And don’t forget – if you want to see more about FT and HFT shooting in your area, just let us know what’s going on in your part of the world. Drop us a line and some photos………..and we’ll tell everyone else about it!
We’re still putting the finishing touches to our subscription service, which means that this edition of CompAir is free. As mentioned previously, much as we’d love to continue to bring you the magazine gratis, the costs involved with producing CompAir mean that we have to go at least some of the way towards paying the publishers. So, if you like what we’ve put together over the last few months, then we need you to support us and part with some of your hard-earned cash, and you’ll very shortly be able to subscribe to future issues of the magazine. We’ll let you know via our Facebook page and the popular airgun forums as soon as the techy guys have done their stuff and we’re ready to take your money.
The arrival of shorter, darker days doesn’t mean that you have to mothball your rifle though – if you dig out your waterproofs and woolly jumpers from the back of the wardrobe, there is some cracking sport to be had over the winter months up and down the country. CompAir’s Jon Oakley takes a look at one of the most popular winter shoots, the Daystate Midland Hunters Series in this issue.
It’s that time of year again when the FT and HFT communities see their various summer shoot series drawing to a conclusion, and in this Issue of CompAir we look back at what has been a fantastic year of competition shooting.
Poland to host FT Worlds in 2018
It’s that man – again!
HFT 2017 World Championship spaces filling up fast!
HFT Team England dominate in Poland
Hair today, gone tomorrow
CSFTA Winter League Dates Announced
30 October 2016 – Round 1, North Oxon 20 November 2016 – Round 2, Wendover 18 December 2016 – Round 3, Basingstoke 15 January 2017 – Round 4, Bisley 12 February 2017 – Round 5, Meon Valley 5 March 2017 – Round 6, Newbury (to be confirmed) 19 March 2017 – Round 7, Black Cats
2 October 2016 – Round 1, Isle of Wight 16 October 2016 – Round 2, Southampton Buccaneers 6 November 2016 – Round 3, Meon Valley 27 November 201 – Round 4, North Oxon 11 December 2016 – Round 5, Southampton Buccaneers 8 January 2017 – Round 6, Bisley 22 January 2017 – Round 7, Meon Valley 5 February 2017 – Round 8, Newbury 26 February 2017 – Round 9, North Oxon 12 March 2017 – End of Season Shoot, Bisley
Full results of the last 2 rounds and the 2016 series can be found on the UKAHFT website
Entry forms can be downloaded from the WHFTA website
Full results are available HERE:
Further information can be found on the CSFTA’s website
Their recent trip to Lodz in Poland for the European HFT Championships proved a very fruitful one, with England taking top slot in the team event, but Richard Woods winning the Open Class and Jennie Stone edging out Marta Růžičková from the Czech Republic in a shoot-off to secure first place in the Ladies Category. Over the two days of the competition Richard dropped only one point, finishing the event with a stunning score of 119 ex 120 – 2 points clear of second place Václav Sejpka.
2016 is shaping up to be a vintage year for Maldon’s Richard Woods; not content with taking top honours at the recent HFT European Championships in Poland, Rounds 8 and 9 of the UKAHFT Series at Emley Moor saw him secure the first place in the Open Class. Success for “Dopper” at Kelmarsh next Easter would see him holding all 3 major HFT titles simultaneously – what sort of odds would you get on him doing the treble?
With the 2017 event being staged at Usk in South Wales, competitors from Europe will have enjoyed the benefit of the sport’s blue riband event taking place in “their own back yard” since 2015.
The “Big One” in the HFT calendar takes place at Kelmarsh on 16 & 17 April next year, and entries are now being accepted.
Massive respect to Charlotte Edmondson who bravely volunteered to have her hair shaved off to raise money for the McMillan Cancer Charity. Her father Steve was the one who wielded the clippers at the end of the prize-giving and raffle for Round 4 of the UKAHFT Series at Maldon, in front of all the assembled shooters. Charlotte’s efforts resulted in nearly £800 being raised for this very worthwhile cause, and ever the showgirl she decided to compete in Round 5 the following morning wearing a long blonde wig and a very fetching outfit – the likes of which have never been seen in M.A.D.’s woods before.
Just as we were going to press, the World Field Target Federation confirmed that Poland will host the FT World Championships in 2018.
The Emley Moor weekend also saw Scotland’s Nick Hopkinson sweep to victory in the .22 category, following an absolutely stunning score of 59 ex 60 in Round 8 on the Saturday.
Although the closing date to get your entry in is 31 January, places are filling up very quickly and WHFTA’s Pete Dutton says he is expecting all the available places to be taken by the end of October, so you’d better get a wiggle on if you don’t want to be disappointed.
The Central Southern Field Target Association has recently announced the dates of both their Field Target and HFT Winter League competitions.
Mike Burgess - the man behind the SIHFT laptop - is one of the key figures whose hard work and efforts go a long way to making sure that everything runs smoothly throughout the summer.
Roger Dibbens shot well in the 2016 SIHFT Series and is one to watch next year.
Ford’s Pat Fitzgerald had some very impressive scores during his debut year in the .22 category.
Abi Maw dominated the Junior Category in 2016.
Chris Tyhurst only needed 6 rounds to secure the winner’s trophy with his springer.
Meon Valley’s Stu Tennent took 2nd place in this year’s Open Class.
Charles Peal was the very well-deserved winner in the Open Class - and by quite a margin!
In terms of the club league, it was once again Mile Oak Club who took the top slot (for the sixth year running!), with Buxted just pipping newcomers Meon Valley by 1 point for second place. Full results for the 2016 S.I.H.F.T. Series can be found HERE
Buxted’s Abi Maw absolutely dominated the Junior Category, coming in with a final percentage score of 520.74% shot over just 7 rounds – and a country mile ahead of her closest rival. This young lady seemed to have really hit her stride over the summer and is most definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years. Although somewhat thin on the ground in terms of numbers (just 3 shooters taking part this year), the .22 Class saw Ford’s Pat Fitzgerald put in some mightily impressive scores in his first year shooting the large calibre, which totalled up to a figure of 498.39%, shot over 8 of the 10 rounds.
Maldon’s Jean Greatrex had enjoyed a season-long battle with Barbara Pearce in the Ladies category, and it was Jean who ran out the winner in the end. Chris Tyhurst was particularly impressive in the Recoil Class, not only by winning with a score of 525.19% ahead of Horsham’s Derek Watson on 500.14% in second place, but by doing so in just 6 rounds; work commitments had prevented Chris from taking part in the other 4 rounds, so the pressure had very much been on him to make each and every round count!
So who came out on top after the last round in early September at Mile Oak’s grounds near Brighton? Well, most fittingly it was Mile Oak’s Charles Peal who completed an outstanding run of results with his best 6 scores totally a highly impressive 591.44%. Stu Tennent from Meon Valley was in second place with 579.39% (from the 8 rounds he shot), and Buxted’s Justin Rayner just clinching third slot ahead of Oak’s shooters Simon Williams and Lewis Hodges (with scores of 575.94%, 575.89%, and 575.86% respectively).
One of the big attractions of this increasingly popular series is the varied grounds that competitors are required to shoot at if they are to feature in the top placings; from the unforgiving and wind-swept concrete of Ford to the woods of Buxted (complete with mini-kill targets and range-traps), shooters skills are tested in numerous ways. Then add into the equation the vagaries and uncertainties of the British summer weather, and you can see why so many see the SIHFT shoots as a “stepping stone” towards competing at national level on the UKAHFT circuit.
Sat here in early October looking back over the 10 rounds of the S.I.H.F.T. Series, it’s hard to believe that the summer has been come and gone – it seems as though only a month or so has gone by since Round 1 was staged at Ford back in early April. 2016 saw the Sussex host clubs extend the invitation join in the fun and games to Maldon and Meon Valley clubs, who joined Iden Ferns as guest teams in the Series, which is run over 10 rounds (with each of the Sussex clubs hosting 2 rounds each).
For HFT shooters though, like 10m shooters, bubbles are banned. But that doesn’t mean they have to be removed, they can be just taped up. This lets you train with them on and develop tactics before you have to get the Allen keys or black tape out. One area that does effect the cant of the rifle is the butt angle, and with careful testing and adjustment it’s possible to at least dial out some of the cant your position maybe forcing on the rifle. For 10m shooters, shooting at a fixed range, they only have to be consistent, and shooting in nice indoor ranges with targets that are square and level, it’s easy to line up foresight elements on target frames for a reference. But for HFT shooters it’s different. But you can remember that things always hang down vertically, so it’s possible to get some indication of vertical if you’re creative with where you look at what you look at. So if you’ve wondered what the bubble on FT rifles is there for, now you know. If you really want to delve into the mathematics of it all I thoroughly recommend András Fekete-Móró’s excellent article online. But if you don’t, hopefully you’ll have an idea on how you can explain those pellets that flew straighter or took more wind than expected, perhaps how even two rifles can display different amounts of windage.
