Field Target Tar Heel Airgun Club monthly match- September 2, 2023

[DeadEyeNC]

We will have our monthly field target match on September 2, 2023.
The sight-in range will open at 8:00am and the match will start at 9:00.
2830 Alish Trl Mount Pleasant NC 28124-9007

Where will the mannequin target be this month?
What will it be wearing?
Who will take the high score in each class?

You can get answers to these questions by attending and shooting your best match ever!

$15 admission

Cash is accepted at the match, or you can pay via paypal.
https://paypal.me/tarheelairgunclub?country.x=US...

After the match we plan to meet at a local spot for lunch.
We hope to see you then- let us know you plan to come in the comments section!

 

[Smitty]

I’m just starting out in Field Target and would love to participate. I’m in Bristol, TN and it looks about 4 hours away. Any suggestions on hotels? Also, what are the rules? I think I would like to complete with my R7 .177 <12ft lbs. It’s been shooting around 560 ft/sec. Thoughts? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated to a brand new beginner, thank you!
Smitty

 

[DeadEyeNC]

I’m just starting out in Field Target and would love to participate. I’m in Bristol, TN and it looks about 4 hours away. Any suggestions on hotels? Also, what are the rules? I think I would like to complete with my R7 .177 <12ft lbs. It’s been shooting around 560 ft/sec. Thoughts? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated to a brand new beginner, thank you!
Smitty

Hi Smitty! We would love to have you join us!

There is a club in Tennessee as well, but it looks like it is even further from you- Invicta Field Target Club, Minor Hill Tenn. Invicta FTC

For hotels, here is this place that is very close to the course- HOME | mysite
A few of the shooters who live far away stay in Concord- about 20 minutes away. I'll get that info for you.
The course is behind a home in the back of a neighborhood cul-de-sac. It's a great course and a great group of shooters. Very casual and laid back setting.

The full set of rules can be found here: https://www.aafta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127666620/2023_aafta_official_field_target_rules.pdf
And you can learn more about AAFTA field target at aafta.org

There are multiple divisions in AAFTA field target. We all shoot the same course, but have slightly different equipment and rules. With a R7 at 12ft lbs. you would be in either Hunter piston or WFTF piston class. I suggest Hunter piston for a beginner. In that class you are allowed up to 20ft lbs.

We typically shoot a 60 shot course at metal targets with different 'kill zone' sizes in each. The pellet must go through the hole and hit a paddle on the back to knock over the target. Each target that falls counts as one point. Target distance varies from 10 yds to 55 yds. You are not given the distance to the target, so we use the parrallax wheel on our scope as a rangefinder to determine the 'holdover' needed to put the pellet in the kill zone. Here's a few videos that might help explain it:
Beginners guide to hunter field target
Field Target rangefinding
Understanding Holdover

In hunter class field target you are allowed to sit on a bucket or low seat, use bipod shooting sticks and use up to a 16x setting on your scope.

In WFTF piston class, rifles are allowed up to 12ft. lbs. You are allowed to sit on a bum bag but no shooting sticks. WFTF shooters are not limited in scope magnification.

That's a very brief description- and there's much more to read in the rules and on the aafta.org site. if you are unsure of what you need and how to get set up just us know ahead of time- you are welcome to borrow equipment at the match. And let us know if you have questions- there are no dumb ones! And I'm sure others will chime in.


Hope to have you at a mach soon!
Philip Hepler
@DeadEyeNC

 

[hameditor]

Hi Smitty! We would love to have you join us!

There is a club in Tennessee as well, but it looks like it is even further from you- Invicta Field Target Club, Minor Hill Tenn. Invicta FTC

For hotels, here is this place that is very close to the course- HOME | mysite
A few of the shooters who live far away stay in Concord- about 20 minutes away. I'll get that info for you.
The course is behind a home in the back of a neighborhood cul-de-sac. It's a great course and a great group of shooters. Very casual and laid back setting.

