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

I know I’m not a FT shooter, but a couple points in my mind are Most LR rimfire guns are not as accurate as most air rifles (unless you have a custom action “Turbo” for example or a action worked over by a smith & Barrels ) plus the better ammunition like laupua is very expensive! Trigger’s are whole different story custom Anschutz or FB or jewel, almost all Airgun triggers are better? I would think it would be better just to use slugs in a good air rifle! Maybe I’m missing the main topic? I focused in on the rimfire pic.

I am all for our sport growing and having new types of shoots. But I wish we would be careful not to try to change the rules to satisfy a few. New game / new name. Example I hear of a silhouette shoot, drive to it to find its shot off a bench. That’s ok, different but not a silhouette shoot. It’s fun but change the name. If there is a organization and rules let’s make our own instead of taking there name

Sounds like a GREAT idea !!

Steve123 and Franklink... I have several bells plus a few spinners I could donate to the cause. One of the main components of the AFT that lends to the excitement factor is the timer ticking. We have a couple of Bluetooth Booms that could be linked to a phone or tablet for a loudspeaker timer if someone wanted to set up their device. I might be able to fab a couple more bells if I can find more ringing steel.

Bob

If you have a carpenter or contractor for a neighbor ask for used saw blades. They ring so very well.

I think the big bore airgun shooters would enjoy shooting NRL matches instead. The metal spinner targets they use are already rated for high velocity rimfire ammo (+150 FPE). NRL matches are shot out to 100 yards or more safely at a firearms rifle range.

"If you have a carpenter or contractor for a neighbor ask for used saw blades. They ring so very well."

I have a target that Wayne Burns made using a 10" carbide tipped blade. We've shot it with 60 ft lb at around 50 to 75 yds with not a single dent in thousands of hits. Rings really well but kind of a nasty sound. I recently made another using a worn out tile blade... went right through it with 22 rimfire at 100 and dented badly with 60 ft lb 22s and 25s at 100. Didn't ring as well as Wayne's either. Wayne had also made a couple using some 2 x 8 rectangular structural steel that sound SO much nicer. I found a 3' chunk at a steel supplier in the scrap pile but used all that and gave some away. Don't need a 20' special order piece THAT bad and haven't found more yet. Always looking at other options though.

Bob

Ok, that’s what I thought didn’t fully understand the topic! (as usual!) I’ll butt out!

I forgot I have a couple saw blades saved up! I'll make some bell targets with them for our next match, whenever that will be. 

Maybe we could talk Ben into bringing a few of those AFT targets as well. 

Thanks Bobby, those bell targets of yours are awesome and ring so nice!

I was thinking we could set up lanes like we do for FT, not many, just enough of them to use the different terrains like AFT does at Rio.

Gonzav71, I shoot NRL22 quite a bit, it's more of a tactical style of match shot off different obstacles. Doing so requires a fair amount of physicality which some in our club might find hard to do. But it would be fun to set up a long range lane that was shot off the side of a tree or something similar.

I am all for our sport growing and having new types of shoots. But I wish we would be careful not to try to change the rules to satisfy a few. New game / new name. Example I hear of a silhouette shoot, drive to it to find its shot off a bench. That’s ok, different but not a silhouette shoot. It’s fun but change the name. If there is a organization and rules let’s make our own instead of taking there name

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I honestly don't know what else to call that side match I referred to in my post??? It's just something one member of our club did for fun. I do know that some centerfire Pistol Silhouette matches are shot laying on the ground and it's still called Silhouette.

Franky, if we meet up next month at Rex's match we'll shoot his Silhouette match on Friday if that's what he is planning, and do a small long range match on Saturday afternoon. An experimental first try and let it evolve as the months go by.

I forgot I have a couple saw blades saved up! I'll make some bell targets with them for our next match, whenever that will be. 

Maybe we could talk Ben into bringing a few of those AFT targets as well. 

Thanks Bobby, those bell targets of yours are awesome and ring so nice!

I was thinking we could set up lanes like we do for FT, not many, just enough of them to use the different terrains like AFT does at Rio.

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Franky, if we meet up next month at Rex's match we'll shoot his Silhouette match on Friday if that's what he is planning, and do a small long range match on Saturday afternoon. An experimental first try and let it evolve as the months go by.

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Bobby reminded me that he passed on a section of that 2x8 steel and I've got a little bell target of sorts made with it. So I could bring it. 

