F Class UK

NEW 308 BRASS FROM LAPUA

Lapua are about to launch a new 308 cartridge case with a small primer pocket! Reason - it
could be more accurate - especially at long range! Yes, some of us played with the Remington
small primer cases 15 years ago but the brass just wasn't up to standard.

Can't wait to get my hands on some!


THE EUROPEANS

Russell Simmons wrapped up the season in fine style with yet another win at the Europeans.
Not only did Russell score more points than anyone - he also had the highest V bull count.
Once again, we had a very strong F/TR turn-out 50 shooters to 68 in Open. Next year,
I can see it being 50/50.

We now have until April to improve our wind-reading, loading and equipment to attempt to
give Russell some competition in 2010. The first shoot is 'short range' at Diggle which looks
like being 500 and 600 yards, which might give us a chance!

A new F/TR record was set on the Sunday with Andy Gent shooting a 93.9 at 1000 yards and
Stuart Anselm equalled Russells 800 yard record of 75.7.


DIGGLE LEAGUE SHOOT - SEPTEMBER

World Champion Russell Simmonds continued his domination of F/TR with another win at Diggle.
Steve Rigby was a very close second however on a weekend bathed in warm sunny
weather - what else at Diggle?

For the first time ever in a League shoot, the F/TR entry outnumbered the Open entry and once
again, the top F/TR shooters would have displaced shooters in the top 20 of the Open Class.
F/TR shooter John Cross also recorded top score of anyone at 900 yards with a 73.8v

An F/TR rifle also qualifies as an Open Class rifle and maybe it's time to give F/TR shooters their rightful
place when they beat Open shooters and list all competitors together. Seperate points would
still be awarded to F/TR shooters for their own Championship.


GB FTR Team takes the Silver Medal and Russell wins League Round 3
and World Gold!
Full write-up on WFCC Page



WFCC snippets
I got a chance to have a natter with the American FTR Team Captain Darrell Buell at the American
evening in the Canadian Lodge on Tuesday evening. Darrell is also part of the Savage factory team
and I was amazed to hear how standard their rifles are. Monte Milanuk and John Weil were shooting
theirs as part of the USA Gold Medal winning team and on the final yardage at 1000 yards,
John put in top FTR score with his Savage - a 69 - better than many of the Open Class shooters.

Bi-pods
They were wonderful, weird and wobbly on occasion - I've got plenty of pics so we'll have a look at
a few shortly.

Bullets
Has George got something with his 200 grainers? George's total score of 407.19v beat everybody but
nearest to George was that man John Weil with his factory Savage and 155 grain Bergers on 405.21v
Might be worth trying the Bergers before you stick a new barrell on it! Fox Firearms have them in stock. 

GB F Class League Shoot - Bisley June 2009
Russell raises the bar - again!

2008 F/TR League winner Russell Simmonds blitzed the F/TR opposition and most of the Open
Class with a stunning performance which not only won the F/TR Class by 20 points but would
have placed him equal third overall in the Open Class!

I've always said that as an F/TR rifle also qualifies as an Open Class rifle, it is time that F/TR
scores were amalgamated into the Open Class scores to at least give recognition to the high
standard now being attained by shooters restricted to the 308 cartridge.

GB F CLASS LEAGUE 2009 - 11/12TH APRIL

Stuart Anselm took the first F/TR win of the season with Ian Dixon second and Steve Rigby third.



Stuart Anselm put his new Barnard rifle to good use at Diggle over the Easter holiday. Yes, it was sunny, yes it was warm but as usual, the Diggle winds were far from easy. Interestingly, Stuart's score was good enough for 14th place in the Open Class!


Bisley Training Weekend - March 2009

Anybody care to comment on the training weekend from the F/TR viewpoint?


New 155 bullet from Sierra

Stuart Anselm has just got home from the 2009 Shot Show and he managed to grab a handful of the new 308, 155 grain bullets from Sierra. Sierra are already trumpeting the success of these bullets in the hands of the US F/TR Team but it doesn't look like we'll get them in time for the World Championships - but what's the betting that the US Team does? Here's a pic showing the existing Palma bullet (left), the new bullet (centre) and a Lapua Scenar (right).

