F T/R Competition 7wsm for FTR

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SigsauerP229

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Sep 3, 2011
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#1
I went to my first FTR match a couple weeks ago using my .308 20" built off a Stiller. I wasn't well prepared as I haven't finished load development for the rifle or developed my DOPE for it. Still I was able to get my first sighter in the 8 ring at 600 yards.

I was using an Atlas bipod and rear bag with a Leupold 4.5-15 with TMR reticule which I borrowed. We shot two times using 15 rounds plus 2 sighters in 15min in the morning and then another 15 rounds plus two sighters after we were in the pits scoring for the other shooters. My first two scores in the morning were shot with low winds with a 142 out of 150 and a 141 out of 150. My last score was miserable with a 121 out of 150 but by this time the wind was miserable. All in all being my first FTR match and my setup, I was pretty happy with how I did.

I had a lot of fun so I'm thinking about up setting up a 7wsm for FTR. Planning on staying with the Atlas bipod and also using a rear monopod. I already made arrangements to buy the rifle. It's built on a Defiance action with a 28" Broughton barrel chambered for 180 Bergers. It's bedded in a Manners T5 chassis. I was planning to put either my Vortex PST 6-24 or my NF NXS 5.5-22X56.

This will be my first experience with 7 wsm though so I'm wondering if this rate of fire will burn this barrel up? Also does my setup sound suitable for FTR?

Thanks
 
#2
FT/R = 223 or 308, bipod, rear support

F Open = any cartridge less than 35 caliber, front rest

No muzzle devices for either class.

So, 7WSM is an F open cartridge only, not FTR.

That said, 7wsm is a helluva performer IF YOU CAN DRIVE IT. They are fatiguing to shoot so many rounds from with no muzzle brake

They also torch barrels like you own your own Pratt & Whitney twin spindle rifler.

Recommend you spend more time in FTR with a 308 before you play with the big dogs.

Good shooting!
 
#3
Thanks and yes I meant FTR is what I shot. I knew that 7wsm would put me in F Open but I forgot to articulate that. I am not recoil shy so I don't imagine that to be an issue. My main concern is how many matches will the 7wsm give me. The rifle only has 150 rds through it now.
 
#4
For x-ring hammering accuracy, don't count on more than 1000. You might could get a few more but you might well also get less.

Also, there is a difference between being recoil sensitive, and being fatigued by recoil.

Good luck with the magnum.
 
#8
If you want longer barrel life and less recoil, go with a 284. You are really going to be at a disadvantage to the guys running rests if you step up to F-Open. From your equipment, it sounds like you would rather be in F-T/R, so I would recommend sticking with the 308. As previously mentioned, the monopod is against the rules.

Please change the title of your thread since obviously you cannot shoot 7wsm in F-T/R. It is just going to confuse beginners.
 
#9
My personal opinion is that long range F-TR is masochism and F-Open is attempted self gratification.

I see some folks, especially beginners, that with getting their ass handed to them by the wind with a 308 think that moving up to a 7mm ballistic missile launcher will make it easier, and their scores do go up, but it won't add 15 or 20 points to your score, most days it will add 6 or 8 and the guys who are serious with $1000 front rests are still going to shoot 10 points better than they do till you learn to read wind because nothing is going to get down there in the 10 ring if you can't read a 2MPH shift. When you consider the practice that a new shooter needs to get good, you're looking at 2 barrels a yr in Open in the beginning if you haven't learned to play the game in TR.

Again this is personal opinion, but I never plan to move over to F-Open. Winning is no more or less difficult. I won or lost 3 or 4 matches last yr on X count in TR, in Open the game is the same, everyone's scores are just a little higher.
 
#11
You don't have to worry about F-Standard in the US. There is just F-T/R and F-Open. You might wan't to update your location since you have mentioned the non-US F-Standard in multiple threads, causing confusion all around.

This is probably the most confusing thread a new shooter could ever read. The only thing left for someone to do is mention tactical or factory, which has no place in F-Class.
 
#16
If you like shooting off a bipod, stick with TR. I built an awesome Open rig last year that was pretty and shot great, but I friggin hated it. As stupid as it sounds, I couldn't get used to shooting off the rest. I couldn't get my brain to not "run" the gun and let the rest do the work. It was almost like the first time getting to third base with a girl.....I didn't know what or how to do...... I had a new TR rifle built for this year and couldn't be happier. I guess I just like leaning my rifle on sticks....
 
#19
SigsauerP229 said:
I went to my first FTR match a couple weeks ago using my .308 20" built off a Stiller. I wasn't well prepared as I haven't finished load development for the rifle or developed my DOPE for it. Still I was able to get my first sighter in the 8 ring at 600 yards.

