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Why isn't there an American version of Field Target?

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"LASSO" - Longrange Airgun Silhoutte shooters Organization
http://www.thegodfatherofairguns.com/big-bore-match-rules.html

I would agree that it would be nice to have an American version of Field Target, but since we don't this is the next best thing.
Take a look at the link and it will describe all the rules. I went to it this year not as a competitor but to see what the sport was about. There are two classes, varmint class and big game class. Varmint class is for calibers below .40 where big game class is for calibers about .40. They had a good turn out this year and Air Force rifles was very well represented. There were other rifles there as well, I just had no idea what they were. During the sight in period, shooters were on the 250 yard mark shooting at a ram on the berm. The shot may be a little longer than 250 since the ram was actually on the berm and not on the line were targets are normally placed.

When the shooting started, everyone shot at a 6" Shoot & See target at 30 yards. The shot had to be taken standing, off hand. Then next stage started at the 100 yard mark and from that point to the finish, you could use any means of support you wanted, kneeling, prone, bipod, mono pod, tripod, etc. There is a 30 second time limit, should you miss, you can shoot one more round. If you hit it the first time, your done. You had plenty of time to recharge after each shoot. The main target is a ram with a 6" or 10" kill zone. When hitting the kill zone, it was display a flag momentarily that the spotter can see. The spotter calls the shot and what he says is the final word. The course ran very smoothly. There was also an airgun show at the range clubhouse which was also very nice.

The 3rd place winner in varmint class was shooting a .25 cal Air Force Condor SS.

If you haven't already take a look at the link. It is very interesting. Besides the Extreme Air Gun shoot, I think this is the next best thing.
 
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I'm waiting for FT to make it to Central IL. Right now it seems to be a "fringe event", taking place more on the outer fringes of the US. I think the closest event I've seen was 7-8 hour drive.
To answer the inevitable question, I don't start one because I don't own the land, don't want to buy all the targets and would like to see one in person first to see how it works... not in any particular order.
 
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Michael,
One consideration is the size of area that would be needed for an Extreme FT event. None of the three FT venues I visit would work for EFT. We had a hard enough time finding an area large enought to cut a dozen 55 yard lanes with sufficient distance past the targets for safety. If you had 100 yard lanes I think that you would need a minimum of 300 to 400 yards of space. 

The other thing I have noticed is that most people who start shooting FT with common guns quickly upgrade to specialized guns. The same would happen with EFT.

David Enoch
 
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Why isn't there an American version of Field Target?

Michael, I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that the 20 fpe limit version is an American event .
There are other rules overlaying that are just USA. An example is the use of body harness straps to help stability. I seem to remember that when the USA held the WC some years ago, the shooters were allowed these straps in both divisions. USA did well that year but there seems only a couple of USA shooters who can match up yet with the World's rules and best. 

David has a very valid point. If you get to shooting bigbore rifles with bullets you will need 3/4 mile to a mile or more range to accommodate for an accidental shot let off at just 25 degree elevation. My old Excalibre .22 can drop light 15.9 gr pellets into a dam at over 700 yards. Steve Woodward was the only one who seemed to have a clue as to the maximal range of airguns; and the open question was responded to by many gurus back then in 2004. I wonder how many who have not read my research or had it passed on by word of mouth today know these ballistics (see Steve's Table).

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/thread/1079572300/At+last%21%21..Extreme+range...REAL+WORLD...How+far+will+an+air+rifle+shoot%3F+...Stats+and+pics

Sorry the pics from the old Hunt 101 are missing.

So even a missed squirrel drop target in a tree needs that background for a lowly .22 with pellets to prevent the 1 in a million chance of a pellet plinking on someone's window or car screen! 
Imagine air bullets at up to three and more times the weight of a .22 rimfire bullet being shot at similar velocities. Misses and accidents happen. ... The idea needs a re-think perhaps?
Best regards to Michael and all, Harry.

 
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Michael the problem with any organized competition is that there have to be rules and everyone wants the rules to fit their gear and preferred way of shooting. You probably already know there is an American version of field target: www.aafta.org and lots of people have been shooting it for a long time. I think lots of people shoot sub 20fpe rifles and lots of people don't hunt with their air rifles.

The point of the current FT game is to deal with loopy trajectories, small kill zones, and wind. The sweet spot of most 177 springers is well below 20fpe. We've got over 90 shooters coming to the FT nationals in NC next month and thats only a portion of the shooters who show up at their local clubs to shoot FT with their 12 and 20fpe rifles. There has been a trend of increased shooters shooting in the international class limiting guns to 12fpe and I think that is because of the challenge of shooting a 12fpe rifle well.

Open and Hunter divisions are very American and not shot anywhere else. The Hunter Field Target game in the UK is different from the US Hunter division not only in rifle FPE but in shooting rules. Back when the US rules were developed 20fpe was a reasonable compromise for guns and knock down targets and it still is a good compromise at current 10-50 yard ranges.

