Wagga - Factory Class

Interesting that the top two places as well as small group and best target in "Factory Class" were shot with 1:8 Twist 6BR rifles......

Where is the incentive for Joe Public / keen farmer etc to bring his favourite .243 / 22.250.  Or indeed other shooters to dust off their old favourite rifle and have some fun with them....

I know that the rules in Wagga allow these types of rifles and that is totally their decision and one we all have to respect, its their shoot to run however they like.   But the progression from a few years ago where you could have a serious chance to win it with a 22/250 off a Bi Pod...and there were plenty of people with .270's, .243's and the like enjoying it is noticeable....

My opinion is that if you can't look someone in the eye and tell them to have a go...buy an off the shelf hunting rifle.... or load up what they have and if they do their part they can win...It is not really Factory Class.... You have to go out and buy a "special" rifle or rebarrel an expensive older rifle to have any chance... Basically a 6BR or 6PPC will win at 300m every shoot.....

I would prefer to have "Factory" as just that....and Custom to do whatever you like.  But that is just my $0.20 worth.

Cheers

Anthony

Anthony were they the savage 12 6BRs?
if so I'd have to agree with you there, off the self shouldn't mean a off the self target rifle

Before this goes too far.... I believe that they were both fully compliant with the rules as they stand....

They were both Savage LRPV single shot 1:8 Twist 6mmbr rifles.....

Rebarrelling is another issue, but it is allowed and done........and as can be clearly seen, people will go to the limit of what is allowed (as is their right)....

Cheers

Anthony

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no problems with Batemans Bay rules, that type of rifle will not be allowed in Factory Class.

Must have a functioning magazine for one, and in the spirit of "Factory Class", I would consider anything of this type to be speciality line and not in keeping with the class....even if someone managed to get one with a functioning magazine.

Your Sako in .243 or whatever calibre is fine, as long as it has the barrel it came out of the box with and it not a TRG or custom shop , that's fine.

Cheers

Anthony

wow, that almost sounds like a broadside shot at Wagga.  Interesting that no mention is made of the fact that One of those shooters you speak of did state on this very web site last year that no seasoned fly shooter should be permitted to shoot factory class.
Our rules have always allowed single shots and anything not marketed as a target rifle or from a custom shop. Our only recent change is to allow rebarrels under certain circumstances.

Our night fly has a factory class that is very well represented and has more entrants than custom class.

I will be sure to present your point of view to our committee tomorrow night.

I understand your desire for discussion on this matter but it's been done to death and each club has its own ideas. I really do hope I've unintentionally read more into your post than was intended.

Kind regards
Greg

This very topic was discussed some years back and it was decided that the clubs could run what ever rules they wanted to in 300m as it was not a registered match and was supplementary to the 500m Fly the premier registered match.

Shooters will always push the rules to the limit and look for an EDGE. I see factory class as great fun and really look forward to keeping the "CROWIE" sighted in and able to do the job. I shoot it off a Harris bi-pod and off a back sandbag exactly how i shoot it in the field. But that is my choice to do so.

I agree with Anthony's point regarding Joe Farmer and we should always encourage new shooters to the sport so they get exposure to the fun of fly shooting and then they get the BUG and all of a sudden we have  competitor. Brain and Daniel are two of these guys cam along had a go and brought a rifle now father and son are sharing a sport that will create memories and shooting extremely well also.

Now that this issue has two distinct thoughts on what factory class is shooters will have to make the choice because now that you are within the rules at Wagga to shoot a hotted up 6BR you can't then say now you can't use it because of this debate.

And when shooters go to the Bay they enter knowing their rules are strict on the spirit of factory class.

When the CROWIE decides to call it a day with the factory barrel from 1983 i will get another Remington barrel exactly as it was brought new back then and it will be worth it. If you are a car person you don't get an FJ Holden and put a 454 chevy in it then try and win Best Original Car in Show.

Shooting sports all over Australia are struggling with numbers of competitors, the fly's popularity is due to some fundamental elements these are:

The will to assist other shooters through out the day
fun shoot to compete in
lots of shooting through out the day
Governance of the shoot from start to finish

And most important RULES without these the fly would have dissolved as one of those hard sports you tried once and thought it was just to much.

Every shoot i see new people doing well take Tim Pavey, Nick , belly, Paul,Grant and number of names that have looked on now are in the light.

