Yanks Win Gold at Canadian F-Class Nationals
The Canadian F-Class Championships took place last week at the Connaught Range outside Ottawa, Ontario. American shooters performed well, taking top honors in both the F-Open and F-TR divisions. In the F-Open class, Bullets.com President Shiraz Balolia won his second straight Canadian National Championship (he also won in 2014). This year he was shooting a .300 WSM. The long, heavy .30-Cal bullets offer a ballistic advantage… IF you can handle the additional recoil. Shiraz told us: “This [match] was particularly challenging and satisfying as there were some incredible shooters from around the world including two World Champions, three U.S. National Champions, Canadian National Champions, British Champions, and European Champions shooting alongside me. It was an honor to shoot alongside the best shooters in the world.”
A large number of American shooters ventured to Ontario for the Canadian F-Class Championships.
James Crofts shot consistently to win the F-TR division, and Paul Phillips finished second. Of Jim, the “man to beat” in F-TR, fellow competitor Tom Hittle said: “Congratulations to James Crofts for the overall win in TR. It was well deserved. Thank you for all the guidance and tips over the last couple of years.” After the match, James told us: “I want to thank a few companies that helped me get where I am. BRUX Barrels — I have now won three Nationals with Brux barrels. Jim Borden from Borden Actions — your action was smooth and precise. And Ray Bowman (PR&T) who, hands down, builds the best rifles available. I have used two different PR&T rifles to win U.S. F-TR Nationals. Proof is with the gold medals.”
In Team competition, a “dark horse” squad from North Carolina pulled off a real upset, taking Gold for the 4-man team event. The “Team NC” boys (James Hittle, Tom Hittle, Ed Shelley, and Greg Denekamp), benefited from good wind-calling by the Hittles plus some very accurate rifles. Tom Hittle remarked: “Ray Bowman of PR&T rifles were used by each team member. Thank you Ray for incredible-shooting hammers.”
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Tags: 300 WSM, Canada, Connaught, F-Class, F-Open, F-TR, James Crofts, Ontario, Ottawa, Shiraz Balolia
We already knew that Shiraz was a winner!
Good job!
Im curious is the 300 WSM much better in the wind than the 284 Shehane?
Nice shooting Shiraz! Let’s hear it for the .300 WSM!
Thanks, Guys!
Rustij – short answer is yes. Progressions is as follows in small increments:
.284 W
.284 Shehane
7mm RSAUM
.300 WSM
These are the most widely used calibers in F-Class at the National level for long range. There were many .300 WSMs on the line. You still have to read the wind.
Congradulations Shiraz!
Good shooting all! Glad to see Shiraz win using a 300wsm
As I remember the 300wsm caught my attention when the US shooter Derek Rodgers won USA nationals in 2010. He was the first and apparently ahead of his time.
I prefer open, but saw how his 308 ftr scores rivaled with open shooters. I did not see Derecks name on the rosters at this match. It may have been fortunate he was not in shooting or things could have finished differently. Hopefully I will shake his hand one day. finally ready to build a 300, credit to Rodgers for inspiring me in open.
Looks like Accurate Shooter doesn’t want to give up the results of the 8- man International Team Match. Must be because the U.S. Didn’t win it. Nor will they put up the story that was sent to them about the team match.
Editor: A report was delivered on August 18th from a Jonathan Laître, however, it went straight into a spam folder. The report did not have photos attached separately as we normally require. We will report on the 8-man team event as time permits.
Your comment, we feel, is unfair. Take a look at our lengthy report on the Great Britain Team victory in the Palma match at Camp Perry. That was not a US Victory. We can only report facts that we actually have in hand. The “story” was not discovered until 2:00 am on August 20th, and it was buried in nearly 200 other emails.
Thanks for your reply Shiraz and congrats on your win, cant argue with your results with the 300wsm.
I was heading down straight 284 path but once again im thinking the 300wsm may be a better choice for f-class.
Cheers
Shiraz what weight projectile were you running?
Berger 215 Hybrids.
2nd place was 7 RSAUM, and several other RSAUMS and .284s right there. Have fun building your new gun.