Greetings from Phoenix, Moved out here from New Hampshire. Never knew that PCP technology existed. I loved my little BB guns as a kid, rim-fires and bunny/bird shooting with shotguns. Took a deer on opening day with my Dad, 1st time out, with my grandfathers Winchester 30/30 that I inherited. Very little hunting background, nothing competitive until my childhood Crossman 760 pump finally gave up the ghost and I decided to get a proper airgun, after all these years. I always loved the Gamo that I got my son, shot that with him a little. I got on the net and low and behold the Phoenix area is kinda like airgun mecca? I'm a few miles from AoA and trotted over there to pick the brains of those folks after a couple weeks getting overwhelmed with all the info on the net. I love Teds videos, that crazy Greek dude makes me laugh so hard I snort, and all these folks picking off sparrows at 200yds! Wow, I gotta get something that will let me learn to do that! I felt guilty for tossing my old broken 760 pump in the trash, when it gave up pushing pellets, with a couple of doves still mocking me in my back yard. Once in full drool mode in AoA, standing in front of their wall of airgun dream machines, I was able to narrow it down to a .22 FX Royale, Hawk Airmax 6-24x50 and a nice 75cu. ft. tank. Grabbed a couple tins of JSB's and took her home, sighted her zero @30yds on power2 (to be legal for HFT, see I'm learnin') and off to Mormon Lake to shoot a HFT match. Boy do I have a lot to learn! First time ever shooting by rules and the gang was so friendly and helpful. Beginners luck prevailed and I took 1st in my small Hunter class, so even with my rainbow .22 ballistics I'm hooked on FT! I tried a 25m shoot a couple weekends later at Rio Salado, again super friendly and helpful group for a newbie to shooting sport like me. I liked it, shot a 695, so happy to get a half dozen X's. Not warmed up to bench yet? It just doesn't have a shooting feel for me, more like a let's build it, set it up, measure it, pressure test it, and somebody touch the trigger REAL CAREFUL. Going to try the 50-75 and 100m might do better there. Of course I just shot off some WalMart sand bags, but it was fun. Don't take it as a criticism benchers, I love the precision of it all. I was amazed by all the rigs, even a Thomas that didn't even have a stock? Made me think rail gun or something? I'm thinking non bench silhouette would be a riot, I think there is one you do prone, seated and off hand, gotta find one of those to try. Now I gotta go practice yardage predicting for my FT in a couple days up in Mormon Lake again! Wheel tapes to make, chairgunner app to figure out, ha ha. Am I hopelessly hooked in just 3 short weeks or what! Get ready for the questions all you experienced shooters! So much to learn!!!
Aug RioSalado bench 25m line by
mslpilot, on Flickr
Aug Rio Salado 25m Benchrest X celebration by
mslpilot, on Flickr