In addition to good scope mounting shooting a pellet with a flatter trajectory will reduce the effects of cant. That’s part one. For FT shooters the part two is a bit easier. Simply keep the level attached to the gun. Obviously that may mean making up a bracket or something to do that. Various bubbles are available on the market. I prefer the ones which screw directly into the mount because there’s no way they can vary or move. Some on the market do move as they are tightened or change as they are swung into position so it’s always good practice to check your level with another level. All an FT shooter has to do is then refer to that while they are shooting, and their cant will be eliminated. Care still has to be taken though, it’s easy to be complacent and assume a small amount of bubble movement is a small problem. It won’t be. Just 5 degrees of cant at 30 yards with a JSB Exact running at 785 will give you around a ¼ inch of movement. At 45 it’s over ½ inch, and at 55 its almost an inch. But remember that’s a small movement on the bubble, or imperceptible on a range. Normally the lines on a bubble indicate just 5 or 10 degrees of tilt and that’s easily seen even on level ground let alone under pressure on a stander or on a difficult angled target where the position gets forced. For those that dial in, you can calculate the horizontal movement with this simple formula if you are interested. Even if you holdover, this will give you some idea of the effects of cant at your zero range. You can get the drop from the bore line from any ballistic calculator. We ignore the vertical movement causes in this because until you are canting to an extreme degree, the horizontal movement is far worse.
So how do we correct this? For FT and HFT shooters we can dial out one possible source of error by setting up the scope so it’s center is over the center of the barrel when both the gun and the scope are level. This last point is critical. If they are not lined up and level, then we introduce cant. The best way of doing this is to simply purchase a cheap spirit level and a bit of line with a weight on it. Put the spirit level on something square and a level on the gun’s action, like the flat area of a dovetail. Most target guns these days have pretty good engineering so this is a fairly reliable starting point. Then mount the scope. Hang the weight from the line down range. Go back to behind the scope and rotate it till the vertical crosshairs line up with the string. It’s best done as far away as possible from the string, and on the highest magnification. This means you can line up with more of the string, and on the highest mag you’re less likely to have any lens distortion that can bow the picture.
This is something you can test yourself. It’s best done indoors off a bench. Get the gun zeroed at the range you’d like to shoot at and rest the gun as you would normally on a bench and shoot a group. Now lay the gun on its side so the scope and barrel are roughly level. Now shoot at the same spot you were shooting at. You’ll now see the point of impact move. How much it moves by depends on the trajectory of your gun. As the drop from the bore line increases so does the amount the pellet moves for any given angle of cant. The further you go out, the worse the effect gets. For those that dial into the range they are shooting at, scope height makes no difference. For those that shoot with holdover, like HFT shooters, it does. A higher scope will reduce cant effects closer in than your zero, and exaggerate it further out. But for those that shoot HFT, scope heights aren’t that dramatic so it’s not something so important to worry about.
Outside however it’s a different story. Not only could I not see 5 degrees of error, I could easily be fooled by a gently sloping firing line, or an angled target, or even a wonky bench. Under some circumstances I could be up to 10 degrees out with no idea. When I did have a clue I wasn’t on a level firing point, finding an actual level without any level reference was impossible. I either under or over compensated. So what effect does that have? Well without delving into all the trigonometry that explains it in detail, in simple terms l if a rifle leans so the center of the scope is to the left of center of the barrel, shots will go left. If the scope is to the right of the barrel, they go right. As this happens there’s a small amount of drop the goes with it. This gets worse the more the gun is canted. Turned 360 degrees the point of impacts would draw a circle below the original point of impact.
We’re not going to use some newfangled bit of voodoo kit that your mate down the club swears you should glue to the muzzle, neither are we going to share some magical pellet fettling regime that will see you burning the midnight oil hours before a competition. This is a simple fix that can cost pennies, and solves one specific issue, you cant. Yes, I know I don’t think I do either. But as I found out with some experimentation, I actually do. Sitting indoors it’s fairly hard to detect 1-2 degrees, but I can start to pick up over 5 degrees of cant on the rifle. That’s because I have a modern indoor range, with straight lines everywhere, so the eye can easily see when things look out of line. It’s also part of my job to know when things look straight. But even then I’m only human and humans are easily fooled as the Hering optical illusion shows.
Shooters are fickle creatures. We’ll invest thousands into the latest super-scope or gun, spend countless hours on the range and even more on the internet, but given a very simple solution to hitting more targets and we’ll often stubbornly refuse to accept it. So it’s probably easier to ask if you would like to know a way of possibly reducing your windage at 30 yards by around a centimeter, or say over half a 40mm kill at 55? I doubt many would say no.
All finished! New mounts needed now
Testing the new regulator before its fitted
Recrowning the barrel
No turning back now!
The top cylinder is the new 325mm one; compare that to the standard Ultra cylinder.
Setting the power; only tiny adjustments are needed to get it just right.
Now for a check on the power and a spot of pellet testing
The vast majority of the original parts are replaced during the process
Trigger reassembley
Hope Carl remembers how all this goes back together!
Every component is subject to rigourous close inspection; everything must be perfect before it leaves AirTech
Liams BSA Ultra SE Standard
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so I’ll be compiling some performance figures, together with Liam’s thoughts and impressions of his re-worked gun after the next few competitions that we take part in.
AirTech’s attention to detail is second-to-none, and there is so much work involved that goes into one of the stage tunes; I haven’t even covered half the elements that Carl replaces or adjusts during the course of the process. Suffice to say that I was there for over 8 hours as Carl worked tirelessly without a break, tweaking and tinkering to get everything absolutely perfect. What you get for your money is extreme attention to detail and absolutely first class craftsmanship – so much so that I found myself pondering the purchase of another rifle so that I could get it tuned by AirTech (only kidding, Mrs Oakley!)
Next up is the cylinder, and I had decided to opt for a 365mm one which would give Liam’s rifle a better shot count as well as looking really great with the added length of the shroud. Once that has been fitted, Carl sets the power, and then with the rifle back in its stock he sets about adjusting the trigger, tweaking it until it was set perfectly to suit Liam.
Next we went into his workshop where Carl set about completely stripping the Ultra down to its bare components. The first job was to inspect, clean, and recrown the barrel. Once that was done, the shroud and its fitting were checked, ready for reassembly later on. The trigger was then worked on, including the sears being polished to within an inch of their lives. At this stage of the proceedings, springs are replaced if required, and the hammer is replaced with one of Carl’s own design. His own regulator is then fitted and tested, then the action is put back together minus the cylinder, the shroud is fitted, and then fired and checked for clipping etc.
When I walked into Carl’s kitchen, I was greeted with a display of around 20 different rifles (BSA Ultra’s and R10’s - including the new SE wow!), HW100’s, and Air Arms), all waiting to be worked on or returned to their grateful owners.
After a couple of months, Carl messaged me to let me know that he was ready to start work on Liam’s rifle, so I headed off to Telford to see the man work his magic.
Following a chat with fellow shooters, the chance to shoot a selection of rifles that had been “breathed on”, one name kept cropping up – Carl at AirTech. Both he and his work came highly recommended, so I got in touch and booked the Ultra in for Carl’s “Stage 2 Tune”, which consists of a new 325mm cylinder, a 27mm carbon shroud, his own regulator, as well as a full strip-down, polish, and re-build.
Unfortunately, I soon discovered that after checking the zero before the start of each competition, coupled with a few stoppages during the shoot, shot consistency was starting to drop off before the course was completed. So I decided to look at getting the rifle tuned and regulated, and have a larger air cylinder fitted.
Earlier this year at the British Shooting Show, I bought my son Liam his first air rifle - a BSA Ultra SE Tactical Stock. The rifle is the perfect weight and size for a junior, and I thought as he would only be shooting HFT with me, the low shot count wouldn’t really be an issue.
AirTech have built up an enviable reputation for being amongst the country’s very best tuning shops; CompAir’s Jon Oakley recently paid them a visit to see what they could do to improve the performance of his son’s BSA air rifle……
I have compared it to both a Mk 1 model and Mk 3 model and the image is better. On high magnification it struggled slightly with white coloured targets, there was a little bit of blurring around the edges and the white did have a bit of a yellowish tint to it but perhaps I am spoiled with using my March costing well over 3 times the price, mainly because of it’s expensive ED lenses. However when comparing the optics against all other colours, white was the only one that was noticeably inferior. A lot of scopes struggle with white targets especially in bright conditions and it wasn’t something that bothered me.
Unmounted without a side wheel nikko weights 960g so with a 3.75” eye relief it feels heavier than it actually is as it’s mounted quite far forward on rifle dovetails. Something to possibly consider in terms of overall rifle balance. It’s heavier than a 8-80 MarchX but lighter than a S&B PM2. What I haven’t mentioned was the temperature stability, something that the Big Nikko has been renowned for in the past. During testing in the cooler mornings of late summer and in the mid-day heat, rangefinding was identical. I would need to conduct further testing to be sure however the marks that I made on the sidewheel remained the same throughout the length of time I tested the scope. The scope was also very, very easy to set up for rangefinding. Disappointingly, the scope didn’t come with either a sidewheel pointer or a sunshade, not that a sunshade is a requirement however I do like to use one to keep rain off the objective lens and most FT shooters use a sunshade to keep dirt, dust and rain off the objective lens. The pointer is a no brainer, why include a wheel but no pointer and this is something many manufacturers are guilty off. Both will have to be purchased separately but both are items that I would like to see included with the scope. The gaps on the sidewheel were more than adequate for accurate and consistent rangefinding, the gap between 50yrds and 55yrds equated to 4 mm, something similar to my March at 5 mm. As per normal, the gap between distances increased as the distance to the target got shorter. Thankfully there is no need for a close focus adapter, minimum focus was a measured 10yrds (from objective lens) on x50 magnification, whilst 9yrds was easily ‘shootable’ when the magnification was dropped to x20 mag. Overall I was impressed with the scope and it was certainly a scope that can be used for FT in confidence. Thankfully Nikko Sterling have addressed the ‘issue’ with the parallax mechanism in the previous model. The scope focused consistently and accurately time after time on all targets especially the more difficult 50-55yrd distance where inferior scopes fall to the wayside. Obviously I am not going to change from my March 8-80 with my custom FT reticle however it is definitely an excellent scope and represents excellent value for money.
