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Any springers still used in FT and HFT

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I used a springer this past Saturday at a match (Phoenix Airgun Club at Rio Salado Sportsmans Club) and it was a blast. 

You're right in your assessment however, the majority of shooters, at least here in the US, seem to be using PCPs. 

I usually shoot a PCP as well. About the only time I use a springer is when I have arranged it with someone for them to also shoot a springer. Of the regulars, there are really only a handful of members in the primary club that I go to, that are willing to shoot a springer at a match. 

As far being competitive......well, you're never gonna have as good of scores as the best PCP shooters if you're shooting a springer. However, you can compete with other springer shooters and still very much enjoy the sport. With realistic expectations, a "springer guy" can have a ton of fun at a field target match.

What would one use? It seems like the most common FT springers are the Air Arms TX200, HW97, Diana 54? (recoil-less sled springers) and Walther LGU. I shot a FWB 300s this past weekend. The 600fps with 7.87grain pellets (about 6fpe) was not enough to knock some of the targets down, even with clean paddle hits. I would not recommend going with that gun but it was sure fun. Anything past about 40 yards was a hope and a prayer. My offficial score was a 22/48. The new shooter I was shooting with (and had previously arranged the springer match) shot a very impressive 35/48 with a tricked out 11.5fpe LGU. His gun has an aluminum aftermarket stock, a Rowan knee riser, and a fancy aluminum butthook. Very nice rig. We were both shooting in the WFTF (no shooting harness or bipod and limited to less than 12fpe) class. 

For comparison, my 22/48 was better than the couple lowest PCP scores but definitely on the lower end of the pack. My friend's 35/48 was better than quite a few of the PCP shooters (and even better than one of the PCP WFTF shooters) but was about mid-pack, when looking at the overall scores of all shooters. 

Don't let not having a PCP keep you from making it to a match and having fun. There is lots to be said about the convenience of not being reliant on an air source. When just wanting a stress-free, enjoyable shooting experience, both at home and during a match, springers are where it's at. Springers are also quite the challenge, I consider it something like shooting traditional archery vs shooting a crossbow (PCP). Their is a certain nostalgia to shooting a springer. I quite enjoy it. 
 
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There's piston classes. Both in WFTF and Hunter. Shooting a springer in hunter would be a challenge as a springer shooting at almost 20fpe is going to have some serious movement when the shot breaks. Most folks who shoot springer shoot in the WFTF class at sub 12fpe. 

So, you can be competitive, as you'll be shooting against others in the springer class, not against folks shooting PCP's. 

The really good springer shooters can score right up there with the PCP shooters. On average, not as high, but the difference is not as much as one would think. 

Chas
 
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Anyone out there still use a spinger, or can you still be competitive with one? What would one use?
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Yes I do. I use the Walther LGU with a heavy custom stock at 11 FPE. I also have a HW97K with a custom stock at the same power level and an Air Arms TX200HC. With lots of practice, you can get close to the top PCP shooters. I shoot WFTF class. Speed and power are not important but a smooth shot cycle. That is the main factor I look for a Springer. It allows me to shoot more consistently for the entire match. 
 
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Don't think a springer can't be competitive. Here are a couple of score cards from our matches. Look at the top springer scores compared to the top PCP scores and I am not that good a shooter. The top springer shooters can hang with the PCP's anywhere. I shoot Hunter Class and you do not have to shoot 20 ft lb, My LGU is shooting at 12 ft lbs and does OK. 

1581463322_15591893035e43371a1fc685.87952540_12-22-19-Match Results.jpeg


1581463344_19123606405e433730bc69a3.04045114_1-19-19-Match Results.png

 
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Thanks guys, it looks promising for an attempt. Got a lot of practicing to do. The springers everyone mentions, have they been tuned down to reduce recoil or can the 14-17 ft lb be kept with proper tuning of the rifle to make them smoother? It comes to a point where power creates too much recoil. The Walther LGU, Weihrauch HW 97 and the Air Arms Prosport seem to be top performers. Would a tuned Diana 34 make a decent starting point? Going to a match and watching people go through the principles sounds interesting. Again, thank you all for your help.
 
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The best value starting out would be an HW97 ordered from Krale. The HW97, LGU, TX200, and prosport are all about the same accuracy wise. You will find most guys using a 12 ft lb tune (or close to it) in .177. I ordered my 97 as a UK spec model. I had it tuned, but it still has the original spring I think its been 4 years now. A lot of guys like the Vortech kits, you could add one to a HW97 and it would still be cheaper than the others are out of the box. The RWS 54 seems to work great when it works, but the sled adds another variable that can give you issues during a match.
 
