Standard Hunter / Open hunter rifles

[Boomstick308]

Hi. New here so take it easy .
Couple of questions as ive tried & tried to get answers from range officers ect.
1st rifle Varmint 223 Factory out of box . 3.2 kilo . Rifle will need new barrel very soon . When i rebarrel it
Will i then have to shoot in hunter open ,? Barrel will still be varmint 26 inch . .
2nd rifle . Single shot with new aftermarket 25 inch barrel , heavy varmint profile ,
Weighs in at 6.4 kilo with bipod bolt , scope ect . Running 120gr bullets 6.5 cal.
Does it go open or standard hunter ? ,& Why . ? .
Last up ,, Is there a pdf file or something that i can view / copy on Hunter class
Rules & regulation. No one can tell me much .
Ive been told projectile weight puts the 6.5 in Open class . All sorts
Of different oppinions everytime i ask at range .
Very crazy But good class though .
Who,s got the Official rule book or document
Thankyou

[Rich4]

Search Nraa ssr's and icfra for international rules, sorry I don't know how to post links

[AlanF]

See Chapter 23 of the NRAA Standard Shooting Rules. Currently there is only one Sporting/Hunting Discipline class, but that may change, and most agree that these rules are not well enough defined for a competition class, which after all it isn't supposed to be (yet).

[Weairy]

Basically, at the moment, it's open to interpretation a bit. There isn't a SH Std and SH Open split. I'd think if there ever was, it would be more "Factory" and "Open", a bit like the PRS specs.

Barrel under 26", come in under weight, barrel up to heavy varmint profile and no attachments/accessories that make it a fit-for-purpose target rifle. It's a bit of an honesty system; don't go and bolt a Nightforce 5-55 Competition scope onto a Curtis action with a new stainless barrel chambered for target projectiles, in a target thumbhole stock and try pass it off as S/H.

For reference, the rifle I play with in SH is a Rem700 VSF in a Form LR Hunting Stock with a 24x Zero-Tech Scope and an Atlas bipod, chambered 308 and shooting 155 Copperheads. It's under the weight, and a good throw from an F-Class rifle, using more budget-friendly components and setups that several long-range hunters I've spoken with use (although not chambered in a Magnum cartridge!). We've got a couple of SH shooters who come from the PSR side of things, with REM700 done in clones of M24 military rifles, rebarrelled with 26" Swan barrels etc, but running 9x scopes, in 223 and 308. More than happy with their setups being in the "spirit" of the class.

From what you've said, I think either rifle is fair and reasonable to fit in SH

[PeteFox]

Currently there is only one Sporting/Hunting Discipline class, but that may change, .

Please not another shooting class! we have enough already

Pete

[mike H]

Broomstick,
Go to the links on this forum and find Associations then NRAA,at the top of the page look for SSR’S,all the rules there,it would be a great idea if all member’s checked them ,or at least referred new members to the rules.

[MarkS]

Currently there is only one Sporting/Hunting Discipline class, but that may change, .

Please not another shooting class! we have enough already

Pete

I'm thinking you're in Tassie by looks Pete (?) - are you saying you have too many classes and every day range is open attendance is at maximum capacity?

What I'm seeing is poor numbers at both practice days and in competition entries (and yes, COVID is part of that challenge to major match numbers).

Does the sport need lots of classes or a refinement to what is SMART for here and now?

The reason I ask anyone reading this is simple. The shooting sports needs the highest number of members and
If you think you local range, that sits on land worth millions or tens of million dollars, is secure when
a. the majority of the populations and politicians do not like the sport
b. land and housing shortages mean governments and developers are looking for any reason to claim land
then sorry, you're wrong.

Any sport needs to have classes/categories to cater to different experience levels.
Maybe just something to think about if you are on a range club committee.
Are the classes you offer maximising numbers to keep you club strong by being
Specific - everyone clearly knows what each class rules mean/are
Measurable - do the classes you offer get good attendance numbers on a regular basis
Achievable - if you're suffering with registration numbers why have a class where it would cost $20,000 to take part
Relevant - what do shooters want in this day and age. In addition to F-Class is it muzzleloading or muzzle brakes
Timely - are you making sure your offer to attendees is attractive based on current demand to get numbers up now, not "We should have done something.." after they shut down your range

On that last one guys, it is happening right now. If they can get a neighbour to remove firing rights as an example,
your range is shut.

All shooting clubs need numbers. Will a local politician push to keep a club open if it has 30 members or 3000?
A rising tide lifts all boats.

As usual, just someone's two cents

Back to the OP(sorry, rant over) -
If a "factory" rifle gets a new barrel then across all shooting sports I've competed in it's now an "Open" rifle.
A Tikka or a Howa with a Bartlein barrel is not a factory rifle no more (and it's not fair to the guys with factory gear).

