GTA

Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events => Field Target Gates => Hunter Class Field Target => Topic started by: Bonzi on March 07, 2018, 08:13:17 PM

Title: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Bonzi on March 07, 2018, 08:13:17 PM
I know this is probably well known by most folks but I haven't been able to find an answer any where so Id like to ask here. I understand that the magnification cant exceed 16x and on a variable most be set at 16x or the next lower factory marking on the scope, what I'm curious about is are you allowed to vary the power below the max during a match?

thanks
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: nced on March 07, 2018, 08:30:16 PM
I know this is probably well known by most folks but I haven't been able to find an answer any where so Id like to ask here. I understand that the magnification cant exceed 16x and on a variable most be set at 16x or the next lower factory marking on the scope, what I'm curious about is are you allowed to vary the power below the max during a match?

thanks
I don't think so because I'd like to turn down the power of my scope for the forced offhand lanes and aren't allowed to.

I believe that the reason is that some HFT shooters use scopes with higher than the max allowed 16x with the power set to 16x or less. If "adjusting on the lanes" were allowed then there is the possibility that a shooter could do his rangefind at more than 16x and then turn the power back to the "legal limit". This might seem like a stretch, however a few years ago there was a hft shooter using a high mag scope turned back to 12x (the legal limit at that time) when shooting the match. Well, that shooter sold his scope and the buyer found that the 12x magnification "didn't look right" so he did some investigation. As I heard the story the origional scope owner was cheating because he had the scope internally modified to have a higher magnification while the AO was aligned to the 12x etching. Anywhoo.....that incident created such a stir that there was a proposal to limit the scope to 12x max magnification and not allow higher mag scopes turned down to 12x or less. Fortunately (IMHO) that rule wasn't passed so folks could still use high mag scopes turned down to 12x. As the old saying goes, "one bad apple can ruin the whole barrel"!
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Motorhead on March 07, 2018, 09:00:32 PM
Yes you can vary X power from max limit to less .... THO CAN NOT touch turret adjustments in hunter class.
At the prone, kneeling or off hand lanes fairly common.
** just remember to move it back when done !!

From my handy 2016 AAFTA rules ... * note now 16X limit  & it reads ...
Sights
A.
Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to
a maximum of 12 power magnification.  Variable scopes of greater than 12X must be turned to the 12X or nearest lower factory marking on the scope.
B.
No Windage or Elevation adjustments allowed during the match.
C.
Optical sights with parallax adjustment may be adjusted so that the target is in focus.  Range (yardage) markings may be used.
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Bonzi on March 07, 2018, 10:10:53 PM
Thank you. Yea I know I can't click. I shot at the P.Cup (first shoot ever) and never thought to ask, I just left it on 12 power. I thought maybe it wasnt permitted because doing so with a second focal plane scope using other then the center of reticle could be thought of as clicking. When I shoot in the house up close thats how I zero for my distance so I don't have to change my 20yd zero (or whatever Im zeroed at for long distance). I don't think it would help much at unknown distances.

thanks again
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: nced on March 07, 2018, 10:57:43 PM
Yes you can vary X power from max limit to less .... THO CAN NOT touch turret adjustments in hunter class.
At the prone, kneeling or off hand lanes fairly common.
** just remember to move it back when done !!

From my handy 2016 AAFTA rules ... * note now 16X limit  & it reads ...
Sights
A.
Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to
a maximum of 12 power magnification.  Variable scopes of greater than 12X must be turned to the 12X or nearest lower factory marking on the scope.
B.
No Windage or Elevation adjustments allowed during the match.
C.
Optical sights with parallax adjustment may be adjusted so that the target is in focus.  Range (yardage) markings may be used.

Thanks for the clarification! I just checked the 2018 Hunter class rules and it makes no reference to turning the scope power below 16x during the match! Hummm......wonder where the THAGC got the "no touchie tha power settin' idea? When I tried to reduce the scope power for the offhand lane I was told (in error evidently) that it wasn't allowed!

LOL.....when I'm shootin' either offhand or kneeling I need to shoot the target "on the fly by" since I shake so much. Using a lower power setting for these lanes at least makes the "fly by in the scope" a lot slower for me to time the shot!

Anywhoo....here's a link to the 2018 AAFTA Handbook for those interested...........
http://www.thagc.com/aafta-handbook-and-field-target-rules/ (http://www.thagc.com/aafta-handbook-and-field-target-rules/)
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Scotchmo on March 08, 2018, 12:30:35 AM
I know this is probably well known by most folks but I haven't been able to find an answer any where so Id like to ask here. I understand that the magnification cant exceed 16x and on a variable most be set at 16x or the next lower factory marking on the scope, what I'm curious about is are you allowed to vary the power below the max during a match?

thanks

"Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to
a maximum of 16 power magnification...."


That sentence would indicate that for compliant scopes (16x or less), any magnification is OK. So you can adjust it as needed during the match.

"...Variable scopes of greater than 16X must be turned to the 16X or nearest lower
factory marking on the scope."


That sentence would indicate that for non-compliant variable scopes (>16x), only the 16x mark or nearest lower marking may be used - no other.

In reality, most people won't care if you set it even lower during the match. However, if you are shooting in Hunter Division with a high power scope, some people will get suspicious if they see you messing with the magnification ring.
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: nced on March 08, 2018, 09:43:00 AM
I know this is probably well known by most folks but I haven't been able to find an answer any where so Id like to ask here. I understand that the magnification cant exceed 16x and on a variable most be set at 16x or the next lower factory marking on the scope, what I'm curious about is are you allowed to vary the power below the max during a match?

thanks

"Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to
a maximum of 16 power magnification...."


That sentence would indicate that for compliant scopes (16x or less), any magnification is OK. So you can adjust it as needed during the match.

"...Variable scopes of greater than 16X must be turned to the 16X or nearest lower
factory marking on the scope."


That sentence would indicate that for non-compliant variable scopes (>16x), only the 16x mark or nearest lower marking may be used - no other.

In reality, most people won't care if you set it even lower during the match. However, if you are shooting in Hunter Division with a high power scope, some people will get suspicious if they see you messing with the magnification ring.

The mag rule was an issue with my 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama when the max allowable power was 12x. The reason is that my Panorama didn't have a 12x etching on the AO (LOL, who wouldda thunk it), it went straight from 11x to 13x skipping 12x all together so I had to use the 11x setting according to the rules. Here is a pic of my Panorama power ring.........
(https://i.imgur.com/gtP0w8Yl.jpg)
With the increased 16x max scope allowable power for HFT the skipped Panorama 12x etching isn't an issue. With the previous 12x max setting there was a popular FT scope that the power etching went from 10x to 15x so those shooters either had to use the 10x setting or a different scope.

Anywhoo....the recent 16x max power limit has certainly simplified scope choice.
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Miguel on March 08, 2018, 09:56:00 AM
This are good news for me as well, I didnīt know that the power can be changed and I also so shaky off hand so good news.
Best.
Title: Re: HFT scope x rules
Post by: Dockey 454 on March 08, 2018, 05:13:52 PM
 I wonder if Hawke , and some of the other scope manufacturers will etch a a 16x mark like Sightron did for us.
   Tom