HomeWhat is a Field Target Match Like?
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Field target matches are fun and challenging. At the match you have the chance to test your shooting skills against other shooters. But one of the best parts of field target is the chance you have to visit with other shooters. You meet and make a lot of friends as you attend more and more matches. You will meet some of the nicest people at field target matches. There isn't any one precedence on how a field target course should be set up. Because of this, field target matches will vary from club to club. That keeps field target fresh and vibrant for the shooter.
The number of lanes setup for a match depends a lot on the number of shooter expected to come to the match and how many shots are to be taken during the match. A course can have 5-10 lanes on a with two or three targets in each lane. Normally two shots are taken at each target. For example a 60 shot match might be set up as one course with 3 targets in 10 lanes. Shooting two shots at each target gives you 60 shots. It could also be set up as two courses with 8 lanes, 7 of which have two targets and one lane with one target. With two shots at each target you have 60 shots. The difference between these two courses is that the first course can handle 30 shooters while the second can accommodate 48 shooters.
A larger match like a state, regional or national might consist of submatches that are held over the course of two or three days. This allows a higher number of shot to be shot during the match. These matches may consist of 80, 100, or even 150 shots! Typically the overall match is divided up into three submatches. Each of the submatches may be shot on a different course which provides the shooter with a lot of variety. In most bigger matches, the three submatches are shot over the course of a weekend. The first match would be shot on Saturday morning, the second match on Saturday afternoon, and the third match on Sunday morning. The awards can then be handed out after lunch and everyone can head on home.
Every match is proceeded by a sight-in and practice time. During this time, shooters can verify the zero of their gun and get warmed up for the match. The practice time is usually held in an open range area. Most clubs have practice targets set up for the shooters. These targets are typically set up at least every 5 yards from 10 to 50 yards. At local club matches the practice time is usually a hour or two prior to match time. At larger state, regional, and national matches the practice range may be opened for sight-in and practice. This allows those traveling a little more time to get their equipment just right.
After the practice time is done the match is ready to begin. Before heading out to the course, the match director holds a shooters meeting. The shooters meeting is used to inform the match participants about the match. Things typically covered are shoot rules, safety instructions, course setup, recording scores, and anything else the shooters might need to know about the match. With the shooters meeting complete you are ready to head out to the course with airgun, pellets, and scorecard in hand.
Field target matches are started like a shotgun start in golf. Everyone is assigned to a starting lane. The starting lane is usually designated on the scorecard. Each shooter is squaded with one or two other shooters. The other shooters help score and reset targets for the shooter. Once all the squad members reach their starting lane, they introduce themselves (if they don't already know each other) and decide the order they are going to shoot. This order may stay the same for the whole match or they may decide to alternate at each lane. It is up to the squad to decide what order to shoot. Each shooter in a squad takes their turn and shoots all the targets in the lane. If there are multiple targets in the lane, the closest target is shot first, then the next closest and so on. Once everyone in the squad shoots the lane, they all move up to the next lane. After the squad shoots the last lane on the course, they move back the lane one and continue shooting the rest of the course until they reach their starting lane. At that point the match is complete and the shooters can start thinking about alibis for the shots they missed.
Once the match is complete and all the shooters have turned in the scorecards, the scores are tallied, and the courses cleaned up. Then the match awards are handed out. The match is over. Now it is time to chit chat with your other airgun friends. This is a great time to moan and lament over the few misses that kept you out of the winners circle and to discuss other important airgun related issues. You then say good bye and head home all the while looking forward to the next match.
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