[mitchellchandler_au]

Howdy all,
Just been going over the hunter class rules. We are starting to get a few shooters now wanting to shoot hunter class so I decided to get my bush rifle out to shoot with these guys. My question is, does my Remington police rifle in 308 fit the rules but more importantly does it fit within the spirit of the match? My rifle is a Remington 700 police rifle in 308, I have had a lumley arms dbm fitted to the factory stock, the original barrel died so a m24/m40 profile swan barrel was put on and it wears a nightforce 3.5-15 nxs. I cannot see where I went outside of the rules but the rifle hammers and it dies get dragged around the bush with me chasing ferals.

[Bigtravoz]

Currently there is only one Sporting/Hunting Discipline class, but that may change, .

Please not another shooting class! we have enough already

Pete

I'm thinking you're in Tassie by looks Pete (?) - are you saying you have too many classes and every day range is open attendance is at maximum capacity?

What I'm seeing is poor numbers at both practice days and in competition entries (and yes, COVID is part of that challenge to major match numbers).

Does the sport need lots of classes or a refinement to what is SMART for here and now?

The reason I ask anyone reading this is simple. The shooting sports needs the highest number of members and
If you think you local range, that sits on land worth millions or tens of million dollars, is secure when
a. the majority of the populations and politicians do not like the sport
b. land and housing shortages mean governments and developers are looking for any reason to claim land
then sorry, you're wrong.

Any sport needs to have classes/categories to cater to different experience levels.
Maybe just something to think about if you are on a range club committee.
Are the classes you offer maximising numbers to keep you club strong by being
Specific - everyone clearly knows what each class rules mean/are
Measurable - do the classes you offer get good attendance numbers on a regular basis
Achievable - if you're suffering with registration numbers why have a class where it would cost $20,000 to take part
Relevant - what do shooters want in this day and age. In addition to F-Class is it muzzleloading or muzzle brakes
Timely - are you making sure your offer to attendees is attractive based on current demand to get numbers up now, not "We should have done something.." after they shut down your range

On that last one guys, it is happening right now. If they can get a neighbour to remove firing rights as an example,
your range is shut.

All shooting clubs need numbers. Will a local politician push to keep a club open if it has 30 members or 3000?
A rising tide lifts all boats.

As usual, just someone's two cents

Back to the OP(sorry, rant over) -
If a "factory" rifle gets a new barrel then across all shooting sports I've competed in it's now an "Open" rifle.
A Tikka or a Howa with a Bartlein barrel is not a factory rifle no more (and it's not fair to the guys with factory gear).

While I agree with some of what you say I firmly disagree with your last statement regarding barrels. There’s only one HUNTER SPORTER class and the SSR’s are clearly and cleverly defined and allow for a barrel to be replaced or a trigger to be upgraded, and bedding to be performed. This In it’s own way gives encouragement for a shooter to learn and understand how to improve the accuracy of their equipment and help them prepare for when they step up from the NON COMPETITIVE hunter sporter class to building a competitive f class rifle.

Personally I think that everyone needs to read and understand the SSR’s better in the form that they are laid out in rather than perpetuating this debate based in misconstrued whisperings of the rules.

Travis.

[Downes Equestrian]

Hello guys
great topic. I'm new to the QRA (although a member in the 1970's) and what bought me back into it is the hunter class. It allows people people like me in western Qld to use our work rifles to shoot and has also been a massive help to increasing membership of the local clubs. It, as the class is intended is a lead in class to the target rifle and F Class.
Are there different divisions? open and standard though? in the rules I can not see a mention but on entry form there is sometimes???
Makes it hard for people how are using a bog standard rifle to be competitive against shooters using bench rest cartridges such as 22 PPC, custom barrels etc to be competitive.
I not sure if going crazy in a rifle build to win this class as some have done is in the sprit of the class. Maybe these guys need to go into F Class. I'm currently building an F open rifle to do this.
Anyway just my thoughts but it's disappointing to be seeing the class turning into just another F class rifle with a different name
John

[Tim L]

Hello guys
great topic. I'm new to the QRA (although a member in the 1970's) and what bought me back into it is the hunter class. It allows people people like me in western Qld to use our work rifles to shoot and has also been a massive help to increasing membership of the local clubs. It, as the class is intended is a lead in class to the target rifle and F Class.
Are there different divisions? open and standard though? in the rules I can not see a mention but on entry form there is sometimes???
Makes it hard for people how are using a bog standard rifle to be competitive against shooters using bench rest cartridges such as 22 PPC, custom barrels etc to be competitive.
I not sure if going crazy in a rifle build to win this class as some have done is in the sprit of the class. Maybe these guys need to go into F Class. I'm currently building an F open rifle to do this.
Anyway just my thoughts but it's disappointing to be seeing the class turning into just another F class rifle with a different name
John

I hear you John, just not sure there is a way to write the rules to avoid it. When chasing accuracy in competition it's always going to be an arms race.
My personal opinion is to do away with any rear support on this discipline and also put a severe weight limit on it. An FTR gun is limited to 8.25 and not allowed a muzzel brake. I'd put that at roughly 6kg with a brake. That would be it for me. Under 6kg, no rear support, Harris style bipod, go for gold with the rest.