The ability of the scope to focus quickly was very good, FT users use the term ‘snap’ when referring to focus speed on a target. The scope did ‘snap’ very well and it was very consistent and repeatable. I never struggled to rangefind with a single target and the distance was easily and consistently repeated every time in dark and bright conditions. I do struggle with Leupold scopes which, for my eyes, seem to take forever to come into sharp focus and I cannot get a repeatable or consistent reading. Comparing it to my March, it came a very close second perhaps only because I was used to my own scope and the fact I didn’t have a suitable eye enhancer for the Big Nikko. A good scope enhancer for the eyepiece of the Nikko is a must in my opinion as it is quite fussy about eye relief which is long at 3.75”. The scope required the head and eye position to be very consistent each and every time which was quite annoying as the picture was either ‘there’ or it wasn’t, something that I took a little getting used to.
Parallax is smooth and precise. The wheel that comes with the scope in my opinion is unusable, firstly for its small size (90mm diameter) it its very bulky and extremely heavy (125g); secondly the distances engraved on the wheel have no correspondence to anywhere near the actual real-life distances whatsoever. This isn’t a big issue as virtually everyone in FT purchase a custom made sidewheel at additional cost. However, with a little education/feedback, I believe that Nikko Sterling could and should make a suitable sidewheel for their scope without the need to purchase a custom made one. The ‘sharks fin’ design that was popular with Big Nikko users will still fit onto the supplied wheel making a bigger diameter for rangefinding. The supplied wheel weighs 125g and the addition of a shark fin made it 165g which is quite heavy, considering the 5” wheel that I used weighed only 80g.
If I was to change it I would increase the spacing and have the mil-dots true at perhaps x 30 magnification, giving three times the distance between dots which would be more usable in FT. The NATO reticle is much better in my opinion.
For FT use I found the mil-dot virtually unusable for ‘aiming off’ in wind. At the higher magnification settings, being a second focal plane scope, the dots spacings get closer in relation to the target as the magnification is increased. Most FT competitors shoot on high magnification so the opportunity to use the dots as hold-off reference points in the wind is lost. On x 40 mag, 3.5 dots cover a 40mm killzone at 50yrds, so virtually the full area (killzone) where you want to be aiming is filled with mil-dots!
The reticle is a glass etched mil-dot (true at x10 mag) with the added feature of having an illumination mode. The reticle itself has a central dot which can be illuminated via the switch on the eyebell of the scope. It has 11 different brightness settings which is useful. I really did like the central dot and the fact that only the dot became illuminated. I have used other illuminated reticle scopes where the whole reticle illuminates which can be a distraction. In fading evening light and in a dark woodland I found that the illuminated dot made aiming quick and easy to do.
The scope definitely felt like quality, the hard black anodising was excellent and the magnification zoom was very smooth. High grade aluminium is used to construct the monotube which is shockproof, waterproof and sealed with nitrogen inside. The mag ring had a green rubberised knurled finish giving extra grip which was a nice touch. The ocular had a fast-focus system which I simply screwed to quickly set the reticle to my eye. A lifetime guarantee comes as standard.
One change I would make would be to have the windage turret a lower profile design, it’s the same oversize turret as the elevation and I think it would benefit being shorter. With a sidewheel and tall windage turret, it makes the overall scope quite wide for placing in a rifle slip and can create a pressure point when travelling in a gun case. The 30 mm tube allows for 9MOA in one full revolution, and when optically centred in my Sportsmatch adjustable mounts, the scope gave 25MOA in both the elevation and windage, that’s a full 50 MOA total movement in each turret; ample POI adjustment for FT use.
The 1/8 MOA target turrets remain the same design as the previous model, they are tall and easy to grip due to the knurling on top, clicks are positive. Each turret can be easily ‘zeroed’, by using the supplied Allen key; both the elevation and windage have screw on caps. Both the caps and the turrets are anodised green with gold engraved numbers making them stand out and the ‘clicks’ are quick and easy to do. I really like the idea of the screw caps, especially the windage turret, for peace of mind against accidental movement.
Rubberised zoom ring helps with the grip and the illumination has 11 settings to choose from
Gaps on a 5 inch wheel are enough to differenciate ranges at the important end
The mildot spacings are not that useful on 50x
Fast focus occular makes setting up the reticule easy
Gold inlayed lettering makes for easy reading
Removable turret covers prevent accidental adjustments
The ‘Big Nikko’ mounted
Lens coatings have been optimised and I was really impressed by the quality of the image through the scope, even on x50 mag the scope didn’t struggle. The image was crisp and clear right out to the edge and in my opinion this new model has the brightest optics of any of the previous models.
Sadly though, a rogue batch of the then newer MK3 model slipped through quality control and it had a dramatic and devastating effect on both performance and sales. The latest scopes have all been overhauled and a more stringent quality control process has been put in place in the Japanese factory where they are made.
Field Target, unlike most others target sports requires the user to constantly shift and alter the focus mechanism alongside the elevation turret. Each and every target requires the side focus and top turret to be shifted; pretty demanding in stuff for a scope’s internal mechanisms and something that tests the materials and construction to the highest level. A scope used for FT must consistently focus on target easily in a repeatable manner. The turrets must also track precisely and reliably every single time, they must also hold zero and return to zero after being adjusted. What the ‘Big Nikko’ had over its competitors was the fact it was so easy to use, its ability to consistently focus on targets out to 55yrds i.e. ‘rangefinding’ was consistent and repeatable and varying climatic changes, specifically temperature, had little to no effect on its performance.
I remember just a short few years ago where the Field Target circuit was dominated by the presence of the ‘Big Nikko’ scope. Used by beginners to top AA grade shooters, many whom were dominant at international level, it was the entry level scope that did it all, in a target sport that demands the utmost performance.
A real challenge for competitors but a very long way down if you fall - is it really worth the risk?
No place for slip-ups here - make sure your team of marshals is fully trained up and experienced in those tasks that you ask them to undertake
Charles Peal’s cowboy hat goes very nicely with his Chief Marshal’s hi-vis jacket
If you are charging an entry fee for a shoot, you must ensure that safety is at the very top of your list
In the second of our series about running FT and HFT competitions, we look at the various ingredients that go into ensuring the safe running of your shoot.
All being well and good, things are now set for a safe day’s sport – but the reason most of us head off into a muddy field or soggy woods at the weekend is to have fun. So next month, in the concluding article in this 3 part series we’ll look at a number of things you can do to ensure that the shoots your club puts on are not only safe but also enjoyable and successful.
In addition to the normal safety brief read from a card, this is also an ideal time to check if there are any new/novice shooters in attendance and to ensure that they are buddied up with experienced competitors, to let people know about any trip hazards, slippery underfoot conditions or where to keep a close eye out for unwelcome creepy-crawlies.
Even though everyone has heard a safety brief hundreds of times, it’s essential that one is given before the start of each and every shoot - just imagine trying to explain to an accident investigation board why you didn’t bother with a safety brief because you thought everyone already knew it off by heart! It’s also vital that everyone attends, and that everyone pays attention and listen up – don’t be afraid to “call for a bit of hush” from the assembled competitors in order to make yourself heard, or even to take persistent chatterboxes to task should they fail to shut up (a quick bit of sharp and witty “naming and shaming” usually does the trick!)
It always surprises me how few shoots run a marshal’s briefing before the competition gets under way, yet it is essential that the Chief Marshal ensures that everyone in his team knows who is doing what, which sections of the course they are covering, how the radios work, and the procedure for checking the course is clear at the end of the shoot. The various bits of kit that are used such as air horns and the chrono are expensive and costly to replace, so a reminder from the Chief Marshal for everyone to make sure that they return any stuff that they’ve been issued with at the end of the day never goes amiss.
The two key figures on the day are the Competition Secretary and the Chief Marshal, and it’s essential that they agree and coordinate their respective duties to ensure that everything goes off not just safely, but smoothly as well.
As you can see from the above, there’s quite a bit that can and should be done in advance of the shoot. Come the big day, then a lot of what you need to ensure happens is all about communication…………..
• If your shoot has 2 separate courses (such as happens at the HFT Worlds or the Air Arms Shoot), it pays to have 2 very different sound signals, one for each course – such as whistles on one and air-horns on the other. This saves both courses grinding to a halt when a ceasefire is called on one, helping the whole day run more smoothly and efficiently. Be sure to remember to let competitors know at the safety brief as to which sound signal is being used on which course.
• Find out and make a note of which club members are qualified first aiders, and which ones will be attending the shoot.
• Check the whereabouts of the club’s accident book and first aid kit.
• If you are intending to run competitors through the chrono during the shoot, now would be a good time to locate the chrono (they seem to have remarkable talent for disappearing!), and to check that it is working.
