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Recommendations for a good FT pcp rifle under $1000

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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
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What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
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In FT, distances to targets are not given. A flat trajectory makes estimating the distances less critical. A faster pellet will give a flatter trajectory. There are FPE limits in place for most classes, so it takes a lighter pellet to go fast. For a given pellet mass, a smaller caliber gives a better BC. A good BC also helps with the flat trajectory and allows greater energy retention to knock down far targets.

For 12fpe classes, .177 is almost a requirement for winning. For 20fpe classes, it's not so definite as you will see some shooters doing well with .22 (and .20) caliber.

For piston gun shooters, accuracy and ease of shooting is better with low FPE guns, so you are even less likely to see .22 caliber in the piston classes.

You also have a little more "wiggle room" on the small targets when using a smaller caliber.
 
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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
Click to expand...

What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
Click to expand...

In FT, distances to targets are not given. A flat trajectory makes estimating the distances less critical. A faster pellet will give a flatter trajectory. There are FPE limits in place for most classes, so it takes a lighter pellet to go fast. For a given pellet mass, a smaller caliber gives a better BC. A good BC also helps with the flat trajectory and allows greater energy retention to knock down far targets.

For 12fpe classes, .177 is almost a requirement for winning. For 20fpe classes, it's not so definite as you will see some shooters doing well with .22 (and .20) caliber.

For piston gun shooters, accuracy and ease of shooting is better with low FPE guns, so you are even less likely to see .22 caliber in the piston classes.

You also have a little more "wiggle room" on the small targets when using a smaller caliber.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. I have Bantam Sniper .22 and Red Wolf .22HP, but I keep thinking that I would enjoy having a .177 caliber something! :)




 
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Dhart - Look up Tom Holland's videos on YouTube, Field Target Tech. He uses a heavily modified Marauder in .177, tuned down to 6 foot pounds if I remember correctly. While I don't shoot Field Target, there's lots of advantages to a .177. First, any course enforcing European rules will limit you to 12 FPE. A .22 really doesn't perform well at that level. A .177 has a flatter trajectory because you can use higher pellet speeds and keep it under 12FPE. I believe most other matches limit you to around 20 FPE, to save the targets. High powered guns like a .25 or a powerful .22 would destroy the targets in a few shots, so power limits will save the sponsor from new targets every competition. Again, a .177 will be more accurate at lower speeds, lower energy. Just my opinion.

Field Target isn't about power, it's accuracy. In this case, smaller is better. (In my opinion)


 
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Dhart - Look up Tom Holland's videos on YouTube, Field Target Tech. He uses a heavily modified Marauder in .177, tuned down to 6 foot pounds if I remember correctly. While I don't shoot Field Target, there's lots of advantages to a .177. First, any course enforcing European rules will limit you to 12 FPE. A .22 really doesn't perform well at that level. A .177 has a flatter trajectory because you can use higher pellet speeds and keep it under 12FPE. I believe most other matches limit you to around 20 FPE, to save the targets. High powered guns like a .25 or a powerful .22 would destroy the targets in a few shots, so power limits will save the sponsor from new targets every competition. Again, a .177 will be more accurate at lower speeds, lower energy. Just my opinion.

Field Target isn't about power, it's accuracy. In this case, smaller is better. (In my opinion)

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I haven't tried Field Target, but I shoot nearly every day to my own paper targets at 35 yards. It would seem that .177 would be ideal for a 35 yard paper target range. Low power, low noise. FUN.
 
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For 2-1/2 years I competed in Field Target with a .22 FX Royale, shooting just under 20 ft-lbs. I did very well overall in the northeast competing in the Hunter PCP class with that .22 Royale. In 2017 I switched to a Daystate .177 Air Wolf MCT and then again this year a Daystate Red Wolf .177. My overall results improved to the point of having the high score in one of the largest FT shoots in the northeast.

