Idaho Field Target

IDAHO AIRGUN FIELD TARGET CLUB

Pocatello, ID

Club officers

Ron Gill - 2007 Club President

blueflax@allidaho.com

George Gardner - Match Director

slrolmo@cableone.net

Pictured left to right: George Gardner, Ash Covey, Ron Gill and Jim Ohearn - Photo by Ray Carter

Idaho Airgun Field Target Club Tries Out Pistol FT

On June 21, the Idaho FT Club held a trial Pistol FT match to see if we wanted to add it to our repertoire of matches. Everyone brought their pistols, and we shot a variety of targets including FT, silhouettes and spinners. The scores reflected our first try:

Ray Carter

Pistol Results

Ron Gill,	TAU 7,	irons,	13/26
George Gardner,	Crosman Custom,	24X,	10/26
Ray Carter,	Daisy,	irons,	8/26
Ash Covey,	Crosman 1377	irons,	3/26

After the match we discussed the future of pistol FT at our club and decided that pistol matches would be part of our shoots.

We then had our air rifle FT shoot with 13 targets spread out over a VERY steep slope. We may not shoot on the steepest slopes again.

Air Rifle FT

Piston

Shorty Miller,	Gamo 440,	4X,	JSBL,	8/39
Ray Carter,	RWS 52,	12X,	JBB,	7/39

Precharged

Ron Gill,	AA S400 ERB,	32X,	CPL,	29/39
George Gardner,	Crossman 2250,	24X,	JSB,	14/39
Ash Covey,	Daystate,	24X,	JSB,	14/39
Jim Ohearn,	Sheridan,	irons,	Sheridan,	4/39

We had a new shooter Jim Ohearn and a spectator Tom Drais. Both guys were good company and we are looking forward to the seeing them again. Jim shot one of those old and very elegant Sheridan Blue Streaks.

Match Report, IAFTC April 17, 2008

As you know, we don’t have legal power limits based on foot pounds of muzzle energy in the United States. We do have an airgun field target guideline not to exceed 20 foot pounds in order to avoid target damage. My club respects that rule, but enforcement is a matter of personal responsibility and honor. My AA S400 Extra FAC has a power adjuster that I set just a hair’s breadth below 20 when I started shooting FT in 2005. It has never varied, and I have never questioned it until this last match.

That is the background. Here is the story.

It was a warm and bright Saturday morning. Filled with enthusiasm, we set up the match and headed for the sight-in range where there was a chronograph. We hadn’t had a chronograph at our matches before this year. Ash Covey chronographed his Daystate at just over 900 fps. Of course I had to tell him that my Air Arms S400 clocked in at 924. Ash allowed that with my 10.5 grain Crosman Premiers my gun might be over 20 foot pounds. Judgmental choruses went up and down the firing line. There was talk of willful and flagrant violation of the 20 foot pound rule. Within moments the rule was elevated to the cornerstone of Airgun Field Target in the United States. Why it is every time you get close fracturing a rule, it instantly becomes the cornerstone of your sport? I didn’t have a calculator to defend my rifle’s honor, but over the years its velocity hadn’t wavered even though there were many opportunities for the adjustment to be bumped or turned. I hadn’t checked it lately. Had something moved without my realizing it?

At a water break, George said that I had better bear down because he had only missed two targets in his first 18 shots. I was down 5 at that point, but George had some tough lanes coming up, and I did indeed bear down. By the end I had shot a 45/54 and George had shot a 44/54. But, that was not the end.

The first thing after the match George wanted to discuss was a broken retrieval chain on one of the targets, but he let the subject drop when I told him that it was broken by a low shot from Ray, my lane partner. Then Ash announced that he was certain that with CPHs my gun had to be well over 20, a number that quickly increased to 23 by the time we went to our after match lunch.

At the restaurant, accusing eyes roamed the lunch table. My pellets had unfairly bored holes in the wind, toppled fully grown sage brush and smashed hapless field targets. George went on that his Theoben was only 11.5 foot pounds. With his best Joan of Arc look of martyrdom, George concluded “And YOU are the club president!”