I was using an Atlas bipod and rear bag with a Leupold 4.5-15 with TMR reticule which I borrowed. We shot two times using 15 rounds plus 2 sighters in 15min in the morning and then another 15 rounds plus two sighters after we were in the pits scoring for the other shooters. My first two scores in the morning were shot with low winds with a 142 out of 150 and a 141 out of 150. My last score was miserable with a 121 out of 150 but by this time the wind was miserable. All in all being my first FTR match and my setup, I was pretty happy with how I did.

I had a lot of fun so I'm thinking about up setting up a 7wsm for FTR. Planning on staying with the Atlas bipod and also using a rear monopod. I already made arrangements to buy the rifle. It's built on a Defiance action with a 28" Broughton barrel chambered for 180 Bergers. It's bedded in a Manners T5 chassis. I was planning to put either my Vortex PST 6-24 or my NF NXS 5.5-22X56.

This will be my first experience with 7 wsm though so I'm wondering if this rate of fire will burn this barrel up? Also does my setup sound suitable for FTR?

Thanks
Click to expand...

It looks like the OP has kinda abandoned this thread, I would like to address his questions and maybe offer a comment or two.

XTR, makes an excellent point about the wind and the .308 and then wanting to get the biggest bang you can to compenstae for the ballistic's of the .308. We all live in the real world, and rarely does that higher BC bullet become a fix all, or maybe I should say a crutch for "NOT" developing good wind reading skills. In the end it is always going to be the wind, and our ability to read it as best we can and not the bullet.

Also while the OP says he is not recoil sensitive, everyone is recoil sensitive to some extent and in some way. We all want to be as tough as we can be or at least look like that. Recoil is an accuracy killer, granted a lot of matches are being won with big boomers, but even then there is a price to pay somehow or someway. This Op would be much better served by heeding the advice provided here by several guys and go with something a little more user friendly that the 7wsm. It simple is not needed to score well and to win matches.

As to his rifle and equipment choice's. The Defiance is a fine action and will serve him well, the manners T5, while not my choice, will serve him well I am sure. He certainly could use more power in his scope choice but sometimes you use what you got. Of course as has already been pointed out the Mono-Pod is not legal, and his choice of using a Bi-Pod in F-Open is not a good idea when there is a better choice of using a good front rest.

Other than needing to adjust his choices a little he should do just fine.

Roland
 
#20
Thanks for the replies everyone. I haven't abandoned the thread, just a crazy work week. Sorry for not replying sooner and thank you for all the info.

I guess I should have mentioned I'm not looking to win these matches. I mostly just shoot steel once I have my rifle sighted in for 100 yards. I figured this would be a good way to see exactly where I am hitting at distance that way I can improve my wind reading skills. This is another reason I just want to use my current equipment (scope, bipod ect.) as its what I use all the time. I don't intend to build another rifle just to compete, I want to use what I have and go to the matches to help improve my skills.

Staying in the F/TR and just sticking with my .308 makes sense though. I'm not looking to cheat wind readings skills either by using the 7wsm, I was just planning to use it as it seemed more suitable in its configuration compared to the .308. I may just try a couple matches with both setups.

Thanks again.
 
#21
Vitaver said:
I am looking to get the best I can afford (and find) for mile+ long shots. I took one yesterday at Thundervalley in OH, hitting the gong at 1 mile (first time for me) with a 7mm WM Hulk built by Thom, the guy who runs the range. That being a non-standard cartridge means I need to handload, while 7mm WSM is standard. Does anyone know how those two rounds compare for precision, ultra long distance target shooting/competing? So far I shoot my AE AX308 with SB glass, doing decently at 1,000 yards, but want to go further. I appreciate any advice.
Click to expand...

7 Hulk >>> 7WSM

It is a shortened and improved 338LM necked to 7.

You really can't compare the two.

A 7WSM is absolutely capable of 1 mile.
 
#23
Thank you Turbo. That being said, the recoil of the 7 WM Hulk without the brake was very tolerable, no big deal. With my goal to get my next rifle capable of the longest distance with a) rounds with a form factor (BC, weight, shape, etc.) that keeps them supersonic the longest, b) less affected by wind, c) compliant with F Class Open (TR best, if possible) and tolerable recoil without brake: would you go with 7WSM or the hulk version, the modified 338 Lapua magnum? I plan to compete at Camp Perry in August; may not last long, but it is a start. With my AI AX308 in FTR, I want this new rig for F-Open.
 
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