This is what holds the fabric of this sport together.

If you want to ride close to the envelope of the rules then that is your choice but remember what this sport has meant to you and it will only grow in capacity with new people coming on.......

Hi Chappo,

It is certainly not a broadside shot at Wagga, or those that shoot factory class according to those rules.  I respect Wagga's decision to run the shoot however they decide, and I believe it is the right of people to do whatever is allowed under the rules.  If I lived there and regularly shot that class, I would go and buy something similar just to be competitive.

It is just my view of "Factory" class...nothing more or nothing less.  I think healthy discussion is always warranted, it does not mean any one persons opinion has any more weight than anothers, and ultimately it was agreed that with respect to the 300 Fly and factory class, each range is free to run whatever rules their committee's see fit...end of the story.

I think that Wagga club do a great job, the point of view was merely on the rules and what it allows, not the club or the people.

Cheers,

Anthony

Chappo there is NO broadside at Wagga and if able i would have attended. This is purely a discussion about factory class and as i have said each club does their own rules that was thrashed out some years back.

We all love shooting at your range and all would shoot bottle tops with an Air Rifle if this was an event.

Hi

Interesting reading through the comments, and I must admit I'm still suprised that we focus on making a class 'competitive' for new comers. I don't own a factory gun, never have so ignore what I have to say if it is perceived to be inaccurate.

I don't understand why the perception that in order to get new people shooting we need to make it less competitive so to speak. At the end of the day if you have a desire to shoot ACCURATE rifles and are hooked on precision shooting then that's what you will do. I have many friends who own hunting rifles and I speak to them about what we do in regards to reloading cleaning etc and usually the first response is wow, that's not me I just like what I do.....and that's fine.

I am a firm believer that those interested will turn up, have a look and maybe have a go. I think getting the sport out in the public, maybe having a few days where people can come and shoot some of our guns and work out if it is for them.

Just my 0.02c worth

Cheers

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Hi everyone ,

   Some interesting info on this topic, It is unfortunate that there isn't one set of transparent rules across the clubs but it is easy to understand why it is left up to the discretion of the individual clubs to set their own rules for the 300m event as it is not a registered shoot.
   I won this even last year with a savage LRPV in 22-250 repeater action. I came second this year and i beleive PVM who came first we were both using the same gun Savage LRPV in 6mm br. These are configured and catalogued as varmint guns in single shot configuration. I enjoy the odd long range varminting when time permits and i also enjoy the 300m fly factory class hence the reason why i went out and bought a 6mmbr varmint gun.
   I understand everyones point of view, i agree with Anthony's view on factory class also, i was shooting on the bench with Anthony and i can assure you i wouldn't have placed as good if it wasn't for his tips on the wind, guess Les's absence was my gain. I would like to mention i shot both classes with the same gun off a rear bag and bipod so i didn't have any advantage over other people using joystick rests. Both my scores were nearly the same albeit i did place last in custom class so although these guns fall within the wagga factory class rules they are far from a custom gun. One look down the barrel and it's certainly no piece of jewellery.  My view if a factory gun should need rebarreling then the barrel should come from the factory in the same caliber and twist, stainless or chrome moly whatever is available. Single shot or repeater allow both there is alot of older sakos out their in single shot maybe other brands as well.  I guess if we are encouraging new people to bring out the old hunting rifle and come and give it a try maybe factory class should  be shot off front sand bags or bipods, No newbie is gonna rock up with a farley or seb rest. (you can beef up the suspension on you car its not gonna drive faster but it will handle better)
   But i don't think there will be too much if any change to the factory class rules it is what it is, so when i rock up to Wagga i will bring whatever i have that complies with their rules and if and when i can get to the Bay (hopefully sooner then later) i will bring whatever i have that complies with their rules.
   Finishing up i would like to congratulate Wagga on their well run Fly shoot. I will certainly try to get to as many as i can.  

  regards
Rob.V

Hi Rob,

It was a pleasure to shoot with you and Rob D.

I like the Savage LRVP....and if shooting on a range in a class where the rules allowed it...I would probably buy one in 6BR. Just because it is not my view of factory class..... it is still a great piece of kit !!

Happy to shoot with you anytime & I look forward to seeing you at the next one.

Cheers

Anthony

well there ya go
i didn't realize that savage made a varmint 6BR LRVP , nice looking kit that

i only thought they did 6BR in the target series