New to F Class

[Jackal]

Hi Guys
I posted some time ago about getting into F class shooting. Some things came up and i never got around to it. I have also had an interest in long range shooting hence why again I'm looking into F-Class.
I currently have a savage 10 FCP-HS in 308 topped with a Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50.
Having no idea about the different disciplines can someone point me in the right direction in regards to what discipline i could shoot with this rifle and how i go about it. My Local range would be the Mt Barker range in SA. I'm looking to organise a visit at some stage to check it out.
Thanks
Luke

[RAVEN]

Luke welcome to F-Class
There are 3 disciplines

FO F-Class Open
Not graded open to any calibre under 8mm rifle weight 10KG
Safe Trigger

FS F-Class Standard
A Grade & B Grade
Limited to 308 - 223 calibre and restricted bullet weight and brand
8kg total rifle weight 1kg trigger

FTR Field Target Rifle
Not graded
Restricted to 308-223
No bullet restriction
Safe trigger
8.25Kg including bipod

RB

[Jackal]

Luke welcome to F-Class
There are 3 disciplines

FO F-Class Open
Not graded open to any calibre under 8mm rifle weight 10KG
Safe Trigger

FS F-Class Standard
A Grade & B Grade
Limited to 308 - 223 calibre and restricted bullet weight and brand
8kg total rifle weight 1kg trigger

FTR Field Target Rifle
Not graded
Restricted to 308-223
No bullet restriction
Safe trigger
8.25Kg including bipod

RB

Thanks for the Info. What is meant by safe trigger?
Also where are you shooting (which range)

[RAVEN]

A trigger that will engage the sear without falling with a vigorous bolt cycle
So there is no restriction on the trigger pull weight as long as it is safe

RB

[Jackal]

Thanks for the replies. Just wondering how many forum members are shooting in SA clubs and if they can recommend one that is close to the Adelaide Hills

[RAVEN]

2 choices Mt Barker or Murray Bridge

[AlanF]

Thanks for the replies. Just wondering how many forum members are shooting in SA clubs and if they can recommend one that is close to the Adelaide Hills

If you're near the southern end of the Adelaide Hills, there's Mt Barker and also Murray Bridge. From the Northern end Lower Light has multiple clubs and is reasonably handy.

Alan

[BATattack]

Head out to Murry bridge lovely club with some experienced shooters not to far from the hills. They might even teach you how to beat the lower light boys

John cranwell, John shobbrook and Ian pavy should be able to steer you in the rite direction.

[IanP]

Thanks for the replies. Just wondering how many forum members are shooting in SA clubs and if they can recommend one that is close to the Adelaide Hills

If you want to come along to Murray Bridge Rifle Club you would be most welcome. We shoot Saturday afternoons and start at 1.00 pm.

The rifle range is at Monarto and a map for it can be found here: http://murraybridgerifleclub.com/RangeMap.html and you can have a look at our club website here: http://murraybridgerifleclub.com/index.html

If you want to come along contact our new club captain, John Cranwell, details here: http://murraybridgerifleclub.com/Contacts.html

Look forward to seeing you out there one day soon!

Ian

[Pommy Chris]

I started with F standard, but it seems FTR will in the long term will replace F standard as F standard is just an Aus thing and FTR is international. F open to be competitive is going to be more expensive and your barrel probably wont last as long either. I would encourage any new shooter in our club to shoot FTR as it is the way things are going, also you can get set up quite cheaply and you can still shoot F standard with your bipod at the same time being ftr compliant. Later on if you are interested you can always get an open rifle.
Regards
Chris

[bsouthernau]

... it seems FTR will in the long term will replace F standard as F standard is just an Aus thing and FTR is international.

A bold statement Chris and some may take issue with it. Certainly the South Africans abandoned their own F International in favour of FO and the other class they shot - the name escapes me - for F/TR but the Canadians retain their own F Farquharson class for domestic competition in addition to the two international classes.

Barry

[Pommy Chris]

... it seems FTR will in the long term will replace F standard as F standard is just an Aus thing and FTR is international.

A bold statement Chris and some may take issue with it. Certainly the South Africans abandoned their own F International in favour of FO and the other class they shot - the name escapes me - for F/TR but the Canadians retain their own F Farquharson class for domestic competition in addition to the two international classes.

Barry

Maybe so, but I really believe standard in 5 years time will be in the minority. In our last OPM for example there was the same number of ftr shooters as there was standard A or B. Also many of those still shooting standard in our club are buying bipods and faster twist barrels so they can also try ftr, so by next year I think we might even have more ftr shooters than standard. Only time will tell of course but if the number of new bipods on the range is anything to go by, many from previous F standard shooters then I cant see F standard holding on for more than 5 or so years, even if it does I feel it will be ftr which is the most popular of the two by quite a margin.
Regards
Chris

[AlanF]

Things are different depending on which State. SARA has made a big effort to promote F/TR, and it shows. Vic and NSW are very strong in F-Std. A lot of it goes back to what was done in the earlier years of F-Class. It'd be a shame if F-Std dies out anywhere. If that looks like happening, I hope the F-Class community as whole makes an effort to prevent that. F-Std isn't international, but then neither is AFL.

[bsouthernau]

... It'd be a shame if F-Std dies out anywhere.... F-Std isn't international, but then neither is AFL.

I don't think it would be the end of the world - even though I personally prefer shooting F Std to F/TR. I used to feel that way about Optical class but people emphatically demonstrated that they didn't want to shoot it and even Kerod has now given up flogging the dead horse. So be it.

And if AFL was to die out the world would be a better place.

[Pommy Chris]

Things are different depending on which State. SARA has made a big effort to promote F/TR, and it shows. Vic and NSW are very strong in F-Std. A lot of it goes back to what was done in the earlier years of F-Class. It'd be a shame if F-Std dies out anywhere. If that looks like happening, I hope the F-Class community as whole makes an effort to prevent that. F-Std isn't international, but then neither is AFL.

I doubt it will die out, but I can see it being just a minority of shooters shooting standard. I personally have not really noticed any difference in my scores. I set my trigger to 1kg and used my bipod as i wanted to practice ftr, but I wanted to continue to compete in our club championship as there was only a few shoots left (F standard) and I did not have enough shoots to compete in the championship for ftr. The only issue I found was it is a bit more difficult to get back on target if you adjust for wind quickly, but otherwise it for me is just as accurate as standard with the 1kg trigger and 155 projectiles. The big bonus also is with ftr I dont have to haul my very heavy front stand to the mound every time I want to shoot
Chris