The full set of rules can be found here: https://www.aafta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127666620/2023_aafta_official_field_target_rules.pdf
And you can learn more about AAFTA field target at aafta.org

There are multiple divisions in AAFTA field target. We all shoot the same course, but have slightly different equipment and rules. With a R7 at 12ft lbs. you would be in either Hunter piston or WFTF piston class. I suggest Hunter piston for a beginner. In that class you are allowed up to 20ft lbs.

We typically shoot a 60 shot course at metal targets with different 'kill zone' sizes in each. The pellet must go through the hole and hit a paddle on the back to knock over the target. Each target that falls counts as one point. Target distance varies from 10 yds to 55 yds. You are not given the distance to the target, so we use the parrallax wheel on our scope as a rangefinder to determine the 'holdover' needed to put the pellet in the kill zone. Here's a few videos that might help explain it:
Beginners guide to hunter field target
Field Target rangefinding
Understanding Holdover

In hunter class field target you are allowed to sit on a bucket or low seat, use bipod shooting sticks and use up to a 16x setting on your scope.

In WFTF piston class, rifles are allowed up to 12ft. lbs. You are allowed to sit on a bum bag but no shooting sticks. WFTF shooters are not limited in scope magnification.

That's a very brief description- and there's much more to read in the rules and on the aafta.org site. if you are unsure of what you need and how to get set up just us know ahead of time- you are welcome to borrow equipment at the match. And let us know if you have questions- there are no dumb ones! And I'm sure others will chime in.


Hope to have you at a mach soon!
Philip Hepler
@DeadEyeNC

Hello Philip, thanks for your outstanding reply! It's a fantastic example of how HAM Community members can help each other

 

[DeadEyeNC]

I’m just starting out in Field Target and would love to participate. I’m in Bristol, TN and it looks about 4 hours away. Any suggestions on hotels? Also, what are the rules? I think I would like to complete with my R7 .177 <12ft lbs. It’s been shooting around 560 ft/sec. Thoughts? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated to a brand new beginner, thank you!
Smitty

Smitty,
Here's another hotel in Concord- a bit further away but I've been told it is affordable.

Cabarrus Inn - home

 

[Smitty]

Smitty,
Here's another hotel in Concord- a bit further away but I've been told it is affordable.

Cabarrus Inn - home

I really am so appreciative of all your help. Your information is so helpful and just what I needed. Those resources are excellent too. While reading, I was constantly saying to myself, “Oh! That’s how you…. Oh no! I didn’t realize that…What?! I am not doing that anymore…I need to …
I caught saying to myself, “I feel like a kid again, learning something new and having fun again!” Thanks for that.
I do have a question about something that happened while shooting and it freaked me out. I set up my shot on my R7 as usual and when I pulled the trigger, there was a loud CRACK POW SOUND. Did it not seal correctly or something? It kept shooting fine and didn’t do it again. Then weeks later the same thing happened on my R9. What happened?

 

[DeadEyeNC]

I really am so appreciative of all your help. Your information is so helpful and just what I needed. Those resources are excellent too. While reading, I was constantly saying to myself, “Oh! That’s how you…. Oh no! I didn’t realize that…What?! I am not doing that anymore…I need to …
I caught saying to myself, “I feel like a kid again, learning something new and having fun again!” Thanks for that.
I do have a question about something that happened while shooting and it freaked me out. I set up my shot on my R7 as usual and when I pulled the trigger, there was a loud CRACK POW SOUND. Did it not seal correctly or something? It kept shooting fine and didn’t do it again. Then weeks later the same thing happened on my R9. What happened?

Well I’m no spring piston expert, but it sounds like it ‘dieseled’- a small combustion when fired. That can happen if oil is introduced into the breach or maybe if a seal starts to fail. But again- I’m no piston expert. Perhaps others can share some wisdom here or you could ask that question in a new forum post.

Glad my videos helped! Thanks for the kind words!

Thanks
Philip

 

[Eric Brewer]

Phillip got it right. It could be a flammable oil that you clean the gun with or something introduced prior to that 1st shot. The sound is the pellet breaking the sound barrier. It is not good for the gun. You can burn seals or fatigue the internals. Try to remove any oils in the barrel.

