So with all the discussions about combining classes or adding classes, I realized I need to know more insights about the history of the current rules and classes. I read the book “Airgun Field Target Shooting” by Les Herridge and Ian Law, 1989. Granted PCP’s were discussed as the ‘future of airguns’, but there were no bipods, buckets or harnesses then. Nearly every shooter uses a sling, and looks like they are either prone, sitting, kneeling or standing, kinda like how I was taught to shoot as a kid with a chimpmunk 22. So how did that sport of FT turn into what it is today, rules and class wise? What was wrong with the way it was with a simplistic ruleset? Seems to me the FT I read about is much more of a challenge than any of the classes now. So when i mentioned a Purist class in another thread this is what i meant, going back to the original rules where it was more like actual hunting or 3 Position shooting. (Not the topic of this post, but wanted to mention it for clarity)
So for the FT shooters that have stood the tides of change, what really prompted the rules to become what they are? How did we go from a sling and a knee to bipods, harnesses, etc? I guess one could argue that equipment changed the sport and thus rules followed, but i would only agree to a point, harnesses and seats and sticks had to have more reason than the rifles are more accurate or the scopes are better. I also understand physical limitations, but that doesnt apply to all the rules and classes either. So whats the backstory on the FT rules? Im not complaining about any rules in FT, just trying to understand how they came about.
So for the FT shooters that have stood the tides of change, what really prompted the rules to become what they are? How did we go from a sling and a knee to bipods, harnesses, etc? I guess one could argue that equipment changed the sport and thus rules followed, but i would only agree to a point, harnesses and seats and sticks had to have more reason than the rifles are more accurate or the scopes are better. I also understand physical limitations, but that doesnt apply to all the rules and classes either. So whats the backstory on the FT rules? Im not complaining about any rules in FT, just trying to understand how they came about.
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