Newbie needs help setting up.

I went through a similar exercise a few years ago for an across the course rifle and ended up with a sako varmint in .260 Remington. Not something I would recommend for a new shooter though. .308 allows you to compete in F-TR where you can be very competitive with a production rifle as opposed to F Open where you will be at a significant disadvantage. The Varmint rifles have a bit more weight to them which makes them easier to shoot well (particularly for targets) and more so with a sling. .308 ammunition is available in every firearm store in NZ and once you have a source, factory 308 target ammunition is available as well (Lapua, Norma, etc...).

good comments from Gillie, especially about 308 :thumbsup:

however... don't be in a rush to buy something, especially a "compromise" rifle. if you end up doing smallbore or TR class fullbore, a varmint rifle is not going to help you.

not sure I agree about a production rifle being competitive in FTR, we've just gone to 1/2 moa super V targets, so its become significantly more challenging. I travel a fair amount to go do FTR shoots around the NI, and it is very rare to see a hunting or varmint type rig on the line, and even more so seeing one being competitive. lots of guys have tried, VERY few succeed. there are some remington 700 clones such as stiller etc, but those rifles are in decent heavy stocks and have match barrels, so effectively a dedicated target rig. My FTR rifle weighs just over 8kg including the bipod and scope, not the type of thing you want to drag around an across the course comp. It is however possible to be competitive using older (cheaper) target rifles provided you have a decent stock and barrel.

Yep agree entirely ebf, the big problem with a "compromise" rifle is that it will be good for most things but exceptional for nothing. Same with your comment about some of the older target rifles - my old man has a Parker Hale C3A1 (TX1200 or close enough) that can shoot a 0.5MOA group at 500yards. And you can pick them up for a lot less than the cost of a new tikka!

It has been a few year since I shot F class competitively and much still since I shot small bore competitively.

What I like about the tikkas is their action design - a strong action able to be upgraded with match barrels and different stocks for different applications. The .308 is obviously an advantage for ammunition and for F-TR in the beginning but the action length also gives the ability to re-barrel to something like .243 or 6.5x47L if down the track he decided he wants to change the purpose for the rifle (4 position or field shooting, etc).

You guys seem to really know your gear.
I think I'm getting the bug for shooting, and I haven't even got a rifle or a license yet.

it gets worse when you get the rifle
scope
mounts
ammo
bag
bipod
etc
and unlike being in the mob,you have to buy it all!!!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by marky123

it gets worse when you get the rifle
scope
mounts
ammo
bag
bipod
etc
and unlike being in the mob,you have to buy it all!!!!!!

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At grossly exaggerated prices ;)

The TR and FTR guns do 1/4MOA and better and keep a 308 supersonic at 1000yds (just). To do this they have a massively stiff and strong specialist barnard action and a super heavy match grade SS barrel 30~32inches long. Now some high end 308s might be OK, or you might just find you have a gun to heavy to hunt with and not accurate enough to compete.

"bug" yes indeed, its infectious.

:D

Oh and the TR sights run $1500 rear and $1000 front, a good enough FTR scope $1500 ish.

That's all pretty scary.

My wife thinks I'm going to spend $2000 all up. But I will be sneaky and spend $3000 on just the rifle.
But if I spend between $2000 and $3000 on a rifle, I will probably have to spend at least another $2000 on all the other accessories.

Shit, I'm going to get my ass tanned if she finds out.

Yep, that right a top end F class or TR will set you back more than a few grand, as will a top end small bore rifle, or top end air rifle, or top end shot gun, or a top end 4 position rifle.
And you better believe that if you are not running the top end gear you are wasting your time even trying to have fun because the shooter makes no difference at all - it is all in the gear... (Jackangus this sentence is sarcasm...:thumbsup:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jackangus

Shit, I'm going to get my ass tanned if she finds out.

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Welcome to our world Jackangus. Just remember the firearms owners mantra "it is easier to beg forgiveness than it is to ask permission"

@Jackangus, I'd take Steven's cost estimates with a pinch of salt.

There are a lot of starter rifles floating around the clubs. If you show that you are dedicated and willing to put in the hard yards, people are amazingly generous.

I shot my first FTR season with a $ 400 rifle off Trademe. Toward the end of that season I upgraded the scope (got it at a good price from a forum member). It takes at least a season or two to learn different ranges and get your head around the peculiarities of wind calls at the different venues. You could turn up tomorrow with a $ 6 or even $ 10 K rifle, but unless you understand wind and how to make adjustments for it, your scores would be well below par.

During the off season I had a club mate help put my action into a old target stock (free), and re-barrel it with a second hand target barrel (free) I got from another club mate. All up I doubt if I have spent more than $ 1500 on the setup, but it did involve a lot of DIY work, favours and generosity from other people. So far this season I have won FTR 2 out of 3 shoots amongst the Welly clubs, so you don't need a $ 6 K rifle to be competitive...

