FT Newb Q: Why not more Thomas rifles in Hunter class?

[Smok3y]

I hope this isn’t a really stupid question from someone who hasn’t shot FT, and I’m not trying to start anything… so please take it easy on me. 

I noticed that the Open and WFTF groups have a lot of Thomas rifles, but the Hunter class doesn’t usually have many. Is there a reason for that? It seems that Hunter also has a lot more inexpensive rifles being used. 

I have never shot FT and have been wanting to start all year, so maybe after shooting it would be more obvious. My guess is that the adjustability, fit, and such possibly helps more in the positions those guys shoot? Maybe some of that isn’t as useful on bucket and sticks? Bucket and sticks ain’t no bench!

FT definitely looks harder than anything I have ever shot, and I think I would like the challenge to help make me a better shooter. I wouldn’t be trying to buy higher scores by buying high end, but having an accurate rifle won’t hurt, right?

I appreciate any insight. I am going to a match this weekend and hope to see some more about how it all works. As someone who likes nice stuff, I was just keeping my mind open to all rifles, and wondering if maybe I don’t need to go all out if I just shoot Hunter.

Thanks!

 

[K]

$$$$$



K

 

[jps2486]

Let's face it, there's no money in FT shooting. It's just a fun thing where you compete with yourself. Even national and international matches don't pay off. I couldn't justify a $4000 rifle. My ego doesn't demand this.

 

[Smok3y]

That was my first thought, but then I wondered why they would mostly just use them in the other groups. So, I started guessing that it was something else.

I get the money thing, but none of my friends and family understand why I spend what I do on scopes either…

If it is just dollars and cents, then cool. That goes for about anything. 

 

[bvan]

Don’t kid yourself. There are quite a few Thomas rifles in Hunter.

 

[Greg5850]

There were two main reasons Hunter class was started. The first was to have a less expensive option for those wanting to try the sport. The second, to enable those who cannot get up and down from a bum bag to participate.


Greg S 

 

[Xbowsniper]

Smok3y,

Just keep in mind, you're out to have fun, and to become a better shooter. I have all kinds of high end guns including a Thomas. I shoot WFTF PCP class, so a comparison wouldn't be fair. 

Keep in mind that the top Hunter PCP score at the 2019 pre-covid Nationals, was won with a Benjamin Marauder. A highly worked over Marauder, but a Marauder nonetheless. 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Fieldtargettech.com 

 

[Motorhead]

As an FT shooter that does compete at larger venues ( State and National championships etc ... ) We do indeed see THOMAS rifles in the ranks of Hunter PCP class shooters.

Most of those in our club ( SVFTC ) shoot for fun and enjoy the monthly matches w/o much fuss. In our ranks of @ 35/40 FT shooters all of those who own THOMAS rifles also shoot at these larger venues as well. Thinking we have @ 3 or 4 who have them tho NONE are Hunter class competitors. Open or WFTF evenly split pretty much.

Can't say it is because of cost necessarily ? being there are many STEYR, DAYSTATE, RAW & FX etc shooting them in the Hunter class.



Tho said a 2K RAW or 2.6K for Daystate Redwolf is a reach for many and twice that for a Thomas ... Maybe so ?

Tho if you look at ADVERTISING and who is bombarding the buying public via ALL social media and more is by in large what products you see most commonly at club and for fun FT shooting events.

Does it make them the best choice ? Not necessarily. Benjamin Marauders do great as do Air arms 400/500's, and a vest expanse of Chinese or Turkish rifles.

Modern air guns are EXPENSIVE when looked at against what you can buy in equal $$$ in powder guns. Thus for many shooting for poops and giggles will never for the dollar poor or unwilling gravitate to a level of owning 1000+ dollar air guns. 

Personally for the chore of PRECISION shooting and the hunter class if one wants to live large and use great gear if falls on 3 manufacturers that do VERY LITTLE Advertising ...... STEYR ..... RAW ..... THOMAS ..... DAYSTATE for what we see in the hands most often with top shelf FT shooters. Others are in the mix too .. but these 4 more than any other IMO are in the champions hands most often.



Take the TOP 5 Hunter class champions at this years AAFTA National Championship .....