“Come on guys, this isn’t Watergate” I said. But, in the back of my mind there was doubt. I hadn’t checked the velocity in over a year, and 924 did seem a little higher than I remembered. Perhaps the adjuster had been disturbed. There was a chance that I was wrong and my airgun would be dishonored.

“When I get home I will look this up on the web and see just how far over Ron is,” announced Ash.

“Just E-mail me the results,” George said to Ash. I thought I heard a diabolical tone in his voice. Ash and George could have spent half the match cooking up their story. I was beginning to suspect a Daystate/Theoben conspiracy.

When I protested about being convicted in my absence, Ash flashed out his cell phone like it was Excalibur itself. “I can go on line from here!” he said. He punched in numbers, and said, “It’s working”. He was drawing out the last moments of drama.

“Oh, I stand corrected.” Ash’s voice dropped an octave. He passed the phone to George who read, “19. 9108”. My Air Arms S400 was vindicated.

The power adjuster in my Air Arms 400 is a brilliant piece of work. It was set just below 20 foot pounds in July 2005 and it is still holding its adjustment as well as keeping me out of hot water.

We had a new shooter, Ray Carter, who came as a spectator in March. This month he came to participate. In one month Ray, who is new to air rifles, bought a used RWS 52 from Pomona Air guns. He mounted a scope and showed up sighted-in and with trajectory information for FTS pellets. Ray’s score is not the whole story. A majority of his shots were face plate hits close enough to the KZ that, with practice, will soon be hits.

Scores

Piston

George Gardner, Theoben Evolution, Bushnell 6-18, JSB (L), 44/54.

Ray Carter, RWS 52, BSA 3-12X, FTS, Apr-54

Precharged

Ron Gill, AA S400ERB, Lepers 8-32X, CPH, 45/54

Ash Covey, Daystate X2, 44Mag 6-20, JSB (H), 33/54

First Regular 2008 Match!!

Idaho Airgun Field Target Cub Pocatello, Idaho March 15, 2008

“Good morning Pocatello! Today, there will be a high of 41 degrees and a 70% chance of snow this afternoon. We hope you choose to have a great day!”

Welcome to the first day of the Idaho Field Target season.

Yesterday, I dug the targets out of a show bank behind my garage. It was too cold to paint the face plates. In the late afternoon the sun came out, and I was able to get one coat on white and one coat of yellow on the paddles. Where are the stakes? Don’t forget the paper targets for the side match. First match of the year jitters are not about shooting, they are about all the stuff that has been set aside, or lost under the snow, for 4 months.

Speaking about snow, only the lightest of dusting had fell by the time I got to the range. Good thing we put off the match until 9AM. Maybe the sun will come out soon.

Another thing about the first match is that everyone is so glad it finally came there were plenty of smiles to set aside the cold while setting out the targets and planning the match. To save time on a cold day, we would shoot 4 lanes with three targets per lane and three shots per target. But there was more from George, “There are no big prizes or titles up for the winner today, so let’s shoot our new Crosmans.” We had planed a Crosman match for April 19th but faced with instant gun club democracy I said, “OK. Today is the Crosman Warm-Up Match.”

George was shooting CO2 in his 2250XT. He knew his gun’s velocity and sight corrections at 40 degrees, but that is not the way it turned out. During the match the skies darkened, it started to snow and the temp went below 30 degrees. “It was like chasing a rabbit down his hole.” was the way George described tying to get the right sight settings. He had cleaned the first lane of 9 shots; hit 5 on the second and, after the cold set in, hit only 2 targets on the last two remaining lanes. However the lead over the other Crosmans he had built on the first 2 lanes was not to be denied. Ash Covey shot his Daystate and his score is a reality check for the Crosman scores.

Ash Covey	Daystate 177	X3	JSBH	24/36
George Gardner	Crosman .22	2250XT	CP	18/36
Ron Gill	Crosman .177	1760SE	CP Hollow Points	14/36
Ron Roberts	Crosman .177	1377	Crosman pointed	3/36

The match ended at noon.