Oops! Bit of a dollop here - see e-mail below from Darrell Buell USA F/TR Team Captain:

"Just a quick clarification about an article you have posted on your "F-T/R Only" page.  I typically read your website every so often with some interest.  When I browsed through your F-T/R section, I was surprised to the passage about Sierra Bullets' connection to the USA F-T/R Team.  The fact of the matter is that the USA F-T/R Team is very happy with our Berger Bullets sponsorship!  We have been partnered with Berger for several years now and are very excited about Berger's new 155.5 grain "Fullbore" bullet.  They came out with this bullet early last year, and it has quickly become the favourite of the USA F-T/R Team.  Most of the US Team will be running the Berger 155.5 at the Bisley FCWC this July, all of the others will be running Berger's 155 VLD.  Our Team ran the Bergers to great success this last Fall at our own National Championships in Lodi, Wisconsin.

If you could change the aforementioned article to reflect the actual supplier of Bullets to the USA F-T/R Team, I would be very grateful!

Please keep up the excellent website, I really enjoy reading about the exploits of my fellow F-Class shooters from the UK.  I am looking forward to Bisley this Summer with some relish!"

Best Regards,

Darrell Buell
Captain, Team USA F-T/R

Darrell - thanks for putting me right on that one! Look forward to seeing you all in July. Best wishes Vince

GB F/TR Team - Anyone tried the 155.5 Bergers?

Shooting F/TR in 2009?
 

The Keppeler is an effective 'out of the box' F/TR rifle and light enough to permit the use of a 2lb. Nightforce scope and a sturdy bi-pod

The interest and participation in the F/TR Class within the GB League has almost trebled in 2008 and I predict that we will have a 50 - 50 split before too long.

Clearly, the 'level playing field' concept appeals to many competitors, not to mention cost and of course, this means it will be a preferred route into the League for many new shooters.

RULES

An F/TR Class rifle must not weigh more than 8.25 kg. (about 18lb. 2 oz.) including scope and bi-pod. 

Permitted chamberings are 308 Winchester/7.62 Nato and 223 Remington/5.56mm.

The rifle may only be supported by a simple bi-pod and/or sling. A sand-bag may be used under the butt.

There is no restriction on scope-power.

Factory or handloaded ammunition may be used and any bullet-weight is permitted.


EQUIPMENT - RIFLES

If you are looking to get into F/TR Class shooting, what is the best route?

Although in theory, any 308 rifle can be used, all League Shoots are at distances of 800 - 1000 yards and to maintain a super-sonic velocity out to 1000 yards, a muzzle velocity (with a 155 grain bullet) in the region of 2950 fps is required. To achieve these velocities, a barrel length of around 30 inches is desireable.

Currently, the choice of 'off the shelf' factory rifles which meet this spec. is minimal.

The new F/TR rifle from Savage is ideal and at under £1200 it's probably the cheapest way into the sport. The other alternative would be a second-hand Target Rifle which would simply require a scope and bi-pod and should easily make weight. Osprey Rifles usually have a Savage or two in stock. See www.ospreyrifles.com

Steve Rigby and Paul Dobson have ably demonstrated the effectiveness of the 308 Keppeler rifle (www.keppeler-te.de) this season and although more expensive than the Savage they are not as expensive as a full custom rifle. Fox Firearms of Manchester are the UK importer.

A third alternative might be to have your Remington, or what have you, re-barrelled. A good 30 inch match barrel installed by a good gunsmith will likely set you back around £600. Stuart Anselm took this route with a standard Savage and it earned him fourth place in the 2008 League.

                                                                                                      Stuart Anselm's Savage is standard except for the 32 inch barrel - note the light-weight Weaver T24 scope - only 17 ounces

BI-PODS

The Harris bi-pod is popular with shooters but you will not see many used in the League. Yes, at around 12 ounces, the Harris is light but not as stable as most shooters would like. We have seen great innovation in bi-pods this year and many are home-made. If you are not skilled enough to make one you might like to look at the American Sinclair or the Australian Larkin bi-pod.