Yes, lanes like FT for a high power, long range match would be great. And I think there is beyond plenty of room for it there at the NM or Mormon Lake match sites. A day or two ago Ben said he might be up for another Aspen Mtn match in July like last weekend. There's a couple if's there, but I agree, we should see if he'd be up for bringing a couple of the AFT targets. 

Saturday afternoon would be a great time for it too. (I won't be trying to leave out of there so late again, had too many close calls with elk on the road on the way home. Will likely stay another night and drive home Sun AM in the light of day).

What a goof I am, I guess my foot is in my mouth again. I have no tact. I didn’t realize how what I wrote sounded as if I was complaining about your side shoot. I wasn’t at all. Sorry about that. I guess I was complaining that there are no silhouette shoots that follow the rules. I would like to get to one of your shoots. I bought my last rifle planning on getting to that side of town. then the corona hit

Old sparky...if you get to the western slope of Colorado...I’d love to shoot traditional silhouette with you. I really enjoy it as a way to practice offhand for FT. I shoot it all the time. Asking most guys to do it for fun is about like asking them if it’s ok to kick them in the nuts. lol

Mike 

Mike, I bet it's nice in Colorado. It's 109 outside right now. I have my Silhouette swingers set up and will go shoot one or two magazines and then come back in the house for awhile. Pathetic right!

Getting enough land to use is a problem that will only get worse.

Michael, have you participated in a 20 fpe limit FT event? It is not as easy as it looks.

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Micheal,

You came to the game late, and have an impression that is likely not correct regarding “American Field Target”. Which has been going nearly constantly since the late eighties here in the usa with guns, targets, and distances nearly unchanged. There ARE several differences here and abroad, but the games began with the same rules, and havent drifted very far from each other in reality.

Until 2007, the International rules for the Worlds match was “Host Rules”, and it was contested here in the USA with most shooting right near 20fpe and some shooting just under 12fpe. I know, as I was there, and watched as Paul Cray won that World Championship using a gun I designed and personally tuned.

The next year, Paul went to Ireland using a borrowed USFT because I declined to tune the gun Tim at Mac1 was giving him. I assume he didn’t believe me when I opined that design wasnt’ suited to sub-12fpe use and suggested he use some other model. 

BUT, I suspect you are under the new high power game that just sprung up a year ago is worthy of being called “American Field Target” .... but exciting as it may seem now, it is pretty much doomed to be way smaller in overall attendance than the “real version”, mostly because of the main differences! If I’m mistaken, and you are not referring to the 100yard game with much more powerful guns and no need for ranging ... then well, I don’t understand your post.

Always the contrarian, a self imposed predicament of mine...

I recently purchased a HW97k, brand spanking new from AOA ( so new and so venerable the brand that Kip and the staff at AOA didn't even bother to test shoot it). A purchased I had been contemplating for quite a long time, (years, like 10 or more) I cut enough coils off the spring and shot enough pellets through the chrono to "ensure" it will settle right where I want it- 11.5ft/lbs. If I had wanted more power, I already had it on stock form, had I wanted more leadway I already had it in the form of "unrestricted", "unapologetic", "Americanismism". I could have walked over to my safe and chosen something that could shoot the hind quarter clean off a bison's bum.

Interesting thing is, that is not what I wanted. I didn't want so much power that I would need to apologize to the neighbors for my noise or possible mishaps, I didn't have to drive off to the range on my days at home away from work just to feel responsible.. I didn't want to invest more on the ancillary equipment than I did for the gun... I wanted the exact same power level agreed upon by those that have had to come to terms with Civility. I am ever impressed with those blokes on the other side of the pond that recognize that somethings are better than others.. for example, being able to combine Accuracy, Marksmanship and Field craft to compensate for outright power to achieve the same result, except one of those takes actual skills, commitment and time. There is much to be learned about ourselves in the confinements of restrictions as there is to be lost in the unadulterated forms Unrestriction...

I quite like the metering down and measuring down and the idea that bigger isn't always better.... just as much as I like the idea that an 18 year old bloke can't mow down a hundred year old oak just because his pewneey mind and his entittled ass told him to do so..

We were shooting Pistol Field Target in Ca at regular FT matches over 25 years ago. It never really was very popular back then (maybe because with Tannahil shooting, nobody else could compete), and faded out, only to start up again about a dozen years ago. I soon realized the guys using the very low position had a huge edge, and I coujldn’t do that, so I stopped bringing a pistol except rarely.

I think the game is ruined by cut-down rifles because they weigh too much. I suggested one hand lanes, but nobody wants that.