After the match there was a meeting of the “Lunch Time Physicists”. During the match, temps that started at nearly 40 fell to below 30 degrees. George estimated that his gun’s velocity dropped from 470 to 440 feet per second. Since all of Gorges trajectory information was from one print out for 470 PFS he without data. He also raised his cross hairs when he should have lowered them to follow the dropping trajectory curve. Was George disappointed? No. later he told me that he had a great time because he was doing something new.

After lunch we all went home. That afternoon it snowed 6 inches.

George waves after making 9 straight hits from 15 to 30 yards with CO2

Crosman Match

April 19^th. Oregon Trail Range, Pocatello Idaho

Celebrate the American made airgun.

Eligible airguns: any that started life as a Crosman or any other airgun

Special rules:

This match is open to all Crosman rifles.

The Match Director will group rifles/or shooters at the time of the match.

There will be a separate competition for junior shooters

All air rifles are welcome.

AAFTA rules apply

Only led pellets may be used

Any rifle with more then 20 foot pounds of muzzle energy is not allowed.

Considerations:

No targets beyond 35 yards. Ties will be decided by shoot offs.

No reducers !!

This match should be very new shooter friendly.

We will raffle off a couple tins of JSB pellets courtesy on Pomona Airguns (PAG).

Goals:

1. Attract new shooters

2. Demonstrate safety and marksmanship with airguns

For more fun, bring a buddy.

Match fees are ONLY $5 per person.

Airgun Field Target

Pocatello, Idaho

Airgun Field Target (FT) is an outdoor shooting sport shot with air rifles that are powerful enough for hunting. Firing points are laid out along a path winding through a natural setting.

The air rifle’s muzzle energy is limited to 20 foot pounds or less, and only led pellets are allowed. Rifles made for small game are more successful then rifles intended for plinking, or paper targets at 10 meters.

Scopes are needed to see the hit zones, also, because aiming must be precise to deal with the pellet’s trajectory. Scopes that focus on the target are recommended. Range finders are not allowed.

A strap around the knees and back will make the FT sitting position more comfortable. Also a cushion (up to 6 inches thick) is a good idea.

2008 Schedule

March 15

April 19

Crossman Match

May 17

June 21

Offsite

July 19

August 16

September 20

Idaho Championship

October 18

Offsite

November 15

The targets are a hinged steel plate in the shape of an animal. A pellet must pass through a hole (hit zone) in the face plate and make the face plate to fall.

The challenge of Field Target is that targets are set out at random and unknown distances. Also, hit zones can be any size from 3/8 to 11/2 inch. The sport emphasizes knowledge of trajectory and aiming points for ranges from 10 to 55 yards.

In the photo above,

the shooter is following an important safety rule in FT matches.

Safety is always a prime consideration.

Oregon Trail Range

One way to increase your fun is to ask a friend to come with you. Bring a buddy and have a good time!

Call before you come

(208) 234-4184, 225-3825

Idaho Airgun Field Target Club, November 17, 2007

“It’s all up hill from here, George"

George Gardner takes a “moderately” steep uphill shot.

This was our second offsite for the year. We try to hold matches in different places for a change of pace from our usual site. This one was held in the Pocatello Mountain Range and the major difference is that the ground is a little steeper then our usual shoot.

Caution! Dangerous Animal Alert. George was shooting a Theoben Evolution rated at 12 foot pounds, and he had trouble knocking over our Stegosaurus target. He had three dead center hits on the paddle and only the third one put it down. With the growing interest in 12 foot pound shooting after the 2007 Worlds in Tennessee, the Idaho Airgun Field Target Club issues the following alert for all upcoming Idaho Field Target events. “Warning: .177 air rifles operating at 12 foot pounds, or less, may not be capable of a one shot stop on a Stegosaurus. Airgunners so armed are urged to leave the area if they encounter these beasts.” Both Roberts (14 foot pounds) and Gill (19.9 foot pounds) downed the reptile underscoring the need for power.

