Field target club details

[Iowa Airgunner]

I am starting a field target club and it is all starting to happen And it is all happening like a snowball.
I need to think about details. I want to have the first practice day in four months.

So far I have a gun range I can use .
The Facebook group with 24 members is going great.
I have received a lot of help from AAFTA with information and support
People giving me all kinds of help and information and really helping me along the way.
I can’t thank everyone enough for that.

I already have a lot of stuff like a chronograph and a table and chairs. I have a pop up tent,Cooler, grill that stuff.

I have a compressor and a battery to run it . Plus my truck .

Doing all of this makes me the Match Director. Something I did not even see coming for some reason. That is a big responsibility.
Designing the corse and keeping records and score cards.
My computer is crap and I need a printer. Plus I need to get everything else. But what do I need that I don’t know I need . HELP!

This is a list of things I am going to purchase over the next three months to get the club going

15 targets
15 cinder blocks as target base
30 clamps to hold targets
12 clip boards
Box of water proof pens
Box safety glasses
First aid kit
An air horn to call cold line
Food for after the shoot
2 Fire extinguishers need to check pressure. But I have them.
What else besides bug spray do I need to have a Field target competition?

 

[scotton]

Sight in targets - we use the plastic real estate signs
Little flags to mark the shooting lines - ours are big metal pipes with the lane numbers, but you can start small. We also use a home depot bucket on each lane with the lane number on it and that's how we move the targets around to set up lanes.
Strings and winders - don't use the crappy orange string that comes with Gamo targets, get a big spool of 300 pound braided dacron kite line
Don't bother with an air horn, you won't use it
A stand for the off hand lane is nice to help people range the targets
Spray paint - black, grey, tan, orange, yellow to start
A money box and possibly a way to collect money on your phone (Venmo)
A weed eater and a pair of loppers

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Thanks that’s awesome I’ll add that to the list.
I found chalk line string winders from Amazon for under 5.00 and I can replace the string and paint them to match the target color.

Sight in targets and flags … check

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks that’s awesome I’ll add that to the list.
I found chalk line string winders from Amazon for under 5.00 and I can replace the string and paint them to match the target color.

Sight in targets and flags … check

You will MAJORLY Dis-like chalk string for reset strings ... way way way way tooooooooo stretchy

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

God ya even the orange stuff that comes with the target is not great. But the winder is what I want.

 

[scotton]

Also, you will eventually want to upgrade the string attachment points on the targets, they will get shot up. I'll have Cloud come on here and tell you what string we use and the stainless steel leaders we put on the targets.

Now I'll start the Cloud summoning ritual:
***HMMMM***
***Are RAWs really that great?***
***No one NEEDS a Kahles for field target***
***You can just use pliers to crimp a string leader***
***Kneeling lanes suck***
*HMMMMM*

 

[Cloud9AG]

Scott can be a little annoying some times.

As far as the best string, we use this braided Dacron kite line from Amazon: emma kites 120Lbs 1000Ft Braided... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BDLPXEM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
We use these big fishing swivels to attach the string: emma kites Fishing Swivel with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HCDMQPE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
We use steel leaders and eyelets and crimps to make a leader that doesn’t get cut by pellet impacts. We’ve used baling wire that eventually fatigues and breaks, and small metal chain that works well but can get caught up on the mechanism and require a cold line to undo. Here is what we use: DGOL Soft Black Vinyl Coated 100... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C776QN62?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and Loos Cableware SL1-2 Aluminum... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038YY25Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and Loos Cableware AN100-C3 10 Piece... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038YY3LC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

To prevent cold lines cause by your helper using a pair of pliers to crimp the ferrules, get some crimp pliers like this:
IWISS Wire Rope Crimping Tool for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195XJI6Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And a good pair of cable cutters makes assembly easy enough that even your assistant can do it:
Greenlee 722 Wire Rope & Wire Cutter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00125KG9C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I’ll try to take a picture of one of our targets when I’m at the club today.

