#7 Postby RDavies » Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:55 am
You could say I've done a fly shoot or two in my time, (actually one is the correct amount) and think it would be great for all F class shooters to have a go when they get the chance. The rifle accuracy standards in the fly are way up there with the VERY BEST F Open rifles.
As I was to find out on my first attempt, having a rifle which will sort of hang in the 6 ring in F Class will put you well back in the standings in the Fly.
Some things I found which are different to F class are that having a few BR style wind flags to put in your scopes vision would be good. You can read other peoples flags for the 1st 200yds, but then you cant really see what is going on with the flags down range. Get at least 2 BR style daisy wheel flags. These will be good for load development days as well.
Having a larger calibre can help in that you can more easily see bullet holes when the mirage comes in. Next year I hope to use a 6.5x47 in light gun and a 300WSM in heavy gun. I bought a heavy gun stock while I was there which weighs more than 2 complete F Open rifles.
The Bat shoot is at night and is at 300M. Only the flags in the first 50 yds or so are visible so everyone is on similar footing here. When the insert your bolt and ready to fire command is called out, all lights except the ones at target are turned off. The course of fire in the fly is 3 sighters which you can use at any time in the string, then 5 for score. I discovered that many of the front runners would fire one or two sighters max, then start on their string, using their 3rd sighter if they saw a condition change. In the Bat shoot, you get one sighter, then 5 scoring shots. Both the Bat and fly shoots are over 5 scoring targets, so 25 shots for score. The Bat shoot and fly shoots are also similar to F Class in that you can (usually) see where your shots are going, so can correct as needed.
On the Sunday was the 1000yd BR which is usually fired blind, as in, once you start your business shots, you don't get to see the fall of shot until you have finished your 5 or 10 shots. (5 shots in light gun, 10 shots in heavy gun). I shot the 10 shot heavy gun class this time with my 6.5mm F class gun. As most F Open guns are over 7.7kg, they will have to shoot in heavy gun, which has 10 shots strings as in F class. As I mentioned previously, I have just bought a huge big heavy gun stock. With a good action and this stock, it will be possible to rattle 10 shots down range in 30 seconds with a 300WSM recoiling like a 22 rim fire. One of my previous 284 F class barrels will be getting the worn chamber end cut back a bit to get it into light gun weight and will then have a muzzle break fitted which is legal in 1000yd BR.
Though F class will remain my main passion, I think it would be good to cross train with some Fly/Bat/1000yd BR shooting to give you some variety and learn new skills. While you are there, do some preaching about F class. Having 50-80 F class guns in the event is a target rich environment for finding new F class shooters.
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