Footwear - In this case a pair of walking boots is favoured. They provide good support - especially useful in the kneeling position and are extremely practical for FT courses which can be wet and muddy places.  Care should be taken that boots are not too restrictive around the ankles as this can sometimes prevent you getting your feet flat on the ground in the sitting position, this especially true when shooting downhill.

Bean Bag - Shooting cushion, saddle bag, bean bag, whatever you choose to call it this is an essential item for any FT'er.  The polystyrene filling moulds to the ground and your backside to provide a comfortable, insulated base for your sitting position.

It can also provide additional ankle support for kneeling shots or for the less dedicated, keep your knee out of the mud.

Leg Wear - Due to the inclement conditions a pair of waterproof over-trousers are evident.

What's underneath is anyone's guess, pretty much whatever you're comfortable in -  jeans, tracksuit bottoms, shorts and even Ronhill Tracksters have all been used to good effect.

With the addition of a pair of thermal leggings you're set for all seasons.

Jacket - Today's modern fleece and breathable waterproof materials provide the ideal solution for the shooter, who may find themselves outside in a variety of weather.

In addition to its suitability to the conditions a shooter's coat may also fulfil another role, that of support.  A heavy coat such as a waxed jacket is often chosen for the addition of its weight and stiffness which may prove beneficial in holding a fixed position.

Hat - A large brimmed hat helps block out unwanted light to allow the sight picture to be seen with greater contrast and also keeps the rain at bay.

While baseball caps fulfil the first function, a hat with a brim as sported by our shooter above has the added benefit of stopping the rain trickling down the back of your neck.

Glove - Or shooting glove to be more specific.

It is not worn to keep your hand warm although its thermal properties are most welcome come the winter.

Its main job is padding, depending on your style of position resting a heavy rifle directly on your hand can become painful, the glove alleviates this and also has a non-slip surface at the contact points.

Once accustomed to using one your rifle never feels quite the same without it.

Rifle - Whilst spring guns used to be a common sight in FT competitions they have now given way to the pre-charged pneumatic (pcp).

Our shooter above is using a heavily modified Air Arms RN10 (later called the Pro Target).

Some would argue that the spring gun should still be your first step in Field Target due to the discipline in technique it requires to shoot well.  Whilst there is merit in this, a pcp is initially more gratifying to shoot due to its more forgiving nature and may maintain and further the interest of a newcomer to the sport due to the more immediate results achieved.

For the beginner who is unsure of their long term commitment to the sport, entry level rifles such as the Air Arms S200, S400 and Daystate Harrier are suitable.  It should be remembered that a diving cylinder is also required to charge the gun.  As you progress or should you want to dive straight into a full blown competition rifle your options will include:  Air Arms RN10/Pro Target, Daystate Mk3/CRX, Ripley AR4/AR5/AR5s, Sportsmatch GC2, Steyr LG-100, FWB P70, Walther Dominator, Anschutz 2002/2020.

The pro's and con's of each particular rifle demand a more in depth look than this introductory article offers, so until then and even with that additional information you would be advised to see what's being used at the club, speak to the owners and try out as many different rifles as possible (most shooters are quite willing to let you have a go as long as they're not in the middle of a competition).

When it comes to making a purchase the second hand market can be an excellent source of reasonably priced rifles - indeed the Air Arms RN10/Pro Target, Ripley AR4/AR5 and Sportsmatch GC2 are only available secondhand as they are no longer in production.

Windicator - A somewhat grand term for what amounts to a bit of string but the importance of this humble accessory should not be underestimated.

A home made add-on, this item can simply be a piece of cotton tied to the filler cap or for the more ambitious a length of chenille (used by fishermen for fly-tying) attached to the rifle on a rod, to allow it to be seen more easily by the non scope eye.

It is there to give you some clue as to the general direction and strength of the wind, what you do with this information is very much a matter of experience.

Accurately reading the wind is a skill not quickly learnt.  Much practise will be needed before you become proficient at it and even then it will probably remain your most common cause for missing.

Scope - A field target suitable scope such as the Leupold Mk4 32x being used by our shooter has the primary role of helping estimate the target distance.  Over a course, targets will vary in distance from 8 to 55 yards with no guide to the ranges used, so it is down to the shooter to estimate this.

Due to the pellet's pronounced trajectory in combination with its susceptiblilty to the wind a miscalculation of only a couple of yards at the further distances can often result in a miss.  Therefore an accurate way of assessing target distance is required, parallaxing (focusing) is considered to be the preferred method.

Generally a minimum magnification of 32x is required to range find effectively.  Suitable scopes include:  Tasco Custom Shop 8-40x56, BSA Platinum 10-50x60, Nikko Sterling 10-50x60, Burris 8-32x44 Signature, Leupold 14.5-35x40, 18-40x40, 20-50x50, Mk4 32x40, Mk4 35x40, 35x45 Comp, 40x45 Comp and 45x45 Comp.

Simplistically put, using a scope to range find involves marking up the focusing ring be it front focus or sidewheel with distances usually at five yard intervals obtained by getting a clear picture for each of the ranges at physically measured distances - the zeroing range being ideal.  When on a course the scope is then focused (parallaxed) until the target is clear and the range can then be read off of the previously prepared objective ring or sidewheel.

Once the range is known the pellet's trajectory is then compensated for by way of holding over using a custom reticule or dialling the elevation turret.