G'Day Pat,
Well its 5/5/600 yds this weekend at Castlemaine, but usually 3/5/600 or longer maybe 3-4 yardages per day or sometimes 3x500 or 3x800etc and in F std = 12 rounds per distance or in F open = 13 per distance (usually than 50 per day unless you're in a shoot off for placings!)
In general most competitors have the following:
* A rifle capable of shooting 1moa for FS or 1/2 moa in F open
* Usually a tapered 20moa scope base with scope fitted with target turrets and an idea of come ups for the distances
* A solid bipod or front rest
* A rear sand bag
* a mat to lie on (I use a single bed lilo........I'm a cheap bastard who spends his $$$ on bullets barrels etc)
F std is a .223/69 or 80gn bullets or 308/155gn bullets. Open is any calibre but shot on a harder target face.
Remember nearly ALL of this can be borrowed by a newbie on the day if needed, there usually is someone who can loan their gear to get you started or try contacting the club to talk to the organisers about loaning equipment or what gear you plan to use prior to the event. Generally, they are fairly keen to get shooters on the firing line.
To be fair getting in earlier to ask the organisers prior to the match about having a go will help you (and them) on the day as they will be ready for you. They will be very busy with nominations, scoring, and running the event and a newbie fronting and expecting gear might be generally welcome but another distraction to the smooth running of an event.
Contact details will be on the flyer from the oz fclass site listed in my first post (as will most matches). Even fronting and having a look is worth it and make a day of it bring the family, have a look at the shoot for an hour or two, then have a look around the area; most country towns have plenty of tourist opportunities like shopping, wineries, historical buildings good eating etc.
However, I'd be very surprised if someone fronted and was refused a chance to shoot and I've seen clubs offer a club owned rifle to use (or perhaps a spare one from another competitor.....) I've seen shooters front up, and aim off the target all day with their hunting rifle and scope too.
And I'd say once you have a basic rifle/scope set up, it is a lot cheaper to shoot F class as a whole than BR but inevitablity you start to improve your equipment regardless and then the real cost starts.
Nevertheless, I've seen (and been beaten) by shooters with basic gear and better shooting and wind reading abilities too. Thats the real key to any competitive shooting, skills and wind/mirage reading all achieved by practice and as much as you can get.
LR prone shooting (benches are allowed in F class if your health does not allow you to go prone) is a heap of fun and the guys/gals are friendly and willing to help.
Time wise, is it very leisurely, 10 minutes or so to fire you rounds (I've never seen a clock though...maybe at really big matches) help score the target for other competitors after you shoot and then most of the day is spent talking about guns, accuracy,loads and stuff!!
How good is that.........
TZ, btw I've always found that joining in on the politics is usually up to the individual as to whether they want to participate or not?
Hope this helps,
Cheerio Ned