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Rule changes to Hunterclass

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Micky T
Micky T's picture
Rule changes to Hunterclass

Hi all
Just thought it'd be better to start a new thread about changing the rules for Hunterclass rather than hijack the Benchrest shooters - Silverdale thread.
The changes are mainly for Light Rimfire and Light Centerfire.
The changes that I've heard are,
for Light Rimfire Hunterclass,
1. Increase the weight to 4kg
2. Increase the max 6 power scope to 6.5
3. Lose the magazine requirement.
Also change Light Rimfire Benchrest (Groups) to same specs.

And,
for Light Centerfire class
1. Change from max 6 power scope to unlimited scope.
2. Lose the magazine requirement.

I for one like the changes for the light rimfire but not the light centerfire. Leave the scope alone or just increase it to 6.5 as well.

Cheers Mick

BigStick
BigStick's picture
.

Hi Mick.
Sounds good to me but we should keep it imperial to match RBA
Just had a thought. We should change light B/R at the same time otherwise we can't shoot B/R with the hunter gun. What do you think?
Kim

Micky T
Micky T's picture
Light RF BR (Groups)

Yes Kim that'll also need to be changed to the same specs as LRFHC so I'll add it to my first post.

RFBR HOF#1 BR SCORE HOF#7
chris.t
Excuse my ignorance but what

Excuse my ignorance but what is the increase from 6x to 6.5x scope power for,I am guessing its so variables can be used but if checked do they actually come in at 6.5 power anyway?.

JGA 2013
JGA 2013's picture
6.5 Power

Hi Chris

To answer your question, yes for variables. But most of them are only 6 power on 6.5 when they are checked.

Cheers

Greg

He who share's win's

JGA 2013
JGA 2013's picture
RBA Rimfire Weights And Scope

Hi Guys

Just though I would share the RBA Rimfire Rifle weights in each class.

RBA Sporter is 8 1/2 pound or 3.855 Kg. No Magazine and 6.5 Power scope.

RBA Light Varmint is 10 1/2 Pound Or 4.762 Kg. No Magazine and Unlimited scope Power.

RBA Heavy Varmint is 15 1/2 pound or 6.803 Kg. No Magazine and Unlimited scope Power.

Now if you have a rifle that comes into weight and has a Magazine you can still shoot Sporter with or with out one.
If the rules are to be upgraded it makes sense to bring the SSAA light Rimfire up to RBA Sporter weight so shooters can use the rifles more instead of two times a year.

With custom actions now ready available here in Australia it makes sense to take out the magazine rule form SSAA now, as the rules did change as you do not need to cycle two rounds to show that it feeds from a magazine anymore. You can only feed single rounds etc. So there is really no need for the magazine anymore so change it to with or without a magazine.

The increase from 6 power scope to a 6.5 power is minimal as most RBA shooters shoot 6 power any way.

Hope this information helps, as I believe this will help get more people to shoots.

Cheers

Greg

He who share's win's

Peter Armstrong Mk1
Mick

Mick
I think the 4kg limit is a good idea it would line up with SSAA scoped 3-P and field rifle weight limits and help clubs where the positional shooting is stronger than BR, like in WA.

My thinking for dropping the magazine is cost. For those on a budget an action with a good trigger and magazine there is not much out there and if people could pickup say an old Anschutz and build a sporter on that it's a much better option for those without a lot of cash. To build a competitive sporter with a custom action can cost more than a heavy gun. Given just how many sporter matched there are, it's a lot of money for a custom sporter for not a lot of shooting.

I'm not sure everyone is aware but 2 or 3 years ago there was a petition past around at a SSAA nationals asking if anyone was interested in changing the light gun spec's to more like RBA sporter and every shooter at the nationals signed it and said yes.

Peter

RBA HoF #1 (2007)

BigStick
BigStick's picture
.

Peter. Blind Fredy can see that it will improve shooter numbers at a light rimfire match, and I do remember the sheet we all signed but there is a process to follow and apparently we are not doing it right. We need to lobby our deligate and that seems to mean annoy the shit out of him but I don't think he needs to be annoyed any more than he already is. There are enough people who know what is wanted by the shooters by now so I'm not sure what else needs to be done to get the change happening.
Kim

Peter Armstrong Mk1
Kim

Kim
What is needed is to talk it through and try and get most of us on the same page. It's not much point all of us just teller our state delegate what we want and having each state asking for something different, we'd end up with nothing passed.

At some point before the centerfire nationals in Perth next year a request for a rule change would need to be forward by a state delegate to the BR committee, now does anyone know when that date is?

Peter

RBA HoF #1 (2007)

BigStick
BigStick's picture
.

