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Curious - What class do you shoot and why?

What FT class do you shoot?

  • Hunter PCP

    Votes: 17 51.5%
  • Hunter Piston

    Votes: 3 9.1%
  • Open PCP

    Votes: 4 12.1%
  • Open Piston

    Votes: 1 3.0%
  • WFTF PCP

    Votes: 4 12.1%
  • WFTF Piston

    Votes: 4 12.1%

  • Total voters
    33
Over the last 15 years have shot WFTF, Open, Freestyle and Hunter in "PCP" and dabbled in WFTF Piston.

For a Tall & Lanky fellow getting anywhere close to as stable as I'm able too in Hunter also created the more consistent as well overall better scores.
Like everyone else I like targets to fall and in honing my skill set in Hunter PCP and finding great success in the class these last 8 years or so it has been for me the most satisfying & fun class by far !!
 
Hunter PCP cuz that's where the competition is.

I shot mostly Open for the first couple years that I was in field target. Open class numbers dwindled, and after a couple matches where I was the only Open class shooter, I made the switch to Hunter.

Between Open and Hunter, Open is the easier class to get good scores. The shooting harness/bum bag combination makes for benchrest-like stability. The unlimited scope power and the ability to dial the turret, and ability to adjust the rifle during the match only add to my opinion that Open class is the least difficult class.
 
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I liked the Piston classes mostly because there was less of an arms race. We all had the same issues to figure out how to deal with. Yes, I know about Wiscombs, but their owners don't take them outside much. I shot WFTF becasue the gun was tuned to 12 ft lb anyway. Looking at the "hunter" class rigs at the first few shoots that did not resemble anything I have ever seen anyone hunt squirrels with. I never got really stabil on sticks anyway for whatever the reason.
 
Open class is the least difficult class.
I would agree, but to shoot top scores (or match high scores) along with the other top shooters is difficult. Not sure it is patently easier to get higher scores in Open, I see people struggle in Open as they struggle in Hunter, depending on what you are struggling with it could make Hunter/Open/WFTF equally difficult to score well.

I shot the Worlds and found WFTF to be no more "difficult" than Open, just different (specifically quartering winds). I did far better than I thought for essentially no practice/matches before the event (other than to confirm my drop at 55), better than a few friends who had been shooting WFTF specifically for the Worlds for over a year.

Open is in a weird spot, for a decade you could only get a used harness, not sure if anyone is making them currently, hard to participate in a class where the differentiating piece of equipment is not for sale.

Hunter is popular simply because of the seating arrangement (the less agile can't get down and up from a bumbag) and good thing too, if Hunter didn't exist Open would be bigger but overall FT would be a lot smaller.

If Open allowed the use of a bucket and sticks with any power scope, Hunter class would be empty in a day (which is why it will never happen). I'll never shoot Hunter as long as there is the silly scope magnification limit.
 
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I would agree, but to shoot top scores (or match high scores) along with the other top shooters is difficult. Not sure it is patently easier to get higher scores in Open, I see people struggle in Open as they struggle in Hunter, depending on what you are struggling with it could make Hunter/Open/WFTF equally difficult to score well.

I shot the Worlds and found WFTF to be no more "difficult" than Open, just different (specifically quartering winds). I did far better than I thought for essentially no practice/matches before the event (other than to confirm my drop at 55), better than a few friends who had been shooting WFTF specifically for the Worlds for over a year.

Open is in a weird spot, for a decade you could only get a used harness, not sure if anyone is making them currently, hard to participate in a class where the differentiating piece of equipment is not for sale.

Hunter is popular simply because of the seating arrangement (the less agile can't get down and up from a bumbag) and good thing too, if Hunter didn't exist Open would be bigger but overall FT would be a lot smaller.

If Open allowed the use of a bucket and sticks with any power scope, Hunter class would be empty in a day (which is why it will never happen). I'll never shoot Hunter as long as there is the silly scope magnification limit.

I agree with a lot of that.

There's a lady here in AZ that will sew you up a shooting harness. Or she still was as recently as about two years ago when I asked her about it and for permission to pass on her contact info. She made mine around 2017, and I've shared her info with a couple of Open hopefuls since then.

All but one of my clean scores were in Open. Only recently got my first clean score in Hunter, and it was an easy course.

And mostly the same gun/barrel/pellet. ("Mostly" cuz one of the Open cleans was with a different gun).
 
I agree with a lot of that.

There's a lady here in AZ that will sew you up a shooting harness. Or she still was as recently as about two years ago when I asked her about it and for permission to pass on her contact info. She made mine around 2017, and I've shared her info with a couple of Open hopefuls since then.