AMMUNITION

The 308 is a very versatile cartridge and it will handle bullets over a vast weight range from maybe 220 grains right down to 110 grains. How do we choose? The Target Rifle shooters have always used a bullet in the 150 grain range though often this is as a result of using Radway Green 'issued' ammunition.

Handloaders tend to go for the 155 grain Sierra or the 155 grain Lapua Scenar bullet. Berger also make an excellent 155 grain bullet and a new 155 grain Sierra is promised for next year. Most F/TR shooters appear to be using the 155 grain bullet but Steve Donaldson has done exceedingly well with a 220 grain bullet. The 168 and 175 grainers may also be worth trying.

Of course, to some extent, the twist-rate of your barrel will dictate your bullet weight. A 1 in 14 twist will stabilise the 155 Sierra and even the longer 155 Scenar but anything heavier will require a faster twist.

When it comes to brass, don't even think about it - choose Lapua!

When it comes to powder it's another matter and Vihtavuori N140 has always been the TR shooter's favourite. The F/TR shooters have taken it one stage further and found that even greater velocities can be obtained from Vit N540 double-base powder. This year's F/TR League winner, Russell Simmonds prefers Hodgdon Varget so clearly, there is more experimenting to do.

But please, if you are a new shooter hoping to try F/TR Class shooting, don't get too obsessed with equipment. Come along and shoot with whatever you have. Get a feel for F Class competition and get to know the friendly bunch of guys and gals who make up the F Class League. You will learn far more out on range shooting and chatting with your fellow competitiors. No matter how good your equipment it will not help you read the wind and that is the long-range rifle shooter's biggest challenge.

F/TR shooters - please feel free to contribute to this page. Tell us about your rifle, loads or WHY?
 
                                                                                                                         League winner, Russell Simmonds uses a Barnard action, True-flite barrel, Choate stock and 8.5-25 Leupold scope. That bi-pod is very light.
  

Interview with 2008 F/TR Class League winner - Russell Simmonds

 

FCUK - Russell, congratulations on winning the F/TR League and securing a place in the GB Team for the 2009 World Championships.

 

We always like to start off the interview with a bit of background so tell us about your shooting history.

 

RS -My shooting history is quite limited, I have been shooting for around four and a half years, having started with a 22 rimfire doing some short-distance target shooting. I then joined a local club, bought a 243 and did my first long-distance shoot at Bisley and was hooked from then on.

 

FCUK - Am I correct in saying that this is your first year shooting in the GB F Class League?   Was it the F/TR Class that attracted you?

 

RS  - Yes this is my first year in the League and F/TR class. When I first started fullbore shooting, as I said, I had a 243, which I sold fairly quickly and then bought a Riflecraft TMR1 in 308.

 

I found I was quite competitive out to 900 yards and after a while, I had a 6mm Dasher built on a Remmy action and this shot well at all distances but after reading about the F Class shoots in Target Sports and on the internet, I felt I would like to have a go. I couldn't afford an Open class gun, so decided to build a 308 and compete in the F/TR class. At my club shoots, I liked the fact that I could compete against the Open class whilst still using a bipod.

 

FCUK - Tell us about your rifle - obviously it's a 308 but what action, stock, scope etc are you using?

 

RS  - The stock is the Choate 'Ultimate Sniper' by John Plaister, the action is a Barnard S action which fits in to any stock inletted for a Remington. The scope and rings are Leupold - an 8.5-25 with fine duplex reticle. The scope-base is a Barnard and the barrel is a New Zealand Trueflite finished at 30 inches.

 

FCUK - Who builds your rifles?

 

RS- The action and barrel were purchased from Brian Fox at Fox Firearms in Manchester and, although the barrel came pre-chambered due to time constraints, I got a gunsmith in my club to do the final finishing work. His name is Neil Mckillop from Mckillop rifles and he has built some very accurate guns for other club members.

 

FCUK - The stock is a bit of an odd-ball from an F Class point of view - what made you go for that particular one?

