Hello all. I will be shooting my first Field Target match this Saturday morning. I was hoping that you guys can give me some tips to avoid personal embarrassment, ha. Thanks up front for your time.
Pointers for a first time F T shooter?
- Thread starter DJinAZ98
- Start date
Welcome to the game!
First-Have Fun! If you can, make a range card with holdovers for the 10-25 yard distances in 1 yard increments-the close shots require less wind reading and can give you some points. If you have a sidewheel on your scope make a focus ranging tape. practice as much as you can at the longer distances to see what the wind does to your pellets. And shoot offhand and kneeling too. Other than that-practice as much as possible and have fun!
hope that helps,
John
First-Have Fun! If you can, make a range card with holdovers for the 10-25 yard distances in 1 yard increments-the close shots require less wind reading and can give you some points. If you have a sidewheel on your scope make a focus ranging tape. practice as much as you can at the longer distances to see what the wind does to your pellets. And shoot offhand and kneeling too. Other than that-practice as much as possible and have fun!
hope that helps,
John
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JohnL57,' thanks, I just started in May, and so far the fun has been great. Up to now only BR 25 M and silhouette. A little nervous for this first F T match. I think I am going to see if my Springer might be better choice because my PCP is so heavy. I was just putting my scope on it to do some sitting shooting practice.
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Heavy is not necessarily bad in FT-within reason of course. The extra weight will help you hold a bit steadier in the wind. Are you shooting Hunter or WFTF?
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First of all, have a good time. If you shoot in competition long enough there will be a time when you beat the best, and also a time when you will be beat by the worst. No need for embarrassment ever!
Know your equipment and watch what the more experienced shooters do. Remember, the really good shooters did not start out that way nor did they start with the best equipment either.
Good luck.
Rick B.
Know your equipment and watch what the more experienced shooters do. Remember, the really good shooters did not start out that way nor did they start with the best equipment either.
Good luck.
Rick B.
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First match your head will be swimming with all the new people saying hello.just have fun. Know you will miss way more than you thought you would and have a good time. As for a range card, for the first time I wouldn’t even sweat it.
after the match everyone will tell you their score their first match. I believe I got a 9 out of 42 with a .20 R9. But damn it was fun.
Twenty years later I have dedicated ft guns with dope. But most matches I just grab which we rifle floats my boat that day and wing it. We aren’t shooting for money.
after the match everyone will tell you their score their first match. I believe I got a 9 out of 42 with a .20 R9. But damn it was fun.
Twenty years later I have dedicated ft guns with dope. But most matches I just grab which we rifle floats my boat that day and wing it. We aren’t shooting for money.
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JohnL57 and Rick B, Thanks for taking a few moments to send some advice my way. I just signed up last night for open class. It was suggested because the rules by comparison to the other classes are less restrictive. As you said, Rick, my equip.( Benjamin Armada 22 cal ) is definitely at the lower end of the spectrum, but I rather enjoy beating up on some of those top dollar guns, hehe. As well as shooting, I have been enjoying working on my new toy. Learning how it works, and how to adjust. Added a huma reg, a nice Vortex Diamond back FFP scope.
One question I do have is concerning pellet weight. I have been shooting Crosman 14.3 HP, ( cheap and easy to get) and some JSB Diablo 14.35 domed for my important shots. Should I be going heavier?
One question I do have is concerning pellet weight. I have been shooting Crosman 14.3 HP, ( cheap and easy to get) and some JSB Diablo 14.35 domed for my important shots. Should I be going heavier?
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I have not been to a match yet, but the reoccurring advice is to have fun!
if the 14.3 pellets are working in your practice sessions, at the ranges you need, and shoot well in the gun, go for it.
Windy conditions could be a deal breaker with the 14.3 My cayden groups them good to 45 yards, I use 15.89 to 18.1 grain past that. I have used 17.5 gr slugs past 45 yards and had good results. DON'T USE slugs at closer distances , I domed the crap out of the air venturi reactive rat on a stick to the point that I had to take it apart and flatten out the paddles.
Please keep me posted on the match, and your experience, I plan on attending some matches as well.
if the 14.3 pellets are working in your practice sessions, at the ranges you need, and shoot well in the gun, go for it.
Windy conditions could be a deal breaker with the 14.3 My cayden groups them good to 45 yards, I use 15.89 to 18.1 grain past that. I have used 17.5 gr slugs past 45 yards and had good results. DON'T USE slugs at closer distances , I domed the crap out of the air venturi reactive rat on a stick to the point that I had to take it apart and flatten out the paddles.
