What happened to F-Open??

[jump70]

I shoot at Sydney's Malabar range on Saturdays with one of the local clubs.

Today, I think I was the only person shooting in F-open class - of all the shooters present on the range. I'm reasonably new to the sport, so I can't help wondering why?

Everyone I speak to says F-open is dying in the arse. What the hell happened? I know it has a following in some other places but if it's happening anywhere in Sydney, I'm not hearing/seeing it.

A mate of mine in WA says same thing there.

Guess I'll just have to compete against myself and maybe shoot my .223 a bit more often.

[diamond T]

Too many people are more concerned about rules & regulations than having fun, which F-class should be about. Maybe F-class should be moved well away from the anal full bore crowd.

[a.JR]

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[jump70]

I couldn't agree more on all the vested interests, politics and general bullshit that seems to get flung about in the whole FB vs FS vs FO merry-go-round. I'm a relative newbie and I'm am utterly f*cking astonished by it. While all these (generally older) guys are arguing about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic, other guys just want to get in, shoot, take the piss out of each other and paw over the kit.

The situation makes me feel, in a black-humoured way, like a guy who asked a group of other guys the time and when one replied 5.00pm, another replied 5.01pm and then they all started brawling with each other.

I wonder if they ever look around and ask, where are all the new shooters? More importantly, I wonder if they ever ask themselves - "maybe we're 90% of the problem?"

Guess I'll just have to plod along on my own.

[Mick]

We have a decent turnout most weekends in Canberra. About 6 or 7 people shooting FO pretty much every weekend.

And unfortunately, what JR says is very true. There are some elements within the fullbore shooting fraternity that plain dont want FO there. I even heard a guy whining at a queens shoot about being on a target "next to those F Open dickheads". I dont understand why it's the case, and I really dont care. I'll just keep turning up and having fun.

I've also seen recently a few FO shooters switch to standard because of numbers at prize meets. Fair enough. They are looking to compete against a larger field. As much as I'd like to get to more prize meetings, and shoot more often in general, I just dont get the opportunity with work to take 3 day weekends very often. I work most weekends as it is anyway. A couple of the Canberra FO shooters are in that same boat.

There are another couple of people I've spoken to who are considering dropping FO and moving to regular BR because they are tired of being treated like second class citizens by their club, and F class in general taking a back seat. Fair enough too. FO shooters pay the same club membership fees, same range fees etc. We also pay A grade entry fees to prize meetings and pretty much fund the A grade prize pool, yet are offered 3 badges ourselves.

So yes, I'm not surprised at all that FO numbers are thinning a bit.

[Tony Z]

Just recently a fellow i know who has heavily promoted FO came to me about chamber specs for my 308 reamer. He now has bought the reamer and a new barrel and has asked me to chamber the barrel and fit it to an FO rifle. There is another and yet another FO shooter doing the same. This is in preperation, they tell me, for the impending day of death for FO.
The perpetual crap written and condoned by a certain other forum is in large part responsible for the death throws of this great sport we are hearing and now seeing. My reasons for going to FS is solely for me to get away from the reloading rigors i already go through in the 20 or so other matches i shoot per year. And that is just local, not state or national. So to me my reason is justifyable.
Consistant whiteanting by a clan in the south with things like FS is the quickest growing sport in the world and what are the rest of you doing, along with the scare tactic of cost and work associated with FO over FS is largely responsible for the situation we are in. Not to mention that there are also commercial interests in FS , because of rules etc, that this clan has strongly influenced the direction of FS at the expense of FO, with the moderators full knowledge and approval, leaves many of us in disbelief.

You reap what you sow.

Tony Z.

[jump70]

Unfortunately, no 1000br in Sydney, so I can't even go there and ask them if they wouldn't mind if I lay down on the job...

Bill: What's that noise coming from down there, Bob?

Bob: Bill - oh take no notice, it's only Justin, he's the sole survivor of that f-class open thingy and he hasn't learned how to sit up yet.

Justin: yaargh, pant, pant, drool....BANG!

[Rinso]

jump70,

You can shoot 1000 yd BR at Canberra with the rest of us mate .. next match 25/11/07 at 0830hrs.

As for the F Stanard / F Open debate ... IMHO F Open has been fighting for its life from day one, various dinosaurs have actively done everything in there power to ensure this happens sooner rather than later.

