HFT Class going away?

[bubba zanetti]

I see there is some bickering/ discussion on the Yellow that the HFT class may be altered in the future.

Is there anybody that can explain exactly what this change is or may be? I shoot HFT and don't really have an interest in the other classes at the moment.

I just finished my first year doing FT and need some clarity as I don't know the history or possible politics driving this change.

Thanks,

BZ

[Motorhead]

No worries ... HUNTER class as it is written in the AAFTA rule book is going no where !

What some are wanting to do is UP the scope power limits to 16X over the current 12X limit, but that likely going nowhere in the foreseeable future IMO.

The BEEF is how to deal with FREESTYLE / UNLIMITED type shooting that has been getting played with here out west all threw the 2015 season.  While NOT currently an AAFTA acknowledged class, many are wanting to go that route being it ALLOWS any, partial use of all the other class's shooting aids or seating positions with the bonus of electronic Range finders if so inclined ? * Personally find a good high mag scope to be more accurate within AG distances 


Beauty of the Freestyle class is ... Show up with a sub20# power rifle and KNOCK DOWN the target !!
How you stand, hold, sit or shoot your Air gun simply don't matter ... Just KILL THE STEEL 

[bubba zanetti]

Thanks Scott

Not sure why go up to X16? Not really needed and besides the X12 rule makes it a tad more challenging.

OK, so the talk is more over the Open/Unlimited/Freestyle shooters.

We have one Unlimited shooter at the club and he is pretty lonely. I can see making the Unlimited-Freestyle class its own thing and I think there is interest their possibly.

BZ

[Motorhead]

Thanks Scott

Not sure why go up to X16? Not really needed and besides the X12 rule makes it a tad more challenging.

BZ

Simply BETTER RANGING using a scopes Parallax compensation which becomes more finite with the shallowing depth of field as magnification become higher.

[bubba zanetti]

Answers that

BZ

[Jr_Explorer]

Beauty of the Freestyle class is ... Show up with a sub20# power rifle and KNOCK DOWN the target !!
How you stand, hold, sit or shoot your Air gun simply don't matter ... Just KILL THE STEEL 

I see that advantage but I think it's going to be a free for all where people not only use the over $3k guns but rangefinders, any position, etc., etc.  I guess my beef is that like all things competition if you allow anything a) it becomes expensive (not that the open class isn't already!) and kind of pointless.  Do you then allow bench rest type gun  rests as long as the guy is willing to carry it from station to station?  Scope cams feeding 10" tablets for sighting?  Pretty soon some guy is going to have everything mounted on an ATV that lowers outriggers and becomes a rock steady shooting platform motoring from station to station!  LOL!

Personally I think the classes as defined currently allow for good competition and that the 12X for HFT is what offsets being able to use shooting sticks.

[Mr_Sis]

I have been following these threads on all forum's and have been seeing the same result's everywhere.  It appears to be a few making noise and other's trying to appease the few making noise. When I go to matches no one make's a bother or complains about class setup. The want for a big scope seems to come from the fact that WFTF seems to always shoot high scores at 12 ft lbs and no one wants to sit on the ground or due to medical issue's cannot sit on the ground. I understand the medical issue's and sitting on the ground cause I have a hard time doing it but I do it anyway to keep in somewhat shape.  The second reason is people are power hungry and don't want to shoot 12 ft lbs thinking that 20 ft lbs is so much better and would love to shoot 30 if possible. ( that debate will be coming up soon I can see ) What seems to be needed is a sort of group that will handle disabilities people have to let them compete and have fun doing. We have all been taught at a young age that second is the first looser and field targets should not be like that for the simple reason that we are getting together to have fun and enjoy the day with other airgun nuts. Back to the disabilities class, which I feel should be the main focus of why the people are asking for a new class. No one can come together to create a new class or want's to have everything to be able to use. Each class has it's pro's and con's to what can be used so that one does not have a huge advantage over the other. I know this is a lot of rambling but mabye something good can come from it to get people thinking of just what can be done instead of canceling the class or just causing a problem.

[Cigarman]

Another consideration is there is a number of very good shooters who are a little older and those that just prefer the bucket and sticks thing, but would like to directly compete with the unlimited class for overall score, shooting hunter style but with high power scopes.

I haven't figured out why "open" class doesn't allow bucket and sticks.

