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

[CampFussell]

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.

I had a friend over with his .22 rimfire CZ rifle and he was shooting the CCI Quiet 22 LR rounds. It's a 40 grain and we chronied it close to the 710 fps as advertised. I was really surprised at how quiet these rounds were and they were almost as quiet as my loudest suppressed air rifle?

I calculated the power to be around 45 fpe which would be similar to a power tuned 22 cal air rifle or my 25 cal FX500.

 

[AirNGasman]

Gonzav,

Perhaps you overlooked the posts stating Steel Plinkers field targets hold up just fine to .22 LR?

 

[oldsparky]

I don't think Steel Plinker has been in business for a couple years. I bought from him a few years ago, then he stopped replying. 

 

[gonzav71]

Gonzav,

Perhaps you overlooked the posts stating Steel Plinkers field targets hold up just fine to .22 LR?

I am very aware steel plinker targets are rated for rimfire ammo. My reason for buying them are not for use with airguns. I wish they were still in business.

These targets would be great for NRL.

 

[crosman2016]

I use a Do-All Outdoors steel spinner target. I use it for my .22 rim fires, and my air rifles. Last time my wife and I went, she blew all the paint off in one session.

 

[SteveV]

We have to understand, the game pre-dates 30+ fpe bullpups, semi-auto bottle guns, and other "jumbo shrimp" airguns dujuor -

Don't you guys realise what a great excuse it is (Field Target) to buy another airgun?!?

Seriously, what would you prove shooting your 30+ fpe airgun in a squad with sub 12 fpe participants?

Why does everyone want to change the game BEFORE they give it a try?

It's supposed to be a challenge, not a fun shoot, not that there's anything wrong with a funshoot, but...

DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU'VE TRIED IT

 

[Guest]

But Kieeeth. We all know bigger faster and longer is better regardless of experience.

 

[Willie14228]

I think the biggest problem is finding a Target that would be compatible with both the low power and the high power guns, If you build paddles that can take the hits from the high power guns and tune the target to that then the lower power guns will not knock them down. 

Its sort of a situation we have been facing, our range is being set up with Big Bore Air Guns in the mix along with everything in between, We focus on hunting so I want to make my range able to stand up to Hunting Tuned guns but I have found that the lower powered 177 for example does not have the fpe to knock the plates down when they have been beefed up to stand up to the others 

I love the idea of true hunter set up place targets in areas that makes the hunter get out of his comfort zone and see how he does 

 

[steve123]

American FT isn't meant to be a one size fits all, right??!! 

Or a substitute for regular FT.

AFT is it's own game.

Yep, it's just another fun thing to do with our more powerful "jumbo shrimps".

I used to be opposed to slugs in AG's because the ones I read about were 2+ moa guns, barrels leaded up fast, other problems needing to be overcome, but I can see advancements coming quickly. 

I'm imagining a future when AFT uses simple bell targets out to 200Y?? with rifles designed for high BC slugs, capable of consistent sub moa, sub 10 fps ES, and lacking poi shifts!!! How awesome would that be! 

 

[sillymike]

Post revival from 2015? Sure, why not...



Personally, I kind of like when the game as some set rules/parameter.

Lets take the 16J power limit, the few advantages I can think of

• Less powerful, therefore less chance of a stray pellets traveling too far striking something that is wasn't intended to. Easier to find a location for the venue.
• Equalize the playing field, everyone will shoot at that power level, which is easy to obtain with many rifles.
• It keeps it a "shooter" sports and not an equipment race.

Sure a 24J/60J will shoot flatter, will be able to push heavier pellets that will better buck the wind...

So to increase the challenge the impact zones on the target will become smaller and the target pushed further...

Just my two cents

 

[Exitpupil]

Sillymike has excellent points. Add to his list the ability to travel and compete internationally. Using standardized rules and equipment allows one to see his size "in the big pond".

 

[Willie14228]

In my area every year we have what is called the deermans championship, it is a 3D archery competition but unlike the normal 3D the point zones are actual kill zones of the deer, further the targets are placed in such a way that forces the shooter to decide whether to take the shot or not, any shot that misses the kill zone counts against your score, a call to not take the shot counts as zero, the shooter must stand at a certain spot and so he or she make have to shoot kneeling or off cantor and many other challenges 

this event is held not long before deer season and creates a great training and practice for hunters

This is something I would love to see in a field target competition 

 

[Guest]

For targets with custom killzones in any size, shape or location talk to Paul Porch(strikefast).

https://www.paulscustomtargets.com/

 

[gonzav71]

In my area every year we have what is called the deermans championship, it is a 3D archery competition but unlike the normal 3D the point zones are actual kill zones of the deer, further the targets are placed in such a way that forces the shooter to decide whether to take the shot or not, any shot that misses the kill zone counts against your score, a call to not take the shot counts as zero, the shooter must stand at a certain spot and so he or she make have to shoot kneeling or off cantor and many other challenges 

this event is held not long before deer season and creates a great training and practice for hunters

This is something I would love to see in a field target competition

In the UK and Europe Hunter Field Target is close to what you are describing.

https://www.ukahft.org/#/

https://www.ukahft.org/rules-and-guidance.html#/

 

[Motorhead]

Old thread from the near dead .... so lets revisit instead Lol .... so punny



While not a fan of 12 fpe ( WFTF rules ) * World Field Target Federation, Do enjoy the AAFTA rules *American Airgun Field Target Association > 20 fpe format.

As stated above ... it is NOT about the power, tho go real low winds will take the fun right out of the game !! Have enough power to make it doable even in modest winds the game becomes one of great skill everyone can deal with.



