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Thread: Equipment for FT

  1. #1
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    Equipment for FT

    I'm new to HFT but enjoying getting to grips with it. Would I be able to use the same set up for FT or do folks normally have specific gear for each? (My set up is an AA S400 with an MTC Viper Connect scope)

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Essarem View Post
    I'm new to HFT but enjoying getting to grips with it. Would I be able to use the same set up for FT or do folks normally have specific gear for each? (My set up is an AA S400 with an MTC Viper Connect scope)
    The rifle would be fine but the scope you have is for HFT. The rule of thumb for accurate rangefinding in FT is that you need at least 32 mag. Most FT scopes are 50 mag and range from a few hundred quid to 3k plus. The reason for the price difference is because rangefinding in FT is only as accuate as the optics will allow. The sidewheel is turned and when the target becomes clear you read off the range mark that is normally pre-set up and written on the sidewheel by the shooter. If your optics won't give a sharp image during rangefinding then you could be up to 5 yards out and hence miss. That's whay it's common for a FT scope to cost more than the rifle.

    There are cheaper FT starter scopes around and some decent ones can be bought second hand but please be wary and make sure you have an experienced FT shooter you if purchasing SH. Excess wear (known as backlash) in the sidewheel will ruin your rangefinding, Also scopes do vary with manufacturing tolerances for example a Nikko diamond Mk3 will vary from scope to scope but on the whole are acceptable for FT. What you need to do is find one that is from the upper end of the manufacturing tolerances and i'm afraid only an experienced FT shooter can spot those sorts of differences.

    Are you a member of a club?...maybe Rivi?

    Edit. For more FT shooters join the forum shootingthebreeze
    Chairman Emley Moor F.T.C. 2023 - Misfits champ, HFT extreme champ, NEFTA hunter champ, Midlands Hunter champ, UKAHFT champ.
    https://sites.google.com/site/emleymoorftc/contact-us

  3. #3
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    I have never shot FT, but I do shoot HFT and am a bit confused by this.

    I've had a quick look at some rules and FT seems to be:
    - smallest kill zone = 15mm to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kill zones to a maximum of 35 yards
    - all other kill zones between 40 and 45mm

    HFT generally:
    - 15mm kills to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kills to a maximum of 35 yards
    - maximum kill zone 45mm

    (I've ignored positional shots obviously)

    So apart from FT going out to 55 yards instead of HFT 45 yards. I can't see how someone with an HFT setup wouldn't do half bad. You just need to learn you extra aim points from 45 to 55y and then range find the same as you would round an HFT course, using holdover instead of adjusting scope (and learn to sit instead of go prone).

    Am I way off the mark here? Like I said, I don't shoot FT

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisC View Post
    The rifle would be fine but the scope you have is for HFT. The rule of thumb for accurate rangefinding in FT is that you need at least 32 mag. Most FT scopes are 50 mag and range from a few hundred quid to 3k plus. The reason for the price difference is because rangefinding in FT is only as accuate as the optics will allow. The sidewheel is turned and when the target becomes clear you read off the range mark that is normally pre-set up and written on the sidewheel by the shooter. If your optics won't give a sharp image during rangefinding then you could be up to 5 yards out and hence miss. That's whay it's common for a FT scope to cost more than the rifle.

    There are cheaper FT starter scopes around and some decent ones can be bought second hand but please be wary and make sure you have an experienced FT shooter you if purchasing SH. Excess wear (known as backlash) in the sidewheel will ruin your rangefinding, Also scopes do vary with manufacturing tolerances for example a Nikko diamond Mk3 will vary from scope to scope but on the whole are acceptable for FT. What you need to do is find one that is from the upper end of the manufacturing tolerances and i'm afraid only an experienced FT shooter can spot those sorts of differences.

    Are you a member of a club?...maybe Rivi?

    Edit. For more FT shooters join the forum shootingthebreeze
    Thanks for advice and I think I need to get to grips with HFT first! Yes, I am a member of 2 clubs - Oakleaf HFT and Rivi so I have some knowledgeable folks to listen to

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooper_dan View Post
    I have never shot FT, but I do shoot HFT and am a bit confused by this.

