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Best piston rifles for hunter class

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Cannonball

Cannonball

Member
Jul 30, 2020
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Tennessee, United States
I was wanting advice on the best piston rifles to use for hunter class. I have been wanting a premium piston rifle in .177 and have also thought about getting into field target. What rifles are the current best out there for this? I would also like scope recommendations. I’ve never shot FT before and didn’t want to buy something that I wouldn’t be competitive with or didn’t fit the parameters for the hunter class. 
 
HW97 and a scope marked for 16X with a side parallax and sidewheel and BKL mounts. 

That would be as competitive as anything out there. 

I can't recommend a great scope, I'm still looking for one myself.
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^^^this is a great recommendation. Make sure the 97 is a .177 and that your scope focuses down to 10yds, has a decent glass, a reticle that can be used to focus range find and a no BS warranty for less than $1000. If you find such a scope please post it here as we’re all looking. Uj
 
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Thank you to everyone that replied. I have made up my mind and will go with the HW97. I now need to decide if I want the Black Line with the synthetic thumbhole stock or the nicer looking and lower weight blue laminate one. I am leaning to the Black Line because I usually prefer thumbhole stocks and shoot them a little better. I’m going to think on the scope some, I have several now that I could use but I might pick up an Athlon since it’s going on a springer and I know how good their warranty is. I’m in East Tennessee so hopefully there will be some events close enough that I can participate in soon. Thanks again everyone!
 
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For underlever TX or 97 are really your only choicesI would probably go with a 97. If you want a BB then an HW 98 would be my first choice. For scopes you need a reticle that you like with range estimation so I agree UTG mil-dots work well. I just got an athlon argus FFP 6x24x50 MOA or my HFT setup so will have to keep it at 16 or less. 

I had a blackline great gun but for HFT unless you want to add an adjustable butt plate yourself which isn't a huge deal I would get the wood one that has it already. I wouldn't shoot HFT without an adjustable butt plate first thing I did with my 97 is replace the plate it came with. I would also get a cocking aid from Rowan Engineering in the UK as well and probably one of their set back triggers as well both will really help. If you REALLY want to kick up notch they get a customFT stock from the UK you'll see a bunch at the match no doubt.



HW97SSK - 05.1629440333.jpg

 
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I was wanting advice on the best piston rifles to use for hunter class. I have been wanting a premium piston rifle in .177 and have also thought about getting into field target. What rifles are the current best out there for this? I would also like scope recommendations. I’ve never shot FT before and didn’t want to buy something that I wouldn’t be competitive with or didn’t fit the parameters for the hunter class.
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Did you see this pic from another post? Nicely set up 98 for HFT!

HW98 HFT.1629440881.jpeg

 
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Air Arms TX200 or HC version and the Pro Sport.

HW 77 or 97 or the HW 98

Walther LGV or LGU



These would be the top rifles for Hunter Piston class Field target being best in .177 caliber for this task.



IMO,

Scott S
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Every rifle Scott mentioned would be a contender if setup right. My top two being either an HW97K with a tune. ( Mine was tuned by Motorhead ). Or a TX200HC tuned as well. I would highly recommend looking into the Falcon X-50 with 16 power mark. All air rifles especially piston guns are pellet picky to some extreme. So finding what chassis fits you best and then doing testing to figure its best tune / pellet / scope / rest / shooting seat all have an affect on Hunter piston.
 
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Thank you to everyone that replied. I have made up my mind and will go with the HW97. I now need to decide if I want the Black Line with the synthetic thumbhole stock or the nicer looking and lower weight blue laminate one. I am leaning to the Black Line because I usually prefer thumbhole stocks and shoot them a little better. I’m going to think on the scope some, I have several now that I could use but I might pick up an Athlon since it’s going on a springer and I know how good their warranty is. I’m in East Tennessee so hopefully there will be some events close enough that I can participate in soon. Thanks again everyone!
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Look up " the good ole boys" club in Pulaski Tenn. Great group of guys there, I am quite sure they would be happy to have you come over and show you how the game is played. They will have many different toys for you to try out and be able to make recomendations. 
 
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This is the results of the Canadian Field Target Nationals. Scroll to the bottom for the list of competitors. The chart lists the name, score, gun used, and pellets. Guys shooting springers kept their velocity below 800 fps with 8.44 grain pellets. The chart does not show the velocities so I inquired to some of the more knowledgeable shooters. I've been told TX200's are most accurate at around 755 fps using JSB Exacts 8.44 grain pellets.

Here is the link:

Cdn 2021 FT Nationals: Match Report - Canadian Field Target Association (caftacentral.ca)


 
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