Sporting/Hunter Gear Register

[Blindbat]

I'm currently building a S/H. Opinions please.
The donor rifle is completely shot out.
Action - Rem 788 - built in 1967
Trigger - Timney
Barrel - Remington varmint profile - Maddco - it would be my choice for a hunting rifle rebarrel in any case.
Cartridge - TBA either a 6.5cm or 260 - neither an originally offered chambering
Bipod - Magpul
Scope - Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25
Stock - Boyd Classic
Cost - $1,200 to $1300 for the rifle without the bolt-ons.

[macguru]

I heard the rules may be revised soon. Is this true or a rumour ? It would be good to get some clarity before spending another couple of grand ....

[ChrisB]

Seeing that the entire Sport/Hunter topic has virtually no uptake and the limited response to "what are you using" as above includes mostly custom barrel jobs etc.

Maybe there's a clue to how far this well intended attempt to bolster club/range numbers has gone off track.

From this very forums front page;
Sporting/Hunting Discipline
Introduced in 2019, this class is defined in Chapter 23 of the SSRs. It offers shooters with factory sporting rifles the opportunity of participating at NRAA ranges alongside TR and F-Class.

“Attempt” indeed, working well where i come from! Replies from a small footprint of shooters who bothered to answer does not give a clear picture. Most hunter class shooters will not comment as people tend to shit can them for their choice.
I tend to follow the proposed rules otherwise why bother, i do ok with a 6.5 Creedmor Browning X Bolt off the shelf with a factory McMillan Stock. Meopta 4.5-27. Atlas bipod. Quake Squeeze Bag, no ears. Not a big investment but it goes very well.
I have recently been informed that the rules are being finalised to limit scope size and type of bags used along with limitations on supposed “Stock” rifles. This should finally give clarity on the rules.
I enjoy this style of competitive shooting, i also enjoy F-Open, unsure what i enjoy more yet.
All the best to you.

[ChrisB]

I just sat back shaking my head at the spec, why reply when this is so far outside the intended class, move on to F Class with that rig.

Accuracy International AT308
as from factory except original barrel removed
Factory custom left hand version
2 x bolts, mag and standard
6 x47 Lap with Bartlein fluted barrel 26" with brake, contoured to AI spec
7/6.5 PRC with Rock Creek fluted barrel 26" with brake, contoured to AI spec
AI factory quick change barrel setup
2x Carl Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30x50 - zeroed for each barrel
Spuhr QR mounts
AI bipod

OK so i'd better come clean. i'm not wanting to be lumped into the same category as guys who will spend $30k on a "hunting" rifle. I don't own this rifle.
I put the post up here to illustrate how ridiculous this is going to get. No one picked me up on it so apparently it isn't all that ridiculous a rifle in this class. If it keeps going like where it seems to be headed then a rifle like this won't make the top 100 in terms of cost.
Pete

[ChrisB]

I tend to follow the proposed rules otherwise why bother.
I do pretty well with a 6.5 factory Creedmor Browning X Bolt off the shelf with a factory fitted McMillan Stock. I have paperwork to prove this as a factory gun.
Meopta Optika 6 4.5-27. SFP
Atlas bipod to meet the implied rules
Quake Squeeze Bag, no ears.
Not a big investment but it goes very well. Results have been brilliant so far.
Anything custom is not a class rifle in my opinion.

No Uptake, what a load of crud, you need to get out more.

[Tony GRC]

Hi All,

New to the sport shooting out of Geelong RC. Hunter class is great for beginners like me with the V ring rather than that pesky tiny X ring!!

I wanted to buy Aussie so I got a Lithgow LA105 in .308 and have a Kahles 5x25 scope on it with some kind of bipod (can't remember the name). Just starting to do some reloading, which is a bit overwhelming and primers are obviously an issue.

Enjoying the sport and even went and did a PRS match out at Little River with the Lithgow which was a whole different ball game.

I imagine my Lithgow qualifies as a Standard Rifle in this class, but not 100% sure.

