I’m crazy surprised how many times I meet a fellow airgunner who has no idea what field target is.
Surprised
- Thread starter cavedweller
- Start date
I'm honestly suprised FT isn't bigger than it is with most clubs. Its 3D archery with guns.... how can you go wrong?
Hoping to have a new match setup at my club next season. Quite a few of the guys who don't shoot air at all really seem intrigued about the concept so hopefully we can get a few more new faces involved.
Hoping to have a new match setup at my club next season. Quite a few of the guys who don't shoot air at all really seem intrigued about the concept so hopefully we can get a few more new faces involved.
Upvote 0
Not a thing in my area... Probably never will be. Air powered rifles are thought of nothing more than Walmart BB guns in these parts.. I'm though of as a nut that spends too much money on BB guns just to shoot starlings and small game.
Upvote 0
One match was all it took for me to be hooked. part of it is simply getting exposure. Ive got several friends who are interested in it now and want to try once I have my rifles setup.
Sadly getting over the stigma of air rifles being a kids daisy/red ryder is hard to get over until someone experiences it. I seriously think that would change once they see what kind of quality and power we get. Not to mention how quiet and peaceful it can be.
Upvote 0
I'll take it for granted that you are serious, but you seem to be focused on your interest in airguns, not what/why most people get into airguns .I’m crazy surprised how many times I meet a fellow airgunner who has no idea what field target is.
Most people don't compete with airguns. Fact. Most people either get into airguns for backyard fun or pesting/hunting.
Airgun competitions, be it FT or BR, etc... are not available close enough for even people like myself to become involved in.
Most people who use airguns have limited funds. Contrary to what AGN and GTA post may seem to imply.
Anyway, didn't mean to rupture your world, but most people who use airguns are never going to be interested in FT or any competitions.
Most airgunners simply can't afford that luxury.
JMHO, YMMV... (smile)
Upvote 0
I know for many that shoot ft they dont see it as a competition but as a fun challenge. There are many at our field shooting less expensive rifles alongside the high end rifles. Its about the fun and challenge factor for many.
Heck one guy broke out his springer without a dope sheet just to see what he could do with it.
Upvote 0
Nothing against anyone who can afford to attend any competition with any airgun. My point was that MOST people who shoot airguns and I will say that is more than 95% of us, don't have the funds to travel to the few competitions and don't really care about them.
Most people who use airguns either plink, pest, or hunt with them and don't know or even care about FT, EBR, etc, etc, etc.
If there were a venue close enough to me, I might try to attend, but that is also part of the problem. There are no events close enough to me to make me even want to try.
Elitism is a problem with airgunning because of the amount of money it takes alone. Nothing personal about those who can afford the dues, but it severely limits who can really take part. I used to hear the phrase "grow the sport".
The ONLY way to do that is to make it more local and especially more affordable.
Oh well, I do what I do and I am good at it. Look up my "tally to date" thread. (smile)
Thanks for the reply and I will crawl back inside my shell for a few hours now. (chuckle)
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Agree 100%
The challenge is what makes it fun. I have a very niche field target gun with a very niche field target scope. That rig is capable of being the top scoring gun at most matches. But I don't shoot it very often, instead choosing to compete with non specialized guns and scopes, simply for the challenge of doing so.
Upvote 0
The unfortunate reality of competition airgunning is that most people live somewhere they're gonna need to travel to do so.
The US is a big country. I live in a state with 3 or 4 field target clubs and none of them hold matches closer than 2hrs travel time from my house. But I go anyway. I go because the summertime matches create an excuse to camp with my son's, while simultaneously enjoying the company of other airgun enthusiasts. I go because the winter matches give me an excuse to stay a night or two at my dad's place, semi-near those matches. So I guess you could say my airgun "trips" become dual use.
Upvote 0
And YOU are one of the lucky ones, if you want to attend/compete in airguns, which simply illustrates the point I was making.
