a meet/competition so starting with that and we'll see what happens by end of year. Still reading and trying to understand what all the specific classes and requirements of those are. Hoping the investment will be minimal with what I've gathered over the years.

Don't have any custom builds, but became addicted to Savages over the years. Sold my Sav. PTA BR in .308 to a friend and planning on getting it back soon; pretty low round count. I also have a 6MM BR barrel and components.

Located in central IL and only 1.5 hrs south of the Aurora Sportsmans Club and just a little closer to the ISRA (Bonfield) club.

Thanks for any advise and direction!

 

[swd]

A little more information would help to steer you in the right direction. Are you interested in a scope or open sights? F Class for scopes off a rest or bipod. FTR is 223 or 308 only off a bipod, F Open is off a front rest or bipod and any cartridge under 35 caliber, both use rear bags. And Palma/sling for open sights and there is also any/any if you want to shoot sling with a scope.

What distances do the ranges you can get to offer and what disciplines do they shoot is is even more important.

 

[DeadWoodDan]

Definitely optics. Prefer rest or bipolar no sling. I will follow up on distance at those ranges.

 

[DeadWoodDan]

I would like to learn to read the wind. Even if this means breaking bad habbits and / or starting over from a shooting perspective.

Have always thought about competing, and to be transparent most likely a participator. Like many I started as a hunter who started reloading and wanting to do my best at it. Found this and a few other forums to help me along my way. I'm over 50 so no longer have those young man eyes.

Have never been to a meet/competition so starting with that and we'll see what happens by end of year. Still reading and trying to understand what all the specific classes and requirements of those are. Hoping the investment will be minimal with what I've gathered over the years.

Don't have any custom builds, but became addicted to Savages over the years. Sold my Sav. PTA BR in .308 to a friend and planning on getting it back soon; pretty low round count. I also have a 6MM BR barrel and components.

Located in central IL and only 1.5 hrs south of the Aurora Sportsmans Club and just a little closer to the ISRA (Bonfield) club.

Thanks for any advise and direction!

Aurora has 600yd max and ISRA is only 300yd

 

[swd]

Definitely optics. Prefer rest or bipolar no sling. I will follow up on distance at those ranges.

Then F Open or FTR if those clubs offer it. Benchrest also needs a lot of wind reading skills but F Class shoots longer strings with the target pulled and marked every shot so arguably you need more wind skills for F Class.

Look up their shoot schedules, give the MD a call or email and let them know you're interested and someone will likely offer you a chance to at least get behind a rifle a shoot a little if not a shoot a match. Most clubs are really happy to help.

Edit, it looks like Aurora has 600 yard Practical Precision Rifle which is more of a tactical rifle match. Give them a call and ask about the course of fire and see if it interests you.

 

[jpjulian]

Aurora has 600yd max and ISRA is only 300yd

Just because ISRA range is only 300 yards, do not think that the wind cannot mess you up there.

 

[chromatica]

I second the recommendation for F-class. At the club where I shoot, we often have new shooters who show up with a hunting rifle, often in .308 (FTR) or 6.5 Creedmoor (F-Open). It's probably easier to bring a bipod to get started than to worry about the wide array of front rests that are out there for F-Open.

 

[kelbro]

F-class is a good starting point but keep in mind that it is prone shooting. In F/TR, you can get started with a much lower initial investment to determine if the discipline is for you.

Some of the new F-class designations may also be of interest to you.

 

[mdram]

i would look at bench rest where you can use flags, might help seeing them and comparing how the bullet reacts

 

[Pete Wass]

You can see wind drift at 20 yards if your rifle will shoot one bullet hole groups and you can learn to believe what the rifle is telling you.

 

[BoydAllen]

About all you need to study the wind is a way to see what it is doing an a rifle that will shoot small consistently under perfect conditions.

 

[gpoldblue]

I would like to learn to read the wind. Even if this means breaking bad habbits and / or starting over from a shooting perspective.

Have always thought about competing, and to be transparent most likely a participator. Like many I started as a hunter who started reloading and wanting to do my best at it. Found this and a few other forums to help me along my way. I'm over 50 so no longer have those young man eyes.

Have never been to a meet/competition so starting with that and we'll see what happens by end of year. Still reading and trying to understand what all the specific classes and requirements of those are. Hoping the investment will be minimal with what I've gathered over the years.

Don't have any custom builds, but became addicted to Savages over the years. Sold my Sav. PTA BR in .308 to a friend and planning on getting it back soon; pretty low round count. I also have a 6MM BR barrel and components.

Located in central IL and only 1.5 hrs south of the Aurora Sportsmans Club and just a little closer to the ISRA (Bonfield) club.

Thanks for any advise and direction!

My experience tells me that learning the fundamentals at short range(100-200yds) first would be better. If you can't get a handle on it at short range,how are you going grasp any of it especially when bullets are
10 to 20 to 30ft high midrange at the longer distances and the flags are spaced so high and far apart. That wind can and does change directions and intensities many times during the bullets flight even at short range. Learning to use flags effectively is a priority and probably the single most time consuming thing you can do.
Good luck and stay safe.

 

[jimmymac]

Can't tell you what discipline is best for you, but it is hard to deny the short range crowd studies the wind in real time all the time. If it were me, I'd just get myself a couple flags and flag stands, then take them to your range every time you go. You will be amazed at what happens out there that you would never see without flags.

 

[Fast14riot]

First tip I have without shooting a single round, get a anemometer/wind meter and carry it with you everywhere. Look at conditions and make a call in your head for wind speed, then measure to confirm. This will help you learn to have a feel for wind speed based on environmental conditions. You can also go to the range and watch the flags and just note how they fly at different wind speeds.

 

[JLittle]

How about going to and spend the day observing some of the different disciplines that are available in your area. Get there before the match starts and you may have time to talk to other competitors and see what goes on. You’ll get a better feel for equipment and accessories that you may or may not need. Don’t bother them too much during the match or you may get a cold shoulder. You will be better off than just jumping in.

 

[rardoin]

How about going to and spend the day observing some of the different disciplines that are available in your area. Get there before the match starts and you may have time to talk to other competitors and see what goes on. You’ll get a better feel for equipment and accessories that you may or may not need. Don’t bother them too much during the match or you may get a cold shoulder. You will be better off than just jumping in.

This^^^ make a couple of different types of matches, be it F-class, Benchrest, PRS, Silhouette, as a spectator. Any of these will teach you how to read wind. Meet some competitors and see if it feels like a good fit. Also, consider how often and how far the matches are to your home. Then, pick one...or heck, pick two. Enjoy!

 

[JLittle]

Years ago at a Highpower match before before anyone thought about electronic targets we had a first time out to the match competitor. He was ok on the line, after about a relay in the pitts he decided this wasn’t for him. It wasn’t the work as much as being “down range” with incoming fire and bullets overhead.

 

[JFrank]

If I were a younger man I’d be looking into this.

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