[Scotchmo]

I'm a match director on the California Central Coast. Our club has been allowing Freestyle (i.e. any shooting aids) for the last two years. It has kept a few others shooting. Some did not like the periodic changes to the AAFTA rules. Others wanted to try something different. It has not really changed the game much.

Others worry that the courses will have to get more difficult to make up for the other shooting aids. That is not really true since the top shooters are already shooting near the accuracy capabilities of their rifles on the free position shots. It comes down to no mistakes, reading the wind and hitting the positionals. 

Some seem to abhor the  use of bipods and rangefinders as they were not allowed in original field target rules. Things like adjustable risers, butthooks, shooting jackets, harnesses, and thigh pods have mostly circumvented the original hold restrictions in field target. The restrictions on the use of rangefinders was long since circumvented by the use of oversized 30, 40,  60, and 80x scopes with oversized, calibrated wheels that accurately display distances out to 55 yards. 

I would buy a $50-$100 bipod but am unlikely to buy all the specialized support aids used in some of the field target divisions. Same for oversized scopes. A $200 rangefinder will not give any significant advantage over a specialized scope costing $1000-$3000. 

Currently, there are lots of allowed shooting aids in the various field target classes. There is a nearly unlimited number of permutations of those combinations. And some people only want others using the same combinations that they use. So constant disagreement.

Open Division should be where new things are tried, but that's not happening. Freestyle can suit that purpose and it might even alleviate the need for the regular changes being applied to AAFTA Hunter Division.

[Mr_Sis]

Excellent points Scott. human's abhor change and that seems to be the biggest thing. My wife shoot's HFT and is thinking of changing to open or WFTF cause of all the stuff she has to carry around. This is the biggest reason but a close second is she cant see through the 12 power limit on the scope. Being able to use a 30 40 or 50 power scope is a advantage for ranging  I agree but like you said we have to adjust to the wind and follow through with the shot to hit the faceplate also not to leave out the forced position lanes for kneeling and standing. The top shooter's also spend a lot of money on pellet's to practice as much as they can through the year so it's a lot more then just gear to make you a good shooter. If a freestyle class is what we need to get the sport to grow I am all for it. They have to shoot in the same weather I do.

[bubba zanetti]

I have been following these threads on all forum's and have been seeing the same result's everywhere.  It appears to be a few making noise and other's trying to appease the few making noise. When I go to matches no one make's a bother or complains about class setup. The want for a big scope seems to come from the fact that WFTF seems to always shoot high scores at 12 ft lbs and no one wants to sit on the ground or due to medical issue's cannot sit on the ground. I understand the medical issue's and sitting on the ground cause I have a hard time doing it but I do it anyway to keep in somewhat shape.  The second reason is people are power hungry and don't want to shoot 12 ft lbs thinking that 20 ft lbs is so much better and would love to shoot 30 if possible. ( that debate will be coming up soon I can see ) What seems to be needed is a sort of group that will handle disabilities people have to let them compete and have fun doing. We have all been taught at a young age that second is the first looser and field targets should not be like that for the simple reason that we are getting together to have fun and enjoy the day with other airgun nuts. Back to the disabilities class, which I feel should be the main focus of why the people are asking for a new class. No one can come together to create a new class or want's to have everything to be able to use. Each class has it's pro's and con's to what can be used so that one does not have a huge advantage over the other. I know this is a lot of rambling but mabye something good can come from it to get people thinking of just what can be done instead of canceling the class or just causing a problem.

Pretty much my experience. I didn't hear anybody complain or talk about changing with the exception of our lone Unlimited shooter, but his only complaint is he wants someone to shoot against. He was not very riled up about it and said that that class will probably be developed in the future.

Appreciate the responses on this topic.

BZ

[Motorhead]

As one among many who shoot FT here in the West, am fortunate in having 2 rifles all set up and ready to play in OPEN CLASS and one for HUNTER CLASS.
Pending the match, who else is shooting etc ... What class gets shot honestly is becoming less important.
Having FUN, shooting for experience in an attempt to always best ones self takes precedence to being high score shooter of the match.
Sure we all like to shoot well and if this sport of FT was easy We all would ... sadly that's not so easily done !

So choose to Have FUN first, be serious enough to keep learning while not getting so caught up in politics or frustration of a specific class you burn your self out from NOT HAVING FUN.

Just sharing some thoughts ...

Scott