L to R ..... 5th Thomas / 4th Daystate / 3rd Daystate / 2nd Steyr / 1st RAW



Scott S

 

[Keith Rush]

Your right about the dollars and cents going for anything. Majority of hobbies are not cheap. I was flying Radio Control competitions for the last 10 years or so. Usually had 2-3 aircraft. One primary and a back up of the same exact one and then one on the building table. On average, they were $6000-$8000 per, which could all be gone in an instant with one wrong stick movement, mid-air, etc. Paying $4000 for a Thomas, and having something for years to come to enjoy is what I'm after and why I'm changing sports/hobby. I haven't shot FT one time yet, but like you, I'm very excited to get started. Right now, I have a RAW TM 1000 being built, and just picked up a couple of Benjamin Akela's in .177 and .22 to mess around with. Couldn't pass up the Crossman deal. If you think about, look how much money you have spent on things like eating out, etc. that we didn't need to or other random purchases. It adds up quicker than you would think.



Keith

 

[Smok3y]

Smok3y,

Just keep in mind, you're out to have fun, and to become a better shooter. I have all kinds of high end guns including a Thomas. I shoot WFTF PCP class, so a comparison wouldn't be fair. 

Keep in mind that the top Hunter PCP score at the 2019 pre-covid Nationals, was won with a Benjamin Marauder. A highly worked over Marauder, but a Marauder nonetheless. 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Fieldtargettech.com 

Thanks for chiming in Tom. Totally in for the fun, especially for all the time that goes into practice. I saw that Philip won with that Marauder, which was sort of the reason I started wondering if the Thomas maybe brought something different to the other styles more than it brings to Hunter. Either way, you are right, I just want to have fun, and knocking down more targets sure helps that!

 

[Smok3y]

As an FT shooter that does compete at larger venues ( State and National championships etc ... ) We do indeed see THOMAS rifles in the ranks of Hunter PCP class shooters.

Most of those in our club ( SVFTC ) shoot for fun and enjoy the monthly matches w/o much fuss. In our ranks of @ 35/40 FT shooters all of those who own THOMAS rifles also shoot at these larger venues as well. Thinking we have @ 3 or 4 who have them tho NONE are Hunter class competitors. Open or WFTF evenly split pretty much.

Can't say it is because of cost necessarily ? being there are many STEYR, DAYSTATE, RAW & FX etc shooting them in the Hunter class.



Tho said a 2K RAW or 2.6K for Daystate Redwolf is a reach for many and twice that for a Thomas ... Maybe so ?

Tho if you look at ADVERTISING and who is bombarding the buying public via ALL social media and more is by in large what products you see most commonly at club and for fun FT shooting events.

Does it make them the best choice ? Not necessarily. Benjamin Marauders do great as do Air arms 400/500's, and a vest expanse of Chinese or Turkish rifles.

Modern air guns are EXPENSIVE when looked at against what you can buy in equal $$$ in powder guns. Thus for many shooting for poops and giggles will never for the dollar poor or unwilling gravitate to a level of owning 1000+ dollar air guns. 

Personally for the chore of PRECISION shooting and the hunter class if one wants to live large and use great gear if falls on 3 manufacturers that do VERY LITTLE Advertising ...... STEYR ..... RAW ..... THOMAS ..... DAYSTATE for what we see in the hands most often with top shelf FT shooters. Others are in the mix too .. but these 4 more than any other IMO are in the champions hands most often.



Take the TOP 5 Hunter class champions at this years AAFTA National Championship ..... <img src="

" />//www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E



L to R ..... 5th Thomas / 4th Daystate / 3rd Daystate / 2nd Steyr / 1st RAW



Scott S

Thanks Scott. I also appreciate your input as well as another on here with a lot of experience. What you said above is exactly what I have noticed in the match reports. Those specific rifles show up much more often in Hunter. 

All these comments together do start making sense all together. If it was intended a way to get in cheaper without all the extra gear and such, it would make sense why we see so many Marauders and S500s. It also explains why people are spending somewhat more at that next tier, up to $2k or so, and maybe that is the next chunk of rifles as that is what most people are comfortable spending up for. And it seems most of the people who go all in, go over to the other couple styles. 

I realize that money doesn’t buy the wins. I have seen plenty of match reports with less expensive rifles, and in the end it is like all other shooting, having something consistent and being able to do your part. 

And then it just becomes how much you are want to pay for what you like and for your fun. 

I appreciate the input all. I really do feel like it is a preference thing then. So it isn’t that the benefits of a Thomas aren’t as useful on Hunter, but as it is for a larger crowd, people bring many more options to it, so the percentage of Thomas isn’t has high as they also don’t sell as many as all those other brands. It is just more representative of the market, in a sense.