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The springers everyone mentions, have they been tuned down to reduce recoil or can the 14-17 ft lb be kept with proper tuning of the rifle to make them smoother? It comes to a point where power creates too much recoil.
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You can keep it at a higher power just as long as you can shoot it accurately. A field target match is typically 60 scored shots. Can you shoot 60 precise shots and not get tired? You can buy the tune kits mentioned and keep it at 14-15 FPE if you like. Less vibration and recoil will make you a better shooter in the long run.
 
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If the difference in initial investment between the two is not a concern to you, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. How good a shot are you with a spring gun?

2. Will a low score bother you to get?

3. If you're not a very good shot with a spring gun are you willing to work hard to improve your shooting?

4. Are there any spring gun shooters at the FT matches you plan to attend?

I am a pretty decent shot with a springer and my score still improved by 15% the first time I shot a PCP in Hunter Class. If you think you may be a little less than "pretty decent" with a spring gun then your score may be 25% higher with a PCP. They are, IMO, that much easier for the Average Joe to shoot well.

I will sometimes still shoot a spring gun at FT matches, but it can be kind of lonely when everyone else is shooting PCP's and I have no one to directly compete against and commiserate with. Usually at the end, when I will look at all the scores posted, I will think to myself "I wish I'd brought my PCP!" 

BTW, I have a 12 fpe spring and guide from ARH in my HW97 and despite losing 100 fps muzzle velocity from factory specs my scores improved. The gun is much nicer to shoot now. If you can spare the change, a professional tune will improve a gun even more.


 
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Springers can be a lot of fun, and if tuned well, a joy to shoot. (I hope someday to shoot a Whiscombe...) They can be nearly as accurate as a PCP, if shot with skill. I shoot a Walther LGV Breakbarrel and it nearly topped my PCP scores in a recent 25-yd benchrest match. 

Just think, no air supplies needed for a whole tournament and practice targets. However, springers are quite fickle lot - a simple change in batches of the same brand and weight pellets changed my point of impact several MOA in the middle of one key match. That really throws your confidence out the window. Changing weather conditions, pellet head size, or gun hold will change your POI. Lots of learned lessons along the way, but an enjoyable journey.

On the other hand, PCPs can get quite competitive and anxiety driven - just missing one target can ruin a top score. Ultimately, the springer is a built-in excuse, if you have a bad day you can chalk it up to the springer gods, learn and move-on.

Shoot for the enjoyment and knocking down the target, rather than top placing and you will do better overall. When you do ultimately top some of the PCP guys, it adds to the sense of accomplishment. 

Dan
 
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Well said, and I couldn’t agree more. Another challenge one has in shooting piston hunter class is the loopy trajectory of a 12-13ft lb springer. Ranging past 45 yards at the 16x power limit is tough, and the long range pellet drop at 825 FPS or so makes it a guessing game sometimes. That said, there’s nothing like being in the zone with a piston rifle, knocking down those targets one after the other...
 
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I shot Piston Open at Nationals this past fall there were 2 of us. Because there were only 2 of us we were placed in PCP Open. I have only been shooting FT seriously for about a year and really enjoy the challenge of the springer. 

As for power I tried to get the power up but found that 11-12 FPE was about all I could get. For this reason I am moving to WFT this year. I shoot an AA TX200 MKI that I bought from Wade Sutherland. 

I have learned that the key is the glass more than the gun. Even in Hunter good glass is just as important as the gun. 

Enjoy 

Mark 
 
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My FT gun is a TX200 tuned to (I think!) 14 ft-lbs by Jim Maccari, back when he was still doing tunes. We didn’t have separate springer categories in the club where I used to shoot, and I regularly beat out a fair number of PCP shooters. Some of the best shooters in the club shot spring guns, mostly tuned TX200s. One had one of the custom tuned TX200s that Nick Jenkinson had fitted a Feinwerkbau 65 barrel to.
 
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I've been wondering about looking in FT or HFT myself. I shot NRA smallbore silhouette years ago and found it enjoyable (but a little like work sometimes). I'm in west Tennessee and I think my nearest club is over toward middle Tennessee right around the Alabama border - maybe 2 1/2 hours away I think. Not too sure about it yet. I have a Daystate I could use or my TX200 if I wanted to go the springer route. Where is a good place to get information about the various classes, equipment, rules, etc.?
 
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