• Have you got sufficient numbers of hi-vis jackets, whistles, air horns, radios, etc. - and don’t forget to ensure that all the radios and air horns all charged up and working! You don’t want to be discovering that only one of the radios is working on the Sunday morning of the competition.
This is another one of those jobs best undertaken a week or so prior to the shoot
• Another consideration when setting out lofted targets is to check them relative to the sun at various times of the day. At one of the big HFT shoots last year, several of the elevated targets could not be shot by those taking part in the afternoon session as the position of the sun at that time of day meant that when shooters looked through their scopes there was a risk of them getting an eyeful of direct sunlight. Not only was this incredibly dangerous, but it was also a shame because it meant that a number of competitors were unable to complete what was otherwise one of the best HFT courses set that year.
• The last few years have seen the increased use of lofted targets, and the height at which they are positioned. When setting out the course and positioning an elevated target, it’s essential to have regard for the safety of not just the marshal with a target checker who might be called upon to ascend a couple of ladders that have lashed together, but also those who have to take it down at the end of the day.
• Give careful thought to the location of the plinking range and spectator areas, to ensure that anyone using the plink or watching the competition is also safe. If the plink is close or adjacent to the course, is it still safe to use it once the competition has begun? Or will it need to be closed for certain periods? If so, you will need to advise shooters of this during the safety brief and arrange appropriate signage.
• Ensure that the firing line and each lane are laid out in such a way so as to minimise the risk of a stray pellet hitting someone. Have a look at the UKAHFT’s guidelines on this subject.
Whilst this topic is deserving of a feature in its own right, there are several factors to consider when it comes to running your shoot in a safe manner –
As mentioned in the previous article, anyone responsible for organising a shoot needs to ensure that a Chief Marshal is appointed, and that he and his team of marshals have received an appropriate level of training, and have sufficient experience for the role that they are being asked to undertake. It is most unfair (and potentially dangerous) to ask someone to just slip on a hi-vis vest and do a spot of marshalling with no prior instruction or knowledge of what is expected of him or her. Don’t forget that if you are charging an entry fee for your shoot (as is often the case for club “open” shoots), then in the eyes of the law you are running the event for profit or commercial gain and your duty of care obligations significantly increase. This includes the training of marshals, all of whom should have attended a recognised appropriate training course (such as those run by the ATEO and BSAC), and have been awarded the appropriate certification to confirm this.
Also, check with the landowner/your landlord as to whether there are any other events planned for the day of your competition; a recent FT Grand Prix had to be relocated at short notice when it was discovered just a short while before the big day that the land-owner would be running a point-to-point race right alongside the FT course. In a similar vein, have a word with neighbouring farmers whose fields back onto your grounds – they might be empty now, but he could be planning to move livestock into them the day before your shoot. Earlier on this year, the whistle was sounded at an HFT shoot when a herd of cattle wandered into view behind half a dozen of the targets. No harm was done, and it was most amusing to watch some of the great and the good of the HFT world suddenly being asked to help persuade the cows to move on to a different corner of their field.
If you are using a new venue or opening up a new section of your grounds for the first time, it pays to check whether any footpaths, bridleways or other public rights of way run close to the area you are intending to use.
On the subject of wildlife that you don’t want to get “up-close-and personal” with, last winter was a very mild one and so this summer has been a particularly bad one for ticks. If there is a prevalence of ticks in your woods, be sure to make competitors aware of this at the safety brief on the day (as well as marshals and those involved with setting out and clearing away the course) and tell everyone to check themselves carefully for these insects – Lyme’s Disease is particularly unpleasant. Weil’s Disease is potentially worse (it can even fatal in some cases), and is usually transmitted by the urine of infected rats or the water that they have swum in. If your shoot is taking place near water (especially lakes or ponds), be sure to make shooters aware of the risk and advised to take appropriate precautions.
Even if you know your grounds like the back of your hand, it’s always worth a walk around them a week or so prior to the big day. Have a good look to see if there are any potential hazards such as trees or branches that might have been weakened during recent high winds and could fall on competitors if not lopped or cut down before the event, any areas that have become particularly muddy and slippery, keep an eye out for things such as wasps and ants nests that could be disturbed by shooters and plan your course so as to avoid them.
Take a few moments to check that your club’s insurance is in place, up to date, and provides adequate cover. Are the premiums fully paid up? It’s all too easy to assume that all is well, when in fact the policy renewal notice is sat on the doormat of the club secretary who is off on a 6 week extended holiday visiting the grand kids in Australia. If the premium is overdue, then you are not covered!
Every club should have one, and it should be written down and available for all club members to read. It’s worth taking time out each year for 2 or 3 members of your club to go through it and check that it is up to date and covers all the activities that your club is likely to undertake in the forthcoming 12 months. If the worst should happen, one of the first things the investigating authorities will ask to see is a written copy of the club safety policy, so it’s essential to check that one is in place well in advance of your shoot actually taking place.
Let’s have a look at a few of the things that you should consider in the run-up to a shoot actually taking place:
As with so many things in life, the secret to getting it right begins with a little bit of advance planning; time spent beforehand in preparing will not only help ensure that you run a safe shoot, it will also save you time on the day as well as helping things run more smoothly.
This month, we’re going to look at the factors and considerations that go into running your shoots safely. Naturally, these will vary according to the size and nature of your competition; there’s a lot more to put in place for an FT Grand Prix or a round of the UKAHFT National Series than say a Wednesday summer evening shoot for a dozen or so club members. Whatever the scale and size of your competition, the most important factor is the safety of all those taking part.
In the previous edition of CompAir we looked the responsibilities and liabilities that fall upon the shoulders of those of us who undertake the organising of shoots at club, regional and national level, and the subsequent ramifications if things were to go awry and the issue of negligence reared its head.
The butt appears to have plenty of adjustment
Welsh shooter Richard Beaugie in action with his Tsar
The trigger is adjustable for reach, height and rotation
The cheekpiece is small but provides the normal adjustments expected
Former World Champion Stuart Hancox puts the Tsar through it’s paces at the European Championships
Daystate are fitting their own muzzle brakes to the rifles
Sidelever loading
The adjustable fore end locks up solidly and easily and has a wide range of adjustment
The Daystate Tsar
So, on first impression, it’s very nice, a high level of fit and finish, highly predicable trigger, accurate, impressively dead and with more to come as the barrel shoots in. A welcome addition to the Daystate range and to the choice of factory FT rifles.
I had limited time on the course, but after putting together some clover leaf groups at 50 yards off the bench I moved to a 50 yard sitter. This was easily dispatched and the rifle was so still when releasing the shot that I was able to watch the pellet all the way to the target. This experience was repeated with every single shot. Kneeling and standing were both done at 35 yards and were straightforward, the balance of the rifle allowing easy placement of the supporting hand and the mass of it damping any wobbles, this allowed me to tame and control any sideways movement so that as I wandered across the kill I could release the shot the moment the crosshair was where I wanted it.
Accuracy is well up to FT standard, but as expected on such a new rifle equipped with a stainless steel barrel (remember, this is a first impression), it does need shooting in and so it does take a bit of wind at present. However, as has been seen in the past with the early stainless Steyr barrels, once all the sharp edges have worn off you can end up with a very accurate rifle. The adjustable hamster has the best mechanism I have used to date as the locking lever flicks open and closed with little effort. Once closed the hamster locks solid, which makes stock adjustment rapid and easy. The butt hook, hooks, and without breaking any of the owner’s adjustments, I was soon comfy and very stable.
The cheek piece is a delight, very abbreviated and with a near 90 degree shelf. Those the like to sink their face into a stock will not like it, those, like me who hang a cheekbone over the shelf will love it. The grip is also comfy and well positioned, and with all the available adjustability of grip and trigger you would have to try very hard not to find a position which suits you.
Picking up the Tsar and shouldering it you immediately notice that it is not a light rifle, but it is very well balanced, quite neutral and comfortable in all three FT positions. The trigger is a little heavy on the first stage, but nothing you can’t work with. The second stage breaks like glass, maybe a touch heavier than I prefer, but utterly predictable. The lock time is pretty fast, but more importantly the shot is released without any movement from the rifle, not a millimeter, all you hear is the report and a slight ringing from the metalwork long after the pellet has departed.
The action is a side lever type and although originally a pellet tray was originally fitted, this has now gone and the pellets thumb straight into the breech / barrel. The barrel is stainless and fully floated, and wears a muzzle brake manufactured and installed by Daystate. I was told by Rich that when fitted the brake showed a marked improvement in consistent accuracy. On these first examples there is a reduction in the diameter of the barrel as it exits the action, this is due to a common barrel being used by Ataman for several rifles. At the Midland Game Fair, Tony Belas told me that future production rifles will have a constant diameter barrel. There will also be a slightly different design of trigger, one which is capable of being adjusted to give outstanding feel and release characteristics, which is quite something given how good the present trigger is.
The Tsar has an unusual stock that I rather like the look of as it mimics modern metal match rifle lines but is made of blue laminate. At the back there is a pretty comprehensive butt hook which has a host of adjustments. The cheek piece is a small sharply angled design and which is again adjustable both for height and for the angle of the cheek shelf. The pistol grip has a small amount of forward and back movement as well as full rotational adjustment. The trigger is mounted on the now common rails so is adjustable both for left and right bias as well as reach. Lastly the fore end is mounted on a standard accessory rail with a height adjustable hamster.
