Field Target

Common Division Rules

Reprinted from the 2023 AAFTA Clubs and Shooters Handbook

 **This is considered a Grand Prix Event.  Scores will count towards 2023 AAFTA Grand Prix scoring.**


 Common Rules


 **All Guns will be Chronographed Each Day of Field Target Competition**

 Any competitor’s gun found to be shooting in excess of 20 fpe will be disqualified.

Equipment

  • Safe airguns of any power plant, shooting a single pellet.
  • The use of more than one airgun is not permitted during the course of fire.
  • The use of shooting gloves is allowed.
  • A one-point or two-point sling is allowed, as permitted by specific AAFTA Division Rules.
  • Non-electronic wind indicators attached to the gun are allowed.
  • Kneeling rolls may not exceed 7 inches in diameter.

Sights

  • Other than a scope mounted on the airgun, no separate range-finding device may be used.
  • No laser device may be used.

Ammunition

Pellets that are completely made of lead, lead alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, or similar all-metal material may
be used. Airgun slugs may not be used.

Energy Level

  • Airguns may not exceed the energy level permitted by specific AAFTA Division Rules. The energy level is computed by pellet mass and muzzle velocity, using the following formula:

Energy(ft-lb) = Mass(grains) * Square [Muzzle Velocity(fps)] / 450436

  • Velocity readings may exceed by a 2% margin to account for Chronograph variance
  • Shooters will be given the opportunity to check their gun’s energy level prior to the start of a match, and will be allowed to: adjust the energy level, replace the gun, or compete in another class.
  • Once a match starts, airguns found exceeding the allowed energy level will result in disqualification for the competitor.
  • No energy-level adjustments allowed during the match. The Match Director may tape or mark the
    gun as may be possible to prevent tampering once the gun has been chronographed.

Targets

  • Silhouette “fall-when-hit” targets resettable from the firing point will be used. Silhouettes may be
    of typical airgun quarry or targets appropriate to shooting sports.
  • Hit-zones shall be round and shall range from 3/8″ to 2″ in diameter. No fake hit-zones may
    appear anywhere on the target.
  • When reducers are used, they must be painted the same color as the faceplate.
  • When reducers are used, they must be attached to the front of the faceplate
  • Targets shall not be closer than 10 yards nor farther than 55 yards from the firing point.
  • The Match Director shall assure that shooting lanes and physical limits of the firing points are
    clearly defined.
  • Hit Zone must be clearly visible from any shooting position, or from the designated position on
    Forced Position shots.
  • Any obstruction (grass, tree limb, etc.) shall be related to the Chief Marshal and removed prior to
    the first competitor shooting a lane. If an obstruction occurs by some natural condition during the
    match and only affects a limited number of shooters, the Match Director, at his/her discretion may
    remove the obstruction and allow the affected shooters reshoot the target. Otherwise, the
    obstruction must remain for the duration of the competition unless it creates a hazardous
    condition, such as a potential for ricochet.
  • Based on the Troyer Difficulty Rating System, and accounting for all difficulty factors except light
    and wind conditions, individual target difficulty shall be no more than 50T and average course
    difficulty shall be no more than 36T.
  • Shooters may reset their own targets once they are given permission from the scorer.

Range Finding

  • Range-finding must be done while the shooter is addressing the lane, and on the clock if timers are used.
  • There are no position restrictions while range-finding, and the gun may be rested on allowed shooting equipment or support fixtures provided by the hosting club.

Timers

  • The Match Director and/or Marshal may impose a time limit per lane or per target before or during
    the match. Match directors should note the use and limits of timers in the match announcement, if
    possible. Timers should be of the countdown type with an audible alarm when times runs out.
    Typical time allowed is one (1) minute per shot with one (1) minute set-up time per lane. For
    example: Four (4) shots on a lane equal five (5) minutes of time for that lane.
  • The timer can be started by a squad member or the shooter and can be placed so the shooter
    can monitor his or her own time. Timers are to be started when the shooter addresses the lane by
    doing any of the following:
    1) Sitting down for a sitting shot.
    2) Shouldering the gun for a Kneeling or Standing shot.
    3) Kneeling/crouching to assess if a target can be shot prone.
    4) Lying down for a prone shot.
    5) Looking through the scope.
  • If a “cold” line/cease-fire is called while a timer is active, stop the timer and add up to 30 seconds
    to the remaining time, and restart the timer when “hot” line/resume-fire is called.
  • Any shots taken after the alarm sounds will be counted as a miss. In case of a tie with the alarm,
    and the squad members agree on the tie, then the shot is given to the shooter. A Marshal or the
    Match Director will handle any disputes.
  • When timers are required, any shooter discovered not using a timer during the match will be
    subject to a warning or disqualification at the Match Directors discretion.

Airgun Malfunctions

  • If a malfunction occurs during the match, the shooter may retire from the firing line to try to repair
    the airgun. The match will continue without them and the shooter will receive misses for
    subsequent targets until they return to their designated squad.
  • If repairs cannot be made by the beginning of the second day of a match, a replacement gun may
    be used that is compliant with the rules of his or her class with match director approval.
  • If a malfunction cannot be resolved or a replacement gun is not available, the shooter will be
    forced to forfeit the rest of the match with all remaining shots counted as misses.
  • When in a two-person squad, if a shooter retires from the firing line to repair their airgun, the
    remaining shooter may join the nearest squad to continue shooting.

Shooting Positions

Any shooting position is allowed, but some targets may be designated for forced-position shots. See section on Forced Shooting Positions on pages 11-14 of the 2023 AAFTA Rulebook.

Scoring

  • Scoring shall be based on one point for each hit, and a zero for each miss.
  • A hit will be awarded when the target falls; any movement of the hit-zone paddle which does not
    result in the target faceplate falling will be recorded as a miss.