F Standard however is being given more acceptance as the dinosuars eyesight fails and they can now strap a scope to the match rifle and still be able to shoot in a competitive environment .. the fact that to maintain that level of competitive ability means removing the ability of shooters to improve equipment and gain maximum results seems a lesser evil than to allow a creature like F Open (its almost Benchrest you know) to exist.

At at time when all shooting sports should be banning together this attitude is scandalous at best.

cheers
Rinso

[Tony Z]

Jump70, as like Rinso said, you are very welcome to shoot IK BR or the Fly at Cantberra or Syney (Fly) with a great bunch of guys that will be more than helpful with any finer points. Don't loose sight of FO as i hope things will improve and the long range BR shoots, if you get involved with them, will only benefit you in the long run.

Tony Z.

[Mick]

jump70,

You can shoot 1000 yd BR at Canberra with the rest of us mate .. next match 25/11/07 at 0830hrs.

As for the F Stanard / F Open debate ... IMHO F Open has been fighting for its life from day one, various dinosaurs have actively done everything in there power to ensure this happens sooner rather than later.

F Standard however is being given more acceptance as the dinosuars eyesight fails and they can now strap a scope to the match rifle and still be able to shoot in a competitive environment .. the fact that to maintain that level of competitive ability means removing the ability of shooters to improve equipment and gain maximum results seems a lesser evil than to allow a creature like F Open (its almost Benchrest you know) to exist.

At at time when all shooting sports should be banning together this attitude is scandalous at best.

cheers
Rinso

hahah, correct in every sense. The concern in even F Open with "Heavy bench guns" turning up is amusing. I fail to understand why, since the equipment counts for bugger all if the nut behind the bolt isnt working right. I think the last 2 Fly shoots here being won by light guns that would qualify for FO are pretty telling in that regard. It's not as "Open" a class as the name might suggest. A lot of people within the F class ranks arent doing the class any favors either by trying to restrict it to suit their equipment.

I think a turn up and shoot whatever you have class would be fun. I'd be in it for sure, and I know quite a few others who would too. At the end of the day, the best shooter is always going to win no matter what equipment they are up against. Scaring people into believing they need top of the line everything to be competitive is hardly constructive, and completely incorrect.

[jump70]

I'd love to shoot 1000br or fly but I don't think I'm going to be able to make the next match - 25NOV is a no go at this stage.

And there's lies the basis of the problem - time. I think I'd really need to train this type of thing regularly and there's simply nowhere I know of anywhere around Sydney to do so - and as much as I love the concept of fly and 1000br, a 3+ hour drive out of Sydney to Canberra (more like 4+ when you factor in the f*cked traffic) and then return on a frequent basis pretty much rules me out (unless I sleep with one eye open waiting for the minister of finance and war to throttle me when she thinks I've nodded off). If you want to shoot LR precision in Sydney, I don't know of any other discipline than f-class where that is possible.

Don't know what everyone else's take on this is. Rinso, I note your loc says Bathurst? That's a fair hike for you...

J70

[Rinso]

jump70,

Yep Bathurst it is and I travel to Canberra for 2 Fly shoots per year plus numerous 1000 yd matches. I also travel to Batemans Bay, Eagle Park at Werribee in Victoria and have been to Tamworth when the Fly was held there.

Mate somedays you just have to do what you have to do.

You dont need to practice for 1000 yd (I dont know two many people that have that luxury) all you need is a desire to do it and believe me its worth it.

You will also meet some very talented shooters at Fly and 1000yd matches and good people to boot. My advice make the effort its worth the trouble.

cheers
Rinso

[jump70]

I hear you Rinso. It's food for thought and I'll apply my limited mental faculties to figuring out how to circumnavigate the various obstacles to getting there.

Tony Z - I notice in your post that Fly is also shot in Sydney. Where does that happen? Are we talking 200yd fly at Silverdale or something?

[Rinso]

Sydney Fly shoot (500) is held at Hornsby Range usually around the first weekend in May.

cheers
Rinso

[Mick]

I'd love to shoot 1000br or fly but I don't think I'm going to be able to make the next match - 25NOV is a no go at this stage.

You could always try shooting both in March. The Federal Cop Fly on a Saturday and 1K BR on the Sunday usually makes for a pretty popular weekend. Unsure of dates at this point though, there looks to be another shoot we are trying to work around.