    I've had a quick look at some rules and FT seems to be:
    - smallest kill zone = 15mm to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kill zones to a maximum of 35 yards
    - all other kill zones between 40 and 45mm

    HFT generally:
    - 15mm kills to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kills to a maximum of 35 yards
    - maximum kill zone 45mm

    (I've ignored positional shots obviously)

    So apart from FT going out to 55 yards instead of HFT 45 yards. I can't see how someone with an HFT setup wouldn't do half bad. You just need to learn you extra aim points from 45 to 55y and then range find the same as you would round an HFT course, using holdover instead of adjusting scope (and learn to sit instead of go prone).

    Am I way off the mark here? Like I said, I don't shoot FT
    Off the mark only in as much as there's going to be a lot of targets in that 45-55 yards area, where your trajectory becomes increasingly parabolic.

    There's nothing wrong with shooting an FT course with less mag'. In fact you could do well even on the long targets, by i.e. rangefinding by bracketing.

    The only reason folks use all the specialised, weird, exotic and expensive kit - is to score a few more points than they would without it - hopefully!

  6. #6
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    Rickenbacker, that makes sense. Shooting HFT I've found that there aren't too many targets out at 45. I wasn't sure if FT was similar, where the course setter tries to make you think a target is maximum range, when it's actually 5 yards closer.

    I've had a couple of practice goes around Purley Chase FT club, but shooting to HFT rules (i.e prone where possible). I definitely struggle with the longer shots!

    Very keen to give FT a go at some point though. All shooting is good shooting

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooper_dan View Post
    I have never shot FT, but I do shoot HFT and am a bit confused by this.

    I've had a quick look at some rules and FT seems to be:
    - smallest kill zone = 15mm to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kill zones to a maximum of 35 yards
    - all other kill zones between 40 and 45mm

    HFT generally:
    - 15mm kills to a maximum of 25 yards
    - 25mm kills to a maximum of 35 yards
    - maximum kill zone 45mm

    (I've ignored positional shots obviously)

    So apart from FT going out to 55 yards instead of HFT 45 yards. I can't see how someone with an HFT setup wouldn't do half bad. You just need to learn you extra aim points from 45 to 55y and then range find the same as you would round an HFT course, using holdover instead of adjusting scope (and learn to sit instead of go prone).

    Am I way off the mark here? Like I said, I don't shoot FT
    Pretty much spot on Dan. In the NEFTA region we have a SFT (Sporting Field Target) class where you shoot a standard HFT rig, in the sitting position and you're allowed to adjust your PX settings for that lane (2 targets in a lane). Course setters will put a 15mm at approx 20 yards along with a 50+ yarder on the same lane so that a SFT shooter has to decide which one he wants to see clear. You are allowed to shoot prone but there's no peg and you must shoot off your elbows with no part of the rifle touching the ground which isn't very stable. When i shoot SFT i find the wind for the extra 10 yards to be difficult to read, my killsize bracketing isn't too bad especially as most targets will be FT 40mm kills. It's a good test and a lot of fun, espacially when you're having a good shoot and the FT shooter you're with is desperate not to be beaten.

    If you fancy giving it a go then please feel free to pop up to one of the WL shoots. There's one this Sunday and if you give me a bit of notice i can arrange for us to shoot round together so you get to know the ropes. Drop me a PM mate if you fancy it.......next Sunday is at Pontefract air rifle club but the closest shoot for you might be the Anston (South Sheffield) round on the 7th Jan.
    Chairman Emley Moor F.T.C. 2023 - Misfits champ, HFT extreme champ, NEFTA hunter champ, Midlands Hunter champ, UKAHFT champ.
    https://sites.google.com/site/emleymoorftc/contact-us

  8. #8
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    Sorry Chris, I replied to this but it must have got lost in the forum changes.
    It was along the lines of, thank you very much for your offer. I've got so much on at the moment it will be hard to get to many other shoots. But I've put the paul james recoiling and the classic in my diary and will be attending those

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