Match day was concluded at a local restaurant with an excellent “over 55” menu. Plans were made for the next year’s matches. When it was revealed that we all had Crosman air rifles, plans were made for a Crosman match next year. Details are coming, but the idea is to have a match for stock Crosman guns.

Thanks to Sportsman’s Warehouse and Pomona Airguns, you guys are great!

View Match Slideshow

Shooter	MATCH RESULTS	AM/PM
PCP Class	Caliber & Make/Model	Score
Ron Gill	.177 AirArms 400E	37/39

Piston Class	Caliber & Make/Model	Score
George Gardner	.177 Theoben Evolution 12 FT.LB.	32/39
Ron Roberts	.177 HW 97 Underlever	22/39

RON GILL

2007 Idaho State Championship and Northern Rockies Friendship Match

Pocatello Idaho, September 15, 2007

Click here for Match Slideshow

Photographs by Sandy Thompson and Edited by Tyler Clepper

The 2007 combined Northern Rockies Friendship and Idaho State Championship Match was held in Pocatello, Idaho, on Saturday Sept. 15th. This tournament is a “major” tournament in the Pacific Northwest. Gorge Gardner said, “When you shoot air gun FT in Idaho, and (your) club consists of 4 average shooters, and once a year we hold our State championship, and we have shooters come all the way from Tacoma, WA (14 hours drive time) to eastern Idaho that is ... Major.... We try our very best to make it an 80 shot, one day, fun shoot for all (who) attend.”

Ron Gill said, “Everything we learned over the last 3 years of competition went into this match”. The club learned how to use its range to make a challenging and enjoyable match. The firing points are laid out in a “V” pointing west as well as into the prevailing winds. The course has all possible variations of wind and light and the shooters move through it. The match was a 40 shot course that was shot twice, once in the A.M. and once in the P.M. The club provided a home cooked lunch between repetitions of the course. Is it the same course twice? Not really, the range is open to the west for 200 miles and the winds come up in the afternoon. The morning is markedly different then in the afternoon.

Scott Crace came down from Spokane, Washington, with the shiniest USFT you ever saw, and he shot a shiny score to go with it. He dropped 8 points over all, shooting 36 out of 40 in the morning and afternoon to win the Friendship PCP Championship.

Brent Saunders from Seattle, Washington, came with an equally shiny HW 97 and won the Piston Friendship championship with 66.

Scott and Brent Showed us all how to shoot on match day. Beyond that, they were both very gracious winners.

Jim Benson, who paints with a broad brush, wrote to us when he got back to Tacoma, “What a great match! It never ceases to amaze me just what a COOOOL course that they can set up in the scrub desert!!!”

The Idaho Airgun Field Target Club extends a big “Thank You” to this year’s sponsors Sportsman’s Warehouse and Pomona Airguns for their kind support.

Northern Rockies Friendship Match Results
Pre Charged Division	Rifle	AM	PM	TOTAL	Standing
Champion Scott Crace	USFT	36	36	72
Second Ron Gill	Air Arms S400	31	31	62	Idaho Champion
Third Ron Pride	Daystate	28	22	50
Ash Covey	Daystate X2	23	24	47	Idaho Second
Jim Benson	FWB P70	18	18	36

Piston Division	Rifle	AM	PM	TOTAL	Standing
Champion Brent Saunders	Beeman HW-97	34	32	66
Second George Gardner	Thoeben Evolution	32	30	62	Idaho Champion
Third John Mickel	Air Arms Pro Sport	19	16	35
Neal Christensen	Beeman R9	9	5	14	Idaho Second

There were several shooters who did not come due to illness or job circumstances. Some folks who came were sick or hurting. We wish the best to all that came and to those who could not make it. They are a reminder of the fragility of our bodies and our lives. Take care.

Ron Gill

Idaho Airgun Field Target Club
June 14, 2007

This month we went to the Cedar Hills Gun Club in Blackfoot, Idaho.