All but one of my clean scores were in Open. Only recently got my first clean score in Hunter, and it was an easy course.

And mostly the same gun/barrel/pellet. ("Mostly" cuz one of the Open cleans was with a different gun).
Okay, a couple of items.......
#1 - I figured out how to get my open piston vote to register at the beginning of this thread......duh!

#2 - I would have to disagree about open being easier to shoot than hunter class. Consider this; open class on a bum bag and feet either spread, or (like me) crossed in order to get a comfortable position is much more prone to being affected by the wind. At BASF, when the wind blows, YOU MOVE! A reason I still shoot open is the being able to use higher magnification on the scope, although I only use 24X.
With hunter class, you have your bucket, both of your feet spread, AND you have both legs of your shooting sticks firmly on the ground. Your rifle is supported by the sticks, with your hands supporting the rifle, which in turn is braced with your elbows on your knees. How is that not more stable than open class? Granted, I see some shooters with one hand on the shooting stick and other hand on the rifle grip. The two handed grip is what one gentleman uses (Cole, you know who I refer to), and he will clean your clock on a regular basis, and twice on Sundays!
I still believe, based on the above, that hunter class is the easiest. If the other way around, how come they are not shooting open class, hmmmmm.....???

#3 - I know of two individuals who would gladly make harnesses. I know that Tom Price is not making his any longer, and I believe his patent has expired. I have found a few minor drawbacks in that design that I believe can be corrected and these 2 individuals could easily make those modifications. I have not pursued this because of one "personality" that gave me all particular "grief", but won't go into that.
If harnesses were made available, would anyone be interested in giving open class a try?

I am old, (74 on Monday) but not yet senile (mercifully) and love to shoot....piston.....and so long as my body allows me, will still shoot open class. I need to ask my back and knees permission, but will still give others a run for their money.

#4 - there was an effort, back in 2017, to add the unlimited class to the AAFTA rankings. It was tried for one year and at that years national championships, when in discussion at the annual meeting, was shot down. It was an attempt to allow older shooters, those with disabilities, or restricted movement, or dimished eyesight (not blind), and opportunity to use a rangefinder, sticks, bucket, higher scope magnification, etc, a chance to compete alongside everyone else. Not sure why it was shot down, but a number of clubs still use unlimited class, but only on a club level. maybe time to reconsider that?

Sorry for being so lengthy, but had to get this off my chest, and put it out there as food for thought.
 
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#2 - I would have to disagree about open being easier to shoot than hunter class. Consider this; open class on a bum bag and feet either spread, or (like me) crossed in order to get a comfortable position is much more prone to being affected by the wind. At BASF, when the wind blows, YOU MOVE! A reason I still shoot open is the being able to use higher magnification on the scope, although I only use 24X.
With hunter class, you have your bucket, both of your feet spread, AND you have both legs of your shooting sticks firmly on the ground. Your rifle is supported by the sticks, with your hands supporting the rifle, which in turn is braced with your elbows on your knees. How is that not more stable than open class? Granted, I see some shooters with one hand on the shooting stick and other hand on the rifle grip. The two handed grip is what one gentleman uses (Cole, you know who I refer to), and he will clean your clock on a regular basis, and twice on Sundays!
I still believe, based on the above, that hunter class is the easiest. If the other way around, how come they are not shooting open class, hmmmmm.....???

Just my personal opinion Mark. As you know, I shot Hunter for the first yearish (back in the 12x max magnification days), then Open for 4-5 years, and have now been back to shooting Hunter for about the least 3 years. Based on all that, and comparing by how much my reticle is moving around......in short, Open class position with a harness I might as well be shooting from a bench...hardly any reticle movement. Hunter class position has much more scope movement.

Probably mostly the harness, but being closer to the ground likely helps. Personally, I'm less stable in Hunter position than I am in Open position. Add in the no-limits on scope power, and knee riser, and hip stabilizer and ability to dial the turret...and well, Open is easier for me.
 
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I've heard the wind thing a few times from Hunter shooters who have shot Open. The most stable position for wind is deadman (outside of prone), but only a select few can pretzel up in that manner...I could get pretty low but had issues finding the target in a timely manner.

The 'classic' harness may have some short comings, the Primal harness was downright unusable. I'm not sure providing harnesses will help Open at this point, that ship may have sailed...

I see a lot of work for nothing on AAFTA's end with the rule making. A crap ton of work went into class score parity and the scoring system creating a very nice balance circa 2023, 2024 threw that into chaos and in 2025 the scoring rules makes score parity a non-factor. There does not appear to be any type of road map or coordinated future looking plan or agenda (other than support for the world's team). Lots of captains steering a rudderless ship.
 
