F-class is an advanced discipline. $ stops new shooters

[Send-it]

Our club has developed a category to help the new or cash strapped shooter, a couple of years ago, and has proven helpful in reassuring new shooters that they can still start shooting, and even compete in a form or 'type' of f class until they can progress further with it if and when money permits.
It's called "Hunter Class".
Similar to a field rifle event, but with an f class flavor to it, that is done side by side with other f class shooters on the mound etc.
here's the specs. (cut and pasted from a document of mine);

H (Hunter/varmint) class rules (also known in the USA as F-PR)
Purpose = to allow people with non-target (sporter/varmint/long range hunter) type equipment an opportunity to start participating in a form of shooting, representing that of medium to long range hunting/carrying type shooting, yet in a competition type format.
Also serves as a good substitute category for those to participate in while their main target rifles are being worked on etc.
This is also intended to raise public interest into the current form of long range target shooting such as ‘Target Rifle (full-bore) and F-class and its variants.



CTV ‘Hunter Class’ rules and specs.

1) Cartridges;
Any cartridge up to 8mm calibre. (As per NRAA rule)
Projectile should be considered suitable for ethical hunting practices.(in other words, not target projectiles)
(cartridge COAL must be kept within rifle magazine length limits).

2) Optics;
Any optic, fixed or variable, but set no higher magnification than 16x power, at the time of shooting.

3) Action;
Any action considered ‘fit for a hunting rifle’. (Repeating or single shot action permitted)

4) Barrel Length;
Barrel length is not to exceed 26.5 inches from receiver to muzzle.
(Muzzle breaks are not permitted in normal events.) (but up to the R.O's discretion otherwise)

5) Trigger;
Any trigger deemed fit for use by the range officer.
After market triggers are permitted.

6) Bipod;
Any forward folding ‘hunting’ type bipod, such as a Harris or Atlas bipod.
No other front rest types, other than typical hunting types are allowed!!

Bipod 'must' be attached to the rifle, in a traditional hunting type arrangement.
Rear rest or rear bag cannot be used. (No rear rest, other than your own body)

7) Weight;
Rifle/scope/bipod combination shall not weigh more than 15lb, not including ammo.

8.) Scoring;
Targets are to be scored as per ‘TR’ (Target Rifle/full bore) scores

9) Ranges;
300m, 400m, 500m & 600m respectfully

10) Course of fire;
1st round = 2 sighters, plus 10 rounds
2nd round = 2 sighters plus 10 rounds

11) Shooting positions;
Shooting is done in the prone position (lying down), however, the club also possesses a mobile bench to shoot from for those not physically able to shoot prone.


I shoot this event occasionally when we're shooting the short ranges, with other rifles of mine, alongside some other shooters within our club, and i can assure you that it is still very very challenging, considering the specs involved, and yet can still be done with good but basic equipment.
this is ideal for the new shooter as it still teaches them a little bit about both full bore (TR) and f class, as it involves both optics and good gun hold at the rear etc.
it's also a good event to shoot even if it's just whiles your own f class guns are being rebuilt etc etc.

if you've got any more questions about it just ask or pm me.
my 2 cents

[bartman007]

Hunter class sounds like a great entry point to our sport

[AlanF]

Sounds good. I think the best way of managing it in terms of the SSRs would be as a sub-class of F-Open. This was done in the early days of F/TR.

[johnk]

I'd recommend caution before pressing for another F class division.

Right now, we already have 4 F class grades or divisions that match promoters have to deal with compared to the 3 TR grades. If we want it to fly as a separate class, then we have the possibility of putting the pressure on clubs who have small PM attendances, & shoot short distances - or have canny clubs who could foresee that possibility ignore these shooters entirely.

The biggest issue faced by small PMs is the expense & heartburn of trying to provide for dinky di attendees without catering for those who enter selectively to harvest an easy badge.

I reckon Alan's suggestion is the way to go for the moment.

