Ivan, I realize you designed the game and you can certainly state what your intention was and is. I will state what many of us see of it and hopefully you can clarify. We can agree to disagree, that's ok. At first it was named factory class, but the rules make it pretty clear that it is anything but factory to most. Goes back to my statement above about intent. I don't doubt you had a vision for that class as you outline, but to the normal person trying to make sense of it it's hard to see any factory left in it. I don't think most of us look at keeping just an action and replacing the rest of a gun as factory.
The name was changed to Factory Hot Rod. Definitely more appropriate, but still a bit loose with the factory term in my view (I realize my opinion doesn't matter in this and that's ok, just giving an opinion).
Like was said above, the intention of ARA factory was for new shooters. I can also fully understand that you are in a partnership with Vudoo and it would only make sense to try and take full advantage of that. I personally think both factory classes fall a bit short for those guys in the middle with true Factory 40x's, 52's, etc. Take a V22S action and do most of what you would to a custom rifle, but shoot it off of a two piece rest and it is now a factory hod rod? I don't see the real difference. It's still a custom shooting against a factory gun for me. If that is the case, why simply not have a 1 piece rest and two piece rest division? It's an honest question. I know you think I am trying to bust your balls on it, but that is not the case. I have spoken out against the ARA factory class as well as I think it fell short, but again it's not up to me.
Based on your last statement does that mean that all Factory Hot Rods would have to produce 1000 rifles per year, or just 1000 total. A Suhl hasn't been produced in 30 years, so I guess it falls under a category of 1000 actions produced? Is that the real standard? I don't have any idea if Jerry has produced a 1000 actions total, but if that is the standard, then it would seem that should be ok if he has. Or are you saying that any Factory Hot Rod must use the original barrel provided by the manufacturer? It appears from the rules it can use essentially any other parts, so why would one be able to use a V22S and not a 2500X. I think that is a fair question. If you are going to limit it to only barrels put on by the manufacturer, then ok that may make more sense, but Jerry has done that as well. Based on the rules posted, that doesn't appear to be the case though.
Edit: I reread and you say 1000 rifles produced each year of production. I guess that is for any year in which they did produce them. Seems an easy way to exclude some at the benefit of others when they are essentially the exact same thing if all that matters is the action anyway. Again, just an opinion.
As you can see we could take this down to many details and clarification. Again I know you think I am trying to bust your balls about this, but I am simply wanting to clarify exact details. I may have a gun I can shoot in Factory Hot Rod if I want (well I do have a V22 Repeater so I could, but that is not the one I was thinking of), but I may also not depending on details. I suspect I am not the only one wanting to know more. The perception, whether true or not, is that the Factory Hot Rod class is there in some form to push the Vudoo's. Again, not an issue for me, but I feel it is only fair to explain exactly why the others wouldn't be included. I know Mike mentioned that RimX would be allowed in it. They don't produce complete rifles that I am aware of and I am not sure they will produce 1000 this year.
There is simply a lot of unclear details for me and I think many others. Just trying to get some clarification.
I would hope you know me well enough to realize I don't have an agenda against you or anyone else or for anyone else. You may not believe that but it's the truth.
Jamie
Actually, what I said about the RimX as it relates to this particular subject on another forum is that it can't be single fed. I don't believe I said it was or wasn't allowed.
MB