F Class

About

F-class was derived from Target Rifle and has only been a recognised ICFRA discipline since the 1990’s. It was originally started to allow older Target Rifle shooters whose eye sight and general steadiness had deteriorated, to continue enjoying their sport.

F-class utilises a telescopic sight, a front rest or bi-pod for the fore end and a rear support bag for the rifle butt. Using a high powered scope allows the shooter to place a cross hair over the target. Some shooters prefer to centre the cross hair and dial wind compensation into the scope and others simply use the reticule’s lines as reference marks and hold the cross hair off centre to compensate for wind.

In F-class an extremely competitive person must have exceptionally repeatable technique, outstanding reloading practices, articulate wind reading ability and good equipment. In the heat of the moment, between expert opponents with good equipment, F-class is ultimately a wind reading and reloading competition.

F-Class is shot from a far steadier platform than Target Rifle with far more powerful magnification however the F-class target is half that of T/R. At 900 meters, the X ring is a mere 5 inches in diameter. The slightest inaccuracy will lose points.

F Class Standard

F-Standard is a category only recognised in Australia where F-Open and FTR are internationally recognised codes. All 3 share the same course of fire and scoring system. F-Standard and F-Open only differ in the equipment and ammunition component regulations.

An F Class Standard rifle will be chambered in either 308 Winchester or 223 Remington. The gun powders and bullets that are allowed to be used are also restricted to those approved by the NRAA. The bullet weights available for use in F – Standard are 155gr for the .308 and 80gr for the .223 (Ammunition is restricted to NRAA rules. – Section 3.4). Maximum weight of the rifle is 8kg, including sight and all attachments, but excluding the front rest. With the front rest attached, the overall maximum weight must not exceed 10kg. The trigger must not have a pull weight lighter than 1kg.

A highly regulated equipment rule as seen in F-Standard evens out the field and reduces the cliché idea of the competitor with most disposable income dominating.
F – Standard is subject to a grading system. Beginners starting in B grade and moving in to A grade as their skills and results advance.

F Class Open

F-Open is a competition recognised worldwide where the competitor has much more choice in ammunition components, calibres and rifle weight. Any calibre 8mm and under, any bullet weight can be utilised, any powder is allowed and the heavier allowable rifle weight of 10KG allows a more stable shooting platform with less felt recoil.

The F – Open competition in Australia generally has less competitors than F-Standard however the competition is considered to more intense due to the relaxed regulations allowing highly accurate, powerful and fast cartridges. An F Class Open rifle may be of any calibre up to and including 8mm. The overall weight must not exceed 10kg including all attachments. 

F/TR

FTR has only really been openly accepted in prize meetings and Queens events around Australia and by the NRAA since 2013. The Australian teams success at the 2013 F-Class World Championships at Raton raised awareness of the code and gave the FTR movement in Australia some great momentum.

FTR is very similar to both F – Standard and F- Open and is shot on the same target using the same scoring system. Like F-Standard, the calibre can only be either .308 Winchester or .223 Remington. The rifle must be shot off a bi-pod and can utilise a rear bag, none of which provide a positive mechanical means of returning the rifle to its precise point of aim for the next shot. The total weight must not exceed 8.25 kg. The trigger weight, powder choice and bullet weight, like F-Open are unrestricted.