What is an average Newbie [first match] score in F-Class?

[Bluto65]

Just trying to get a baseline/goal for myself.

At 300 Meters and at 600 Yards?

A 20 shot string or 3 20 shot strings?

Thanks in advance for any help or opinion.

 

[Steve Blair]

Too many variables. Get out and compete, establish a baseline and then work on your equipment and technique. Nothing will reveal weak points like competition will. One of the best sources of help is your fellow competitors. Set ever higher (but achievable) goals and, pretty soon, the NRA will mail you a card that reflects your hard work.

Good shooting!

 

[sailhertoo]

At 600 and 3 twenty shot strings I started out around 165 a string. :-[

 

[Killshot]

I started in F/TR last year. My 1st two match scores were in the area of 87% of total possible. By December, I brought it up to 95% of T.P.

Don't worry about score and just SHOOT. It's addictive but the most seriously afflicted will improve.

Here's the NRA ranking levels.
High Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.50 and above
Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97.00 to 98.49
Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.50 to 96.99
Sharpshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.00 to 94.49
Marksman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Below 92.00

I consider myself privledged to practice and shoot with several High Master shooters.

 

[Bluto65]

OK, thanks guys, I am on my way!!!

I shot my first ever training session F-Class open match at 600yds last week. Had never shot 600 yds.
6mmBR, Barnard action, Bartlein heavy barrel, Shehane stock, NF 12-42x50. I shot a 195 with 4 Xs., 20 shots.

This weekend I shot an official NRA sanctioned 300meter match, 15 mph winds. 3 - 20 shot strings. 1st string 164,
2nd string 197 with 10 Xs, 3rd string 197 with 12 Xs.
I did not submit the score to NRA though, the i64 I was told would lower the aggregate so much the NRA would ignore it.

I suppose I am on my way and just have to practice practice practice, mirage reading, trigger pull and all the other finer things in this shooting life. I really enjoy the shooting and specially the camaraderie. ALL the people at the matches are extremely helpful and friendly. I am being
coached by a High Master which really helps a lot.

 

[Heavies]

Very nice shooting Bluto65!!

I started last year with my 30-06 hunting rifle. My scores at 600 where around 150's to 160's.

I did not concern myself with what the scores where, I just had a lot of fun. Tweeked the loads and the rifle a bit, and got those scores up into the 180's, 190's.

I still am not concerned with the scores, I just there to have fun and learn. Some folks get too caught up in the pure competition, and end up getting teed off when things like wind doesn't cooperate, load is off, puller is too slow, or just have a bad day at holding.

To me that stuff is silly, if you aren't having fun then what is the point?
Main thing is that I better my own skills in the process, and if I win as a side effect of this, then so be it! ;D

 

[Bluto65]

Ditto Heavies,

I started shooting with my .204 [a Cooper and a CZ], got better and better at targets [200yds],
tried a couple shots at 300 meters, did great but no wind. Then the guys that shoot at the range
goaded me to go with a 6mmBR and shoot at the matches. I guess it is like golf in a way just try to hone in on whatever skills you may think you have. But you are right, do it for fun, if not you may get pissed off and throw
the equipment in the lake. Nice bunch of people, the shooters are, very helpful.

 

[Taildrag15X]

Bluto65

I think it's great your starting Competitive shooting, just don't worry about "how high" you should set the bar for yourself, just listen and learn at each Match and have a good time.

Your "This weekend I shot an official NRA sanctioned 300meter match, 15 mph winds. 3 - 20 shot strings. 1st string 164"
statement isn't all true.....

There are no 300 Meter Sanctioned events, all NRA Approved or Registered Matches for F-Class, High Power,etc....are measured in Yards, not Meters. Reference the National Record Courses of Fire from the NRA:

http://www.nrahq.org/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-w17.pdf

It shouldn't be up to you if your scores go in, you pay your fees, Shoot the Match, turn in your scores and the Stat. Officer and Jury Chairman do the paperwork and turn in the NRA part of the Match Fees and your scores to the Tournament Operations Dept. to do the numbers, if the scores don't go in what happens to the Match Fees?

 

[Erik Cortina]

OK, thanks guys, I am on my way!!!

I shot my first ever training session F-Class open match at 600yds last week. Had never shot 600 yds.
6mmBR, Barnard action, Bartlein heavy barrel, Shehane stock, NF 12-42x50. I shot a 195 with 4 Xs., 20 shots.

This weekend I shot an official NRA sanctioned 300meter match, 15 mph winds. 3 - 20 shot strings. 1st string 164,
2nd string 197 with 10 Xs, 3rd string 197 with 12 Xs.
I did not submit the score to NRA though, the i64 I was told would lower the aggregate so much the NRA would ignore it.

I suppose I am on my way and just have to practice practice practice, mirage reading, trigger pull and all the other finer things in this shooting life. I really enjoy the shooting and specially the camaraderie. ALL the people at the matches are extremely helpful and friendly. I am being
coached by a High Master which really helps a lot.

I'm wondering why your first string was a 164 while the other two were 197's? Did you not have a good zero?

Just keep at it, looks like you are well on your way. Good shooting!

 

[Bluto65]

Taidrag,

We went to a 300 METER match, I dunno if it was sanctioned, I guessed it was because we were given
NRA record tickets to fill out at the end with a slot for our
NRA number.

