Rifle for Local Steel & F-Class Matches

[Jeremy45]

Good evening,

I am curious what you guys would build as a dual purpose rifle to shoot some local matches. There are two clubs here which alternate doing a KD steel (prs type) match and an F-class match (both 600 & 1,000 yd). I am curious what you would build if you wanted to shoot both with one rifle. Not looking to become a full time competitor or go to F-class nationals just have some fun and become a better shooter.

What would you build/buy with say...a $3,000 budget for rifle and optic and what you would build/buy with a $6,000 budget rifle and optic?

Jeremy

 

[steve123]

$3000, I'd get a Tikka TacA1, those things are a great value! and a Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50.

$6000, a Impact 737 action in 6 Dasher at 26" with a medium profile barrel, MPA Chassis, TT diamond pro trigger, Area 419 accessories. Used S&B 5-25, ARC rings.

 

[jpspeeddemon]

If you do not reload, go with the 6.5 creedmoor. If you do reload, then 6.5 creedmoor is still a great option, but also a 6mm creedmoor would work well.

$3K:
Tikka T3x CTR 24" barrel or TacA1 in 6.5cm
used Vortex Razor Gen 2 off the classifieds
$6K:
Accuracy Int'l AT or a custom for ~$3K
Nightforce ATACR or Vortex Razor Gen 2

 

[leftyk82]

Small thing here....

Unless the rules have changed, NRA Mid-Range and F-Class do not allow muzzle brakes or suppressors, so be sure your stick of choice can adapt to the different styles of shooting you endeavor to pursue. I.e. Capped threaded muzzle for F-Class, brake/can for anything else.

 

[spaniel]

If you don't plan on going for the gold, don't buy a $6K rifle. My dedicated 284Win F-class rifle cost $5K all in, with me taking the barreled action from Kelbly and bedding it into the McMillan stock myself. If you aren't getting an all-in F-Open rifle for $6K you are wasting your money.

I'd look at the Savage target rifles, or the equivalent from other brands. A big decision is whether you will be shooting F-Open or FTR. The reason is in F-Open you are at a huge disadvantage if you don't have a flat stock or front/rear flat adapters. FTR is off a bipod, so you need to invest in the bipod, but have more flexibility in the stock selection.

You can shoot F-Open with anything (no brake), I started in it last year with my 243AI hunting rifle. But I shot Sharpshooter level scores, switching to a dedicated rifle I was immediately at the border of Master/High Master. Fun either way, just depends on your goals.

Modified to add - In my experience a factory rifle is not the limiting factor for most people unless they are trying to take regional podiums. I've seen factory Savage rifles shoot right with customs in F-class in the hands of competent shooters. I've seen custom rifles shoot at the bottom of the stack when shooters spend a lot of money but don't understand wind.

 

[Jeremy45]

Sounds like I need to pick which game I want to be more competitive in and then build that style rifle in 6 or 6.5 anything as long as I can get or load good ammo. FTR is 223 or 308 as I understand and that style rifle would also work in PRS better than F-Open. But a 308 will be slightly less competitive in PRS.

I do know I don’t want a full boat dedicated F-Open gun as it is a little too niche for what I’m hoping to do.

So a PRS/Tactical rifle should be the way I go and then if I go 308 I can be moderately competitive in both disciplines or 6.5 and just know I’ll be in F-Open and use that time to learn wind calling?

 

[tylerw02]

Consider a switch barrel?

 

[Mr. F]

A TL3 will let you play F class on the correct cat and then your a bolt head and swappable barrel setup away from having a 6-6.5 mm gun for PRS. If you do it right you can even spin up a barrel for practice with the same contour as the PRS 6mm ish gun.

Say you get a 22" med palma 6.5 creed for PRS. Get the same contour and lenght in .223 and practice with that and for F-class get a long pipe in 308 or 223.

Seems to me the real compromise is the stock although correct me if wrong but since your not gonna shoot open you have to use a bipod anyway so you dont need the fancy plates and stuff F class open guys use.

Lots of F class shooters shoot with MOA based scopes tho so that may be a speed bump doing wind calls at practice but other than, thats the setup id get in your position.

 

[308pirate]

Maybe it got lost in the gear queerness, but it bears repeating: you will be unwelcome in just about any club-level NRA prone match (that includes F class) with a brake on the end of the rifle.

It's in the rules and there is a good reason for it. Nobody wants to lie next to someone shooting a brake for two or three strings of 20 rounds each.

Make sure you keep that in mind when selecting a rifle.

 

[b6graham]

but... with the hellwire or other similar brake it's easy enough to just spin it off quick without much impact on POI

 

[Jeremy45]

Maybe it got lost in the gear queerness, but it bears repeating: you will be unwelcome in just about any club-level NRA prone match (that includes F class) with a brake on the end of the rifle.

It's in the rules and there is a good reason for it. Nobody wants to lie next to someone shooting a brake for two or three strings of 20 rounds each.

Make sure you keep that in mind when selecting a rifle.

I understand that. I will screw off my suppressor and just use a thread protector for F-Class.

 

[Jeremy45]

A TL3 will let you play F class on the correct cat and then your a bolt head and swappable barrel setup away from having a 6-6.5 mm gun for PRS. If you do it right you can even spin up a barrel for practice with the same contour as the PRS 6mm ish gun.

Say you get a 22" med palma 6.5 creed for PRS. Get the same contour and lenght in .223 and practice with that and for F-class get a long pipe in 308 or 223.

Seems to me the real compromise is the stock although correct me if wrong but since your not gonna shoot open you have to use a bipod anyway so you dont need the fancy plates and stuff F class open guys use.

Lots of F class shooters shoot with MOA based scopes tho so that may be a speed bump doing wind calls at practice but other than, thats the setup id get in your position.

Correct FTR is bipod and rear bag so I don't think it will be a huge disadvatage to shoot a A5 or KMW style stock in that division. And since I'm just shooting local matches definitely not enough of a disadvantage to build a second complete rifle at this point.

Jeremy

 

[308pirate]

Lots of F class shooters shoot with MOA based scopes tho so that may be a speed bump doing wind calls at practice

Complete non issue.

 

[fdkay]

You would be really hard pressed to beat an RPR in either 6.5 or 6mm CM topped with one of several LOW manufactured optics in the 4.5-25 range another good option is the 4-20 XTR II.
SFP scopes with /14 or even 1/8 moa adjustments are not uncommon in F class, but are a hindrance in PRS events.