 

RS - As I said above, my first accurate gun had this stock and although it's described as ugly - often!! - I find it very comfortable and stable. It's also a good stock to work with when bedding in an action.

 

FCUK - This year, there has been a lot of development with the 308 Win. cartridge and some of the guys are getting velocities in excess of 3100 fps � what do you like to run yours at?

 

RS - I spent a bit of time trying to find a good load and tried various powders, primers and charge-weights. I eventually settled on a load that gave me a 100 yard, 0.272 inch five-shot group at a shade under 3000fps. I could get them going a bit quicker but found that the accuracy suffered.

 

FCUK - Tell us your preferred bullet, powder, brass and primers.

 

RS - I use the Lapua 155 Scenar bullet, like the majority of people - Lapua brass. Primers are CCI and Hodgdon Varget powder.

 

FCUK - Have you tried a heavier bullet?

 

RS - No, not in this gun. I had it built solely for the 155 grainer. I have tried heavier bullets in the past and found that over long distance they didn't perform as well.

 

FCUK - What twist-rate are you using?

 

RS- The twist is a 1:14

 

FCUK - Interesting - I've always said that a 1 in 14 should stabilise a 155 Scenar but there are doubters - thanks for putting that one to rest. Obviously, you weigh all your powder charges - what scales are you using and for that matter, whose dies do you use?

 

RS - I don't use anything fancy, my scales are RCBS and I have had them from when I first started. I use RCBS competition dies but am looking to change to Wilson as I have the hand press and think it will be easier to load for the 'worlds' in 2009 whilst at Bisley.

 

FCUK - That bi-pod is interesting - everyone is trying to get a light as possible bi-pod with the 8.25kg. weight limit and you appear to have done it. What does it weigh? Who made it?

 

RS - A shooting companion of mine made it for me and his name is Jerry May, it weighs less than a Harris bipod at 362grams.

 

FCUK - I know Jerry well from benchrest, he is a fine engineer and an equally good shot. Typical of him to come up with that solution - I hope he won't mind if I copy it! Obviously the rifle has worked well for you this year but is there any room for improvement?

 

RS - I think there is always room for improvement but with this gun I am happy - it shoots very well, so I don't think I will try much more with it - except I may try some more load-development as I may stop using molyed bullets.

 

FCUK - Will you continue with the same kit next year then? Or have you something new in the pipeline - particularly with the World Championships in July 2009?

 

RS - Yes, I am looking to sell my Dasher and I have ordered another barrel and action from Brian Fox - the same action but a slightly longer barrel to try and get a bit more velocity so I can keep up with Jones's, Anselm's and Dixon's!!

 

FCUK -  Like most of us, you have done your share of travelling this year to shoot F Class but what is your favourite UK range?

 

RS - Definitely Blair Atholl, the range was so scenic, so tranquil, so difficult but rewarding to shoot on! It was my first time in the Scottish Highlands and I loved it.

 

FCUK - Is there anything you would like to see changed in F Class in general or F/TR in particular?

 

RS - I like the way the F class is going, I am happy that all the F/TR competitors shoot on the same detail so that no one gets an advantage with the weather and I find that  the F/TR guys are a good bunch and are quite happy to talk about what they shoot, loads etc. I would like to thank Mik, Des, Les, Stuart and yourself for the help, advice and encouragement you have all offered through out the year.

 

FCUK - Finally, we've all won the odd plaque but it must have been pretty special to get your hands on that Savage rifle - would you like to comment?

 

RS -  Yes it was a great day, a massive thanks to Stuart Anslem for donating the Savage. At the start of the season, I felt that I had no chance as I had missed the first two shoots due to not being able to get all the parts for the gun (I did compete at the first Diggle competition in the Open class but found my little Dasher didn't like the Diggle winds!) so I set my goals as trying to finish in the top ten but once I had competed at the first Bisley shoot I thought I will try and get into the GB team.

 

Winning the gun was never on my mind and I came off the last 1000 yard shoot feeling for once that I had had a good shoot and for me that doesn't happen often!

 

FCUK - Russell, thanks taking the trouble to do this interview and for sharing your information with us all. Good luck for next year.