Cheers

Tone

[Tator]

Hi guys,
Just starting out in centrefire after spending a few years shooting ISSF small bore.
Have read the new SSRs released and have a bargain basement rifle which I want to give a run in the Hunter/sporter class.
Its a Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor with a 26 inch varmint barrel
KRG Bravo stock
generic Harris style bipod
ZeroTech Vengeance 4.5 -18 x40mm scope
and a GRS rear squeeze bag.
Biggest issue so far is that I don't get to shoot centrefire much as I work for TRSA at their range so most of my shooting time is done there with occasional trips to Lower Light.
So I don't have enough data for any DOPE cards as have only fired 45 shots through the rifle and its barely run in.
Any advice is helpful as I know my way around a small bore rifle like the back of my hand but centrefire is an even deeper rabbit hole than rimfires

Drew

[scott/r]

Hi guys,
Just starting out in centrefire after spending a few years shooting ISSF small bore.
Have read the new SSRs released and have a bargain basement rifle which I want to give a run in the Hunter/sporter class.
Its a Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor with a 26 inch varmint barrel
KRG Bravo stock
generic Harris style bipod
ZeroTech Vengeance 4.5 -18 x40mm scope
and a GRS rear squeeze bag.
Biggest issue so far is that I don't get to shoot centrefire much as I work for TRSA at their range so most of my shooting time is done there with occasional trips to Lower Light.
So I don't have enough data for any DOPE cards as have only fired 45 shots through the rifle and its barely run in.
Any advice is helpful as I know my way around a small bore rifle like the back of my hand but centrefire is an even deeper rabbit hole than rimfires

Drew

Drew, as long as you have a decent zero for your setup, most members accross Australia would be able to get you on target for any distance.
If your scope is zeroed at 100, it's about 3moa (or just under 1mil) up to 300. Then you will be around about 3moa for every 100yrds out to 600. Bearing in mind that this is an approximate, but it should be good enough to get you in the black to start off.
Scott.

[Weairy]

Hi guys,
Just starting out in centrefire after spending a few years shooting ISSF small bore.
Have read the new SSRs released and have a bargain basement rifle which I want to give a run in the Hunter/sporter class.
Its a Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor with a 26 inch varmint barrel
KRG Bravo stock
generic Harris style bipod
ZeroTech Vengeance 4.5 -18 x40mm scope
and a GRS rear squeeze bag.
Biggest issue so far is that I don't get to shoot centrefire much as I work for TRSA at their range so most of my shooting time is done there with occasional trips to Lower Light.
So I don't have enough data for any DOPE cards as have only fired 45 shots through the rifle and its barely run in.
Any advice is helpful as I know my way around a small bore rifle like the back of my hand but centrefire is an even deeper rabbit hole than rimfires

Drew

If you can get a speed over a chrono and you know what ammo/projectiles you're using, you can get all of your elevations charted pretty simply or plug it into Applied Ballistics app and it'll tell you everything. Most ranges will be able to help you with zeroing and elevations regardless.
Rifle sounds absolutely perfect for the class.

[MarkS]

Hey Drew @tator, DM sent.

Also, you refer to a "generic Harris style bipod". If it is a clone(eBay etc) and not an actual Harris, get rid of it and use a genuine Harris(they're cheap as in $150-250), an MDT Ckye-Pod or ATLAS. At say $3 a round using a sloppy bipod will just result in erratic on target results and waste lots of money.

[Tator]

Hi guys, took my Howa which now sports a Nightforce NXS 5.5- 22 x 56 and a Vipertec SO bipod and took it out to Lower Light with CTV on the 27th January, the very friendly guys there helped me zero the scope and then shoot a 20 shot natch.
First 12 were rough and ready as I was trying to translate what I knew from ISSF small bore into shooting centrefire. Then the second detail ended up with this.
https://shooting.hexsystems.com.au/shooting/613585

[lonerider43]

i still think hunter class,in all categories should be ammo limited to what fits in the magazine.
otherwise,they might aswell be classed as f-open.