We wanted a change in scenery and to give some airgunners in Blackfoot a chance to shoot FT. This weekend was Blackfoot Pride days, and the Cedar Hills members were all in town at the parade. However, for us, the change of scene was complete. Cedar hills is in a kipuka, an area of deep soil surrounded by a lava flow. Our home range has a view of the Snake River Plain, but at Cedar Hills we were hemmed in by black lava rocks and tall sagebrush.

Ron Roberts, George Gardner and I were in the same group. George and Ron R. were both shooting piston guns while I was shooting PCP. Ron R. shot his HK 97 first and set the pace hitting 8 of the 9 shots in the first lane. Not to be out done, George and I matched his score. We were hot, literarily and actually, as the temp climbed into the low 90s. Moving along from lane to lane, the shots grew longer, the day hotter and the wind swirled from every direction. Our shooting suffered. Gorge shooting a Theoben pulled slightly ahead of Ron R. until the last lane when Ron R. came alive, and tied George with a score of 21/41. The last target on this lane was the dreaded green eyed monster set at 50 yards

This left us in a shoot off. Shoot offs happen infrequently in our club. First there was a two target lane with a forced kneeling shot. Once more it came out a tie score with 3/4 points each. So, they went into an offhand sudden death round. both downed the target on the first round. Then they both missed, Finally, George got a hit and Ron a miss. Great shooting and good sportsmanship. Too bad those guys from Blackfoot missed it.

Ashton Covey shooting his Daystate X2 while Shorty Miller scores at Cedar Hills Gun Club in Blackfoot, Idaho

Dramatic climax with sudden death shoot-off between George and Ron for first place !!!

Piston Division

George Gardner - Theoben Evolution / Bushnell Trophy .177 21/41

Ron Roberts - HW 97 / Bushnell Trophy .177 21/41

Shorty Miller - Gamo 440 / BSA 4X .177 3/41

Open Division

Ron Gill - AA S400 ERB / Leapers 8-32 .177 20/41

Ash Covey - Daystate X2 / Simmons 44 mag .177 28/41

Results from the 5-12-07

Pocatello Idaho

This match was held at the Oregon Trail Range in Pocatello under a gentle sun, blue bird weather and universal happiness.

Piston Division

George Gardner Theoben Evolution/Bushnell Trophy 24/38

Ron Roberts HW 97/Bushnell Trophy 17/38

Shorty Miller Gamo/BSA 4X 11/38

Open Division

Ash Covey Daystate X2/Simmons 44 mag 23/38

Idaho Airgun Field Target Club 4/28/07

Our first match of the year. It may seem light to start to a lot of folks, but our last snow was barely three weeks ago and last year our April match was snowed out. This year we had blue bird weather. George had a new rifle; a Theoben Evolution rated at 12 foot pounds. Piston guns continue to make up over ½ of our entries.

Open Division	Rifle	Scope	Pellet	Score
Ron Gill	AA400ERB	Leapers 8x32	CPH	25 X31
Ashley Covey	Daystate X2	Simmons 44 Mag	Kodiak	13 X31

Piston Division	Rifle	Scope	Pellet	Score
George Gardner	Theoben Evolution	Bushnell 4-16	CPL	22 X31
Ron Roberts	HW 97			21 X31
Shortly Miller	Gamo 440	BSA 4X	JSB Heavy	10 X31

After the match, we met and discussed he new Hunter Field Target rules from the AAFTA. A lot of the discussion centered on if springers would be competitive in this new division.

The members determined:

1. The AAFTA Hunter Field Target rules were adopted by the club members.

2. We will have at least one all “hunter” match in 2007.

3. At all other monthly matches, any one can request shoot “hunter”.

4. We will offer a “Hunter” division at the Northern Rockies Friendship
Match in Sept.

In other business the members reaffirmed the 20 foot pound muzzle energy limit. We discussed strategies to accommodate shooters who come with very powerful guns. So, if you want to shoot from a bucket in Idaho. Bring it on!

Respectfully submitted,
Ron Gill