The tie up between Daystate’s parent company and Ataman was announced at IWA earlier this year, since then I have been watching and waiting. I did get a hint of things to come when SWEFTA shooter Steve Franklin, a long time Daystate user, was seen trying an Ataman M2. At that time, I just assumed that at some point Daystate and sister company Brocock would start releasing Ataman rifles through there dealers, what I did not see coming was the Tsar, at least not until September 11th when Rich Beaugie came to a SWEFTA shoot at West Devon with the rifle you see here.
The release of a new rifle is always interesting, the release of a new FT rifle is noteworthy, the release of a new FT rifle with the name Daystate laser etched into the action is pretty headline grabbing as it is a long time since the company had a dedicated FT rifle in their lineup.
No birthday is complete without presents, and there was a whole host of prizes on offer at the raffle to celebrate Bisley’s anniversary
Just two of the many Bisley members who turned out for the club’s birthday celebrations and enjoyed an excellent day’s sport.
Both FT and HFT shooters joined in the fun
Bisley FTC boasts its own clubhouse, with a covered verandah that offered a welcome respite from the warm summer sunshine
For the speed shoot, Air Arms also pitched in with goody bags for the fastest times (an impressive 29-ish seconds took top slot on the day). Without exception, everyone who attended the celebrations left having thoroughly enjoyed themselves - chatting all day about airguns with like-minded people, catching up with members they hadn’t seen for ages, and coming up with new and interesting reasons why they could have done better in the day’s competitions. As one of the foremost clubs in the UK, Bisley FTO has a long, distinguished, and proud heritage, and judging by what the committee and the members put on to celebrate the first 25 years, the next quarter of a century looks as though it will every bit as good.
Air Arms are one of those companies that not only produce absolutely first rate air guns and associated bits of kit for shooters, Claire West and her team are always keen to put something back into the sports of FT and HFT. Bisley’s big day was no exception and Air Arms once again pitched in to help the Club with their celebrations by bringing along their highly popular speed shoot, a couple of their new Galahad rifles, and a specially engraved BFTO 25th Anniversary S400 for the top prize in the raffle. If you didn’t walk away with one of the plethora of prizes that were on offer in the raffle, then there were specially-commissioned BFTO 25th Anniversary engraved tankards (complete with a bottle of beer to christen it with!) for the winners of the FT, HFT, Pistol HFT, CO2 Ratcatcher and Vintage rifle categories.
As if this wasn’t enough, just for fun there were side shoots of with vintage bell targets and playing card cutting, where the cards are set edge on at 8 yards! The queues for both these shoots was always quite long, with lots of repeat visitors keen to test their mettle. Wherever you were on Bisley FTO grounds that day, you always knew when there had been a successful shot resulting in another playing card biting the dust by the huge cheer that erupted on the firing line.
After signing-in had been completed and everyone had been given their special commemorative 25th anniversary pin badges, sew-on patches, and free burger voucher, the real business of the day got started with a welcome speech and safety brief before competitors headed off to see what was in store for them. There was a 40 shot woodland course consisting of the first 20 targets set to FT rules and the second 20 set to HFT rules; shooters had the choice of shooting all 40 or just the 20 of the discipline of their choosing. There was also a 15 shot pistol HFT course also set in the woodland area, which doubled up as the course for the vintage rifles and CO2 rat-catchers. Yes, you read that correctly - a pistol HFT course being shot with vintage air rifles, all pre-1939 and with iron sights, as per club competition rules!
Those who turned out to mark the 25th anniversary ranged from some of the founding members right through to new members who had joined just a few weeks earlier. With glorious weather that wasn’t too hot and the occasional whisper of wind to keep shooters on their toes, conditions were near perfect for everyone to enjoy the day and all the various activities laid on for free by the club’s committee.
On August 14th, in a not-so-quiet corner of the world famous Bisley shooting ground, what was once just a small group of airgun enthusiasts got together to celebrate 25 years of the Bisley Field Target Organisation – together with nearly a hundred other current members!
There was the customary uphill shots to keep everyone happy
Kneeling rolls solved most of the problems
It’s up there somewhere
The standers were long and steep
The presentation on the opening night was of a very high standard
Packed in the oven
Attention to detail at the worlds was apparent everywhere
The conditions meant a few had a free ride in this
Kneeling lane prepped and ready to go
WFTF Marshals being sworn in
Serious courses demand serious preparation
Thursday saw competition proper day 1 start. Portugal itself was on form with sunny clear skies and high 20’s in the shade. As the day grew so did the temperature. The shooters were separated into two sessions with the PCP shooters going on first, and they’d alternate this arrangement for the next two days. This meant the PCP’s shooters would be cooked slowly in the rising morning temperatures rather than being thrown straight into the afternoon’s oven like the springer shooters expected to be. However, a series of delays had meant that the first session had started shooting late. With them pacing themselves in the heat and spending as much time as they could dealing with the fickle convection breezes, they finished later than many anticipated. By the time the springer shooters had fired their first shots it was past 3pm, and indeed a handful of shooters hadn’t completed the course by the time darkness fell.
So we got her back up to 785 fps and, and with a zero holding that held for more than 10 minutes, it was decided to call it a day and head back the next day to see how she held overnight. Steve’s V-Mach TX was displaying its usual consistency and hadn’t moved a jot and by now he’d finished his intensive tanning session and was in need of some more hydration. The next day was practice day proper, and from the heat of the day before the morning was somewhat cooler. I was apprehensive this could mean a change in power on my rifle. Steve wasn’t concerned about his. Both of us turned out to be correct. Mine started shooting high in the cooler temperatures, Steve’s remained solid. Concerned that mine might be heading over the competition limit, out came the toolkit again, filling up Rudi’s box with half the parts we’d removed the day before. I seemed to find a stable point by midday and we settled back into some further rehydration. By now though we’d actually started taking it seriously and beers were off the menu, until at least the evening. While all this had been going on, the Portuguese had been working tirelessly to ensure the courses were exactly as they could be. Having prepped the ground weeks before they’d been faced with some last minute issues which were impossible to predict, namely on a course which was seeing over 40 degrees, the sun had melted the plastic strings, these being replacements for the more appetizing fibres that the local rodents had already taken a liking to. With the opportunity open to all countries to check the course beforehand, for any technical issues or concerns, we were able to get grasp of what lay ahead for us. The course itself followed an S shaped path through woodland above the stadium. Lanes 1-5 were scrubland punctuated by small trees and openings which had creatively placed targets to make use of any breeze moving through the area. 6-10 were out in a far more exposed area against a distant meandering tree line making use of angles and shelter. 10-18 were more shielded by the hillside trees as they followed around a curve, but they gained elevation quickly away from the firing line to add to the challenge. Once you’d got used to that, the last of the course doubled back along the track with targets placed down the hillside at varying angles and exposure. Just walking the course told you that convection winds were going to be a pain swirling around, let alone if any actual strong breeze accompanied them. Coupled with the technical nature of the up and downhill shots, and the heat, this was certainly going to be a stiff test for anyone to master. Come the evening and it was the opening ceremony now firmly established as being part of the championships. Set in the 5 star Corinthian hotel in the centre of Lisbon this was a multi course meal prepared by a Michelin 2-star chef. FT has come a long way from shooting at paper targets at the back of a pub decades ago and this represented another evolution in the event and certainly puts it far ahead of a number of sporting world championship presentations. While the 300 plus guests tucked into their evening meal the tireless Sergio presented more information about the event, adorned left and right by sponsorship signage that many a motorsport team would be proud of.
In the afternoon it was time to do some warming up on the plinking range. Yeh, 40 degrees of warming up. Actually it wasn’t that bad, it was a dry heat. The shade temperature was only 30 degrees and by now with regular topping up with water, we were quite used to it, even in our shooting jackets. It did however give plenty a good excuse for a silly shorts and hat competition. Luckily everyone knew where the limit was and no socks/sandal combinations were observed. The shade of the marquee meant we could pick and choose how much to bake our kit to see how it performed in changing conditions. Having shot in hot temperatures I knew how my March scope coped. The gun however was acting up. A run through the chronograph showed the big drop I was seeing at 55 wasn’t my imagination and she was running 90 fps slower than in the UK. This prompted a team effort from the English spring shooters to source all sorts of parts and tools to see if we could get her back where we should be. Most came from Rudi’s spares supply, a box of seemingly inexhaustible capacity which rivalled Mary Poppin’s carpet bag. Rudi had also been helping out the German springer team with parts as well. It’s nice to see such sportsmanship even at the top level of competition.
