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Picking the ONE right gun for me to use for HFT - methodology

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cavedweller

cavedweller

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Dec 5, 2018
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Mobile, Alabama, United States
I have too many FT guns. Terrible right?
Let's say you have 10 or 20 wonderful air rifles. Let's say they are all <20 ft lbs. How then would YOU determine the best platform for YOU?
This process may take a while, a long while, maybe a month...but hey...your shooting your air rifle and your practicing.

My train of thought is as follows:

1) From a bench on a still day - zero each gun at 25 yards - use your favorite FT scope on each one.

2) Shoot 60 shots from each gun at a large paper target set at 55 yards to determine each guns ability to group tightly; keep track of the number of flyers

3) Take the top five airguns (meaning the guns that gave you the tightest groups) and reset your paper target to your Zeroed distance - 25 yards.

4) From standing, shoot 30 shots from each of the five guns - determine which guns give your the most consistent point of aim in the standing position. Take note if the gun is wearing you out while trying to stay on point. Rate your exertion level from 1 to 10 with 1 being easiest to hold on point and a 10 being oh hell, this isn't fun or is just too damn uncomfortable.

5) From Kneeling shoot 30 shots from each of the five guns - determine which guns give you the most consistent point of aim in the kneeling position.
Take note if the gun is wearing you out while trying to stay on point. Rate the exertion level from 1 to 10 with 1 being easiest to hold and a 10 being this hurts like hell or is just too damn uncomfortable.

6) Take only the top two airguns (meaning the guns that gave you the best groups standing and kneeling), and you almost have your primary and back up FT gun

7) Break out your bucket and sticks and move your paper target back out to 55 yards and shoot 30 more rounds from each of the two remaining guns

Top score is your primary FT gun the other becomes your backup.

My thinking is that only these two TOP GUNS should be adorned with the exact same scope, because it's time to get serious spending the time necessary to create accurate ranging wheels with very detailed Dope Charts.

Your thoughts?

I'm aware some folks don't have a lot of FT airguns competing for their favorite, but, as i read through the entire forum i hear over and over again about how MANY airguns people have... so why not.
I'm thinking this same methodology could work on any caliber gun you have multiple(s) of regardless of how you use it.

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That is a lot of shooting… after a typical 80 shot NMC course, I am worn out… doing the math with your numbers of shots fired made my head hurts… I owns spring guns and I will for sure have arms like Arnold Terminator or never make it pass your first step… with just one gun… 60 pumps… no way… just my old guy thoughts… guess I need to go PCP…
 
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MOSOSODBOB said:
That is a lot of shooting… after a typical 80 shot NMC course, I am worn out… doing the math with your numbers of shots fired made my head hurts… I owns spring guns and I will for sure have arms like Arnold Terminator or never make it pass your first step… with just one gun… 60 pumps… no way… just my old guy thoughts… guess I need to go PCP…
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You don't have to do it all in one sitting🤣🎩🤙
 
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Mr. Cave

It's always good to have a backup rifle. Always good to have an option if something happens to the main gun prior to the match. Then switch to the backup and you are good to go.

However, the BOG changed the rules recently (3 years ago?) that if you have a gun failure during the match, you cannot switch to your backup rifle. You have the option of fixing your gun (within a certain time period) or you DQ.

All Grand Prix matches are now two days events. You are NOT allowed to switch guns on the 2nd day.

This was my understanding of the AAFTA rules as of today. Please double check the AAFTA rules (in case I misspoke. sometimes my memory fails me).

Edit: please see post #14 as I misspoke about NOT allowed to switch gun on the 2nd day.
 
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JP806TX said:
Mr. Cave

It's always good to have a backup rifle. Always good to have an option if something happens to the main gun prior to the match. Then switch to the backup and you are good to go.

However, the BOG changed the rules recently (3 years ago?) that if you have a gun failure during the match, you cannot switch to your backup rifle. You have the option of fixing your gun (within a certain time period) or you DQ.

All Grand Prix matches are now two days events. You are NOT allowed to switch guns on the 2nd day.

