So here is my latest idea to ruin field target.
Limited Class for PFT. There are hardly any people shooting this class. 7 people have shot Limited in GP matches this year. 16 did last year, but half of those were at the Nationals in PR and the GP from PR from February doesn't have any data in the AAFTA website, so I'm not sure if that was a one and done thing for those extra shooters at 2022 Nats. At any given GP, it's a crap shoot if there will be 3 shooters in Limited.
In case you don't want to read the rules, here is what Limited class is. Take all of the rules for Hunter Pistol and remove the bucket and sticks. And you can click your scope, but it still has to be 12x. So limited is an accurate description.
What I propose is an Open Pistol class. Here are the rules. Take Limited pistol class rules and remove the 12x scope requirement.
Now, I know what you are thinking. "If we add another class to an already low participation event, how is this going to help anything". Well, here's what I think will happen. The people that shoot Limited would switch to Open. Some of the people that shoot Hunter would switch to Open (not a lot, maybe 2 or 3). And after a year of having 3 classes with no one shooting Limited, Limited would go away and we would be back to 2 PFT classes, Hunter and Open.
Here's where you come in. The 7-10 people that currently shoot Limited PFT should chime in and say if they would be open to trying Open (pun intended). And any Hunter PFT shooters that would be interested in trading in their sticks and high seats for full use of their scope should chime in as well.
I realize that Motorhead made a similar proposal a month ago, but his idea was little more radical. 20 fpe, sticks, high seat, full use of scope. His intention was to create a pistol class that would compete on rifle courses with the rifle shooters. My idea is more about trying to increase participation in GP pistol matches.
I realize it would be easier to just remove the 12x rule from Limited Pistol, but every time I suggest changing the rules, people tend to freak the eff out. So let's try it this way instead.
Anyway, I've got my protective eye wear on, so let's see what unanticipated direction this post goes.
Limited Class for PFT. There are hardly any people shooting this class. 7 people have shot Limited in GP matches this year. 16 did last year, but half of those were at the Nationals in PR and the GP from PR from February doesn't have any data in the AAFTA website, so I'm not sure if that was a one and done thing for those extra shooters at 2022 Nats. At any given GP, it's a crap shoot if there will be 3 shooters in Limited.
In case you don't want to read the rules, here is what Limited class is. Take all of the rules for Hunter Pistol and remove the bucket and sticks. And you can click your scope, but it still has to be 12x. So limited is an accurate description.
What I propose is an Open Pistol class. Here are the rules. Take Limited pistol class rules and remove the 12x scope requirement.
Now, I know what you are thinking. "If we add another class to an already low participation event, how is this going to help anything". Well, here's what I think will happen. The people that shoot Limited would switch to Open. Some of the people that shoot Hunter would switch to Open (not a lot, maybe 2 or 3). And after a year of having 3 classes with no one shooting Limited, Limited would go away and we would be back to 2 PFT classes, Hunter and Open.
Here's where you come in. The 7-10 people that currently shoot Limited PFT should chime in and say if they would be open to trying Open (pun intended). And any Hunter PFT shooters that would be interested in trading in their sticks and high seats for full use of their scope should chime in as well.
I realize that Motorhead made a similar proposal a month ago, but his idea was little more radical. 20 fpe, sticks, high seat, full use of scope. His intention was to create a pistol class that would compete on rifle courses with the rifle shooters. My idea is more about trying to increase participation in GP pistol matches.
I realize it would be easier to just remove the 12x rule from Limited Pistol, but every time I suggest changing the rules, people tend to freak the eff out. So let's try it this way instead.
Anyway, I've got my protective eye wear on, so let's see what unanticipated direction this post goes.
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