The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Gun Pimp wrote:

BritBloke wrote:I had no idea there was such a thing as 'budget' F/TR!

As I said previously - Laurie Holland has been writing a series of articles on this very subject for Target Shooter magazine - check out a few back issues if you are interested.

I just read pt 1 of that series and his total budget is £1750! I know he got some good bargains and is looking at several options but that's more than my car cost. Good luck to him and anyone else that takes it up but even the budget end is too rich for me.

I have both the the 10-50x60 and 8-32x56 Sightrons personnally I think the glass is slightly better in the 8-32. Also you have more elevation adjustment with the 8-32

Alan

Competitive shooting will always be an arms race and although money doesn't neccessarly translate into shooting skill it is certainly necessary to get a seat at the table.

That was why classic rifle shooting always held more attraction for me and even there winning was so important for some individuals that they stretched every rule they could find, wearisome if you thought about it. Still the shooting was still fun and a slightly leveller playing field which meant that people could get on the score board with far more modest outlay.

My van cost me £500 and a .22" rifle.

yeh its expensive but what ya gonna do, i paid nearly £3k for my .22 target rifle

so do you think i will be better off building up a 2nd hand swing/rpa than the savage?

Sandgroper wrote:

Gun Pimp wrote:

BritBloke wrote:I had no idea there was such a thing as 'budget' F/TR!

As I said previously - Laurie Holland has been writing a series of articles on this very subject for Target Shooter magazine - check out a few back issues if you are interested.

I just read pt 1 of that series and his total budget is £1750! I know he got some good bargains and is looking at several options but that's more than my car cost. Good luck to him and anyone else that takes it up but even the budget end is too rich for me.

Keep reading - Laurie also bought a 308 Howa off a guy on the UKV forum for £650. It proved to be a very accurate rifle - I shot it myself. With one of Foxy's £110 scopes it would make a great F/TR rifle out to 600 yds. If you want to go the extra distance - out to 1000 yards - then a longer barrel is really needed. A re-barrel would cost £650, which makes a secondhand Target Rifle a possible alternative.

The reason Laurie is doing this series is because many shooters have the impression that it cost the earth to compete in F Class - it doesn't and a visit to Diggle Ranges will reveal plenty of competitors using pretty mundane kit like Remingtons, Rugers etc. If you want to be competitive at the highest level - i.e. the GB F Class League - then you would be looking at spending a bit more! But, that's the same with most disciplines - including Target Rifle, Practical Rifle, CSR, Benchrest etc.

If you really don't want to spend much money but want to enjoy competition, then get yourself a P14, SMLE, No4, '17 etc. and shoot classic military rifle. And - your rifle could even appreciate in value!

Chipping in on the scope.... I've got a fox 10-40 that I've had for a few years now on my 308 that is great and for the money can't be criticised.

I've updated now to a nightforce for my 50 cal and an IOR for my 308 (after sending a 12- 50 Schmidt back after it broke really quickly on the 50 and then broke again once it came back from Schmidt after a long wait with no explanation of what was wrong with it or apology from them sign01 )

Anyway, I digress smile2 , although the fox scopes shouldn't really be compared to the ridiculously expensive ones they are still excellent for the money and do the job very well! (Others cost up to 20 times more but aren't 20 times better razz )

I wouldn't part with my 10-40 and would encourage anyone on a bit of a budget to give them a serious look as I don't think you will be disappointed - you can always upgrade at a later date if you want to....

If you want to go the extra distance - out to 1000 yards - then a longer barrel is really needed.

Not always true - my 308's - 1 in12 twist 26" Madco on a Swing action bedded into an Anschutz 1813 wooden stock is more accurate at 1000yds than my 30" 1 in 13 Walther barrel on an RPA / HPS rifle. ..... & its the other way round at 300yds.

Many long range shooters go for higher twist with shorter barrel length (but pay for it in increased wear rates).

I agree, I routinely shoot to 1000 yards and more with a 24" barrel however the longer barrel and increased MV does pay dividends at cheating the wind.

hitchphil wrote:

If you want to go the extra distance - out to 1000 yards - then a longer barrel is really needed.

Not always true - my 308's - 1 in12 twist 26" Madco on a Swing action bedded into an Anschutz 1813 wooden stock is more accurate at 1000yds than my 30" 1 in 13 Walther barrel on an RPA / HPS rifle. ..... & its the other way round at 300yds.

Many long range shooters go for higher twist with shorter barrel length (but pay for it in increased wear rates).

I don't see the relevance that your Madco is more accurate than your Lothar Walther barrel at 1000 yards. What's your definition of accuracy?

If we are talking about competitive FTR - which I thought we were - then to be competitive, you will need to match the ballistics of your competitors - they will all be using 30 - 32 inch barrels and pushing their 155s at 3000 fps plus.

Tell me when anyone won a 1000 yard FTR League shoot with a 26 inch barrel!

hitchphil wrote:Many long range shooters go for higher twist with shorter barrel length (but pay for it in increased wear rates).

Can't speak for other disciplines, but I've never met a TR shooter who would pick a shorter barrel over a longer one for long range. A slightly sharper twist, possibly, but even with that many shooters just use one rifle (often a 13" twist) at all ranges as any gain is marginal. Same is true of MR shooters, most of whom have now gone to 34" fluted barrels.

PS - On the original question, secondhand is the way to go.

Gaz