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AR15.COM
3/27/2015 3:53:34 PM EDT
Any of y'all compete in smallbore F-class?

I dabble in high-power F/TR, smallbore looks like a ton of fun too.
My teenage son is one helluva marksman, so my interest in smallbore competition is not only for me but for my boy as well

Interested in comments/experiences, etc
3/30/2015 12:43:45 AM EDT
[#1]
Tag for info.  never heard of these matches, but it sounds fun!


3/30/2015 3:01:59 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote History
Quoted:
Tag for info.  never heard of these matches, but it sounds fun!
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Indeed
From what I understand, its basically the same as F/TR, just with 22lr out to 100yds as opposed to 308 at 1000yds
Prone, bipod/rear bag supported, weight limit, etc
Just as competitive, I'm sure
7/18/2015 3:43:23 PM EDT
[#3]
NRA Smallbore has recently authorized a course of fire for F-Class, within their normal Smallbore Prone rifle matches. Essentially, while everyone else shoots prone, with a sling on conventional targets (A-23/5, A-26/27, and A-25), the F-Classer's shoot the metric target equivalents: A-50/51, and A-33. Same time limits, same number of shots, etc., the F-Class scoring rings are just that much tighter. We've had 2 F-Classer's enter our regional prone matches recently, and from what I could tell, they had fun.
7/19/2015 5:37:53 PM EDT
[#4]
Look at NRA Smallbore Silhouette also.  No coat.  No Glove. No sling.  Nothing but the unsupported standing position.  8 and 1/2 pound maximum rifle weight.  2 pound maximum trigger weight.  Metal targets at 40, 60, 77 and 100 meters.  The forum for this is www.steelchickens.com.  We started this 14 years ago when my son was age 9.  Now he is 23 and we still compete together.  My wife started in 2012 and is having a blast also.  Find matches in your area on the NRA online magazine USA Shooting Sports.  Rifle Silhouette is big in Arizona.  
7/20/2015 5:35:11 PM EDT
[#5]
We are planning to have in October. If the turn out is respectable, will,schedule something on a regular basis.
7/24/2015 12:05:08 PM EDT
[#6]
I do a form of it. Smallbore metallic silhouette. Fired from 30-100m from the standing unsupported position. Rifles that are competitive are things like Anschutz 54's (and other models), Sako's, Remington 40x. I use a highly customized Anschutz 54 with a 36x optic. Ammo costs for precision work with .22lr are not as cheap as you might think. Eley ammo is about 250 bucks a brick. I shoot SK Rifle Match that's about 80 bucks a brick. $.16:rd is tall cotton to spend. My matches are 40-80 rounds normally + 20 or so for sighters and another 10-20 for practice. If you put a few grand into a really epic .22 you'll thank yourself and have a lot of fun.

A note on .22lr precision ammo: The hell of it is, even match rifles still will have preferences so you'll have to try a few to find the best combination of price and performance. I have shot Federal match bulk .22 stuff and it held MOA pretty well. The SK shoots a good bit inside that but the ammo is greasy. Eley smells like burning super glue and gives me a headache. Don't use 1200fps stuff. Nothing supersonic for 100m with a .22lr. You want it to start subsonic. Most match ammo is 1050-1080fps for that reason.
7/29/2015 11:15:39 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Quoted:
I do a form of it. Smallbore metallic silhouette. Fired from 30-100m from the standing unsupported position. Rifles that are competitive are things like Anschutz 54's (and other models), Sako's, Remington 40x. I use a highly customized Anschutz 54 with a 36x optic. Ammo costs for precision work with .22lr are not as cheap as you might think. Eley ammo is about 250 bucks a brick. I shoot SK Rifle Match that's about 80 bucks a brick. $.16:rd is tall cotton to spend. My matches are 40-80 rounds normally + 20 or so for sighters and another 10-20 for practice. If you put a few grand into a really epic .22 you'll thank yourself and have a lot of fun.

A note on .22lr precision ammo: The hell of it is, even match rifles still will have preferences so you'll have to try a few to find the best combination of price and performance. I have shot Federal match bulk .22 stuff and it held MOA pretty well. The SK shoots a good bit inside that but the ammo is greasy. Eley smells like burning super glue and gives me a headache. Don't use 1200fps stuff. Nothing supersonic for 100m with a .22lr. You want it to start subsonic. Most match ammo is 1050-1080fps for that reason.
View Quote


I agree with your observations except that concerning Eley.  I shoot, among other high end .22lr, Eley Match EPS and Eley Tenex.
I have been around competitors that shoot Eley/Remington EPS and heard complaints about foul odor thus leading me to believe
that that ammo uses a non-Eley powder/primer.  Eley constantly improves their powder, as they've done with Eley Force and their
Biathlon loads also use a blend ed powder, maybe that has a bad odor. I have no complaints based on smoke/residue, but then again,
like guns, no two noses are axactly alike.

The OP will quickly find out that even with the clubs that have a class for scoped rifles, which help with concentration and hold
on the x-ring, to excel one will need plenty of experience shooting in windy conditions.  Iron sight matches in the wind can
be a challenge most casual shooters would walk away from. The wind can frustrate younger/newer shooters but if they receive
good coaching the frustration will give way to a skill set that can be directly translated to center fire.

Ted
9/16/2015 7:25:56 PM EDT
[#8]

Quote History
Quoted:


NRA Smallbore has recently authorized a course of fire for F-Class, within their normal Smallbore Prone rifle matches. Essentially, while everyone else shoots prone, with a sling on conventional targets (A-23/5, A-26/27, and A-25), the F-Classer's shoot the metric target equivalents: A-50/51, and A-33. Same time limits, same number of shots, etc., the F-Class scoring rings are just that much tighter. We've had 2 F-Classer's enter our regional prone matches recently, and from what I could tell, they had fun.
View Quote




 



Interesting.. How did you ( or the match director )  classify them within the regional match?  They just competed against eachother?
9/16/2015 8:40:17 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:

 

Interesting.. How did you ( or the match director )  classify them within the regional match?  They just competed against eachother?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
NRA Smallbore has recently authorized a course of fire for F-Class, within their normal Smallbore Prone rifle matches. Essentially, while everyone else shoots prone, with a sling on conventional targets (A-23/5, A-26/27, and A-25), the F-Classer's shoot the metric target equivalents: A-50/51, and A-33. Same time limits, same number of shots, etc., the F-Class scoring rings are just that much tighter. We've had 2 F-Classer's enter our regional prone matches recently, and from what I could tell, they had fun.

 

Interesting.. How did you ( or the match director )  classify them within the regional match?  They just competed against eachother?


Yes. They were a separate Class, within the match - 'F-Class'.