New Sporter/Hunter Class...is your club promoting it?

[RDavies]

It all looks good to me and I like the idea of what they propose. My club would never allow muzzle brakes or magazines to be used, but hopefully there are plenty more progressive clubs who will.

[AlanF]

...Question so why have rules for something that is non competitive ?

As stated in rule 23.2 "The prime purpose for its introduction is to encourage participation, rather than competition...", but that doesn't mean it can't have a competition format. This is a sensible approach in my opinion, because "plinking" is not approved of by the Police on Classification ranges, in Victoria at least. Shooting a competition format does not need to be "competitive". And I know at my range there will be regular opportunities for sighting and testing, for all disciplines.

[johno]

Cheech has a very good point, maybe it could boost numbers at some country prize shoots

[johno]

Rules to cover for insurance and safety

[williada]

Spot on Alan and Johno. Numbers ensure survival of the whole shooting movement. It will be interesting to see where your scoring system goes Alan as the data builds with
sporter hunter class?

[Spoons107]

Spoons107,did you submit a response when the NRAA was asking for submissions?

Unfortunately this is the first I've heard of it, still think it's a step in the right direction.

[bruce moulds]

the rules doom this new discipline to fail in its aim.
the intent is to attract hunters, yet no attempt has been made to understand what hunters use.
mention has been made here of limiting scope power to 25x, yet a true hunting rifle will rarely have a scope that goes up to 10x.
hunting scopes are also best suited by having non target adjustable turrets with caps.
hunters use point blank trajectory rather than winding knobs.
while of good intent, the discipline is actually designed to keep away the people it wants to attract.
bruce.

[ShaneG]

I can't agree with you Bruce
1. You would be surprised with how many Ruger Precision; Tikka TacA1 are out there with scopes like the NF SHV 5-20 for example.
2. Also there has been a real increase in long range shooting / hunting - many people shooting steel on private property at extended ranges.
3. People are using range finders and dialing plus looking for parralax adjustable scopes
I have one customer in particular who must have 6 Swarovski X5 5-25x56 scopes and even more long range rifles!
This is an upward trend and our clubs can now tap into this market.
Tied into this trend is the popularity of the 6.5 CM with the general public.

Personally I have several times trialed my own .204 Rugers when we shoot 300M at my local range - these rifles live with 5-25X scopes attached.
I agree with the target rifle scoring however as much as I hate sub classes there are many factory rifles capable of competing on the normal F Class score system!
My suggestion was to cap a $ limit on the TR scoring rifles and anything above is scored as per F Class.

BTW - maybe someone can clarify this ? Reading the rules it is ambiguous as to magazine loading?
It could be interpreted that a loaded magazine may be utilised? Is this one round or multipule rounds?

[Gyro]

the rules doom this new discipline to fail in its aim.
the intent is to attract hunters, yet no attempt has been made to understand what hunters use.
mention has been made here of limiting scope power to 25x, yet a true hunting rifle will rarely have a scope that goes up to 10x.
hunting scopes are also best suited by having non target adjustable turrets with caps.
hunters use point blank trajectory rather than winding knobs.
while of good intent, the discipline is actually designed to keep away the people it wants to attract.
bruce.

We have a Hunter Class here too Bruce with the rules currently set to supposedly tap into the "old school" hunting rifle. That rifle barely exists any more among the relatively expensive rigs many shooters are out playing with today.

Ya gotta get people along to play with what they have first. Your rules there look good to me !!!! Regards Rob K.

[AlanF]

Bruce,

There is another good reason to have no limit on scopes - that is the "buy once cry once" principle. If a new shooter asked me what scope to buy for this class, and I sensed there was a possibility that they may end up shooting F-Class, then I would advise them to consider a quality target scope that would be suitable for both. With the competition format, a percentage of Sporter/Hunter shooters will enjoy the competitive side, and will look for something more. We need to make it easy for them to transition to F-Class.

[Trevor Rhodes]

More than likely it will be introduced into clubs as a trial to iron out any bugs before going to competitions.

[Trevor Rhodes]

the rules doom this new discipline to fail in its aim.
the intent is to attract hunters, yet no attempt has been made to understand what hunters use.
mention has been made here of limiting scope power to 25x, yet a true hunting rifle will rarely have a scope that goes up to 10x.
hunting scopes are also best suited by having non target adjustable turrets with caps.
hunters use point blank trajectory rather than winding knobs.
while of good intent, the discipline is actually designed to keep away the people it wants to attract.
bruce.

Simple they purchase a cheap scope with adjustable turrets, plenty out there.
Cheers Trevor

[Tim L]

I can't agree with you Bruce
1. You would be surprised with how many Ruger Precision; Tikka TacA1 are out there with scopes like the NF SHV 5-20 for example.
2. Also there has been a real increase in long range shooting / hunting - many people shooting steel on private property at extended ranges.
3. People are using range finders and dialing plus looking for parralax adjustable scopes
I have one customer in particular who must have 6 Swarovski X5 5-25x56 scopes and even more long range rifles!
This is an upward trend and our clubs can now tap into this market.
Tied into this trend is the popularity of the 6.5 CM with the general public.

Personally I have several times trialed my own .204 Rugers when we shoot 300M at my local range - these rifles live with 5-25X scopes attached.
I agree with the target rifle scoring however as much as I hate sub classes there are many factory rifles capable of competing on the normal F Class score system!
My suggestion was to cap a $ limit on the TR scoring rifles and anything above is scored as per F Class.

BTW - maybe someone can clarify this ? Reading the rules it is ambiguous as to magazine loading?
It could be interpreted that a loaded magazine may be utilised? Is this one round or multipule rounds?

[RJNEILSEN]

Firstly, I support these rule changes. Obviously they will evolve as needed.

My question to those clubs that already encourage guys with hunting rifles, is how do you manage their first few shoots to ensure they can safely hit the target at the longer ranges? Sure some of these guys will have awesome gear and know it backwards, but some will have old bits of crap in an unsuitable caliber that wont go the distance. Proof at a zero range is not good enough. Many clubs now utilize electronic targets and spraying shots around the target frame is punishable by hanging. Do you follow a procedure to audit their gear, ammo and skills first? Even if just for safety.

Cheers,
Ryan.

[Tim L]

[quote="ShaneG".

BTW - maybe someone can clarify this ? Reading the rules it is ambiguous as to magazine loading?
It could be interpreted that a loaded magazine may be utilised? Is this one round or multipule rounds?

[/quote]
23.3.9 Magazine: Magazines are allowed. 
23.3.10 The shooter is to be in the firing position before placing a loaded magazine onto the rifle. 
23.3.11 Rounds may also be manually placed into the magazine by virtue by single round loading, or by direct loading to the chamber of the rifle. 

I would say it allows for either mag multiple loaded and fed and/or single load mag and /or single feed.

It would make sense to allow it and allow range rules to disallow rather than restrict ranges that can have a mag feed.

I think the rules should probably include a 'show clear' rule.

We are all used to bolt removal but on some guns that's not possible.
I dare say ranges can solve the issue but a standard practice would help.