[DenisA]

If we're talking about a system to attract new comers and allow them to experience our game at a basic cost, then PM's are unlikely to attract these people in the early days. Once the addiction is fuelled then they can and would likely move in to a legitimate class.
I believe that a system like this is only necessary at club level, excluding PM's, to get shooters of other walks of life involved. That why I've been vocal about keeping it unofficial for want of a better term.

Baby steps are critical here I think.

Congratulations to CTV on a sensational system . Other clubs should follow suit and show some innovation themselves to insure the future of Fullbore clubs.

[Barossa_222]

I like the system they run at CTV the only change I would make would be to reduce the number of scoring shots or do 3 relays of 6 scoing shots. I have spoken about a class similar to this to a few people at our club, because it does allow the average shooter to come and try with their own gear and most hunting rifles with handloads should be able to drop a shot in the 5 ring out to at least 500 yards.

[Razer]

[Send-it]

[Philski]

I shot a 7 round a month of so ago at Sandford (Tas) and it was an awesome experience. I know a lot of older shooters did this par for the course. The best thing for me, (as a new shooter) it was easier to maintain a focused level. Saved me a few bob. And got more shooters though in a shorter space of time.
(i enjoyed it a lot)

With regard to ssaa style shooting, it almost put me off completely. No offence to anyone in ssaa, but i have an investment in target rifle. Otherwise, i would have bought a hunting rifle, joined the SSAA and be done with it.

[Amac]

Hi All

I think this is an excellent concept and something that I will be trying to get going at my club. The concept is bums on seats or our case shooters on the mound. Migration to F Class or even TR will be a natural event.

The idea of placing some minor boundaries around equipment is very good as it introduces the would be competitors to a set of shooting rules - other than the nominated range SSR's which still must be abided by.

Given this is already in play at other venues I would be very keen to hear how it is going and to receive any advice that could be offered to us in terms of running the events and other such issues you have encountered along the way.

We must adapt locally first before we move beyond the borders of our clubs. The shear mechanisms involved in the introduction of additional classes must be self funding and warranted - although I'm not saying that this should be a class but merely pointing out the very large elephant in the room.

Look forward to hearing more.

Cheers

Andrew

[Cliff Austen]

The sporting/hunting F Class outlined above is exactly where F Class started about 20 years ago. (Fun Class)
At Nowra we used to shoot the above and then we introduced Precision Long Range Rifle - now known as F Open.
We were the Club that had all the original F Open 10 ring targets printed and would sell them all over the country.
cheers
Cliff

[headspace]

Excellent post/discussion here. I have a heavy barrel Howa barrel nd action in 6.5 Creedmoor that I fitted into a Cameron Hatcher stock. I've tried F Class at my local range and enjoyed it, but membership is small and not growing. Also as has already been said here, mainly older shooters are involved. I enquired about NRAA membership and was told it was close to $200 PA, while in the QRA it's $50.00 PA. Why? Oh by the way, I was told that I couldn't join the QRA because 0ne; I was not a Queensland resident and two; I didn't shoot "full bore". What rubbish.
I bought my gear to have some fun and not wear out the barrels on my hunting rifles and get back to my roots of the old days of 303 shooting. However I didn't want to be limited to 308 or 223, so enter F Class. I've also tried 500m Fly shooting and loved it. If F Class is to survive in Australia, club membership needs to be looked at plus an entry level class needs looking at. Look at the cost of some of the front rests being used; upwards of $2,000. Young shooters with growing families and mortgages can't afford that sort of thing.
Actually it's often surprising how well an off the hook rifle will shoot by the way. I think some shooters may be a bit intimidated by some of the expensive hardware seen on the mound in terms of competitiveness. How that class could be defined though is another matter.

[headspace]

[headspace]

This post seems to have gone a bit quiet, what no more input?

[OFB shooter]

Resurrection of the thread as we have seen a massive revival of the F class interest as we have started a f class 22LR class in it’s the benchrest guys here in WA
We have anything from 15-25 f class shooters on the 22 class and they start with Sporter guns, move through to the modified and then finally the open guns.
Does it work.
Yes I started with a Savage mk2 farm gun, today I have a Walther KK300 and a Vudoo V22.
And now planning my centre fire build for the next six to nine months.