East Tilbury and Linford Field Target Club

A brief history of Field Target

Born in the early 1980's the sport of FT was created as a simulation of live quarry hunting with the emphasis on creating courses of fire that would provide the variety and challenge normally encountered by the hunter.

To this end the sport differs from most other precision shooting disciplines in that the targets do not adhere to constant fixed distances from the firing point. They may also be presented to the shooter at varying heights using the natural features of the surrounding land to add interest to the course.

Due to the air rifles relatively modest power output it is ideally suited to making this style of course a safe and challenging possibility.

The equipment used in the early days reflected that of the air rifle hunter at the time. With low magnification scopes and .22 calibre spring rifles being the choice of most competitors.

The modern sport

The modern sport has rapidly evolved with the uptake of the smaller .177 calibre, pre-charged pneumatic rifles and high magnification scopes in an ever continuing quest for greater accuracy. The courses have also moved on with the almost exclusive use of the nockover target, standardisation of kill zone sizes and increases in target distances.

A selection of Nockover™ Field Targets

The common format for modern Field Target is a course consisting of 40 or 50 Nockover targets arranged in lanes of two. These targets fall flat when the central disc is struck and are reset by way of a string from the firing line. The central disc is 40-45mm in diameter with reduced targets of 25mm permitted for no more than 25% of the course and only on freestyle position lanes.

A high mag scope is an integral part of modern competitive Field Target

Target distances can be anything from 8 to 55 yards but are not given to the shooter who must estimate them, usually by means of a high power telescopic sight. There is a time limit of two minutes per lane which starts when the shooter looks through the scope.

Unless otherwise designated, shots are taken from a freestyle position which will normally mean sitting - prone shooting is permitted but in the main impractical. A maximum of 10% of the course may be designated to be taken from a standing position and the same percentage for kneeling. Targets are numbered and must be shot in numerical order. Scoring is marked as an X for a hit (target falls) and 0 for a miss (target remains standing). One shot is taken at each target with the maximum possible score being equal to the total number of targets on the course.

The sport has come a long way from its humble beginnings and it will undoubtedly continue to evolve. It is however, in essence, not so far removed from its initial concept. In that it provides a target sport that does not follow rigid guidelines in terms of target placement/course design and this, for many, is the key attraction.