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The story of “The Man with a Borrowed Gun”

This is not really a match report, a particular shooter or even a shooting rig. Sorry.. This is more about dispelling myths or misunderstandings about shooting HFT and how much fun Field Target can be. 

So the point I will be trying to drive home is, you don’t need a $2000 or even a $1000 set up to be successful and have fun. Because fun is what you should strive for in the sport of Field Target. If you are not then,...consider another sport.

Just a few days prior to the FT match at the Pecan Plantation outside Granbury Texas this last weekend, a buddy of mine, Mark Welker, learned a scope he had purchased was not going to arrive until the Friday afternoon, only hours prior to us leaving for the match.

Realizing he was dead in the water, he called Rick Cuccio, a fellow shooter who would be traveling with us explained his predicament and ask if he could use his daughters Staci’s rig to shoot because he just wouldn’t have time to mount a scope and get everything ready. And Rick said “yes”.

Now, Mark does shoot a spring gun in HFT and Staci’s gun is a marauder. And up to this point Mark has not even held Staci’s marauder little lone shot it.

We arrive Saturday morning at the sight in range and Rick hands Mark the gun and the range card. Now Mark is familiar with PCP’s and even owns a Marauder but not one set up for FT.

We do our sight in’s and practice and Mark feels good about the gun. 

OK, I don’t have a match report, this not what that is and I only have two pictures and it’s the ones in this post. Sorry I left my phone in the car.

But, the pictures helps tell this story.

Fast forward to the end of the match. Mark took a borrowed gun, he had never shot or even held before the match and did quite well IMHO.

So we now refer to Mark as, “The Man with the Borrowed Gun.” And we gotta give Staci, Rick’s daughter (actually she didn’t know her gun was being borrowed and probably not approved of it😉) credit for allowing Mark to use It. Also to Rick who we now refer to as “mmm” (Master Marauder Mechanic) for setting up a virtually bone stock used Marauder with pin point accuracy. (Scope was a Hawke Sidewinder and the gun is shooting out of the tin pellets.

So the moral of the story is, quit waiting around for the “best perfect” gun and scope. Look at match reports at what equipment is being used the most. Shy away from those who don’t shoot FT and make left field claims about those fabulous under the radar optics that no one ever uses even in local matches. If they in fact did work, wouldn’t more people use them?

And as for the gun.... The smallest KZ at the furthest distance is 1-1/2”. That’s all you gun needs to be able to shoot. Dime size groups are great but totally unnecessary.

See ya at the next match. 

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match results

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Staci’ gun Mark used






 
There is a very real psychological phenomena called “new gun syndrome”. I’ve seen it and experienced it many times in various clay target games. You pick up the new gun and it’s like you’ve been touched by the hand of god - for a little while. Then the mind figures out how to incorporate the old problems with the new equipment and the magic disappears. Fun while it lasts though. Uj
 
Well congrats to Mark!

It's even more fun when someone borrows his friends equipment (all it of it), shoots with his friend in the FT match, and outscores his friend as well as winning the match 😋

Especially when said friend had been taunting me for months to try HFT again, lol. Nope I still don't prefer it. But he does have some awesome equipment, about $7000 worth.
 
Yes it is always on the shooter however part of the skill is in fact, setting up the equipment. The example given was one in which the shooter was handed a rifle that was already properly set up to shoot FT. That did make it a bit easier for him. When we bring new people in and let them shoot our already set up guns they usually do fairly well. Setting up a rifle for FT, although not complicated, is an entirely other matter.

The point is, just don't be too surprised when someone shots well with a borrowed, but properly set up gun.

Rick
 
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Yes it is always on the shooter however part of the skill is in fact, setting up the equipment. The example given was one in which the shooter was handed a rifle that was already properly set up to shoot FT. That did make it a bit easier for him. When we bring new people in and let them shoot our already set up guns they usually do fairly well. Setting up a rifle for FT, although not complicated, is an entirely other matter.

The point is, just don't be too surprised when someone shots well with a borrowed, but properly set up gun.

Rick

Could not agree more !! ... Our clubs loaner ( BAM 50 in .177 & regulated ) is set up and dope provided turn key & would in a pinch myself shoot it with confidence.
 
And know that Mark is a highly skilled shooter. Him shooting the marauder was because his rig wasn't ready, which now it is and he will be taking it to OKC for their match this weekend. 

