Optical Class

[Pete N]

Been shooting F Class for a few years. I'm keen to shoot Optical Class with a new target rifle I've put together in .308. Can the members give me their opinion of the type of scope I wish to use. Looking at the Lynx 16x42 or 20x42. Would like to know of experience with reliability, quality, etc. How would it compare with a Sightron SIII or other brands with similar technicals.

This scope is compact (40 mm front tube) with less interference from wind. Will have in my opinion enough power (20x). Fewer things to go wrong - no variable power range.

Are there many out there shooting this discipline?

Kind regards and happy trails

Pete N

[AlanF]

Pete,

Optical Class hasn't taken off in Vic. And I haven't read much about it recently in the ATR, so it would appear that it isn't likely to grow the way the other F-Classes are around Australia. But if you've found some healthy numbers in a local competition then go for it.

Regarding scopes, Lynx are a quality brand. 16X or 20X is enough, and while you might be a bit disadvantaged to the big variables in some conditions, scope magnification is not as important as some salesmen might like us to believe. Not sure what the reticle options are with Lynx - if its only mil-dot, then they are not generally considered ideal for F-Class.

Alan

[johnk]

Kerod Lindley tried to get Optical class accepted at the QRA Queens for a decade or more, offering extraordinarily generous sponsorship. At its best, it drew maybe a dozen shooters, but generally no more than a handful. He pulled the pin after 2013's shoot. He also sponsored an event at the Raglan Easter shoot, where A grade TR could be shot with irons or a scope. That folded after Charlie Arrowsmith made it his with scoped rifle over several years - yes, Virginia, a good shooter can do better off his elbows with glass sights than with irons.