Day 2 and we taxed ourselves mentally by hiring a car going for a drive, discovering along the way the Portuguese fascination for putting pedestrian crossings every 50 meters, even when there wasn’t actually a pavement to cross to. Having warmed the tyres up around the local one-way system several times we decided to put ourselves to the test and head into the city and do some gentle exercise, namely walking around exploring the numerous sights and sounds of Lisbon. This gave us a good idea of what it was like away from the pool and bar. Answer, hot and sunny. More intake of liquids was required upon our return to the hotel to make up for the day’s dehydration. With the first day of the comp now just two days away we thought really should go and have a look at the event we’d actually travelled for, otherwise there was the distinct danger we might not actually manage to break away from the side of the pool. First on the list, find the venue for the shoot, which was the national stadium. Easy, it was visible from our room. Originally the shooting ground used was supposed to be a lot closer, just a short walk. I wasn’t convinced that in the heat that even a short walk with a 20kg pelicase and rucksack was that desirable, but the decision about that was taken away anyway. The Portuguese government had ‘offered’ the grounds the other side of the national football stadium for the event and it was one of those ‘offers’ too that could not be refused. This meant the walk was a bit more like a short hike, so a car was needed. Well, sort of. Sergio, had laid on a private bus service which left our hotel every hour like clockwork and delivered shooters right to the plinking range. The national stadium next to it provided the perfect backdrop for the event, giving the organisation a good base to run all the ancillary services that go alongside an FT world championships these days. Things like stats many are used to, but an event this size needs power, light, storage, meeting rooms, etc. and a weatherproof base to conduct the shoot from. Booking-in was fast, simple and efficient and we picked up our sponsors goody bag and info pack and was all done in 20 minutes ready for plinking. The plinking range was just yards from the car park and there was a marquee to keep the sun off. This also housed stands from some of the sponsors, and more importantly air and water. But it wasn’t as if we were stranded, 50 yards away was a full catering truck with tables and chairs in the shade of the trees. Combined with the long line which could take the majority of shooters in one go we could really spend as much time as we wanted there in comfort, getting things right. Before I could get stuck in with the plinking I’d got the marshal’s course to attend. This set up by Brian Samson and the WFTF to establish the new marshalling regime and was intended to train marshals for WFTF competitions and to run courses back in their own countries to train up more for their home events. With the considerable work done by the WFTF committee on the rules over the past 18 months it was good to see the momentum carried forward to establish a core of marshals in agreement on how the rules should be implemented without getting entangled in forming the rules themselves.
Despite this being the 10th year of travelling the globe with an airgun I’m never settled until the gun is through customs and I’m in the hotel with it in still in one piece. Over the years we’ve developed tools to mitigate potential hiccups, we know what to pack and how, so everything is almost baggage handler proof. We know we need to read the airline’s T&C’s and to prepare the airline so they know they will have dozens turning up to travel with airguns. So it was quite disconcerting that, having been booked in for over 8 months, just 3 days before anyone was due to fly out, Portuguese airlines started asking for our firearms licenses. Er, what licenses exactly? The next 48 hours saw the Portuguese and English FT reps speaking to all and sundry from the customer call centres of the airlines to officials buried deep with the organisations that rule the security measures in the sky like the CAA. After they had established there was no such paperwork needed to fly more wrangling was required to ensure everyone in the chain had actually spoken to each other and actually knew that. There’s nothing quite like a nice relaxing start to a competition to ease you in. The hard work done beforehand had made the travelling easy. This side we were given the equivalent of the red carpet as a gate was opened especially for us, ahead of the somewhat irked priority booking and premier class channels. Our guns were escorted off into the bowels of Heathrow airport, and a few hours later we landed ready for the second half. To prepare Portuguese customs the WFTF and Portuguese FT President had sent every point of entry a list of who was turning up when. After a bit of a wait for our rifles to arrive in the red channel in Lisbon, the guns passed the defacto international airgun inspection routine now seen the world over; namely a glance at some baffling paperwork (normally written in at least one language foreign to either party), the run of a finger down the action to find any letters or numbers that correlate vaguely with any paperwork and then the exchange of knowing looks between someone who didn’t know what they were looking at and someone who didn’t want to look like they knew that. After a day of travelling we then set around the important task of acclimatisation. The only things I really knew about Portugal was that it was at the end of Spain, it was sunny and hot. So day one was spent deep in preparation taking on fluids, at the bar and cooling ourselves down, in the pool.
Red was laid back all the way through
The trees provide a clue to the wind
320 shooters all packed in 1
Over 300 shooters from over 30 countries
Team England back on the top step twice in one night
Kings of Spring
No1 in the world
WFTF Masters award
Just some of what was on offer
Josh on the way to victory
FT is truly global now
Sergey in full concentration
A prophecy?
Smiles all around
Rons shows age is no barrier for some
Jack was impressive non stop
Toy story is wants their hat back
Medic!
A day or so to get over the event was desirable before returning home. But the attention to detail and service didn’t stop there. Even though the airlines were well prepared, Sergio escorted the visitors right into the customs area to ensure there was a smooth transit home. And as opposed to last year where we had to leave the airport without our rifles, we all got home safe and sound. Luckily 2017 means we don’t have to travel far, and with the registration opening at the end of October, booking a hotel and getting into a car is probably as difficult as it gets for me next year… unless I decide to shoot springer again that is. Wales awaits.
But if he isn’t there, despite Welsh being on home ground, there will be a good selection of visitors who will also be pushing the field. This has to be the first time that there were 10 different countries represented in the top 10 of the individual event. South Africa were notably absent from that line up but their team pushed England all the way after falling just 4 shots behind on day one. Wales having suffered the loss of Dorian ‘Doz’ Falconer on day 2, who was one of a few who visited hospital with suspected heat exposure, recouped with the strongest score of day 3 to bring themselves from way down the leader board and into 3rd place. In the springer teams England finally did what they’d set out to do ever since the loss of Paul James, which was to put the springer team on the top step. Down on day one against their rivals Lithuania who had bested them on home ground in the year previous the team clawed back most of the gap on day 2 and simply left the entire field behind on day 3 by over 10 shots. However, despite the strong collective team performance England didn’t have it all their own way. Matt Brackett suffered in the last day’s ever stiffening breeze which saw as much bravery required to go down the throat as it did to come off plate a target later. Brian Samson also had his charge from day 2 stifled by conditions but did just enough to put himself into 3rd place ahead of Matt. As the shooters came down off the hill everyone was trying to work out the maths but their heat addled brains could only work out there was two left in with the chance of the lead, Steve Privett, last year’s champion, and Aleksas Jaunius, last year’s 3rd place man. Steve did everything he could having recovered from his day 2’s illness and he put in the top springer score of the session, the same as Sergey’s score with a PCP. However, although Aleksas was just one shot behind he’d done enough on the two previous days and ended up 2 shots ahead of Steve. Lithuania had again put a man on the top spot and Aleksas had turned his previous two 3rd places from the last two championships into his much desired 1st place. All this and more was celebrated in fine style back at the Corinthian and with over 30,000 euros worth of sponsorship prizes to hand out the awards ceremony went on in till the small hours. A nice touch, amongst many, was the medal design which was modelled on the characteristic Jon Harris side wheels synonymous with FT.
Ferenc and Vincenzo seemed to suffer in the tougher conditions and dropped back down to 5th and 6th respectively. Following his strong day 2 with a strong day three was enough to see Wales’ Mark Bassett in yet another top 10 worlds finish, just beaten into 3rd place by Andy Calpin in another shootoff. Sergey was overshadowed by Jack Harris who overtook the entire field missing just 4 targets and putting himself in first place by two clear targets. At this level it’s hard to separate the skill displayed by the shooters as all the top 10 had missed just 20 targets out of a very testing 150. Jack has had a number of top titles over the past few years, and as much as there’s a difference between winning and repeatedly winning, there’s also a big difference between winning repeatedly and winning exactly when it’s seemingly most important to do so. Although Sergey and Jack swapped places from last year we should remind ourselves that Sergey has placed in the top 3 in the last 3 world championships he’s attended which means if he travels to Wales for 2017 he is likely to give Jack a good run for his money around Jack’s home ground.
Sergey put down 49 of the targets placing him in the overall lead for the two days. Just a slip of concentration, allowing him to go a turn out, prevented him a clearance. Conor McFlynn joined him on one shy of a clear. Conor having aimed for an edge split at 49 yards to maximise the windage possible found that’s exactly what he got. But with an uncharacteristically disastrous day before which saw him miss 14 he was well out of the running. Vincenzo had a strong second day to see him running one shot behind Sergey, and Andy Calpin sat in third place one behind him. That story continued right down the field and it was clear that it would be a pressure shoot for the title and places on day 3. Normal weather had resumed for the morning PCP session but just as the shooters were under the most pressure and needed the most amount of help the wind had stiffened considerably. As it blew around the meandering course it created havoc and it took a strong resolve to keep battling against it. One by one shooters fell away but Spain’s Rafael Villa Guerrero, Hungary’s András Fekete-Móró and Belgium’s Yoeri Bussé all had firm finishes which put them inside the top 10, but not as strong as Conor Mcflynn who despite having fallen far on the first day managed to claw his way back and use the momentum to despatch all three of them in a shoot off to take 7th place. He finished just 6 shots behind the lead.
Day 1 was a mixed bag with no one really stating an emphatic claim to the title. Favourites Sergey Zubenko, Jack Harris and Andrew Calpin were tied on 44, but Ferenc Sas from Hungary and Italy’s Vincenzo Maccarone were leading the field on 45. The springers would have to wait for the morning to complete their course. As we rose before sunrise we could see that an early start could be a problem, not only could we not see the stadium from our balcony due to mist, upon arrival we still couldn’t even see from one side of it to the other. Given the change of conditions it was decided that the springer shooters would finish the remaining targets from day 1 after their scheduled day 2 session in the morning. This meant that the no one really knew how the springer leader board looked until after that had been completed. As it turned out USA’s Matt Brackett lead the springers, his superb 44 from day 2 adding to the joint lead of 36 from the day before. England’s Brian Samson also had put down 44 on day 2, but was one shot behind due to his day 1 score. Lithuania’s Aleksas Jaunius was one behind Brian, but England’s Steve Privett having shared lead honours from the first day had dropped back a few shots. Day 2’s conditions continued to change hour by hour and by midday the early morning mist had burnt off in the sun, the humidity staying in the calm winds. Not surprisingly this lifted the PCP scores in comparison to day 1.