IT IS NO DIFFERENT than if game used HIGH POWER air guns because the distances would be moved further out ... playing with wind and trajectory correction would still be there !

Down side being at longer distances parallax range finding with required accuracy would be very difficult or worse !! That brings out range finders and then the game just got a whole lot easier !! ... may as well just tell shooters what the ranges are, with that done the challenge becomes must less !!



AAFTA FT rules work just fine !! 

 

[Centercut]

I’ve only shot the AFT at EBR, so I can’t compare to regular short range low power FT. But it seems to me that AFT is closer to actual hunting than any other version I’ve heard of. Range finding is determining how far away the target is, whether it’s with scope parallax or a laser range finder. It’s still up to the shooter to hit the target. I think there’s a place for both, old school and new school. 

 

[Franklink]

Seems to be lots of confusion around this. 

This idea of creating an American Field Target competition(other than the one per year at EBR) is not meant to be a replacement or even take place at the same time as a regular sub 20fpe FT match. This will hopefully turn into an ADDITIONAL competition, specifically for higher powered airguns. 

I shoot a lot of prairie dogs, ranged with a laser and it's immensely fun. Shooting them at less than 55 yards (sub20fpe FT rules) is not common. This idea of a high power, long-range comp is meant to more closely match my pdog shooting, and the guys in Cali ground squirrel shooting, and the groundhog shooters back East, and all the other guys who want to shoot their .25 call or whatever 30+ fpe gun in competition. As Centercut would say, a step into the arena opportunity, using the gun you already own and shoot with a lot. 

Like Michael originally addressed when starting this thread, there really isn't a long range, high fpe airgun competition that closely approximates what MANY of the airgun shooters in the US use their airguns for. 

I do love me some sub 20 fpe field target competition, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a different airgun game with different rules IN ADDITION TO regular field target. 

 

[thomasair]

I think if guys want to come out and shoot long range FT...bring it on. I’m sure it would be fun.

From the targets I’ve seen at the long distances...I doubt it would emulate hunting any more than regular FT does. The kill zones are bigger than the ground squirrels and prairie dogs. It would just be a game...exactly like standard ft. Lots of guys get hung up on the idea that FT is supposed to emulate hunting....especially when referring to the Hunter division. It’s just a game...no more, no less. It’s a dang fun game, too.

Based on what I see in FT...a long range game will have a terribly difficult time becoming more than a once a year thing. Maybe a few guys will throw together something once in a while...but just like 100y BR....it will probably not take off on a club level. That’s also something that strikes me as odd. As much following of 100y BR there is at a few events per year...there is almost zero clubs holding 100y BR. The ones that do only get a couple shooters. Not sure why that is.

Mike 

 

[steve123]

Seems to be lots of confusion around this. 

This idea of creating an American Field Target competition(other than the one per year at EBR) is not meant to be a replacement or even take place at the same time as a regular sub 20fpe FT match. This will hopefully turn into an ADDITIONAL competition, specifically for higher powered airguns. 

I shoot a lot of prairie dogs, ranged with a laser and it's immensely fun. Shooting them at less than 55 yards (sub20fpe FT rules) is not common. This idea of a high power, long-range comp is meant to more closely match my pdog shooting, and the guys in Cali ground squirrel shooting, and the groundhog shooters back East, and all the other guys who want to shoot their .25 call or whatever 30+ fpe gun in competition. As Centercut would say, a step into the arena opportunity, using the gun you already own and shoot with a lot. 

Like Michael originally addressed when starting this thread, there really isn't a long range, high fpe airgun competition that closely approximates what MANY of the airgun shooters in the US use their airguns for. 

I do love me some sub 20 fpe field target competition, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a different airgun game with different rules IN ADDITION TO regular field target.

Hey Fanky,

Speaking of long range - That was a fun silhouette match that Rex put on for us last weekend, wasn't it?!

For others reading this post, what happened was some members of Airgunners of Arizona met near Luna NM at 8500-ish feet elevation for a FT match which was a fantastic 52 round course. But...

In addition to our normal FT match we shot a silhouette side match with our sub 20 fpe FT rifles. This was on 22rf sized animal steel targets on stands. Distances were 40Y, 50Y, 60Y, and 70Y. At each distance was a Ram, Turkey, Pig, and 2 chickens, so 5 targets for each distance. No bench was allowed which made the match more interesting, most of us used shooting sticks to rest our rifles on, and sat on buckets. It's not the easiest thing in the world trying to hit those chickens at 70Y in the wind!!! I personally enjoy straying from the norm by doing different types of airgun matches like this, which brings up something I've been thinking about.

Franky, I have an idea for the next time we meet up. If you, myself, and 3-4 other guys brought a few spinners or bell targets of larger size to withstand powerful PCP's, say 3-4 moa, we could have a dandy AFT type long range match with our air rifles. How about starting at 40Y and ending at 100Y??? I have a 4" spinner and ten 2.5" round steels I could put on a stand for us to use. Would you happen to have bigger steel targets we could use? 

I'm mentioning this publicly to get others excited about long range airgunning on steel targets.

 

[Franklink]

Hey Steve, yes Rex's 20fpe long range silhouette game was a blast! I've got a match report coming up. It'll be in the Field Target match report area later today hopefully. 

As far as setting up something similar with spinners, I'm in! Although Rex is talking like doing the same thing, same place next month if Mormon Lake match gets cancelled again. 

(No I don't have any larger steel than about two inch spinners).