Erik,

Yep it was 164, 197, 197. A funny day and I will never ever forget it. When we got to the match I told my shooting buddy and coach [High Master BTW], geez "I forgot my rest,
thats it cant shoot the 18 lb monster." Not to worry we found one of the guys had an extra "old" rest he would loan me. We modified it on the spot to fit my gun width and removed the stock stop. It only worked in elevation. Between getting used to the rest and the gusty winds caused the 164 score. Once I started the second string I had broken the code, guess you can call it learning the hard knocks way. I will never forget my rest and I will wait for my condition to start blasting away. Patience is best when the winds are gusty.

 

[Travelor]

I would say for a newby if the wind is constant a score in the 170's at 600 yard and 160's at 1000 yards would be a good target score goal.

But I do not shoot for a total score but rather go with a specific goal for the day, such as no 8's or no unexplained high or low shots or all shots "on call". Go with a goal for each shot and shoot each one as if it were the only one. That way the totals will improve.

I have been working on this rationale and last weekend at Memphis Sport Shooters Association I finally got my first possible, a 200 WITH 17X's (the last 16 shots were all X's).

Shame it was a Approved Match rather than a Registered match as it would have been a National record. Yeah, I know shameless bragging about one lucky round in many mediocre ones. The day ended with me shooting 198, 199, and 200 for a total of 597-43X and getting beat by one point by a shooter shooting his first back-to-back 200's - the wind was kind that day and he shot WELL.

So small goals can cause even a blind deaf old geezer like me to shoot better. Kind winds also help.

George

 

[Taildrag15X]

Were you shooting at Manatee?

 

[Bluto65]

Hi Taildrag,

No, not Manatee, we were shooting at the Orlando range. They only have a 300 meter range for hi-power.
I belong to the Palm Bay/Malabar Rifle club. We have a hi-power range that is; 200 yd, 200 meter, 300 yd, 300 meter,
and 600 yd. All of these have raised areas for prone set up, the 600yd is roofed over. I sighted my rifle at our 100yd/200yd benchrest range at 200yd as a zero ref and then click away from that point for elevation.

I suppose you have shot here before??

I just started shooting long range two weeks ago, takes a while to obtain all the equipment
and doo dads for this hobby.

Another thing I found out by actual shooting. When I shot the 164 I had the scope at full magnification 42.
Seems that I was chasing the bullet a bit too much. I then turned the scope down to approx 28. I think that
made a huge difference on the next two strings. Wish someone with experience would write some thing
about the scope settings.

 

[fdshuster]

Bluto65: I've been competing in NRA sanctioned matches since 1960, starting with bullseye pistol, and now NRA HiPower, and Silhouette Rifle, and believe me, the NRA does not "ignore" any scores sent to them from registered matches. They are all figured into your classification. Really not a bad thing, since if only the "good" scores were counted, then whatever classification you are assigned would be an artificial one. I've always had the attitude of doing the best I can on any given day and let the chips fall where they may. My son also competes in and is a member at the Port Malabar R&P Club. He competed in the recent X-Miss match's Dec. 27,28 & 29 and did well in his Master class. The Orange Blossom Regional is scheduled for the end of February.

 

[Bluto65]

fdshuster; Yep cant wait for the OB match!

The guys usually shoot 600yd on Thursdays for practice.
Well if enough guys get in sync they also shoot on weekends, for practice, if there is no official activity on the
hi-power range.

 

[fdshuster]

Bluto65: If you have not already done so, you can go to page 2 on this Competition Forum, down near the bottom of the page, titled " Snowbird X-miss match day 1 scores" posted by ericskennard on 12-29-10. It will give you a good idea of the breakdown of scores for the new shooters. Check all scores listed as Master/UC. These would apply since all new unclassified shooters must compete in the Master class until they establish at least a temporary classification. The Port Malabar Club is a really nice one, I've shot there with my son, as a guest, when in Florida. If I lived nearby I'd certainly be a member. On second thought after being locked into this crummy Winter weather now since Dec. 1, Florida looks more inviting every day.

 

[ericskennard]

As good as you shoot, You should go for 190 or better for each string. Now about Orlando, Bob Vogel told me he has shot there for 16 years and that was the worst wind he has ever seen. It was so strong it blew my rifle case over and hit my scope turret while I was scoring. It jumped three minutes and messed me up bad for my second string.

All we have to do now is teach you how to read the mirage and you will be beating Frank.

 

[highmaster82]

shooting a sanctioned match and not sending in your scores in is a no no ps they count all scores sent in. B Davis

 

[Taildrag15X]

Bluto65,

I've yet to get down there to a Match, my plan was this winter to make at least one trip via our "new" FL shuttle for $39 Round Trip. I have family with in 1 hour or so from the Range at Palm Bay, it's just been a little rough on this end weather wise to get out of here.

 

[Bluto65]

Hi Eric,

Frank said there was a two day match this coming weekend in February? I will be there bright and early. I already sent you the funds and signup for the OB [Sat and Sun] 1200.

Yep this stuff is fun. As far as the wind at Orlando, it woke me up, I corrected for the next two strings. I are learning the wind ,Boss! Two 197s in a row in that Ghastly wind is OK, I think, plus I had to borrow a rest, forgot mine at home. Another lesson learned.

Frank was practicing with Iron Sights today at the .22 cal range. Boy he was nailing those teeny targets! Guess he is going "no scope" and then on to Butner [when he gets good with sights], iron and scope strings are the norm there.

Gotta go load ammo.

Emilio