Again, I have nothing against those who can afford to compete or attend, it is just that the majority of people who shoot airguns seriously don't care one way or another. And I am not talking about people who buy a cheap gas ram AG at Walmart. The majority of people who shoot airguns don't know about or care about competitions. They just want the gun to do a job. Usually they also want the AG to do it cheaply and quietly.
Enough of my hyperbole... but prove me wrong? (smile)
All my best to all airgunners!
Kerry
Upvote 0
My match sunday I was shooting with 2 exceptional shooters, one being Tyler from Pyramid air. (super nice guy and down to earth) Could I hope to compete with their scores? No way. However their tips, advice and encouragement were amazing. The challenge for me was doing better than my last match, getting more consistent, and stringing things together.
After I finally cleared a lane, Tyler and Jeff were excited and said great shooting, now to string them together. I was lining up my 4th shot on the next lane and realized if I hit it, it would be my first back to back clears. I chuckled asking myself why I had to have that thought right then and put more pressure on myself. Thankfully I made the shot. Talk about a sigh of relief lol. I looked over to tyler and jeff and told them well you guys said I needed to string them together so I had to do it. I think they were as excited as I was.
TBH I think if we make ft events fun, welcoming and encouraging for all shooters, vs about the competition aspect all the time, more and more would participate. Thankfully our club is like this. Sadly many likely don't even know about events.
After I finally cleared a lane, Tyler and Jeff were excited and said great shooting, now to string them together. I was lining up my 4th shot on the next lane and realized if I hit it, it would be my first back to back clears. I chuckled asking myself why I had to have that thought right then and put more pressure on myself. Thankfully I made the shot. Talk about a sigh of relief lol. I looked over to tyler and jeff and told them well you guys said I needed to string them together so I had to do it. I think they were as excited as I was.
TBH I think if we make ft events fun, welcoming and encouraging for all shooters, vs about the competition aspect all the time, more and more would participate. Thankfully our club is like this. Sadly many likely don't even know about events.
Upvote 0
That and "to grow the sport", there have to be more events "local" to people who can't otherwise attend or participate.
And who can afford to do it and will benefit the most from it? The manufacturers. Especially the big ones. Crosman, Fx, etc...
But then I digress and fall into a dream... (chuckle)
Upvote 0
Im already looking at doing something similar. My range is an hour away. Id love to have something a bit closer. Just a fun relaxed time to enjoy and get others interested and show them what airgunning is about.
Upvote 0
LOL! It is all about "marketing". That's the only reason why airgun manufacturers are involved in the "big" events.
I applaud all of you who sincerely open up your ranges to others. But seriously... LOL!
If you knew what it takes for me to actually be able to post a comment on AGN, you would not be so inclined to laugh.
It can happen to you. I was "temporarily banned" quite a while back and ever since that ban was lifted, it takes me sometimes 10 minutes to post or reply. It does get tiring, but I figure as long as I can endure it, whatever the reason for it makes fools of those who cause it.
I appreciate AGN, but my problem has been going on for a long time now and changing browsers, etc, etc, etc, has made no difference.
Sort of like shadow banning in FB. Now I will probably be banned permanently for saying it. Oh well... I have never shied away from the truth.
I applaud all of you who sincerely open up your ranges to others. But seriously... LOL!
If you knew what it takes for me to actually be able to post a comment on AGN, you would not be so inclined to laugh.
It can happen to you. I was "temporarily banned" quite a while back and ever since that ban was lifted, it takes me sometimes 10 minutes to post or reply. It does get tiring, but I figure as long as I can endure it, whatever the reason for it makes fools of those who cause it.
I appreciate AGN, but my problem has been going on for a long time now and changing browsers, etc, etc, etc, has made no difference.
Sort of like shadow banning in FB. Now I will probably be banned permanently for saying it. Oh well... I have never shied away from the truth.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
If you can convert even one powder burner it’s a goldI bring my airguns to the Gun Range, does that count?
Upvote 0