 

[davecole]

High end guns do not necessarily guarantee success in HFT which is also true of optics and the other assorted FT paraphernalia. There’s the ol’ rabbit hole question, “ is it the gun or shooter?” Well, IMHO both will seek its’ own level. True, you have to have “good” equipment to be competitive but you have to have the practiced skills of ranging the targets, reading wind and “becoming one” with your gun where your shooting is instinctive. 
You must master the forced shooting positions. These are the make or break podium positions. They can be up to an eight shot advantage over someone who fails to see the importance. 
If you can afford the high end equipment and not take food off the table, by all means do so. That way you can only blame yourself. But don’t become discouraged, regretful and give up if you don’t podium within a few matches. That would be very disappointing. And don’t expect overnight success; even the best shooters will tell you they’ve been doing it a while and the humble ones will tell you they still have a ways to go. 
Hope to see you at a FT match someday!

 

[Smok3y]

High end guns do not necessarily guarantee success in HFT which is also true of optics and the other assorted FT paraphernalia. There’s the ol’ rabbit hole question, “ is it the gun or shooter?” Well, IMHO both will seek its’ own level. True, you have to have “good” equipment to be competitive but you have to have the practiced skills of ranging the targets, reading wind and “becoming one” with your gun where your shooting is instinctive. 
You must master the forced shooting positions. These are the make or break podium positions. They can be up to an eight shot advantage over someone who fails to see the importance. 
If you can afford the high end equipment and not take food off the table, by all means do so. That way you can only blame yourself. But don’t become discouraged, regretful and give up if you don’t podium within a few matches. That would be very disappointing. And don’t expect overnight success; even the best shooters will tell you they’ve been doing it a while and the humble ones will tell you they still have a ways to go. 
Hope to see you at a FT match someday!

Thanks. Great advice. I think that is what has intrigued me most about field target, all the things you mentioned that I can almost ignore sitting at bench and shooting at the same ole paper at 50 yards week in and out. I’m not learning to be any better at learning the wind and trying the forced positions. By taking up this new discipline, it challenges me to do those things. 

LOL! Only blame myself! I think I would just be more embarrassed at a last place finish with expensive equipment. I do like that thought in a way… only leaves me to get better…

 

[CampFussell]

Russ, get that Thomas brother. You deserve it if you can afford it. That's the way I look at it.

On a side note, when Philip won hunter division in 2019 with that modified Gen 1 Marauder, he was using a UTG scope as well! He came in 4th in 2021 with his Daystate, and I believe he still uses the UTG scope.

It all comes down to practice, reading the wind and what I think is most important "range finding" with your scope!

Can't wait to see your new Thomas when you get it.



Fuss

 

[mubhaur]

 "it's always 70% shooter and 30% gun"

My old friend Warren always quote it.

 

[steve123]

Sturkis in our Airgunners of Arizona FT club, during the Tuesday practice matches, has not only won the most but has shot more perfect scores with his Thomas FT rifle than anyone in our club, and in Hunter division. He uses a Kahles 10-50 on 16x as his scope to complete his FT rifle.

But I'd put my USFT right up there too and have come out on top quite a bit, though I shoot in Freestyle division which is also known as cheater division. Mine is the full sized version which is getting tuff to hold up in offhand as I age otherwise I wouldn't be selling it. When I was in better shape a few years ago I had no problem in offhand with my USFT but....

The thing I like most about Thomas is the triggers. The one on my HPX is perfect, I feel like having it gains me at least one point more per match.

It's going to be hard to beat anyone who has a practice regimen because they know where to aim in the wind which is often the difference between 1st place or not. But not less important is being at the top levels of positional shooting which adds a few more points.

Smok3y, If you want to, go ahead and message me, and we'll exchange phone numbers and talk a bit about my USFT. Who knows, perhaps you might have something I want as partial trade???

 

[Uglyjohn]

I’m a 73yo HC shooter of modest means and talent and a proud Thomas FT owner. It’s hard to add anything of interest to this conversation other than buyers remorse. I’ve experienced some level of this with most of the equipment I’ve acquired since getting involved with FT, but never once with the Thomas. These guns are purpose built by a guy obsessed with quality, performance and customer satisfaction. My advice to the OP is to get on the wait list and scratch off the days as they go by. You’ll be rewarded with the best HC FT gun available. Uj

 

[JohnTaylor]

I shoot a Thomas in hunter class, as do 3 or 4 others at our club. They perform fantastic!

 

[jps2486]

Money is no guarantee of success. If you are a top marksman, want to squeeze a few more points in your score, and willing to pay $4000, go for it. But be prepared to be beaten by someone with a medium priced rifle.

 

[SteveV]

Great answer!