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Field target positions

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josh3rd

josh3rd

Member
Apr 2, 2015
954
47
Newark, Delaware, United States
For the few who may know of me when competing in field target I participate in hunter class with shooting sticks. When I was at DCFS in southeast Pennsylvania I met some new friends, particularly a guy by the name JD from Tennessee. He and Brian Van Liew (again Brian some if I messed up your last name) suggested that I should shoot open class piston. Now from what I know, open class you cannot use shooting sticks but can use a harness and a rifle 20ft/lbs or less. I have been trying the field target sitting positions and am having THE hardest times keeping steady. I feel like I have a hard time breathing and controlling my breathing. I have been trying different hand and rifle placements like placing the rifle across my left arm and my left hand is grabbing my right forearm while sitting (hope that makes sense). Also I seen Leo Gonzalez, Mike Norris and Hector Medina sit on the ground placing their rifle on their knee pad. 

Well my whole issue is aside from practicing what hold/position for a spring rifle is best? I have a prosport with no type of attachment or aftermarket parts on the stock. Any and all help is and will be greatly appreciated.



Cross posted

Mod Edit. Moved to Field Target Talk forum
 
If you can rest the gun where it was resting in your sticks to start that should help. As for the seated position without straps it took me about a year, making small changes to my and the guns position to get comfortable. You look liked a fit guy so the sore muscles in odd places and learning to breathe with some of those muscles shouldn't take much time. Also if you can get comfortable without straps you should shoot WFTF. 

As for equipment a scope with repeatable clicks and range finding will be needed. Not right away but some time in the future. Also a decent butt hook. Adjustable if you can swing it.

Otherwise practice sitting in a generic seated position as much as possible to get comfortable. Watching TV, playing video games and such.
 
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If you can rest the gun where it was resting in your sticks to start that should help.

*John I tried that and I think/feel that my arms are to short lol.

Also if you can get comfortable without straps you should shoot WFTF. 

* the competition is heavy in that area but will take it into consideration

As for equipment a scope with repeatable clicks and range finding will be needed. Not right away but some time in the future. Also a decent butt hook. Adjustable if you can swing it.

*can the butt hook be used in open class piston? And in your opinion is the Hawke air max 30sf pretty good at repeating? 

Otherwise practice sitting in a generic seated position as much as possible to get comfortable. Watching TV, playing video games and such.



*practicing right now

Thanks man
 
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What’s so wrong with competing in Hunter? I once thought that H was just for the old, the fat, the sick, the lame and the lazy (I check several boxes). I’ve since learned that nothing could be further from the truth and that there are some truly fine shooters who are just fine with staying in H and kicking some serious a$$. It’s all dependent on your particular goals and aspirations but if “open” doesn’t seem to be a good fit, H isn’t a bad place to be. I’m shooting H piston this season and enjoying it for the most part and intend to stay there. But like I said.....personal goals. Uj
 
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Hunter Division is a great place to be. Beginner, experienced, old, young.

I started out in Hunter Piston using a bucket/sticks. I rarely use them anymore, but I have continued to shoot in Hunter on occasion. And decided to shoot mostly Hunter starting half way through this year. You can't use as many shooting aids, so usually simpler and less expensive. You can spend $$$ on a scope but not really needed in Hunter. It's the biggest Division in AAFTA, so usually plenty of competition.

Because of a lack of competitors, Open Piston rarely exists as a class these days. Hunter Piston and WFTF Piston (depending on match) have more activity. The fewer shooting aids that you depend on, the more options you'll have when deciding which class to shoot in.

If you already have a 12fpe recoiling piston gun, not a lot of benefit to bumping up the fpe. Piston guns shoot good at 12fpe. That's one reason there are not many open Piston shooters remaining (they mostly went to WFTF). 15fpe might be harder to shoot accurately, but it will shoot a little flatter which can help, especially in Hunter where you won't get the benefit of ranging with a high power scope. So if you want to try 15fpe in Hunter Piston, go for it.

But if you have a 12fpe piston gun, 16x capable scope, and no shooting aids, you can shoot in any Division/Class.

If you are flexible, you could try the dead-man position. It can be stable enough even without bipod/jacket/harness.

You can hold your breath when ready to break the shot so breathing should not be what disrupts it. I still see my heartbeat though, and no way to completely stop that.
 
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Scott is a GREAT competitor and has an incredible position. It will take a bit to train and stretch to get to that. My wife and I trained pretty hard in the 90s to shoot without support. She now uses a harness as her back is getting worse but I still prefer to shoot over my arm, sitting . It's comfortable and I can be reasonably still most of the time. I just hate to give in to the gadgetry and like to test myself, rather than worry solely about winning. I still prefer to stay within the original INTENT of the game.... which was simulating hunting, and you don't take all that crap hunting. My wife's body structure is different , of course , and she could shoot very still and well off her knee in the past. Wasn't comfy for me so I moved more trying to strain to keep position. The real key is to analyze what position MIGHT be still enough that you feel you can be comfortable in and work toward making it better. You can also look at others to get a clue what might be better. Unsupported, the crosshairs will likely NEVER be still, but you will find you can hold on some pretty small aim points. Piston rifles will add to the challenge and I agree on what's been said about bumping the power.... not much gain for a more difficult rifle to shoot .

All that said, nothing wrong with Hunter class. 

As a training aid, there is a game/target called IFP.... International Field Position... that has some difficult targets set at 30 yards that you shoot for score so you can measure your progress. If you search for the name, it will take you to a site maintained by someone in Tx and has free download practice targets. I feel that the wife and I made our biggest gains practicing on those targets.

Soooo.... have FUN, regardless .

Bob
 
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Scott's got some good points which match what I've seen & tried.

THE biggest thing I ever had improve my FT shooting ( seated ) was a stock that fit! Being comfortable, as in sit down close eyes assume the position & open your eyes and your all lined up & balanced perfectly.

And the position you describe is perfect, for some but everyone is different and you need to find just the postion'fot for you.

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1569720101_4982526225d9007259d8e21.31261473_GOB 10-11-08 013.jpg
1569720101_4549448185d900725baa0c0.72797516_TN State Field Target match 2013 076.jpg
1569720101_4868049385d900725dfc309.61082397_TVA FT shoot March 014.jpg


All Tx's but you get the idea, I like across the body both knees left hand holding right wrist but everyone is different. Once you can otushoot the fellow with the Blond stock, you can call yourself a good shot regardless of position. He's also one who "tunes to what thr file wants" so if it behaves best at 14fpe or 11.2fpe so be it and shoot in that class.

Then a TX "just right" for someone else with me using it, then the owner using it as it fits him flawless (Squirrels fear that fellow, nuff said). The last a home whittled stock whioch fit the owner perfect and therefore improved his scores.

Practice. Dont be afraid to try most anything that works for you. Some use bondo & block to makes thing right, and wexcelent results.



John




 
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I currently shoot Open PCP, but from the prone position with a sling. It's worked for me for the most part, but there are some shots (like at the PA Cup this year) where a tree root or something in the way would prevent me from seeing the target since I was shooting literally from ground level. So, I built a poor man's knee riser. I just took a cheap sand bag and gorilla glued it to a knee pad from home depot. I use that from the sitting position as a substitute for a knee riser/proper FT stock. I'm transitioning to WFTF piston and will probably use that until I get a proper knee riser or FT stock for my HW97. But, to get you in the game, I recommend making something like. I've talked to my local MD and some WFTF guys and they said it's legal and compliant.
 
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