Protest Procedure

  • When the shooter feels they hit the kill zone & the target failed to fall or malfunctioned, they will
    stop shooting.
  • The shooter or a squad member will notify a Marshall immediately
  • The Marshall will inspect & test the disputed target with an AAFTA approved Target Tester.
  • If the Marshall finds the target to be functioning properly, the shooter will record that shot as a
    miss. The shooter will continue to shoot the remaining shots on that lane.
  • If the Marshall finds the target discrepant, the target will be repaired on site & verified with a
    Target Tester or if needed, replaced with a target of an equivalent kill zone size. The shooter will
    then retake that shot & continue to shoot the remaining shots on that lane.

Penalties

The penalty for deliberate infraction of the shooting rules, unsafe practice, unsportsmanlike conduct, or any form of cheating is disqualification.

Target Sequence

  • The Match Director shall designate a sequence for shooting targets – by number, left-to-right, nearest-to-farthest, etc.
  • A shot on a target out of sequence shall be recorded as a miss for the correct target in sequence.
  • If the wrong target was knocked over, it shall be reset and then shooting shall resume on the correct target in sequence.

Tied Scores

In the event of two (2) or more shooters tying for an award, a shoot-off or other tie-breaking system will take place.

Equipment Malfunctions

  • If a malfunction occurs during the match, the shooter may retire from the firing line to try to repair
    the airgun. The match will continue without them and the shooter will receive misses for
    subsequent targets until they return to their designated squad.
  • If repairs cannot be made by the beginning of the second day of a match, a replacement gun may
    be used that is compliant with the rules of his or her class with match director approval.
  • If a malfunction cannot be resolved or a replacement gun is not available, the shooter will be
    forced to forfeit the rest of the match with all remaining shots counted as misses.
  • When in a two-person squad, if a shooter retires from the firing line to repair their airgun, the
    remaining shooter may join the nearest squad to continue shooting.

Classes are as follows: Open, Hunter & WFTF


 Open


Equipment

  • Rifles shall not exceed 20ft/lb of energy measured at the muzzle.
  • All forms of clothing are permissible.
  • Body support straps or harnesses are allowed, as long as they do not provide any means of support to the gun. Such aids are not allowed on forced position shots.

Sights

Any form of sighting system may be used.

Shooting

A single rifle sling is permitted that shall be attached to the rifle at a minimum of one and maximum of two points when a shot is taken.

Seating

  • The maximum height for any form of seat is 6 inches from the ground to the highest point of the seat, measured with the shooter sitting on the seat.
  • The seat can only be used as a seat and not any other means of shooting support EXCEPT as a support for the instep/ankle when shooting in the kneeling position.

 Hunter


Equipment

  • Rifles shall not exceed 20ft/lb of energy measured at the muzzle.
  • Forend depth is limited to a maximum of 6 inches, measured from the center of the barrel to the lowest part of the rifle forward of the pistol grip.
  • No shooting jackets, harnesses or straps. Clothing worn by the shooter must not restrict body movement.
  • Knee pads or other forms of padding or risers placed between the arm, thigh, knee, leg and/or rifle may not exceed 2 inches in thickness.

Sights

  • Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to a maximum of 16 power magnification. Variable scopes of greater than 16X must be turned to the 16X or nearest lower factory marking on the scope.
  • No Windage or Elevation adjustments allowed during the match.
  • Optical sights with parallax adjustment may be adjusted so that the target is in focus. Range (yardage) markings may be used.

Shooting

  • A rifle sling may be used & must be attached to the rifle at two points, the fore end & butt stock.
    Slings may be attached & detached during a match. Single point slings are not allowed.
  • Adjustable components on the stock, including cheek & knee risers, may not be adjusted during
    a match. No equipment may be added or removed during a match except for a rifle sling. No
    butt-hooks or thigh-rests are allowed.
  • Only monopods, shooting sticks, or bipods may be used. Any such aids must rest on the ground
    and may not be driven or otherwise embedded into the ground or shooting pad, and cannot be
    attached to the gun: must release from the gun as the gun is picked up, and must not connect to
    the gun with studs or devices that restrict gun movement. A single stop may be used in front or
    behind the gun support, but no other anchoring mechanisms are permitted.

Seating

Any form of seat without back or arms support may be used, but the seat may NOT be used to support the rifle while shooting.


 WFTF


Equipment

  • No rifle shall exceed 12ft/lb muzzle energy.
  • All forms of clothing are permissible.
  • No harnesses or straps are permitted.
  • Elbow pads and knee pads are allowed.
  • Butt-hooks are allowed, but not thigh-rests.
  • Adjustable rifle stocks are allowed, but no hardware may be added or removed from the gun
    during the match, except where allowed by the Match Director due to physical limitations of the
    shooter.
  • The Digital Side Wheel (DSW) device is not allowed.

Sights

Any form of sighting system may be used.

Shooting

  • A single rifle sling may only be used to steady the aim if used in a prone, kneeling or standing
    position.
  • Only a kneeling roll may be used to support the rear instep/ankle on Forced Position Kneeling shots.

Note: WFTF shooters are hereby advised that AAFTA WFTF Division rules may differ from rules applicable at international events sanctioned by the World Field Target Federation (WFTF). For more information about WFTF Core and Comprehensive Rules, visit: http://www.world-field-target-federation.com/Rules

Seating

  • The maximum height for any form of seat is 6 inches from the ground to the highest point of the seat, measured with the shooter sitting on the seat.
  • The seat can only be used as a seat and not as any other means of shooting support, EXCEPT to
    support the rear instep/ankle on free-position kneeling shots, or as back support on free-position
    extreme angle targets.