It's like any other sport. you can spend oodles of $, but it is not an automatic recipe to success.

"it is easier to beg forgiveness than it is to ask permission"

Your right there Rushy.
I have been on that side of the track more time than I care to remember.

Yea Gillie, maybe time to lower my expectations.
As long as I can get a good setup, I'm happy.
I'm not going to be shooting in the Olympics any time soon.

You can also use the excuse of "saving money" by reloading :thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jackangus

That's all pretty scary.

My wife thinks I'm going to spend $2000 all up. But I will be sneaky and spend $3000 on just the rifle.
But if I spend between $2000 and $3000 on a rifle, I will probably have to spend at least another $2000 on all the other accessories.

Shit, I'm going to get my ass tanned if she finds out.

---

You may not be as sneaky as you think, you wife will automatically assume you are telling porkies and will adjust the figure upwards based on her bullshit meter reading. :0

Yea, I wish that was her way of thinking.

That is how she works though, "just spend $150 on shoes" look up later on online banking and its guaranteed double that.

Bloody sneaky woman, you have to watch them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kscott

You can also use the excuse of "saving money" by reloading :thumbsup:

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or you could just go for a less addictive -and in the long run probably cheaper drug, like, say , crack ...

With a name like Jack and possibly from Angus in Scotland he doesn't need a rifle he needs a stone and some elastic from an old pair of braces and he will be fine. :-) Welcome, i know bugger all about targets unless they are the deer kind then i know to shoot it. Also from Scotland and now living in a swamp!

Will watch this thread with interest Jackangus, im as tight as a mouses arse, all my firearms are 'tools' not safe queens!!!!!......"Sako tastes with Norinco pockets"......im not a gong/paper-puncher so cant offer any worthwhile advice on you discipline....

but all the best mate!!!!!

Groundskeeper Willie, I'm Scottish all right, from Edinburgh.
Where you from buddy?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jackangus

Groundskeeper Willie, I'm Scottish all right, from Edinburgh.
Where you from buddy?

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Plenty of Sots on here Jackangus. I hunt with AndrewH and can't understand a word the man says to me.

It's a long story as are most from hunters! Finished up in Edinburgh a few years back, saw the light (turns out that's called sunshine)and now out in NZ living the life. Kind of, i think. Yeah good buggers on here for the most part, there was a guy a month back or so had a melt down within 5 minutes of being here as no one would tell him their spot X, go figure. Have a look back and it makes for entertaining reading. Free venison out this way as well so another plus for NZ. Based up in Hamilton so if you ever venture out this way let me know. Talking of venison it's bbq day and home brew beer. Can't beat it really.
I should have been out painting bambi with a 7mm but there you go, fully of the flu, full of shit and loving life :pacman:

@Jackangus

So lee, tell us about your shoot this morning, heard from some of the guys that you had a blat with the TR rifle.

Don't write off shooting FTR with a .223.
Get a heavy barrelled rifle, use hand loaded ammunition and you can shoot (competitively) out to 1000 yards.

My son has taken up FTR shooting. As a teenager a .308 recoil is too strong for him.
After shooting with a borrowed .223 I bought a Savage Model 12 .223, with a 1:7 twist 26" barrel.
The Savage is straight of the shelf with the addition of a 2nd hand scope and a (borrowed) Harris bipod.

So far he has shot competitively out to 700 yards with it.
I'm loading norma cases with 24 grains of 2208 and a 80 grain Amax projectile.

I haven't added up all the bills, but including new reloading equipment (inc new cases) I think the total is around $3500 - but don't tell the missus.

Yea, really enjoyed it.
Certainly different sights, that's for sure. Still not sure yet if that's the way to go yet.
What would it be like trying to hit a target other than a circle? Hope that's not too stupid a question.

But did enjoy it though, Thanks for asking ebf.

The aperture sights are pretty much specialised sights for round targets. The outer edge of the black circle on the target is the aiming mark.

Similar setup used for smallbore as well, you're effectively centering the aiming mark inside a circular front element.

Can't really comment on how effective they would be on non circular targets. Peep sights like the skinner with a front blade/pin and a rear circle are probable the closest thing.

For F-class we use scopes and aim at the point of impact, you can either dial and aim at the centre, or hold off. The are several guys shooting FTR in the club, ask to have a go with one of theirs.

What do you shoot ebf?
Do you do a few disciplines?
The 308 left my shoulder a little sore at the end, do you get used to that or am I holding the rifle wrong?
I did like the 308 though, probably when the time comes, that's the caliber i will get.

At the moment I mainly shoot FTR, with a bit of across the course as well. I have a chronic elbow injury, so can't take the strain of sling shooting.

Did IPSC & 3-Gun for several years in the early 2000's before moving to NZ.

If you wore a shooting jacket and the rifle was adjusted correctly it should be sore. Probably the buttpad position was not correct.