Kelby/panda vs impact/bighorn actions for f-class

[Maxim0]

Hello,

I'm still looking into the whole custom action debate which seems never ending and I see a strong difference between fclass and prs style actions. Do they not make one that excels at both? I will be starting with fclass but would like to get into prs once my health comes back. Will i be limiting myself if I go with a more prs style action like an impact/bighorn/vector in f-class?

 

[RTH1800]

Is not F Class most often shot with single shot, solid bottom actions?

 

[Maxim0]

Is not F Class most often shot with single shot, solid bottom actions?

correct, which is the major difference between the two styles. My question is by going with a mag fed action will I be limiting myself when competing against the f-class style actions

 

[ThePretzel]

correct, which is the major difference between the two styles. My question is by going with a mag fed action will I be limiting myself when competing against the f-class style actions

Not really. Most of the accuracy will be coming from your barrel anyways, so if you eventually want to compete in PRS and would like to avoid building a second rifle it makes sense to get something like a Bighorn or Impact action that could be used for both.

 

[RTH1800]

I have used solid bottom single shot actions in centerfire and rimfire and never have seen an advantage but I don't shoot sub .1 MOA anyway. I have noticed that the 'tight' actions like Nesika and Borden have been the most accurate I have used. They will jam up if dirty, icy or dusty. Not tactical actions.

 

[ZiaHunter]

Wouldn't rule out a Defiance Deviant. Several people I shoot F/O with use Deviants.

 

[_Raining]

I use a PRS rifle for F Class. They say the added rigidity of a single shot helps with precision but I am not good enough so I don't think I would notice a difference. You will want to get this for better fit in a front rest: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...ail-rpr-ar15-etc.3957175/page-7#post-37416138

That works fine for the small rail under my stock or on my KRG X Ray spigot. Only part of it makes contact on the spigot but it seems clamped on there fine anyway. I don't know of any for arca rails. Ideally you want the lowest center of gravity that you can get (barrel as close to the front bag as possible) but you are not going to get that with a PRS stock, you would need a straight up F Class stock to get that.

A proper rear bag rider also does not exist for tactical chassis, MPA bag rider might be the best you are going to get or the Foundation stocks seem like they might be OK-ish but I am basing that just on pictures. One guy who makes bag riders for F Class stocks has the dimensions as 3/4" flat spot at bottom, 22.5 degree taper up to top which will be 1.5" wide at a 1" height. I asked him if he would make one for the KRG X Ray and he said he was too busy right now but I don't see why any machinist couldn't make you one based on those values.

MDT ACC is a good choice because you can use the weights to get up to that 22 lbs and keep it balanced but their rear bag is not good, you would need to have one custom machined for you by a local machinist or 3d print one or something, or just deal with the one they sell. MPA look like they also have a weight kit too.

In all reality you shouldn't have a problem showing up with a PRS rifle and shooting it in its PRS configuration and be fine. Depending on who shows up will really determine if you win or lose (1 guy at my matches shoots 597+ and the rest of us scramble for 588-592 range for 2nd and 3rd) so it is a good mind set to compete against yourself instead of trying to compete against others.

The Bag riders and front rests are nice but people in the tactical community seem to way overestimate the improvement you get from them. My best score is still from when I had an atlas bipod and gamechanger rear bag.

 

[Maxim0]

Thank you guys, you have confirmed my thoughts on the differences between them. At my level of shooting I don't believe either direction would have a significant impact on my shooting. Just trying to plan a rifle that will get me to start competing and not be limited by my gear.

I have been looking at the mpa chassis with an impact action in 6mm dasher. Does anyone have any other suggestions on a good chassis that will work for both?

 

[goosed]

Personally, I like the XLR chassis with the bag rider(flat side), flat top rabbit ear bag and use the phoenix bi-pod for all my elevation adjustments. Works well for PRS as well. Only negative caveat being it's a 1" wide bag rider so if you forget your rabbit bag you can't just borrow someone else's as almost everyone uses a narrower ear spacing.

Though I don't think the stock or chassis choice alone makes much difference. Just like repeater or single shot doesn't matter.

Instead the important thing for F-class is to have a game plan for how you're going to make tiny adjustments for elevation. Whether you use the rear of the rifle (squeeze bag, angled rabbit bag, angled toe/rider) or the front of the rifle (front rest, bi-pod, angled fore arm) is all personal preference. The key is that you can do it with absolute consistency.

 

[Maxim0]

Personally, I like the XLR chassis with the bag rider(flat side), flat top rabbit ear bag and use the phoenix bi-pod for all my elevation adjustments. Works well for PRS as well. Only negative caveat being it's a 1" wide bag rider so if you forget your rabbit bag you can't just borrow someone else's as almost everyone uses a narrower ear spacing.

Though I don't think the stock or chassis choice alone makes much difference. Just like repeater or single shot doesn't matter.

Instead the important thing for F-class is to have a game plan for how you're going to make tiny adjustments for elevation. Whether you use the rear of the rifle (squeeze bag, angled rabbit bag, angled toe/rider) or the front of the rifle (front rest, bi-pod, angled fore arm) is all personal preference. The key is that you can do it with absolute consistency.

Thank you for your suggestion. I actually Have a 1” rabbit bag that I use for the hand guard on another rifle. Will check that chassis out

 

[ThePretzel]

Thank you for your suggestion. I actually Have a 1” rabbit bag that I use for the hand guard on another rifle. Will check that chassis out

I use the XLR Envy chassis with the heavy fill option. I actually kind of wish I hadn't gotten the heavy fill though, because I could've made my own "heavy fill" with just the standard Arca swiss version by filling the holes full of lead to make it even heavier.

That said, it's still a beefy contraption. With my Nucleus action and a 28" 1" straight contour barrel inside it weighed 21 pounds, and now I've got an Impact, 28" Krieger Heavy Varmint, and more addons (XLR weight kit, thumb rest, mercury buffer system) that should bring it up to nearly 25 pounds if my math is correct.

 

[_Raining]

I am not a fan of the XLR Evolution or the bag rider. The adjustments for LOP and cheek riser are slow and the addon bag rider is not ideal for bunny ear rear bag, a flat sided bag rider does nothing for a bunny ear bag, you need a taper so that the bunny ears can actually provide support.

 

[Ian A. Kelbly]

Every record broken lately in F-Class has been with our F-Class Panda. We make an action called the Kodiak which is a great action for both F Class and Tactical shooting. It is an aluminum action like the Panda and is all integral. The picatinny on top is non MIL-SPEC though, so two piece rings are necessary. The Kodiak also accepts AICS magazines. The KTS stock we make has many wins in F-Class on it, as well as in tactical. We offer the KTS without a butthook and that works great in bags. We can definitely help you out on a two purpose rifle like this!