 

[scotton]

To prevent cold lines cause by your helper using a pair of pliers to crimp the ferrules, get some crimp pliers like this:
IWISS Wire Rope Crimping Tool for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195XJI6Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Unsubstantiated slander!

 

[rich177]

You are off to a great start because you are planning and thinking about all you need. the more you plan and the less you "wing it" the better your matches will be for you and everyone. Remember not to make the course too difficult. It is supposed to be fun.
Listen to everyone's comments and then do want YOU think is best for YOU.
Rick B.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

This is what I do to each target . First the reducers need to be on the front. Then I add a metal piece to put the string to the ground. The wing nut obviously goes on the back side. I was still cutting the bolt down.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

For string I have a big bunch of old kite string. I have some big kites and the string is old. It does not stretch and will be perfect I hope. I have a couple thousand feet of it.

 

[Airgunoregon]

And that is the best target for the money.... the "Rat on the Run" by Air Venturi. Heavy duty face plate and paddle... way stronger than Gamo and their copies.. and about the same price.
The low profile also helps stop any "Rattle downs" you can get with a higher profile faceplate. These are really reliable and dependable... and hold up on the long term.
We remove the kill zone bolt and reducers and weld one of them on the front if we need smaller KZs
I like the added arm, that's great..
You might get a deal from Air Venturi or Pyramid Air since you are starting a club. It's worth a call before you buy. You might also get some donations for prizes. Establishing relationships with the vendors is a great thing if you can take the time with everything else a MD has to do. Or Ask if you can buy 15 and get 15 for free since you are starting a club. You will thank them on the forums and facebook and add some photos of them.. You will need at least 30 in the long run.

I like the 300# kite dacron by the same company as suggested above. It's easier on the hands when resetting than the 120# and a better wind indicator for those who use the string for such things.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

I got a great deal on ten of them so the rats will be on the run. Another thing I need is a box of different color spray paint.
The list gets longer not shorter. Each target needs a new bolt and wing nut . Now that I did it once I can go to ace and get a bunch of them.

 

[shootermeb]

I wouldn't trust a wingnut on the front of the target to hold that reducer in place. You will likely want a bolt head on the front of the target, and use a nylock nut on the back to hold things in place.

Here is a vid of deadeye doing a mod to the rat on the run.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

it goes on the back . It is a smooth bolt on the front . I just took the photo before I cut the bolt down to size . It was easyer to cut from the front than the back and I forgot to turn it around on before I took the photo.

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Braided dacron line. Do not be afraid to make one based on Brad Troyers LOW budget (scraps from the shed) falls at 4.5fpe easy & works a charm when correctly made-easy- targets for fun! Including a picture of his homemade winders (seemed thread rod & nut's and pop's right in a 12v screw gun or what

have you. 1 for each line.
Appreciate your efforts, the world needs more FT.

John

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

I am probably gonna get a welder. I need one for other things. But will use it for repairs. I love the idea of making my own targets. At the DIFTA club they have a trailer full of old hand made targets. My two favorite ones are a big tall turkey called Tom. When you hit the kill zone it falls like an old tree trunk. The other was a fun shoot target with an axe blade and two targets with two kill zones. You hit the axe blade split the pellet and drop both targets.

 

[beerthief]

I am probably gonna get a welder. I need one for other things. But will use it for repairs. I love the idea of making my own targets. At the DIFTA club they have a trailer full of old hand made targets. My two favorite ones are a big tall turkey called Tom. When you hit the kill zone it falls like an old tree trunk. The other was a fun shoot target with an axe blade and two targets with two kill zones. You hit the axe blade split the pellet and drop both targets.

Maybe use the AXE one as the tie breaker

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Haha that’s awesome

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

I have the parts made to modify the targets. Couple bucks at Ace.
One down nine to go then I’ll deal with the strings.