This was my understanding of the AAFTA rules as of today. Please double check the AAFTA rules (in case I misspoke. sometimes my memory fails me).
Click to expand...
👀so a complete back up PARTS gun would be ideal?🤔🧐🤪🤙
 
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iAMzehTOASTY1 said:
👀so a complete back up PARTS gun would be ideal?🤔🧐🤪🤙
Click to expand...
Yeah...if you want to push the boundaries of the rules...bring parts...(barrel, piston, spring, trigger, compression tube, stock, regulator, o-rings, breech seals, piston seals etc) and get really good at swapping out these parts.

I think the intent was that you don't switch to a "different" rifle.
But you are allowed to swap out parts to "fix" the rifle you originally registered for the match. I think currently there's a "grey" area regrading how many and which "parts" you are allowed to swap out.

Be nice if everyone focused on creating safety rules to prevent injuries instead of these contentious "it needs to be fair/even the playing field type" rules. Used to be days, weeks, months, and years of debate/outcry on these public forums about FT rules. Thank Gawd that has died down recently.
 
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JP806TX said:
Yeah...if you want to push the boundaries of the rules...bring parts...(barrel, piston, spring, trigger, compression tube, stock, regulator, o-rings, breech seals, piston seals etc) and get really good at swapping out these parts.

I think the intent was that you don't switch to a "different" rifle.
But you are allowed to swap out parts to "fix" the rifle you originally registered for the match. I think currently there's a "grey" area regrading how many and which "parts" you are allowed to swap out.

Be nice if everyone focused on creating safety rules to prevent injuries instead of these contentious "it needs to be fair/even the playing field type" rules.
Click to expand...
Totally with ya! I'd never thought about breaking down during competition before; whole different realm of uh-oh for me🥴😆
 
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Having a couple really good ones makes it hard to choose which one to shoot on match day!!!

I always bring a backup gun to matches. I have to travel a couple hrs and I took the time and drove the miles to shoot the match. I want to be able to shoot even if the gun I planned on using that day croaks.

As for being DQ'd...I can see why the BOG did it but I don't agree with it for the scenario you proposed. I'd guess it was created b/c guys were swapping guns around when they got frustrated with their gun, not because the original gun they were using became non-functional.

If I ever need to fall back on my backup gun I'll do it and I'll complete the match and I've have fun anyway. Regardless of the "official" DQ.
 
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cavedweller said:
My thoughts are based on two experiences I had during site in period before the match started. Electronic gun said phooey so I put it away and used a mechanical gun aka Steyr. I wonder if the rules prohibit changing rifles before the match starts?
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In my experience, I have switched guns prior to a match without issues. That may change depending on the match director and/or rules interpretation.
For competition piston shooters (high use), a piston rifle is either in various stages of getting broken in or getting worn out. So minimally, replacement parts are a must.

Sorry I misspoke about replacement gun on day 2 of the match. (this is what happens when you rely on old neurons)
You can use a replacement gun on the second day deemed "compliant with the rules....with match director approval" and clarification about what happens as you are "repairing" your gun.

Here's the AAFTA rule as of Nov 1, 2021

Airgun Malfunctions
  1. If a malfunction occurs during the match, the shooter may retire from the firing line to try to repair the airgun. The match will continue without them and the shooter will receive misses for subsequent targets until they return to their designated squad.
  2. If repairs cannot be made by the beginning of the second day of a match, a replacement gun may be used that is compliant with the rules of his or her class with match director approval.
  3. If a malfunction cannot be resolved or a replacement gun is not available, the shooter will be forced to forfeit the rest of the match with all remaining shots counted as misses.
 
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Due to the rules, I chose not to take a backup gun to Cajuns last month. I figured, the only scenario where a back up gun would make sense is if something happened on the last 2 lanes of day 1. I'm not currently in contention enough for that to be worth the hassle of travelling with two guns.
If I recall correctly, I did change guns on day 2 at the last ROT, but I was staying at home so it was easy
 
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