Can you compete with .22? Yes I did and did well with a .22, but .177 makes all aspects of FT competition easier. 

Tom Himes
 
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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
Click to expand...

What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
Click to expand...

Due to the fpe limitation, a .22 would have to be slowed to the point of creating a challenging trajectory for longer shots. 
 
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" Due to the fpe limitation, a .22 would have to be slowed to the point of creating a challenging trajectory for longer shots. "

But oh so close to the same trajectory as a sub 12fpe .177. I've used a .22 in FT and have seen many others do so using anything from a Gamo to a Whiscombe and HWpre-charged.. It certainly can be done and by not using the very easiest set up ( .177 at 19.9fpe) the challenge will increase your skill.

Run whatya brung and have fun.



John
 
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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
Click to expand...

What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
Click to expand...

Due to the fpe limitation, a .22 would have to be slowed to the point of creating a challenging trajectory for longer shots. 
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Ah yes... the fpe limitation. Thank you.
 
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At Saltlake,

My Benjamin Marauder is shooting at a touch under 12 ft. Lbs, which translates into an 8.64 grain pellet (H&N Field Target Trophy) at around 785-790 FPS.

Also, my Marauder WAS heavily modified, but no more. I reinstalled almost ALL factory parts, including springs, valves, hammers, and such. The only 2 things within the gun at the moment that are not factory, is the Lane Regulator, and oversized transfer port. That's it, everything else mechanical is stock. I did this because the shot cycle was too slow, and I wanted a shorter, snappier cycle. The latter is less effected by hold errors or a flinch. Uses a little more air, but with better consistency.

Tom Holland 
 
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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
Click to expand...

What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
Click to expand...

Flattest trajectory. You can us 22s but you'll have to detune it to less than 20 fpe. Hardly anyone uses anything but .177s. Some classes are limited to 12 fpe, and calibers larger than .177 wouldn't be suitable. 
 
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Buy a rifle that is ready to compete. Forget the cheap ones that you have to add upgrades to make it perform because, chances are, it may never. For FT, .177 cal is the only choice.  I've seen the BSA perform very well. The AA rifles, whether the 500 or 510 are great choices too. It would be advantageous to get a rifle that is regulated too. Don't forget that the shooter is the one who makes the gun perform. You can buy a $3000 rifle, but that won't make you a winner. Maybe a whiner.

Look at the field target match results on the various forums and see which rifles the shooters are using. That's a good indication of what is successful.
Click to expand...

What makes .177 the best choice for FT?
Click to expand...

Flattest trajectory. You can us 22s but you'll have to detune it to less than 20 fpe. Hardly anyone uses anything but .177s. Some classes are limited to 12 fpe, and calibers larger than .177 wouldn't be suitable.
Click to expand...

Yes, I understand that now... it's not much about the caliber itself - it's all about being able to keep the power down to a particular threshold. Thank you.
 
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There is also the logic that you are shooting INSIDE of a hole in the target to trip it and one would think that the smaller diameter pellet would have a little more wiggle room to slip INSIDE of the hole as compared to a larger 20 or 22 caliber.

To me 177 is more rewarding because the overall cluster of groups on paper is smaller for visual and psychological pleasure.

Ammo is also the cheapest compared to the rest of the calibers and uses less air consumption and less movement when firing.

Also generally quieter in 177 for PCPs.


CA
 
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There is also the logic that you are shooting INSIDE of a hole in the target to trip it and one would think that the smaller diameter pellet would have a little more wiggle room to slip INSIDE of the hole as compared to a larger 20 or 22 caliber.

To me 177 is more rewarding because the overall cluster of groups on paper is smaller for visual and psychological pleasure.

Ammo is also the cheapest compared to the rest of the calibers and uses less air consumption and less movement when firing.

Also generally quieter in 177 for PCPs.


CA
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All good stuff... especially for target shooting/pesting at relatively short range! Not everyone needs to regularly take out coyotes at 150 yards. ;-)
 
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