As someone who started a FT club in NC and has been a match director at many events, taking care of targets is a huge issue. It takes money and labor. Usually the labor falls on one or two people. Targets wear, they need to be repainted almost after every match, they need maintenance, and they have a finite service life even at tame 12fpe and 20fpe MV. I can tell when a shooter is using a hot gun and it destroys the targets. There's no way to let high powered air rifles play the current 10-50 yard game unless and until targets can be made so strong as to stand up to it, then they might not work will for lower powered rifles and pistols. Also, higher power and big bore mean more air and more expensive ammo apart from the damage to metal faceplates and paddles.

It's easy to knock the FT game we have in the US and sub 20fpe "pea-shooters" used to shoot it, but nothing prevents an enterprising shooter or group of shooters from making their own game with high powered air rifles, perhaps at longer distances and larger killzones.

Scott



 
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"Scott_Allen"
Targets wear, they need to be repainted almost after every match, they need maintenance, and they have a finite service life even at tame 12fpe and 20fpe MV. I can tell when a shooter is using a hot gun and it destroys the targets. There's no way to let high powered air rifles play the current 10-50 yard game unless and until targets can be made so strong as to stand up to it, then they might not work will for lower powered rifles and pistols. Also, higher power and big bore mean more air and more expensive ammo apart from the damage to metal faceplates and paddles.


Scott


Click to expand...




This WAS true. But not anymore. I even solved the "hard to paint" issue with the new CNC cut stencils. A 10 year old can paint the targets and they will look just like they came out of the box.


http://www.steelplinkers.com/FieldTargets.html
 
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Thanks 30cal, I'm really excited about the new FT targets. I've tried off and on for years to make them but never followed through. I'm set up to the point now I can pull off the targets without much "hand fitting" and custom work. Keeps the price down, my stress level in check, and everyone happy!

They are durable to say the least. I threw alot of lead at them during initial design+testing, mostly .22LR high velocity stuff. You can clean and repaint, and not see a visible mark. Hoping to make use of this steel for more targets later on, time will tell!
 
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I know this is a very old thread, but..........

Just this evening a friend was telling me about a project he's working on and this discussion from a few years ago came to mind. He has a location and access to some of the big field targets like they use for the American Field Target competition at EBR every year. It's in the initial stages but he is wanting to get a monthly match set up with high power airguns, like many of you here said you primarily shoot. The location is the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club. And I think the plan is to have a match every month, on a Saturday. For anybody living in the valley or interested, ask him about it on his instagram account: A2zonair.

It will follow basic EBR American Field Target rules, like this video put out by AOA a while back:





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K8UPMCtbUo&feature=youtu.be





Sounds like a fun possibility for guys who like airguns but don't own a "20 fpe peashooter". Hopefully there will be enough interest to turn this into another fun venue and option for us all to shoot at. 
 
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I founded an American version of field target about a decade ago. It's called Pistol Field Target, and is now also practiced in some other countries too.

BTW, I've had a Steel Plinkers field target guaranteed to stand up to .22 LR rimfires, and can testify that it does. Don't know the minimum energies required to dependably drop it though.


 
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Very interesting perspectives. I will only speak of my experiences living where I live in rural Ohio in a neighborhood. As far as 20ft lb pea shooters in works out great for me because I have a backyard that I can only shoot 55yds and feel blessed that I have that distance. My pea shooting FT guns are not loud and I can shoot them in the comfort of my backyard enjoying this sport and practicing for FT matches. Hell that's one of the biggest draw of airguns is to be able to shoot them safely at home without going anywhere to shoot. Yea I own a few .30 cal airguns that I won't shoot in my backyard but will go up to a farm 1/4 mile mile up the road to shoot in a safe location in a field but those airhogs do not get the trigger time my pea shooters do! Another big factor is pellet cost of .177 compared to .30. I for one would much rather pull the trigger 3 times more often on a pea shooter compared to a airhog for the same price. Air useage is another concearn. I would suggest you compete in a 20ft lb match and then see if this American Field Target idea is really needed. Why add all the cost when your doing the same thing on a smaller perspective? If you really want to have fun grab a 12 ft lb Springer and see how you will do shooting wftf. Good luck 👍

Sincerely

KeithWalters
 
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Aah...five years isn’t that old Keith. 😀

I think there are always guys wanting things without realizing the work that goes into it. A peashooter FT course is expensive and very time consuming to put up. You could probably figure at least 4-5 times the cost for a “Extreme” FT course....and at least triple the time to set up. That may be conservative, too.

Then add in the property needed to shoot 30 cal rifles safely.

Mike 
 
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Sometimes bigger and better and "our way" can end up being an improvement on things/sports that originate in other countries. Sometimes, it's just an exercise in needing to do things OUR way, and not really improving the original thing/sport. I would say AFT would fit into this second case and not be an improvement on the sport of FT. 

Chas
 
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I would use my rimfire rifle if a field target is capable of stopping 150 FPE. I would not bother using an air rifle. I think you can go up to 30 FPE for some of the better built field targets like Air Venturi - not Gamo, not Remington, not Umarex. The ones from the UK are built to last as well as Paul's custom targets.
 
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