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I'm wrapping up a third season in Field Target. My first year was Hunter class and I was hooked from the first match. I shot a Marauder and did really well but needed more challenge. So, second year was WFTF PCP, I did ok but I think my equipment held me back. I can also attribute a learning curve to the performance as well, but I loved the challenge.

I've always loved shooting my spring guns and deeply respected the folks shooting WFTF piston. So this season was spent on a bum bag with a TX200 in hand. Talk about a challenge! I've had some great matches and some where I still can't tell you what went wrong. It's been fun enough that I might do it again next season!
 
Just my personal opinion Mark. As you know, I shot Hunter for the first yearish (back in the 12x max magnification days), then Open for 4-5 years, and have now been back to shooting Hunter for about the least 3 years. Based on all that, and comparing by how much my reticle is moving around......in short, Open class position with a harness I might as well be shooting from a bench...hardly any reticle movement. Hunter class position has much more scope movement.

Probably mostly the harness, but being closer to the ground likely helps. Personally, I'm less stable in Hunter position than I am in Open position. Add in the no-limits on scope power, and knee riser, and hip stabilizer and ability to dial the turret...and well, Open is easier for me.
Ahhh......hip stabilizer I never tried, plus you are a skinny little dude. That helps....LOL. Me, a fat old dude, but it is what it is. Come and shoot open piston with me. it'll be fun!
 
Started in hunter for 1 year some years ago (12x). Tried open and never looked back, going on 10+ years . Had some medical issues a little over a year ago. I would say FT has been like therapy for me. Still have some lingering issues but as long as I can get up and down on the ground open class is my choice.
 
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Okay, a couple of items.......

#4 - there was an effort, back in 2017, to add the unlimited class to the AAFTA rankings. It was tried for one year and at that years national championships, when in discussion at the annual meeting, was shot down. It was an attempt to allow older shooters, those with disabilities, or restricted movement, or diminished eyesight (not blind), and opportunity to use a rangefinder, sticks, bucket, higher scope magnification, etc, a chance to compete alongside everyone else. Not sure why it was shot down, but a number of clubs still use unlimited class, but only on a club level. maybe time to reconsider that?
Yes indeed .... I too was very supportive in the push for the Freestyle / Unlimited class or what ever name might be used in @ 2014 / 2015 ? While never a fan of allowing range finders tho, the overall premise of having a AAFTA Class where ANY mix & match of equipment & aids allowed & legal in the current AAFTA class's could be utilized to the shooters own choosing.

I even shot the class at the California State FT Championship / GP in 2015 where there was no prize or official acknowledgement by the AAFTA, tho shot it anyways knowing this !!!

If this class were to make a comeback in interest and be AAFTA adopted ? WOULD try and be first in line to Drop out of Hunter PCP lickety split !!!

z1.jpg
 
Yes indeed .... I too was very supportive in the push for the Freestyle / Unlimited class or what ever name might be used in @ 2014 / 2015 ? While never a fan of allowing range finders tho, the overall premise of having a AAFTA Class where ANY mix & match of equipment & aids allowed & legal in the current AAFTA class's could be utilized to the shooters own choosing.

I even shot the class at the California State FT Championship / GP in 2015 where there was no prize or official acknowledgement by the AAFTA, tho shot it anyways knowing this !!!

If this class were to make a comeback in interest and be AAFTA adopted ? WOULD try and be first in line to Drop out of Hunter PCP lickety split !!!

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I guess it can all be narrowed down to the fact that it is not what you are shooting, it is the fact that you ARE shooting and having fun doing it.
 
Between Open and Hunter, Open is the easier class to get good scores. The shooting harness/bum bag combination makes for benchrest-like stability. The unlimited scope power and the ability to dial the turret, and ability to adjust the rifle during the match only add to my opinion that Open class is the least difficult class.
I have to disagree with Open being the easier class. It might be for you, but even with a harness and bum bag I am not anywhere near as steady as shooting from a bench. I have been shooting open for nine years and its only advantages are high mag and being able to click. We have had guys switch from hunter to open only to return to hunter. Our club is overwhelmingly hunter/unlimited class.
 
Anyone familiar with a site or video that summarizes all the classes and positions? About all I'm familiar with is the 12 and 20 fpe limits in WFTF and Hunter.

I probably will not compete, but would like to set up my next rifle and start learning about FT and starting shooting from the positions.
If there is a club near you, your best bet would be to show up to a match and see and feel firsthand how the classes are different and which is best for you.