OzFclass

Barossa_222 wrote:I like the system they run at CTV the only change I would make would be to reduce the number of scoring shots or do 3 relays of 6 scoing shots. I have spoken about a class similar to this to a few people at our club, because it does allow the average shooter to come and try with their own gear and most hunting rifles with handloads should be able to drop a shot in the 5 ring out to at least 500 yards.

Barossa_222 wrote:I like the system they run at CTV the only change I would make would be to reduce the number of scoring shots .........

argh wrote:Hi Dennis

Good topic, and its interesting to see the direction that it has taken.

A couple of things that come to mind that I think some posters on here need to think about.......

The sport of Fullbore shooting is always changing, like so many things in life, evolution is the key to success. We have gone from military, to pure target with an even playing field (issued ammo), to newer and more accurate rifles, and new disciplines in FClass.
Some people on here came into FClass when it was the new thing in Fullbore shooting under the NRAA - these people were seen as the "Newcomers" and seen as trying to take the sport away from its traditional roots. These FClass shooters were frowned on by the traditional target shooters (some are yet to get over it too)
It would appear that FClass shooters are painting others trying to come in to the shooting sports with more modern ideas as second class sports, or inferior. Especially the use of terms like Sniper Wanabees, and the term 'black guns'.
Some on here are even advocating that we do not want to actively target certain demographics into our sport.

Rather than spending time and effort trying to attract young people, why not recognise that they are more likely to be attracted to other forms of shooting, and concentrate our F-Class recruiting efforts on the 50s plus age group, where we'll get a better return on investment. By all means encourage young people to come and have a go, and plant the seeds for them to possibly return later in life.

(well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black !)

If you want this sport, or any sport/activity to grow or at least keep up with attrition of elderly members, then you need to move with the times. JUST AS HAPPENED when when FClass become a discipline.

Now.

Back onto the subject of new people coming into the sport. We need to actively encourage new people to take up the sport with the gear that they have, and have a somewhat competitive area of the sport that doesn't require a huge outlay to reasonably participate.

Sporter/Varmint class that has been discussed is exactly that. North Arm where Dennis shoots (and I used to ) has a group of members that turn up and shoot with their varmint/tactical rifles on bipods, and they would informally compete with themselves. Cudos to those guys, but little support from the NRAA in encouraging these people. some of those guys are probably going on to more competitive gear and different classes such as FOpen, but they at least started somewhere, and to North Arms credit (well most members) they did encourage these guys.

I also think that somewhat people need to look at what gear is required to be competitive at club level with factory gear. Do we all really need $4,000 custom rifles and march/Nightforce Scopes? Do we need to tell people that they need to have a custom xxxx action, with an xxxx barrel and a xxx xscope adding up to over $6,000, just to compete?

My history - I started a couple of years back after being away from full bore shooting for near on 25 years . I am in my mid 40's, young kids, time poor on weekends, not much disposable income left (after my kids use it all up). I could not afford a custom rifle when I got back into the sport, I could not find a decent omark suitable for FClass, so I went and got a factory varmint rifle with what I read to understand was a decent action, with the intention of shooting the first barrel out, then progressively upgrading to something that may be competitive. I have a Howa factory action, with a modified B&C tactical stock (oops, used that Tactical word, and the stock is even black too), and now with a second hand low round Maddco barrel (thanks to a member from off here).

At first, I was in the low 50's for scores but quickly got my scores up to 56 to 58's with the factory barrel, even using a folding bipod. Two years on, I am now graded into F Standard A grade. My NRAA grading is just under 97%, and that's shooting a factory repeater rifle, with a cheap scope. Hell, I even reload with Lee dies (plus a Forster seater). I am not beating the top F Standard shooters, and certainly was not competitive with a straight factory rifle, but was not too far off either.

I think I am exactly the person that the sport needs to target for future members, along with the younger people that may be more into sporting or even tactical rifles.

We need to stop thinking that only Barnards/Stolle/BAT custom actions are required with expensive barrels and high end scope, to be somewhat competitive. And if at the same time if we have a group of people that can compete based on cheaper factory available gear, such as the suggested class for sporting/varmint repeater actions off bipods, then you will attract new shooters who would otherwise be scared off by the $6,000 outfits, plus rests, plus reloading gear...

If NRAA Clubs, at club level, assist with having a mentality that yes you can compete with sporting off the shelf varmint rifles, in their own sub category, more members will come.

More members means more $ in the association, more members means more influence, more members means that the sport of Fullbore Target shooting under the NRAA will not die off. Being flexible and welcoming new ideas and allowing the sport to evolve is the key to success.

I hope you have not fallen asleep during my rant, and I hope that those of you who do not want to welcome new members or styles of shotting and evolution start think of the early days of FClass as it evolved from Target shooting.

Rant over

Adrian