S Class shooting - a discussion

[dromia]

Hi Scotsgun, how are you doing?

[Scotsgun]

Not bad, mate. You?

Just been busy chasing the bucks.

[dromia]

I'm good, still above ground, which all you need as after that its up to yourself.

Just punching paper as I haven't been north for a couple of months just too busy selling guns.

Going to try for a couple of weeks this month if my wife can find the time.

If not I'll just have to go anyway.

[Sandgroper]

I've been following this one with interest. A great idea; especially the possibility of a postal league. Some of us don't have ready access to a formal range but stalkers and pest controllers often shoot over thousands of acres. I myself regularly shoot over a hillside approx 1350yds.

My 2pence worth:
Intent - deliberately stearing away from the state that F class has gone can only be a good thing. The rifles are increasingly less recognisable as such and most of use couldn't afford the regular re-barrelling, never mind the additional gadgets!

Scope - the traditional variable hunting type scope is the 3-9x40 which is perfectly capable in these distances. Also, every manufacturer stocks a 3-9x magnification. I personally think a 14x mag is more applicable to ranges beyond 600yds but its hardly a deal breaker.
Please don't go down the route of allowing scopes larger than 14. If i had a quid for every 'hunter' with a huge great scope on their rifle which has never been shot as quarry above 9-12x mag.......... You will find the occassional 'varmint' hunter who'll use the scopes full potential out in clear fields and hillsides, but its just not practicle in forrests, brush and overgrowth. There's also the cost implication to consider in that a scope with a decent sight picture beyond a 14xmag would be about a grand. This will exclude many from entering.
Personally i'd wait for the final answer and then get a fixed mag of that magnification or near

Weight - 15lbs is way too heavy. I went into the gun room and compared some rifle weights. My Steyr SSG69 in 308 with harris bipod, kahles scope, t8 moderator and sling only came in at 13lbs. With that big cold forged barrel i could sit behind it all day, shooting strings of 5 shots without ever fear of the barrel shifting point of aim. Hardly fair if competing against guys with T3s, rem700s, etc. In contrast, my Tikka M65 in 2506 with harris bipod, DM2 moderator, Zeiss Conquest scope and sling came in just under 12lbs. A more level playing field. My rem700 varmint in 22-250 with long fluted barrel, Swarovski scope, predator moderator, bipod and sling also came in around 12lbs.

I'm interested in the outcome. It's been ages since i've gotten excited about shooting.

Nice to have you on board.

I agree with your thoughts on weight and scopes - I must admit most of the Roe I've shot, the mag on the scope was set at x6. The only reason I have 4-14x50 on my Rossi is that was all I had spare and I thought people would be more amenable to going up to x14 than to going down to x9.

Any other thoughts?

Going to try for a couple of weeks this month if my wife can find the time.

If not I'll just have to go anyway.

If it's later in the month, I might be able to pay you a visit.

[dromia]

Hope we can work something out Grant.

[Sandgroper]

Will be in touch.

[Scotsgun]

Took the 'wee' dogs (springer and border terrier) for a short walk in the woods this morning. Stood and watched a young buck chase a doe in circles, not 30yds away. Totally oblivious to us. If it had been the large dogs, they'd have been dog food!

[ovenpaa]

12lbs/5.5Kgs does sound good to me as does a postal league to start off with, even if you are shooting on the side of a hill on your own, just decide on a distance and target size.

Names? I will kick the list off, we can add rifle details later such as make and model, cartridge, rifle weight and 'scope magnification as it will be interesting to see who is shooting what and which ones work well.

Ovenpaa

[Mr_Logic]

I think this sounds like a plan so as and when things move I'm interested.

[Sandgroper]

12lbs/5.5Kgs does sound good to me as does a postal league to start off with, even if you are shooting on the side of a hill on your own, just decide on a distance and target size.

Names? I will kick the list off, we can add rifle details later such as make and model, cartridge, rifle weight and 'scope magnification as it will be interesting to see who is shooting what and which ones work well.

Ovenpaa

Sandgroper