Please keep me posted on the match, and your experience, I plan on attending some matches as well.
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Here I thought I was the only guy shooting a .22! I actually started with 18 gr. JSBs-I'm shooting 15.89s now. I'd recommend you shoot what you've been using if it's working for you. I'm shooting a Gen 1 Marauder with a stock barrel and a custom stock-love the trigger! I haven't tried the lighter JSBs. If your club is particular about power levels, make sure you're under the 20 fpe level. In one of my finer moments I shot a high score on day one and got dq'd at the chrony test. There went my lucrative FT endorsement money, LOL!
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You will have a great time. Use the rifle you shoot best with, same for the pellets. When I used .22 in FT I shot 15.9g JSB only because they worked best, would have shot whatever pellet that was. A .22 at 20fpe isnt all that much different from "12fpe" which you no doubt will enjoy one day. You are either at sub 20fpe or have spoken with the range master right? Shot my 1st ever match with a 22fpe squirrel gun (only thing I had) but naturally had TOO much fun and then needed a tiny-bore.
Accept the distractions right now but try to limit yourself until after shooting. 15 people saying "ever used one of these" and "want to?" Is distracting. And wait until you try ranging someone's Tasco custom shop 50X or such. Good clean fun and the nicest people!
#1 Breath.
#2 Apply pellet directly to target.
Simple.
John
and take your camera and by all means do not bring more than $20 cash.
Accept the distractions right now but try to limit yourself until after shooting. 15 people saying "ever used one of these" and "want to?" Is distracting. And wait until you try ranging someone's Tasco custom shop 50X or such. Good clean fun and the nicest people!
#1 Breath.
#2 Apply pellet directly to target.
Simple.
John
and take your camera and by all means do not bring more than $20 cash.
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If your going to shoot a .22 in FT .... Pellet choice SHOULD BE light as you can get away with while still remaining ACCURATE !!
Accuracy first !!! this is what the game is about to it's core. While the rabbit hole of learning is vast and deep, it need not be hard either ... time doing so yields your experience.
Just understanding as caliber size increases with the respective weight of pellets they shoot increasing too, with that TRAJECTORY become loopier with the slower speed you must shoot to STAY UNDER the >20 fpe power limits the game requires.
Shower you shoot, better must be your RANGING prowess / accuracy along with very good D.O.P.E. data for each distance 10-55 yards.
First few matches .... DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!! Go have fun, laugh and giggle with like minded Air gunners for the shear fun of it. Repeat repeat repeat.
Scott S
Accuracy first !!! this is what the game is about to it's core. While the rabbit hole of learning is vast and deep, it need not be hard either ... time doing so yields your experience.
Just understanding as caliber size increases with the respective weight of pellets they shoot increasing too, with that TRAJECTORY become loopier with the slower speed you must shoot to STAY UNDER the >20 fpe power limits the game requires.
Shower you shoot, better must be your RANGING prowess / accuracy along with very good D.O.P.E. data for each distance 10-55 yards.
First few matches .... DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!! Go have fun, laugh and giggle with like minded Air gunners for the shear fun of it. Repeat repeat repeat.
Scott S
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Thanks guys, Tomorrow morning is the big day, I'm pretty excited and ready to have fun. My Armada is set up in the low 18 's FPE for about fourty shots. I did some sitting practice last night @ 25 M. Definitely more challenging than BR, but I think I will do ok. I signed up in open class and as advised, not going to worry about score, just learning the process. Here in Az, this is such a great time of year to get outdoors and enjoy our perfect fall weather. Again, thanks for taking time to read and respond to my jibber / jabber. I will update later with my report on the day.
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Hello all, First FT match in the books. Shot 14 \ 48, thanks and congratulations to my partner Kent. Kent shot 42 \ 48 and won the day in Hunting PCP. Quite windy as well. Had much fun. Thanks to all for the great advice.
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Congratulations!
How did those close shots work out for you?
Glad you had fun, keep us posted.
John
How did those close shots work out for you?
Glad you had fun, keep us posted.
John
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If you learn on illegal equipment, you will likely be let down when forced to comply. Or make up your own game and get others to join.
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take a notebook
you will not be able to remember everything you hear and what folks tell you
you will not be able to remember everything you hear and what folks tell you
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