GTA
Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events => Field Target Gates => Topic started by: HectorMedina on November 11, 2018, 10:08:32 AM
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Hope you enjoy a very personal POV
https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-2018-aafta-nationals-a-wonderful-if-hard-experience (https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-2018-aafta-nationals-a-wonderful-if-hard-experience)
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Excellent write-up Hector!!
Thank you.
Cheers,
Smoketown
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Very, very interesting reading regarding the Nationals experience, Hector, thanks!
I also enjoyed hearing your opinions regarding the cost of field target gear and its possible negative effect on attracting newcomers.
Thanks for sharing. Very thoughtful.
Bob
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Thank you for the write up. Even though I didn't shoot WFTF, I had a lot of fun shooting my springer in the HFT division.
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Everyone should bookmark Hector's blog- great reading regardless if shooting competitively or not.
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Outstanding write up Hector, thank you for sharing! :D
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I didn't expect to make Hector's blog. :o I was fighting a degrading rifle on saturday also. Then when we went back up to the top of the course I ran to the truck and grabbed the backup rifle I had borrowed from Mark Purdue before leaving Texas. I finished day 1 and all of day 2 with his HW97 and my scope. His rifle is very similar to mine, but is a little slower for whatever reason. This was only my second time trying the harness, I have been shooting WFTF at the local matches. The harness is way more comfortable than a jacket in the heat. I would have liked to speak with you some on the sight in range, but you seemed pretty focused on your rifle, maybe next time.
Cliff
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Hector,
Thanks for the great write up on the Open Piston match. I appreciate the effort that you put in to keep this every-man's piston class going. I convinced my friend and neighbor Vince Pacheco to make the trip and round out the Open Piston class at this years Nationals. He is the type that will shoot in any Division and in any Class (though I think he is partial to piston guns). Also, thanks for soldiering on by continuing to participate in spite of the gun problems. Even taking a zero is better than a DNF, especially when there is another day of shooting to make a comeback. Though their problems were not as severe as yours, Cliff and Vince also had technical/mechanical issues to work through during the match.
There are good reasons why so many WFTF shooters dress like 10 meter shooters and their guns look a little strange to the average shooter. The direction of field target rifle configurations is determined by the equipment allowed and by the course standards. That's why USA Open Piston guns tend to be more “field worthy” than the WFTF guns. Though our courses are starting to become a little more aligned with WFTF.
I've never used a shooting jacket, riser/hamster, high scope, butt-hook, etc. at AAFTA matches, but I'm planning some compromises to increase my odds at a typical WFTF worlds course. I signed up for the 2019 World match and am already looking at changes to my gun and maybe my shooting style to favor WFTF.
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I signed up for the 2019 World match and am already looking at changes to my gun and maybe my shooting style to favor WFTF.
Go Get 'Em, Scott! 8)
Bob
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Thanks to all for reading!
This month we have achieved an interesting milestone. For the first time, the Blog has had more than 40,000 page views in the last 12 months. I do not know if this will last or not, but I am told that it is an important milestone in a narrow-focus blog, like ours.
About the Nationals.- In the end, it was a great experience. Experience being what we name the good things that come out of our own bad choices.
Just kidding! LOL!
@ Fred.- Next time you are in a shoot with me, you'ld better come over, introduce yourself, and say "hello" or, when I die, I will come back and pull your feet while you are sleeping.
:P
@ Cliff.- Hopefully, this will not be the last Nationals we both attend ;) so, next time DO COME OVER! Or grab me by my sleeve during lunch or something! Yes I always seem to be talking to someone, but believe me it would have been a pleasure to talk with you.
@ Scott.- I also started WFTF making concessions to their style. But in the end I found little pleasure in shooting like that. So I have made it a point to shoot just as I always shoot. Yes we need more practice, but practice is an infinitely better investment than jackets, boots, slings, or gloves; or new guns and scopes.
I have high hopes for next year's Spring-Piston Team USA. Though the competition will be fierce, I think we can overcome. One of the things I would like is to start creating more and more of that "Esprit de Corps" / Team Spirit, so any suggestions are welcome!
I wish ALL of us, the FT shooters would start making clear to the AAFTA that there should be at least ONE voice of reason among all the RGB's in the WFTF, and that voice of reason should be the nation where owning guns is a right, not a privilege.
That starts at grass roots level, which should then escalate to Club level and only then can we hope to create a change in AAFTA's WFTF representation (whoever that is at the time).
FT is a beautiful sport that tends to gather really nice people. Driving it into elitism and exclusivity will be detrimental to the sport. IMHO.
Anyway, again, thanks to all for reading!
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM
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@ Scott.- I also started WFTF making concessions to their style. But in the end I found little pleasure in shooting like that. So I have made it a point to shoot just as I always shoot. Yes we need more practice, but practice is an infinitely better investment than jackets, boots, slings, or gloves; or new guns and scopes.
I have high hopes for next year's Spring-Piston Team USA. Though the competition will be fierce, I think we can overcome. One of the things I would like is to start creating more and more of that "Esprit de Corps" / Team Spirit, so any suggestions are welcome!
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I have shot Hunter, Open, and WFTF, and so far my only concession on the gun has been a 24x scope. That is my preferred magnification for shooting. Even 16x is OK. I do want to try some other things and can use them or not. Last week I made the following addition to the underside of my QB58:
(http://www.scotthull.us/photos/Misc/QB58-rail-00.jpg)
I plan on experimenting with some risers and hamsters. If I decide not to use them, I'll only have the rail in place, which is not at all intrusive to my current shooting style. I might decide to remove any riser/hamster before a match should the course not require it. For WFTF, any accessory that is used on the gun must remain attached for the whole match, even if not needed for a given shot. I really don't like heavy shooting jackets either (we have t-shirt weather year round). But the good thing about a jacket is that you don't have to wear it the whole time. Many out west lug them around and use them only on kneeling or standing shots, and throw them aside when no longer needed. They retrieve them later.
The courses sometimes have target visibility issues (regardless of what the rules specify), and there is the occasional high angle shot. Both might be helped by a riser/hamster. Maybe it will help on the kneeling and standings shots. I find it a little strange that these target placements are often put into the match to provide additional difficulty, and then the rules allow shooters to use accessories for the sole purpose of circumventing these difficulties - so the wild looks of some WFTF guns is not surprising.
I suspect the Brits are looking to win it (2019 Piston Team), especially in their own country.
I have high hopes for the 2019 USA piston team (whoever may compose that team). Especially after their showing in Poland earlier this year.
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Well, the good thing is that the Team is a 6 man Team, only best three scores for each day to count, but the Team is a 6 man team.
Risers have their uses, and yes, I added one after Lisbon because there is an angle (about 20 degrees up) that is VERY challenging to shoot from the standard position perhaps I should try it from the DeadMan's position.
My riser is mounted fore-aft fixed, even though I could add a rail, I found that there is a position where I can just turn it back for standing and kneeling shots and turn it all the way forward for free position shots.
If you are interested in risers, probably the best riser for spring-piston airguns is made by Peter Brooks in WI. Let me know if you need contact information.
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM