GTA
Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events => Field Target Gates => Hunter Class Field Target => Topic started by: Chuck D on January 12, 2018, 02:40:03 PM
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I notice that 99% of Field Target competitors regardless of Division use .177
I have a few gas ram break barrels that are rather accurate (to get my feet wet in the game) but they're.22 caliber.
Is there a reason why few if any use .22 in HFT Division ?
Thanks for the input.
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The smallest target you have to hit in FT is 0.375 inch. With .22, that leaves you a .08" "radial" margin of error. With .177, that goes up to .1.
And for a given energy, the .22 trajectory will be a bit more "loopy."
That said, to start in field target, not a thing wrong with .22 at all. Go for it!
You will learn much about what and how (and if) you want to shoot field target and can make future purchases based on that info, rather than just a guess.
It's fun even if you aren't competitive, but the desire to increase your competitiveness (by practice and hardware) seems to kick in hard if you enjoy it.
In the Dallas area, we have a new shooter that's doing really well using .22. Hector Medina I believe started with a Crosman 2200.
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The smallest target you have to hit in FT is 0.375 inch. With .22, that leaves you a .08" "radial" margin of error. With .177, that goes up to .1.
And for a given energy, the .22 trajectory will be a bit more "loopy."
That said, to start in field target, not a thing wrong with .22 at all. Go for it!
You will learn much about what and how (and if) you want to shoot field target and can make future purchases based on that info, rather than just a guess.
It's fun even if you aren't competitive, but the desire to increase your competitiveness (by practice and hardware) seems to kick in hard if you enjoy it.
In the Dallas area, we have a new shooter that's doing really well using .22. Hector Medina I believe started with a Crosman 2200.
I must add that as the muzzle energy is under under the 20fpe max limit there is nothing wrong with a .22 pellet except for the loopy trajectory and pellet diameter you mentioned. LOL.....since the hunter division only allows "hold over and Kentucky windage aiming" (no turret adjustments during the match) the .22 cal is "extra difficult".
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Also, I suppose we should be precise in that it's not just hunter class that the .177 preference predominates, it's all classes of US (and international) field target, because we all shoot at the same targets, regardless of class, so the diametral and trajectory problems associated with .22 persist across classes.
In Hunter, you are permitted to use a bipod or "sticks" that are not attached to the rifle. You may sit on a bag or a stool (or shoot prone, for that matter, I believe). Your scope must be fixed at a marked 16x or less power and you may not adjust the power or the turrets during the match. Up to 20 fpe is permitted.
Other classes (open and wftf) don't permit the bipod, and place limitations on the power (12fpe for WFTF), but permit adjustment of the scope (both power and elevation/windage) during the match. Whether slings, harnesses or jackets are permitted are other distinctions.
Classically, therefore, Hunter class shooters use reticle-based holdovers, while the other classes holdover by adjusting their elevation.
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I notice that 99% of Field Target competitors regardless of Division use .177
I have a few gas ram break barrels that are rather accurate (to get my feet wet in the game) but they're.22 caliber.
Is there a reason why few if any use .22 in HFT Division ?
Thanks for the input.
1) Piston gun. 2) Break barrel. 3) .22 caliber. 4) Gas ram.
Any one of those has is it's own challenge. All four combined will make it especially challenging.
I used a .22 underlever piston gun for my first FT match in 2011. I liked the game, so I bought a .177 specifically for FT right after that.
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In Hunter...Your scope must be fixed at a marked 16x or less power and you may not adjust the power or the turrets during the match....
"Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to
a maximum of 16 power magnification. Variable scopes of
greater than 16X must be turned to the 16X or nearest lower
factory marking on the scope."
For scopes that are not capable of going over 16x, the rules don't say what magnification you must run at, so my interpretation is that you can set them to any magnification that you want with no restrictions during the match.
For higher power scopes, "must be turned to the 16X or nearest lower factory marking on the scope." That would indicate that the higher power scopes can't be adjusted during the match, though some will say it is OK to readjust a higher power scope to ANY factory marking that shows 16x or lower during the match.
If I need to adjust my mag down to find a target, I do so. Though no one is likely to check and most don't care either way.
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Yeah I wasn't 100% on interpretation of the rule there. I defer to Mr. Hull's interpretation. But some of us find POI shifts with changing magnification, so be careful!
And, Chuck, Scott is a really good FT shooter and a knowledgeable "technician" of rifles and scopes for field target use, and you see he started with .22.
I'd encourage any "newb" to shoot what you've got (within reason, a pumper or SSP or 10m rifle with iron sights probably won't get it done) to start with rather than slot yourself into certain classes or styles of shooting by buying equipment first.
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I did some banging around online last night and found the exact model rifle I set up for hunting work in .177 and picked it up. It should be to my front door by late next week.
I think it will work fine to get my feet wet in the game and earn some experience before I lay down the long dollar on a dedicated rifle platform.
Thanks everyone for the advice.