Sunday 19th March 2017 Nomads HFT Club Berrow Green, Martley, Worcs WR6 6PL
Sunday 12th February 2017 Misfits HFTC Digby Farm, Station Road, North Luffenham, Rutland LE15 8LF
Sunday 15th January 2017 Thurlaston Target Club Normanton Shooting Ground, Earl Shilton Road, Thurlaston, Leicester LE9 7TG
Sunday 11th December 2016 Furnace Mill Fisheries Wyre Forrest, Rock, Nr. Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY14 8NR
Sunday 6th November 2016 Loughborough Airgun Club Little Moor Lane, Loughborough LE11 1SF
Sunday 9th October 2016 Lincs HFT Club Hill Side Farm, Somerton Gate Lane, Waddington, Lincoln LN5 9TA
The dates for the 2016/2017 rounds have now been agreed and finalised:
James Mclachlan took first place in the Open Class of last year’s Daystate Midland Hunters Series
The final round sees a very healthy selection of prizes up for grabs - including a rifle donated by the Series sponsor, Daystate
Mud, Snow, Wind, us HFTers are a dedicated bunch
If you wish, you can put your name down in advance and keep an eye on session times and any announcements relating to the Series on the Shooting The Breeze website forum. So if you enjoy a spot of HFT and are looking for a way to get out in the fresh air this winter (rather than getting roped in to redecorating the back bedroom or anything else equally horrendous on that long list of jobs that you were far too busy to get done whilst you were out shooting all through the summer!), then the Daystate Midland Hunter Series could be the answer to your prayers.
Entry fees per round are £8 for adults and £6 for juniors, with £1 going into a “Bonus Bunny” draw at each round. Booking-in is normally from 9:00am, with the safety brief at 10:15am.
The 2016/17 series includes a new venue this year, with round 4 being hosted by the Thurlaston Target Club, located at the Normanton Shooting Ground in Thurlaston, Leicester. This will be my first time at Thurlaston Target Club, and I’m very keen to see what it has to offer. The Series has gained a reputation for being really well-organised and great fun to take part in, with each venue offering a range of very different challenges. The one thing that you can guarantee about shooting in this country in the winter is the weather, and I’m taking my son Liam along for his first taste of the Daystate Midland Hunters Series – it will be interesting to see how he handles the wet and muddy conditions!
Series sponsors Daystate are also kindly putting up one of their fine rifles as the top prize in the raffle that is held at the final round, along with a whole host of other goodies that are up for grabs. Not that any additional incentive to take part is required, but to be in with a chance to win the rifle, you’ll need to have taken part in at least 4 of the six rounds.
In recent years, the Daystate Midland Hunter Series has grown in popularity amongst shooters, drawing competitors not only from the 6 host clubs but also further afield. CompAir’s very own Jon Oakley will be contesting it, and takes a look at what it offers to help keep those winter blues at bay… The Series runs over 6 rounds, each being held at a different venue across The Midlands, with a shooter’s best 4 scores counting towards his/her overall final position. The competition is run to UKAHFT rules, with medals awarded at each round, and overall trophies in each category after the final round.
I want to win every major title in FT so every trophy you look will have my name on it. Also, I want to win more major titles than any other shooter. And if that doesn’t happen, my wish is everyone enjoys themselves as much as I do when shooting.
What else do you wish to achieve in FT? What goals and ambitions remain for you?
Over the next few seasons we must keep an eye on Red Gallagher and Josh Vaughan, two young lads who’ve already established themselves as top FT shooters. I think these two lads have got the gift.
Of the current crop of up-and-coming FT shooters, who would you tip as the ones to watch over the next few seasons?
I think FT is going to grow a lot in the next five years. For many people, it’s going to get very difficult to even book into shoots in my opinion.
Where do you see our sport going over the next few years?
I wouldn’t change any format of FT as I think pretty much every shoot is run well. But I would probably scrap kneeling altogether.
If you ran things in the FT world, are there any elements of the sport that you would change? (rules, format, etc.)
The worst part is all the politics which I try to stay away from.
What’s the worst bit of FT today?
The best part of FT for me is the car journey to and from competitions with my best mates, Craig and Chubbs. But in the shooting part of things I love the competition and get a massive buzz when I win.
For you, what are the best bits about FT? Which shoots do you enjoy the most?
I got my Air Arms EV2 when I started shooting FT and that’s what I use now along with my trusty big Nikko. I haven’t got any gadgets or anything to help me, I just have it set up correctly.
What rifle and scope do you currently use? Anything particular on the set up?
I started shooting when I was 13, hunting rabbits etc. with a .22 Air Arms S200. When I was 14 I then got an Air Arms S400 and started doing a little HFT. When I was 15 I moved into FT.
How long have you been shooting for, and what got you into FT?
The club has its own dedicated area for prone and kneeling shots
The Black Cats ground is proving popular with shooters from other clubs
Wurz’s dog checks out the 30 target HFT course
Len Smith with his new Rat Works Ranger
A bacon sarnie and a brew are a must before getting down to business
Davy Thomas (left) with fellow Club members Charlie Harman, Nigel Goz, Roger James, & Martin Hills
Getting down to business on the plinking and zeroing range
A warm welcome and a cracking plinking range come as standard at the Black Cats HFT Club
Join the Black Cats group on Facebook
The club’s opening hours are every Wednesday afternoon, from Noon until dusk, every Saturday from10am until 5pm/dusk, and every other Sunday from 10am until 2pm, starting October 2nd 2016. Also, in the near future, the club will also be opening an indoor 6yard/10meter range for sub 6ft.lbs target rifles and pistols. I have had the pleasure to shoot with all of the Black Cats members at other shoots, and can honestly say you won’t meet a nicer bunch of lads, and am delighted to see what they have created on their home ground. If you find yourself in the area, it’s well worth paying a visit – you won’t be disappointed!
As we finished off the day with a warming brew, Davy very kindly invited me to enter a team at their forthcoming Dave Debaye Memorial Shoot – watch this space for a full report on how we fared. You can shoot at Black Cats HFT ground in one of two ways, either as a club member - adults £90 per annum (or £10 a month for 10 months), juniors £60 per annum (or £7 a month for 10 months). Alternatively, day tickets are available at a cost of £8 for adults and £6 for juniors.
First off, I needed to spend a few moments checking the zero on my Goldstar, having recently changed the mounts. Something that I particularly appreciated about the “Cats” plinking range was that the guys have set out numerous boards at all of the distances, so whatever your chosen point of zero you can easily check it. 10 shots later and my gun was good to go, but before heading off I just had to have a play with my son Liam’s BSA Ultra that had just undergone a stage 2 tune-up at AirTech. Suffice to say that I was absolutely delighted with the results, and you can read all about the work that was undertaken by Carl at AirTech in a separate article in this edition. So what does the Black Cats’ ground offer shooters? Well, the HFT course is laid out in a beautiful woodland setting, with open fields beyond the tree line offering all sorts of target placement possibilities in terms of range-traps and making cunning use of whatever breeze there might be. Suffice to say, it was a real pleasure to shoot the course and, with Black Cats HFT Club set to host a round of this winter’s Central Southern HFT Winter League competition in March next year, many more shooters will have the chance to experience this new venue.
Black Cats HFT Club is located within the Black Cat Archery woodland site near East Swindon, just 15 minutes from Junction 15 on the M4. On arrival, we parked up, were met by Davy in front of the very nice club house, and were ushered inside for a brew and a chat before being shown around the grounds. Directly in front of the club house is a 55 yard plinking and zeroing range, with a multitude of reset/knockdown targets, zero boards and bell targets to have a shoot at. Precise distances are clearly marked down the right hand side of the range, so you can readily check your zero and aim points prior to a competition. To the right hand side of the range is a dedicated positional shooting area – very handy for those needing to brush up on the dreaded standing and kneeling shots. Off to the left hand side of the plinking range is the area where the HFT course starts, continuing on into the woods but the Black Cats course setters frequently throw in a few targets positioned out in the adjacent fields, the perfect setting for some nasty range traps.
In a previous edition of CompAir I dropped a not-so-subtle hint that an invitation to visit the Black Cats HFT Club near Swindon would be most welcome – step forward Mr Davy Thomas, who immediately got in touch and fixed up a date for me to come and check out what this newly-formed club offers its members. Davy had been instrumental in helping set up Black Cats, and so no-one was better placed than he to bring me up to speed with how the Club has developed in a relatively short space of time.
Nick Hopkinson showed the rest of the .22 shooters how it should be done, coming in with a score of 51
Tugg took the first place honours in the Open Class, finishing with a superb 58
The MAD Men were at it again at Cambridge, taking top slot in the team competition once more
Another piece of silverware for Tom Willingham in the 14-16 Juniors Category
Goodness only knows what that Chillingworth chap is up to here!