CF nationals are at Easter every year.
Rob said he would be there and lobby on our behalf but I guess we would have to do as you suggested and all get on the same page. As this topic is headed rule change, we should discus it here. Mick has started and I agree with him. Greg said he would like to shoot his sporter more than twice a year and with a SSAA rule change he could do that.
What does everyone else think?
Kim

JGA 2013
JGA 2013's picture
No i Didnt

Sorry Kim but I said Shooters could shoot more than twice a year. Not me

He who share's win's

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Sorry Greg. Kim

Sorry Greg.
Kim

JGA 2013
JGA 2013's picture
The Date

If you would like to find out the date one would simply scroll up the page and have a look at the left hand side of the site and see Enter on-Line C/F and click on 14.04.17 Nationals.That is how one would find the dates or maybe Specsavers.

He who share's win's

Peter Armstrong Mk1
Greg

Greg
I'm thinking the proposal for a rule change would need to be on the agenda for the BR and what date that proposal needs to be by. But maybe your right they just turn up at the nationals and work it out then.

Peter

RBA HoF #1 (2007)

robbycar
robbycar's picture
Not that easy

You need to get your proposal on the agenda first, otherwise it will not get voted on.

Talk to state delegates to get this happening.

Rob.

BB Administrator

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Rob

Can a branch request an agenda item?
Kim

robbycar
robbycar's picture
Talk to Billo

He is the Chairman.

Any state can put forward agenda items, but this should be done by your state delegates.

Rob.

BB Administrator

Micky T
Micky T's picture
Thanks

Thanks guys for your input. I guess the main point for these changes are to increase the numbers for the Light classes. Pretty much that's what we are all striving for. It may start a little increase in the other classes as well.
I for one have noticed the drop over the 10 years I've been shooting Hunterclass. But this is a expensive sport and just getting to a State and National comp in one year can start to add up.
Most of us don't just shoot Hunterclass so we have to pick and choose what works best. With all the comps in the year there is always going to be some clashing which is going to affect the numbers.
Cheers Mick

RFBR HOF#1 BR SCORE HOF#7
wally289
wally289's picture
Rule changes

Rule changes the ones put forward seam good except I do not see the point in going from a 6 power scope to a 6.5 no advantage there just my opinion that is I think the stock is one of the more important ones as if that was extended to 3 inch then that aloes the use of the rifle in all comps does it not

Wombat

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Wombat

RBA rules state 6 1/2 power. If RBA shooters want to shoot SSAA the SSAA rule needs to change to 6 1/2 to accomodate.
Any 2 1/4 forend stock can be used in the 3" class.
Kim

wally289
wally289's picture
wombat

thanks for that i am not up on the RBA rules best I read up I am up to date with the SSAA rules but don't SSAA allow for the 6.5 or is it just over looked as i know a number of shooters using the 6.5 to 20 Leupold scope

Wombat

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Scope checker

There are some scope checkers in circulation and the scopes are supposed to be checked befor the comp. However the scope checkers are not certified and are only a guid to the power of the scope. They will pick up a large discrepancy but are struggling with 1/2 a power.
Kim

wally289
wally289's picture
Scope checker

Big stick
I can see I have a lot to learn re the rules and about what goes on at state and national shoots and can see that only using the SSAA rule book has left me a bit wanting in regards to what actually happens behind the Sean’s and thanks to forums such as this I am getting an education on how you must read all the rule books and not just the SSAA ones thanks for helping me out

Wombat

JGA 2013
JGA 2013's picture
Wombat

Click on this link and it will take you to the WRABF web site were you can find the rules.

http://www.wrabf.com/WRABF%20Rules.htm

Cheers

Greg

He who share's win's

wally289
wally289's picture
rules

JGA
thanks for the link i will have a read so i know what it's all about

Wombat

Aussiebob
Aussiebob's picture
Magazines

Looks like i have to be the one to rain on your parade.
If you do away with Magazines in Hunter-Class it is no longer Hunter-Class
so why don`t you just change the name completely like some have been doing slowly and unofficaly to Benchrest for Score.
Groups i am not worried if you have a Magazine or not Hunter-Class was bought in so Hunting Class rifles could be shot.
Then Custom class Rifles where bought into the comp so those in Group shooting could use their heavy rifles.
The whole point of Hunter-Class is so a hunting class rifle can be used do away with magazines the people building custom rifles make more money and all the people with factory based rifles are left out and the winning shooters will be shooting totaly custom single shot.
I agree with lifting the weight as a lot of the rifles now produced are heavier and the scopes by raising that to 6.5 yes it does make it easier to get a scope my standard 6x Leupold comes in just over 5.
If you take away the Magazine you need to bring in Factory Class Nationaly with weight of 4kg and scope power 6.5 and a factory hunting class rifle with magazine.
There are a lot of people with vested interests in this which causes a conflict of interest.
Just my Bob`s worth

