HFT Guns what should be allowed?

[Feral]

There's no way I'd treat my hunting guns like my HFT rifle or even consider using them in some of the conditions the Walthers come out to play in! I feel a letter to the editor coming on!

Ryan

When I read the offending letter a couple of weeks ago my first thought was 'I wonder if Ryan is going to be writing in to point out his Walthers get carted up hill and down dale'

actually it was my second, my first thought was 'Not this old chestnut again'

Good post Nicky!


Atb

Cliff

[Enthusiast]

I think it is great that someone with an S200 can compete against someone with say, a Steyr and have more than a fighting chance. Some people actually like this sort of thing

Human nature being what it is, people will (in general) of course want posh kit, if they have the money, let 'em spend it on their hobby, say I! Good for the industry, good for the sport.

Richard

[Ali-C]

I think it is great that someone with an S200 can compete against someone with say, a Steyr and have more than a fighting chance. Some people actually like this sort of thing

So do I, the look on their face when you beat them with a twanger or an S200....Not that I ever have...Or ever will...

[Nemesis]

I must admit that, having bought heavily into the philosophy of Sporting Air Rifle prior to the advent of HFT, I used to look askance at competitors using FT rigs in a scenario intended to resemble hunting. These days, I've resigned myself to the death of the old SAR mindset and accepted that HFT has evolved. I am regularly beaten in club comps by a guy shooting a TX200 (and he takes most of his shots kneeling) and sometimes achieve better scores myself with an HW97 than I do with a PCP costing 3 times as much.

D.

[RobF]

I must admit that, having bought heavily into the philosophy of Sporting Air Rifle prior to the advent of HFT, I used to look askance at competitors using FT rigs in a scenario intended to resemble hunting. These days, I've resigned myself to the death of the old SAR mindset and accepted that HFT has evolved. I am regularly beaten in club comps by a guy shooting a TX200 (and he takes most of his shots kneeling) and sometimes achieve better scores myself with an HW97 than I do with a PCP costing 3 times as much.

D.

What's worse (or better depending on the point of view), we have several HFT shooters in our region that come along and spank our behinds shooting SFT with just 10x scopes and guestimation of target distance, in FT comps.

There's been so many examples over the years of good shooters with gear that some would be think be unsuitable, being not only competitive in FT, but taking home some scalps as well.

I've seen it too many times to know that kit may make a better shooter better, but it's not going to stop a better shooter beating you...

Thinking about the most esoteric and extreme kit you can buy for both FT and HFT, which would weigh you in at probably £4-5k (new off the shelf say March scope for HFT and FT + pcp) in either, and i'd say there's nothing in that which would enable someone to hold back a shooter with gear costing a tenth of that new off the shelf, or even less second hand.

It's a myth. It's been busted so many times. Short of dumping a season or two to prove it, i'm not sure there's much else more people can do or say.

I suppose, what you could say is put money where mouth is, buy the most expensive kit, and then if you don't win everything, you have to donate it to who ever does

any takers

[MojoCrow]

Speaking as a retailer; some people who have never owned an air rifle before just want to buy the best. Now whatever the best might be is subjective, of course. These sort of buyers don't seem to care what is they're buying as long as they're satisfied it's the 'best'. Now if those people then go and shoot HFT with their fancy dandy finery, gasp shock horror, they'll still need to put in the practice. It's the idiot hanging off the trigger that makes all the difference.

[jay.t]

So do I, the look on their face when you beat them with a twanger or an S200....Not that I ever have...Or ever will...

My brother kieran and chris cundey did a extreme ft course with s200's and hawke scopes, faired quite well as i remember.

As several have said , the skill seems to be in the person behind the gun, most pcp's and springers will outshoot the shooter, agreed some combos may have an advantage, personally my scores have increased since using the steyr/leup but maybe its a mental thing, if it all feels right ,it gives you the confidence to make the shot.

[Alegazmoz]

I think it is great that someone with an S200 can compete against someone with say, a Steyr and have more than a fighting chance. Some people actually like this sort of thing

Human nature being what it is, people will (in general) of course want posh kit, if they have the money, let 'em spend it on their hobby, say I! Good for the industry, good for the sport.

Richard

That's it in a nut-shell.
HFT is a sport, open to anyone, with just about any kit and aspects of hunting introduced to make it more interesting for the participants.
It doesn't replicate hunting, nor was it ever intended to.
It's a popular and growing hobby, that keeps a lot of people entertained and for the industry it supports, provides the means to keep their kids asses in pants.
The contributor who wrote the letter is simply an ignorant tool.

[Charlts]

When I read the offending letter a couple of weeks ago my first thought was 'I wonder if Ryan is going to be writing in to point out his Walthers get carted up hill and down dale'

actually it was my second, my first thought was 'Not this old chestnut again'

Good post Nicky!


Atb

Cliff

Might go and shoot some bunnies with it on Sunday and send a picture in to accompany my letter!