It's about the shooter. The competitor. The athlete. It's always been about the shooter. The shooter decides how much effort they are willing to put into training. Testing ammo. Face up to what are their weakness and work hard to correct it. Or not. The shooter also makes the choice of what equipment he/she deems is best for them to achieve their goals. Which is winning matches.
When I started FT, I shot piston class and the rifle I chose was the TX200 as I felt it was best for me. And the scope I put on top was the old Nikko... Even though everyone told me I'd break that scope on that "springer".... Two back to back National titles said otherwise!
I switched to PCP, the rifle I chose was the USFT. My first ever precharge and I took the dive (pun intended) into SCUBA bottles, gauges etc.
The USFT was probably the best rifle for me as it was so simple to use. And most importantly it was very, very reliable! I zeroed it when I got it and never had to change it one single click! I did very well with that rifle winning every single match I shot!
I did get a 12ftlbs USFT and it literally destroyed the mental side of my game. The less said of that the better.
I bought myself a Steyr. Amazingly accurate rifle! But from the moment I got it I had issues with reliability. I did manage to win the first ever WFTF class Nationals with it but as awesome as it was I never had confidence in it. I swear that rifle spent more time traveling between myself and AZ than I did shooting it!
But I'm a stubborn XXXXXX and I was determined to get this rifle to shoot the way I knew it could shoot. But along the way it screwed up my mental game... Again.
Life got in the way and I stopped FT for a few years. But I always knew I'd return. After all, this was the sport I loved as well as the people in it.
So last year I attended my first Nationals in ten years. I tested Steyr the day before I left and it was dead on. I got to Louisiana and it was off again. I apologize. This is getting waaay longer than I meant. I needed another rifle or I was quitting FT for good.
I was hearing about a rifle called "Thomas" Did some internet research and I asked top shooters I knew well and they all swore by them!
Physically it looked like if a USFT had aggressive sex (is there any other kind) with a Steyr and they had a child. But the kid was put up for adoption and was raised by the Anschutz family. It escaped and as brought up by wolves in Colorado. Something like that.
So I ordered one. Got it March of this year. I've won every match I've participated in with it. I still get surprised when I'm sighing in at a match and it's on! Never had that with the Steyr. I'm starting to get my mental game back. I'm training hard with my Thomas and that confidence I get when I never have to worry about POI shifts means so much to me! I'm back in love with Field Target Shooting again!
Are they worth the price? To me definitely! But the price of something means different things to different people. Most who purchase a Steyr send it to Allen Zasadny to either get it "quiet" or balanced or stable enough for outside competition. Thomas comes with all of that. The money I've put trying to get my LG110 to perform I could have had two Thomas's. And it's American built. And the builder is a text/phone call away for any questions or concerns. I've tried calling "Jimmy Steyr" and he's yet to return my calls!
This has been my experience. Yours may differ. But my Thomas has given me my Mojo back. That alone is priceless!
Paul
Mod Edit: Removed XXXXXX
When I started FT, I shot piston class and the rifle I chose was the TX200 as I felt it was best for me. And the scope I put on top was the old Nikko... Even though everyone told me I'd break that scope on that "springer".... Two back to back National titles said otherwise!
I switched to PCP, the rifle I chose was the USFT. My first ever precharge and I took the dive (pun intended) into SCUBA bottles, gauges etc.
The USFT was probably the best rifle for me as it was so simple to use. And most importantly it was very, very reliable! I zeroed it when I got it and never had to change it one single click! I did very well with that rifle winning every single match I shot!
I did get a 12ftlbs USFT and it literally destroyed the mental side of my game. The less said of that the better.
I bought myself a Steyr. Amazingly accurate rifle! But from the moment I got it I had issues with reliability. I did manage to win the first ever WFTF class Nationals with it but as awesome as it was I never had confidence in it. I swear that rifle spent more time traveling between myself and AZ than I did shooting it!
But I'm a stubborn XXXXXX and I was determined to get this rifle to shoot the way I knew it could shoot. But along the way it screwed up my mental game... Again.
Life got in the way and I stopped FT for a few years. But I always knew I'd return. After all, this was the sport I loved as well as the people in it.
So last year I attended my first Nationals in ten years. I tested Steyr the day before I left and it was dead on. I got to Louisiana and it was off again. I apologize. This is getting waaay longer than I meant. I needed another rifle or I was quitting FT for good.
I was hearing about a rifle called "Thomas" Did some internet research and I asked top shooters I knew well and they all swore by them!
Physically it looked like if a USFT had aggressive sex (is there any other kind) with a Steyr and they had a child. But the kid was put up for adoption and was raised by the Anschutz family. It escaped and as brought up by wolves in Colorado. Something like that.
So I ordered one. Got it March of this year. I've won every match I've participated in with it. I still get surprised when I'm sighing in at a match and it's on! Never had that with the Steyr. I'm starting to get my mental game back. I'm training hard with my Thomas and that confidence I get when I never have to worry about POI shifts means so much to me! I'm back in love with Field Target Shooting again!
Are they worth the price? To me definitely! But the price of something means different things to different people. Most who purchase a Steyr send it to Allen Zasadny to either get it "quiet" or balanced or stable enough for outside competition. Thomas comes with all of that. The money I've put trying to get my LG110 to perform I could have had two Thomas's. And it's American built. And the builder is a text/phone call away for any questions or concerns. I've tried calling "Jimmy Steyr" and he's yet to return my calls!
This has been my experience. Yours may differ. But my Thomas has given me my Mojo back. That alone is priceless!
Paul
Mod Edit: Removed XXXXXX