TheJet
TheJet's picture
Bob great points

Hunter Class is already dominated by custom rifles with a magazine "that doesn't really work" .
The name is just a name.
There are still a few great shooting factory rifles out there though no doubt.
A Anschutz 1712 is one of them but its heavier than the 3.515 kg
Its the curved bottom on the stock that makes shooting them a lot harder though.
So what does everyone do ?
Make a custom stock with a 2 and a quarter inch forend but bottom dead level

I used to race go karts and there is strict rules for all the different classes as well
Though people still found ways within the rules to make changes that were a great advantage to them.
Normy has a great saying in fact he and Digs have a stack of them.
"Its the human equation" we all love to win some say they don't but they are only kidding themselves.
We are also as humans really clever and will find a way, not to cheat because there is no satisfaction or honour in that at all
To push the boundaries within the rules.
Lets face it the bell on the end of the barrel is a tuner but adjusted a whole lot harder.

The problem is that we all only have so much money we can afford to spend so why not let the suggested rule changes go through.
This will allow as many people to be able to shoot as possible and help build this great sport.

Six or six and a half power isn't even a advantage, we don't even use or are allowed to use the magazine for safety reasons and its a lot of money to make such a light rifle.

kind regards Ben

Team KAOS
All the gear and no idea

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Thanks Ben

Ben shoots RBA and would shoot SSAA hunter if the RBA rifle fit the class
Kim

Micky T
Micky T's picture
Some interesting Stats

I'm just putting this out there. It's only the last 10 years of competitor numbers at the National comps. LRF and HRF. Can't seem to find the results for 2012 HC Nats held in Silverdale.
It seems to me that after looking at this LRF isn't actually doing all that bad really.
Cheers Mick

RFBR HOF#1 BR SCORE HOF#7
Peter Armstrong Mk1
Mick

Mick
I was there in 2012 and there weren't many shooters there, it would of been the smallest turnout over those 10 years.

Peter

RBA HoF #1 (2007)

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Hi Mick

I think that's the year I won the heavy and there wasn't enough for HOF points. Low numbers indeed.

michaeljp
Old thread, new shooter

This thread spoke about a rule change to LV hunter class centre fire, where no magazines were required. Did this rule change happen or not? Im looking at building a HV hunter class rifle to shoot in score matches. And i have a spare PPC rifle that will make the weight with a 6x scope for LV hunter but it has no magazine. I dont want to spend 11grand on 2 rifles to enter both LV and HV hunter class. Other posters above, mentioned the cost of this sport and the number of shooters attending, i think this rule change would help in this instance.

Michael Huebner
Michael Huebner's picture
Rule book

It would pay to download the rule book(s)
SECTION 17: RIFLE SPECIFICATIONS AND CLASSES FOR SCORE:
17.1 All rifles must have a safe trigger system that is released by a finger of either hand and have a trigger guard. There will be four classes of Benchrest rifles for Score, specifications are as follows:
17.1.1 LIGHT CENTREFIRE BENCHREST FOR SCORE
This shall be any rifle having a barrel not less than 18 inches long (457.2 mm), measured from the bolt face to the muzzle, and a safe manually operated firing mechanism, that does not include the use of pressure fluid, gas or remote control. The use of an electric trigger is permitted, however all accessories associated with such trigger, such as batteries must be integrated as part of the rifle and included in the total rifle weight. The width of the stock is not to exceed 3 inches (76.2 mm) at any point. The magnification of any telescopic sight shall be unrestricted. The total weight of rifle and telescopic sight, including all accessories such as mirage shades, batteries for electric triggers etc. is not to exceed 10 pounds 8 ounces (4.763 kg). The rifle must be fired from restricted rests only as defined in Section 5.2.
17.1.2 HEAVY CENTREFIRE BENCHREST FOR SCORE
This shall be any centrefire rifle that does not have a total weight in excess of 14 pounds (6.350 kg) including telescopic sights and all accessories, but otherwise meets the specifications of the Heavy Benchrest Rifle (Section 4.3) and shall be fired from restricted rests only.

michaeljp
Thanks Michael,

Thanks Michael,
I googled the SSAA benchrest rule book. The only one i found was a 2013 revision and it only showed the old ruling with 6x scope and 2 shot magazine, thats why i asked the question.
So just to clarify this, i can use my 6PPC LV rifle with the 36x scope attached in a SSAA LV + HV hunter class score competition?
I'll look for an up to date rule book, on the SSAA site. Probably should have look there first.

Michael Huebner
Michael Huebner's picture
The above is from the 2017

The above is from the 2017 rule book and it says unrestricted magnification
Go to SSAA website, Benchrest discipline and down the bottom there is a download button
It should be the 2017 Rule book part A is CF and Part B is rimfire (IRB)

michaeljp
I found it last night after

I found it last night after you mentioned it Michael. thanks

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