F T/R Competition First Rifle - First Post

[sportcam]

Hello All,

I have been reading this forum for about 2 years now, learning as much as I can about F-Class F/TR.

Well two days ago if finally committed to this endeavor. And purchases the following equipment.

Savage 12 F/TR .308
Nightforce 8x32x56mm (zero stop, 1/10 Mil, MLR reticle, have been traing on the Shooter Ready program for the same 2 years and like the math of the mil system).
Nightforce 20 moa single base / NF titanium "high" rings
Sinclair F-class bipod
Redding S mirco dies
Lapua Brass
Sierra 175 MK's (just to start with)
CCI BR2 primers
and many other reloading gadgets

Can't explain how excited I am about this setup and the possibilities that lie ahead in terms of learning, reloading and participating in this fascinating sport. As with everything I do, I will take it slow and enjoy the journey.

My first of many questions is with the 30" barrel, 1/12 twist and the 175 SMK's what is a max muzzle velocity. My Lyman 49th uses a 24" barrel. 6" difference in barrel length sounds like to large of a gap to trust the load data. I think max pressure is 60,000 but I do not own a pressure gauge, but I do have a chrono (have been handload 9mm and 45 ACP on and off for 20 years). Will be measuring .002 off the lands.

Thanks and Merry Christmas

 

[scaxeman]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Welcome aboard! Looks like you've got a great set of equipment, now it's just a matter of getting out there and competing!

Darrell

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Thank you so much Darrel. You where a big influence on my setup. And I make a point of reading all your post.

Merry Christmas

 

[Zilla]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

I don't know about that Darrell guy. He shoots one of those guns with the funny legs on it.

Sportcam, where are you located?

 

[scaxeman]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DGosnell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He shoots one of those guns with the funny legs on it.

</div></div>

David, they are an old innovation, we call them bipods. Most people start competing with them when they tire of shooting with training wheels (machine rests).

LOL

Merry Christmas,

Darrell

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

All you need now is a chronograph and a lot of free time. Not all barrels are the same, so no projected muzzle velocities will be set in stone--you will have to clock your bullets coming out of your tube to make that determination ultimately.

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Hello DG - I'm in Houston. We have 2 local ranges the closest to me is up to 600 yards (American Shooting Center) and the other where they have competition shooting is up to 1000 yards (Bayou Rifles). I will join Bayou Rifle Range after I feel I'm ready for the longer distances

Powder Burns - I do have a chronograph, guess I will just work up the loads till the math tells me I have reached 1200 fps at 1000 yards with no pressure signs.

 

[longguntoter]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Well, you might have waited a while, but it sounds like you started out in the right direction. Sounds like a nice rig!

 

[Zilla]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sportcam</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hello DG - I'm in Houston. We have 2 local ranges the closest to me is up to 600 yards (American Shooting Center) and the other where they have competition shooting is up to 1000 yards (Bayou Rifles). I will join Bayou Rifle Range after I feel I'm ready for the longer distances

Powder Burns - I do have a chronograph, guess I will just work up the loads till the math tells me I have reached 1200 fps at 1000 yards with no pressure signs.
</div></div>

I use to live there and shot at all the Bayou matches. Good place, good people. Two of my teammates shoot there.

P.S. You do not have to be a member to shoot the matches.

 

[Mark Walker]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Sportcam, glad to hear you are taking the plunge. I am in Houston, one of the two teammates of DGosnell noted above, and am a regular at Bayou. As David notes, its a good group of folks, and you don't need to wait to come and start shooting with us.

We have 1k matches the 1st Sun of every month, and alternate between 300/600 on the third Sunday. Next midrange match is a 600, 3rd week in Jan, so if your ready, come give it a try.

If nothing else, come out and watch the first time, and you can go to the pits with us also if you're not familiar with pulling targets. One trip and you'll have it down, and it's much easier to learn if you not by yourself for the 1st try.

IM or email me anytime, and I'll be happy to try and help you along. Merry Christmas!

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Hello Mark,

Thank you so much for the offer, one that I will take you up on as an observer. And would be more than happy to help in the pits pulling targets. January is booked up but hopefully I will have a free Sunday in February. Will keep an eye on the Bayou calendar.

Merry Christmas -John Paul

 

[sarge7174]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

I've just got one thing to say about Bayou Rifle range-they're great people. I was in Galveston last year and was really needing to shoot. I found them on the web,made a phone call and one of their members met me at the gate. Oh,I forgot to mention,I had just put a new barrel on my rifle and didn't have a 600 yard zero. They were having a match in a couple of days,and I didn't want to look like an idiot with no zero. Just good people!!

 

[pjparker]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

sportcam

I can mirror what David Goosnell and Mark Walker say about Bayou Rifles. No one needs to be a member to shoot scheduled matches, so don't hesitate to come on out. One of the nice things about the match schedules at Bayou is that we shoot 300, 600 and 1000 yard matches, so pick a day that has a match distance you are comfortable starting with and come shoot!

Most of us had a fair amount of help from seasoned shooters on our way up the ladder, and most don't mind giving back by helping others come up, either - so come on out.

Paul Parker

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply, and yes the shooting community as a whole seems to be a great bunch of guys and more than willing to share their knowledge, which should make the learning curve much more enjoyable. Looking forward to meeting you all.

Rifle and Midway order should start arriving tomorrow. Sinclair F-class bipod mid January.

What an exciting time.

Thanks -John Paul

 

[*greenhorn*]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

do some load develop you in like flin, my brother shoots 165 grain smk out of his 12 i think im not sure ill call him runs with my rem 700 1:10 acc-sd throughing 178 amax rig at that air density

 

[J-ROD]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Sportcam, welcome from a sudo-newbie and nice set-up but I like your gun the most! (I have the same one lol)

Darrell has the same gun as well and seems to be managing well with his..hehe ;-)

If you want to shoot something factory for now to get you going, out to 600yds, try FGMM 168's, they chrono 2800fps (cheap chrony btw) and are amazingly accurate in my gun as well as a buddy of mine who also has a savage FTR.
SouthWest's 175smks went 2775fps out of my gun fwiw.

Make sure you clean the gun real well before shooting, mine was gross when I got it. I'm sure that's a no brainer for you and most everyone really but just in case.

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Thanks j--rod

I will be reloading from the start. Found a good post on ladder testing.

Thanks -John Paul

 

[sportcam]

Re: First Rifle - First Post

Finally got her out to the range today for barrel break-in, zero and load work-up with chrono.

Funny thing is this group (pictured) was at the low end of my powder charges.

I am more then happy with the results.

Time to load some more rounds and go deeper.