And to the point of a new shooter, you supply them a reasonably accurate rig and DOPE card, show them the basic postures and techniques they will be reasonably successful. The take away here is, they should do able to do better than they imagined they would. If they had fun, they will want to do it again. This will instill the desire for them to get their own equipment, learn how to properly and accurately "set up" the gun, and create a desire to participate in future events. HFT is a great platform for this to take place. I can't (or maybe I can, really) imagine FT without the HFT class. An example is the OKC club. Their FT organization is relatively new, and no one within the club shoots anything but HFT, and they will get 15-20 show up each month to a match. Not dissing the other classes of FT but HFT is a much broader and easier door to enter without being overwhelmed on several levels such as expense, scope adjustment, etc.

My message to potential FT shooters is, FT is a fun air gun sport where you get to enjoy the camaraderie with other like minded folks. It's an activity where you test your skills each match against unknown kill zone sizes at unknown distances. And seldom, if ever, does anyone shoot a clean match. Everyone is going to miss a few of them so don't think you have to be a world class marksman because even they miss a KZ or two. I'm sure shooting off your back porch or wherever it is you shoot, at whatever targets you like is enjoyable but its got to get old after awhile, doesn't it? So, find a local club or organization that holds FT matches, go out and see what you are missing. You be glad you did. 


 
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Davecole is right on the money. The Hunter Division was added to AAFTA some time ago. I don't shoot in that division and was not thrilled when they adopted it however in retrospect I believe it actually saved our sport. Hunter Division has a lower entry level bar and many many people shoot in that class, some of which maybe would not shoot FT without it. When you look at the scores for all the divisions you will see that they are all pretty similar which would seem to indicate that the degree of difficulty in the different divisions is similar as well.

Field target in any form is a fun competition and I can personally attest to the fact that whether I finished first or last I ALWAYS had a great time.

Rick
 
Thanks Dave,

I have been shooting in Open Piston for that past 2 years and went to Nationals last fall and had to compete with PCP because there were only 2 Piston shooters in the Open class.

I bought a cheaper jacket this past spring and tried to shoot in WFT. I just was not having fun getting in and out of that jacket here in Oklahoma. So in June I made the switch to HTF Piston. I changed from Clicking the scope to hold over in one week and had some success. I have continued to improve and won the HFT Piston in Arlington, Tx as well as at the Dallas Club Shoot. I have been posting scores with most of the PCP with my TX200 Mk I that I got from Wade Sutherland. The reason that I bring this up is to show that I have been putting a significant amount of time preparing. I know that Rick has also spent a significant amount of time setting up the gun for Staci. It is no accident that I was able to shoot as well as I did. Truthfully it is all about the amount of time that has been spent preparing equipment and practicing that give you a chance to be competitive. Dave and I spend a lot of time prepping our equipment so that we can go out and have confidence in our equipment. This is exactly what Rick is saying above.

To Dave's reason for writing this up is that the cost of equipment is not everything, you can compete as long as you have a scope that you can range with (this requires practice) and a gun that if reasonably accurate, with a good trigger. Just spend some time setting up and practicing with your equipment and you can have success. 

Thanks very much Rick, Staci and Dave

Mark 


 
As the Match Director in this particular match I have to say all the Oklahoma Crew shot very well taking 1st, 2nd, & 3rd in Hunter PCP. Everyone has been real excited that FT has finally getting started in OK. Now not so much. We took a vote after they headed back across the Red River and it was unanimously was decided they can’t come back and shoot in TX. Obviously they are taking FT too seriously and practicing too much. Texas will still welcome most shooters from Louisiana.
 
HA! 
So I take it you believe the fine upstanding folks from the beautiful state of Louisiana are easy?? Welllll, I’m sure they will be overjoyed when they get wind of your opinion of their shooting ability.

I believe my good friend, there needs to be a match series; Yes, that is what is called for here. A Red River Shootout match has a nice ring to it. 
And most certainly no hurry on our part. We want Texas to have time to, to...what did you call it? Ah yes, “practice” and get “serious”. No excuses, no quarters my good friend.

Oh, and this time, bring your best shooters too. We here in Oklahoma are a kind and loving folk. We would feel poorly if this were to be another, um...Alamo...🤣😂🤣😂