The sport of HFT attracts a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds…
Best not to ask…
A very happy Jill Cochrane resets Target 4
The course at Cambridge made good use of the open field beyond the usual wooded area - taking full advantage of the wind (the devious gits!)
Theresa Reed topped the Ladies Class, whilst Lee Anderson was the best of the springer shooters, and Mike Isaac was 2 points clear of second place Bill Chaplin in the Veterans Category. The final showdown is at Emley Moor, which hosts what promises to be a close-fought double-header on the 15th and 16th October.
After a tough start to the 2016 season, it was great to see Colin “Tugg” Wilson fresh from his overall victory at the recent RSN10 Air Arms Memorial Shoot down in East Sussex a few weeks earlier just pip James McLachlan to first place in the Open Class. Ewan Pantling and Tom Willingham took home the silverware in the 2 Junior categories, whilst it was especially pleasing to see Scotland’s Nick Hopkinson take top honours in the .22 Class by some margin – especially as Cambridge HFT Club has a very strong contingent of very proficient “large calibre” shooters amongst its ranks.
The host club’s job of rising to this challenge was admittedly made a little bit easier by the conditions on the day (enough wind to make the course interesting, but not so much as to reduce the shoot to a complete lottery) – any ground can prove extremely challenging in strong winds, but none more than Cambridge with its woods surrounded by flat, open fields and farmland. In fact, the guys had taken the course out into the field area behind the main area of woodland that most of their club shoots are held in, giving competitors a challenging mix of wind direction and strength. The course-setters had obviously also been very thorough in their preparations, as witnessed by the very few stoppages throughout both sessions – or maybe there was more realistic “self-assessment of talent” amongst the competitors that day, with fewer targets being called?
Herein lies the challenge for the host clubs and their course-setters – how to lay out a course that will sufficiently test the very shots, but at the same time not be so impossibly difficult as to deter new shooters. Cambridge HFT Club seemed to get the balance just about right when they recently hosted Round 7 of the national series, putting out a course that wasn’t cleared by anyone but was also one that gave hope and encouragement to newbies instead of leaving them downcast and disheartened as they made their journeys home.
Whilst the UKAHFT Series is very much seen as the pinnacle of the sport here in the UK, attracting the country’s top shots it should never be forgotten that it is also a showcase for HFT and therefore should also appeal to those who are new to the sport.
Barbara Pearce collects her 1st Place Ladies Class trophy from Air Arms’ Claire West
A surprised and delighted Pat Fitzgerald took top slot in the .22 Class
The Chuckle Brothers got photo-bombed by Biggles
Air Arms also lay on lunch, as well as afternoon tea and cake for all the competitors. Meon Valley’s Don Vickers made sure he was first in line
The Air Arms Shoot is one of the must-do events in many peoples’ calendars - including 2015 HFT World Champion Vince Holland
CompAir’s publisher Kevin McMenamin decided that the RSN 10 Memorial Shoot would be his first proper HFT competition
As someone who runs his own business, it was great to see Air Arm’s Claire West spending her Sunday mingling, chatting and engaging with the competitors – what a great way to meet your customers! Best of all, Air Arms ensured that the whole day had a feeling of spending time and having fun with like-minded friends, rather than turning it into a big corporate sales opportunity. Hats off to overall winner, Colin Wilson with a mightily impressive score of 93, a real display of skill and mental concentration. And me? Well, I’ve definitely caught the HFT bug! I suspect that the only cure is to go and buy my own rifle a rifle and join a club. But which rifle? Is it to be the Air Arms S400 or the maybe the Weirauch HW100? Based on the excellent reputation of the S400 and helpfulness of the Air Arms team that were there, I think I know which way I am already leaning towards.
Another aspect of the day that struck me was that the event was open to shooters of all abilities; there were previous world champions shooting side-by-side with novices such as myself and youngsters. I got a real sense of camaraderie amongst the participants, and I ended the day having made a whole load of new friends – a wide range of people from widely differing backgrounds and real world jobs, but all of whom have a common interest in target shooting. The willingness from near-professional shooters to help other competitors was also amazing to see, happy to share their knowledge with tips and advice to assist fellow shooters improve their game. My other impressions of the day include how I have started to gain an understanding of the high degree of skill and technique that the guys at the top of their game possess, and a new-found respect for those shooters who can consistently figure in the top placings. I was also amazed at the wide array of rifles, scopes and other bits of kit that competitors used. I also loved the format of two completely different courses being shot that day, each giving fresh and new challenges in terms of trying to gauge and assess distance, wind, and elevation.
Many of the targets were very challenging for a novice, some were positioned high up in trees, some were behind pallets, whilst others were on the other side of lakes. Different shapes and sizes, including squirrels, fish, hawks, lollipops, spiders webs, rooks, rats, and so on. If HFT is supposed to replicate quarry that would be shot in a hunting environment, I don’t know how many people would deliberately have a go at spider’s webs - are they pests or edible quarry? I’m not sure why, but I just hadn’t been expecting to see parents out with their sons and daughters all taking part together. It was fantastic to see this as in today’s anti-gun culture, the majority of people probably think that air rifle shooting is dangerous and no youngster should be allowed near one. In my view, it is irresponsible people who are dangerous, and taking part in a well-organised and safe activity such as HFT with its through safety procedures, training and advice on how to shoot can instil a sense of discipline and respect at an early stage in life – values that will stand young people in good stead as they progress through to adulthood.
Only 2 doughnuts in the morning session on Red Course - the spiders web (if it was solid I would have hit it!) and the rat at 40 yards. I did manage to nail a very thin lollipop which required me to aim way left of the edge of the plate as the wind was quite strong, though taking aim at fresh air is something I discovered doesn’t come naturally! With my beginner’s level of ability and with still much to learn, I felt that the standing positional shots are just a matter of luck for me. I did hear some people say they have a go as they are coming down on the target, but my approach seemed to be more a question of the barrel waving around from side to side, then squeezing the trigger at what seemed like a good moment and hoping I’d make contact with something metal….thankfully, I plated all standing shots.
Driving over to East Sussex with a couple of seasoned campaigners on the HFT circuit, I had the opportunity to ponder what I had let myself in for. Yes, I‘d previously taken part in a couple of club/fun HFT shoots, but this would be my first time competing in a “proper” competition with trophies and prizes – and enormous opportunities to make a bit of a prat of myself if I messed up in front of most of the HFT world. As I don’t have my own rifle, I had the loan of an Air Arms S400 with a Viper Connect scope atop of it, but the Air Arms shoot would be the first time I had used it without my previous mentors who had been there in the past to guide me round the course, answer any questions and ensure that no-one nearby came to any harm. So little more than a passing understanding of the principles of HFT shooting, the UKAHFT rules and a thorough briefing about safety procedures, I headed off to my allotted peg with a slightly nervous but positive attitude … “just hit the black dot” - IF I could manage to see it through the scope! In fact all the new terminology does take a little getting used to…a plate, plinking, mil-dot, hold-over, hold-under, prone, kill zone, doughnut; my vocabulary has grown considerably. It was a relief to just plate the first three targets, and then I knocked one over, and then another. At the start of the day, I would have been happy just to hit the face plate, but flushed with this early success my competitive streak woke up and started to add its two ha’pence worth to the day’s proceedings. I found myself starting to tut and snarl each time I got a plate when I had fully expected to bag the full 2 points – I even found myself starting to get picky about which pellet to be load, and would carefully study each one for any defects and discard any mis-shapen ones.
We all know that HFT is highly addictive, but it’s easy to forget how it was for us when we first got started and what it was like to enter our first HFT competition. With this in mind and keen to find out how our sport is perceived by newcomers, we dragged Kevin McMenamin, the publisher of CompAir magazine, out of his luxury, top floor, executive suite of offices, stuck a stout pair of boots on his feet, togged him out in some waterproofs, and sent him off to Fletching to take part in the Air Arms RSN 10 Memorial Shoot at Northlands Farm…
Then, send your pictures into us here at CompAir - admin@compair.online, and we’ll share them with the rest of the FT/HFT world in a future edition of the magazine. Who knows, we might even award our own tacky trophy for the winner, as well as giving everyone cause to question why you are still holding on to such monstrosities…
Amongst my own personal collection is a fairly innocuous-looking wooden plaque with the club badge on it; all good so far…..until your read the engraving that announces to the world that it was awarded for 13th place in the club’s annual overall league. As if only managing 13th place in 2012 was bad enough, being given a trophy to commemorate this sad and sorry fact is even worse!
Now, whilst there are some very impressive and pleasing trophies that you are delighted to take home with you, there at others that are at completely the opposite end of the scale. You know there ones that we’re talking about here – the absolute munters that live in a cardboard box up in the loft, the ones that were designed and put together with no regard for style or beauty, the plastic horrors that your darling spouse or partner would not let you put on display on your mantelpiece (even if your own total lack or taste and decency meant that you wanted to show them off).
We are all aware how much fun Field Target and HFT can be, especially on those days when your shoot at the top of your game, everything falls into place, and at the end of the afternoon your name is one of those called out to come and collect a well-earned trophy.
Whether it’s to let us know about what’s going on in your area or at your local club, or maybe let us have your thoughts about what you’d like to see featured in future issues of CompAir, all you have to do is drop us an Email or contact us via our Facebook Page.
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