Thread: What caliber are you shooting F-Open with?

For those of you shooting long range F-Open, can you please indicate what caliber you use, and any advise you can offer a beginner that is keen to get into the sport?

I like 6.5 Creedmoor, but looking at for example the Seddon Rifle Range rules, it states:

“Ammunition that exceeds any one of the following performance are not authorised for use on Seddon Range:
a. A maximum muzzle velocity (MV) of 1,000 m/s (3,280 f/s),
b. A maximum muzzle energy (ME) of 4500 J (3,319 ft/lbs).”

Some of the Creedmoor ammunition could be non-compliant, so how a big limit is it?



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Basically any high capacity 6.5mm or 7mm from my experience.

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Originally Posted by Willus

Basically any high capacity 6.5mm or 7mm from my experience.

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Thanks Willus. Do you have specific setup that you use? Can you share a bit more about your setup? (Rifle type, barrel length, stock, optics)


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ive been using a 6mmBR for a number of years and have no intention of changing, ive felt undergunned on a couple of occasions but when it came to scores it didnt show. its a great all around caliber, not to bad on barrels and components and what i believe is very important is it behaves its self on the bags and is easy to shoot consistantly.

Originally Posted by stuart165

ive been using a 6mmBR for a number of years and have no intention of changing, ive felt undergunned on a couple of occasions but when it came to scores it didnt show. its a great all around caliber, not to bad on barrels and components and what i believe is very important is it behaves its self on the bags and is easy to shoot consistantly.

Thanks Stuart. What barrel length are you using? I read that any heavy barrel longer than 24” is good enough.


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i use a 28 inch lilja palma contour runnng a no turn neck. you would want something of similar length to get 2900fps out of it.

Originally Posted by stuart165

i use a 28 inch lilja palma contour runnng a no turn neck. you would want something of similar length to get 2900fps out of it.

Thanks - very helpful info!


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Originally Posted by janleroux

For those of you shooting long range F-Open, can you please indicate what caliber you use, and any advise you can offer a beginner that is keen to get into the sport?

I like 6.5 Creedmoor, but looking at for example the Seddon Rifle Range rules, it states:

“Ammunition that exceeds any one of the following performance are not authorised for use on Seddon Range:
a. A maximum muzzle velocity (MV) of 1,000 m/s (3,280 f/s),
b. A maximum muzzle energy (ME) of 4500 J (3,319 ft/lbs).”

Some of the Creedmoor ammunition could be non-compliant, so how a big limit is it?



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6.5 creedmoor falls well inside those parameters man. Even with long barrels 140's are only going to be going high 2800's.

Well short of your energy targets also

Even the 6.5 Prc seems it could work

I like old stuff (including the missus) - 260 Rem, 6.5x55, 7-08, 7x57, et al.
IF we ever get some heavy for calibre 6mm/243 bullets in NZ, I might look into this - once again 'old school' calibres.
See - I even spell the way I was taught at school - 55 years ago.
Don't laugh - I won the overall primary school spelling competition at age 10.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

6.5 creedmoor falls well inside those parameters man. Even with long barrels 140's are only going to be going high 2800's.

Well short of your energy targets also

Thanks Nick, from what I could see the most popular off-the-shelf ammunition was in the 140 range, but I was not sure if I was missing something after a discussion with a guy at then shooting range the other day.

I do not want to invest in the wrong caliber.


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Originally Posted by Friwi

Even the 6.5 Prc seems it could work

You are right. Just did a bit if googling, and it seem PRC was developed for PRS shooting, and the PRS have an upper limit of 3200fps.


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Originally Posted by WallyR

I like old stuff (including the missus) - 260 Rem, 6.5x55, 7-08, 7x57, et al.
IF we ever get some heavy for calibre 6mm/243 bullets in NZ, I might look into this - once again 'old school' calibres.
See - I even spell the way I was taught at school - 55 years ago.
Don't laugh - I won the overall primary school spelling competition at age 10.

Is it old stuff, or just well proven? I like the 7-08 option myself as well. Probably a topic on its own

Mate, as if I would be able to pick up on wrong spelling...


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Originally Posted by janleroux

Thanks Nick, from what I could see the most popular off-the-shelf ammunition was in the 140 range, but I was not sure if I was missing something after a discussion with a guy at then shooting range the other day.

I do not want to invest in the wrong caliber.


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6.5 creedmore is essentially purpose designed as a target/precision cartridge. It would be an excellent choice

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

6.5 x 47 Lapua was purpose designed as a target/precision cartridge. It would be an excellent choice

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Fixed it for you

The 6.5x47 Lapua would be my choice in 6.5, in 6mm it would be the 6 Dasher

The lack of recoil & barrel wear makes up for their ballistic disadvantage to the big sevens & thirties in all but the worst conditions