 

[Smitty]

Phillip got it right. It could be a flammable oil that you clean the gun with or something introduced prior to that 1st shot. The sound is the pellet breaking the sound barrier. It is not good for the gun. You can burn seals or fatigue the internals. Try to remove any oils in the barrel.

Hi Eric and Phillip,
As detectives, y’all are better than Batman. You are totally right and solved the mystery. I now remember that I had cleaned the guns some time prior. It was a while before and I never made the connection. Thank you so much. I will correct this and will watch some professional airgun cleaning videos and go through the owners manuals as well. I appreciate it!

 

[Smitty]

We will have our monthly field target match on September 2, 2023.
The sight-in range will open at 8:00am and the match will start at 9:00.
2830 Alish Trl Mount Pleasant NC 28124-9007

Where will the mannequin target be this month?
What will it be wearing?
Who will take the high score in each class?

You can get answers to these questions by attending and shooting your best match ever!

$15 admission

Cash is accepted at the match, or you can pay via paypal.
https://paypal.me/tarheelairgunclub?country.x=US...

After the match we plan to meet at a local spot for lunch.
We hope to see you then- let us know you plan to come in the comments section!

View attachment 1271

Phillip got it right. It could be a flammable oil that you clean the gun with or something introduced prior to that 1st shot. The sound is the pellet breaking the sound barrier. It is not good for the gun. You can burn seals or fatigue the internals. Try to remove any oils in the barrel.

Hello!
Would really appreciate your feedback! So I’ve set out targets at the various intervals 10-55yards, zeroed my scopes at 25 yards, and proceeded to record what happens at the various distances.
Results: R7 is clearly NOT the correct rifle. It was accurate up to around 25 yards, then forget hitting anything consistently & accurately past that. Around 6-7 ft-lbs and very slow pellet velocity.
R9 was much easier to aim. I think this was due to it being heavier. However, past 30 or 35 yards, I had the same difficulty with getting accurate and consistent shots. Then I tried the FX Crown .177 , tuned down to 19 ft-lbs. and it was like night and day. So I’m thinking of just staying with that for now, even though there’s more people and better skill sets in that category. What are your thoughts?

 

[Smok3y]

Hello!
Would really appreciate your feedback! So I’ve set out targets at the various intervals 10-55yards, zeroed my scopes at 25 yards, and proceeded to record what happens at the various distances.
Results: R7 is clearly NOT the correct rifle. It was accurate up to around 25 yards, then forget hitting anything consistently & accurately past that. Around 6-7 ft-lbs and very slow pellet velocity.
R9 was much easier to aim. I think this was due to it being heavier. However, past 30 or 35 yards, I had the same difficulty with getting accurate and consistent shots. Then I tried the FX Crown .177 , tuned down to 19 ft-lbs. and it was like night and day. So I’m thinking of just staying with that for now, even though there’s more people and better skill sets in that category. What are your thoughts?

It might be more people in that category, but that isn’t going to necessarily make it that much harder to win. There are great shooters in all the categories there. My advice is go with what you are most comfortable with and compete against yourself starting out. Make your own reasonable goals to start and work your way up to beating Philip!

 

[Smitty]

It might be more people in that category, but that isn’t going to necessarily make it that much harder to win. There are great shooters in all the categories there. My advice is go with what you are most comfortable with and compete against yourself starting out. Make your own reasonable goals to start and work your way up to beating Philip!

I appreciate your feedback. I’m preparing my reference card for this weekend. Did I do this correctly or does this make sense?

 

[DeadEyeNC]

You're well on your way figuring out your holdovers!
What you currently have is more than one zero- meaning you are using holdover AND holdunder. Some of your yardages are above your zero, most are below your zero. Nothing wrong with that as long as you know where to aim!

Field target requires some homework and prep to do well- and your are doing that. Good job!

 

[Smitty]

You're well on your way figuring out your holdovers!
What you currently have is more than one zero- meaning you are using holdover AND holdunder. Some of your yardages are above your zero, most are below your zero. Nothing wrong with that as long as you know where to aim!

Field target requires some homework and prep to do well- and your are doing that. Good job!

Thanks so much for the feedback. I really appreciate it!