FTR rifles .. . . .

[BATattack]

This forum has been pretty quiet so a topic that id be intetested to hear peoples thoughts on.

Its interesting to see the evolution of FTR rifles at the momemt. There seems to be two totally differnt trains of thought. One camp seems to be building BR/FO type rifles and the other is building prone / TR style rifles.

The yanks seem to be really keen on the TR style with a few excpeions where i THINK over here we may be gravitating more to the BR style.

[Redhawk]

Mmmmmm....... Weight limit is still the same and still need to strap on that bi-pod in front.....

I have shot both and they both shoot equally well, looks will also influence preference and availability of stocks seems to be tricky as wel....

Some pics of what yoi would view as TR and BR typd might be helpful?

[UL1700]

What do you visualize as a F Open vs a TR development. F TR will always be a game of weights and where you value "spending" weight and where you can save it. Getting a rifle to track well on a bipod has a unique set of requirements so I'm not sure where the parallels are drawn to TR and F Open?

[BATattack]

These are 2 pretty good examples of what i see as the two distinct groups. Yep they are US shooters but they are both shopting FTR at national level. The interesting thing is litz is a TR shooter but has gone down the more BR rifle design

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... ilt-rifle/

http://www.usrifleteam.com/blog/2015/7/ ... -ftr-stock

As mentioned above not just the design but the weight "spending" seems to vary quite a lot. Some are going parallel barrels, light vs heavy barrels, light vs heavy stocks and light vs heavy actions.

The discipline seems to still be evolving which is interesting.

[Redhawk]

Very little pratcical difference between those 2 when there is a bi-pod in front...... The question is more if you are planning to free recoil or hang on to it

In eithe case recoil control is critical..... and yes there is a level of recoil control when free recoiling..... then there is the dreaded “jump” to try and avoid and minimize....

I think alu stocks need to be added to the list, some shoot them well.... others not. They do not fall for me into either TR or BR class

For me, it is on deciding on a style stock upfront, and then learn to shoot it. This is where I think FTR is very different from FOpen and Fstd.

[Quick]

Personally I prefer the more BR/FO style, but I grip the rifle which seems to work for me. I think weight in the barrel and long forend is good to control muzzle jump and help with recoil management

I borrowed a mates FO stock which had a rail in the forend, 38in long and it tracked really well. It was just too heavy by 200gm or so.

[Redhawk]

Agree Shaun, having that weight up front with a center of gravity on the shooters side of the bipod goes a long way in getting a stable platform.

Normally I shoot an alu stock and have been very happy with the result I am getting. It took some time for me to figure out how to get the optimum bipod and rear bag to consistently track and recoil for predicable bullet placement

Just had a wood/carbon stock completed for a new FTR rifle, and from shooting Jason Mayer’s lazer mounted FTR rigs in similar stocks, I know I will need to change shooting style to learn how to recoil manage the rig for consistent shot placement through a Queens.

Regards
Frans

[Quick]

Look forward to seeing your new rig Frans. Sounds good. Whats the new stock weigh? Are you still running a Barnard?

[RDavies]

I haven't done much F/tr at all but do have 2 F/tr rifles getting built and so far these are my thoughts.
One gun (my budget F/tr gun) will be used with a non joystick type bipod and so will have a TR style stock ( actually an Anschutz rimfire prone stock) with a tapered rear bag slider to allow elevation adjustment by sliding the gun back and forth. Because of its not so light components (Barnard S action and Sightron scope) I will need to use a heavy palma barrel.

My other (not so budget gun) will use a joypod so I can go with a parallel rear end.
So that I can do load development fine tuning on an F open front rest, I will go for 3" wide forend.
Since the stock will be pretty light, will have a light Nightforce Comp scope, light Joypod and light Titanium action, I am hoping to be able use an F open type barrel

[cheech]

I have 2 rifles of Adams description and both work well

Both have light stocks(but different) and same scope rings etc , and make same weight limit .

Barnard uses 311/2” HV , the Kelbly 32 “ parallel

Components weight will always dictate final outcome

The Kelbly looks like a F-open rig and I gets questioned every time it comes out , it is very nice to shoot with most of the weight on the bipod but still have to do all the painful homework in load development

[RDavies]

I have 2 rifles of Adams description and both work well

Both have light stocks(but different) and same scope rings etc , and make same weight limit .

Barnard uses 311/2” HV , the Kelbly 32 “ parallel

Components weight will always dictate final outcome

The Kelbly looks like a F-open rig and I gets questioned every time it comes out , it is very nice to shoot with most of the weight on the bipod but still have to do all the painful homework in load development

So, do you do the load development on a front rest, to isolate the bipod from results, or do you just stay with the bipod?

[Redhawk]

Whats the new stock weigh? Are you still running a Barnard?

New stock with cheek piece is about 2.24kg without about 0.2kg less. Will be using a Heavy Palma Barrel.

Still running a Barnard, I love ‘em for various reasons!

[cheech]

So, do you do the load development on a front rest, to isolate the bipod from results, or do you just stay with the bipod?

Hi Rod

I keep the bipod on , On my property at home I can develop loads at 300m+ but I shoot off a bench need it elevated as terrain is a little undulating , also using same carpet mat underneath
The loads that show the best results go to the club range for further testing or a prize shoot and tweak them from there
State Team Coach Adam gave us a work out last year to get things up to speed with good basic methods I could do at home and results confirmed on our training days and enough to get over the line for the gong
Frank

[Quick]

Frans,

Sounds good mate. Look forward to seeing it. I will be back next year for the nationals for sure. May even have a new rifle I'm building too. A few things I've learned when I built mine to try out.

Rod,

Very interesting to see you new rifle too. I guess FO isn't enough for you anymore haha.

[Brad Y]

I have built a BR based ftr rifle similar to Bryan Litz. It carries a factory Tikka T3 action and factory 24 inch 1:8 twist barrel. First 5 shots of load development on Sunday at 400m went XVXXV. It will be turned into a 308 later in the year but had a ball shooting it as a 223 on the weekend.