What is Air Rifle Field Target Competition?

Air Rifle Field Target (often called “Field Target” or simply “FT”) is a precision airgun sport that combines marksmanship, outdoor shooting, and a bit of strategy. Competitors engage small, reactive steel targets set at varying distances, simulating the challenge of long-range shooting — but scaled for air rifles.

The sport originated in the UK and has grown worldwide as a way to test a shooter’s skill in reading wind, range estimation, and shot placement.

The Basics of Field Target

  • Distance: Targets range from 10 to 55 yards (9 to 50 meters).

  • Targets: Reactive steel animal silhouettes with a small circular hole (“kill zone”) in the center — typically ⅜" to 1½" wide.

  • Scoring: One point per hit — the target falls backward when the pellet passes through the kill zone. Miss the hole or clip the edge, and the target stays standing.

  • Position: Mostly shot from seated positions (often on the ground), but some stages require standing or kneeling shots.

Each lane contains multiple targets at unknown distances, adding a mix of precision and problem-solving to every shot.

Equipment and Rifles

  • Rifles: .177 or .22 caliber pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles are most common. Spring-piston rifles are also used in a separate “springer” class.

  • Scopes: High-magnification optics (often 30–60x) with adjustable parallax are essential for rangefinding and precise aiming.

  • Ammunition: Match-grade pellets are chosen for uniformity and consistency.

  • Accessories: Shooting cushion, knee pad, and range card for recording target distances and holds.

Many rifles are tuned for maximum accuracy and consistency at subsonic velocities, typically limited to 12 or 20 foot-pounds of energy, depending on match rules.

Classes of Competition

Most Field Target events are divided into equipment-based classes:

  • Open Class: High-end PCP rifles with advanced scopes.

  • Hunter Class: Lower-magnification scopes (max 16x) and fewer adjustments between shots.

  • Springer Class: Rifles powered by a spring piston — more challenging due to recoil and movement.

Tips for Success in Field Target

  1. Learn to Range with Your Scope: Use the parallax adjustment to estimate distance accurately — it’s the heart of the game.

  2. Know Your Trajectory: Record pellet drop data for every 5-yard interval out to 55 yards.

  3. Read the Wind: Watch vegetation, mirage, and pellet flight to gauge crosswinds.

  4. Build a Stable Position: A solid seated stance minimizes wobble and fatigue.

  5. Be Consistent: In Field Target, precision comes from repeatable technique and good data, not guesswork.

Why Shoot Field Target?

Air Rifle Field Target is a fun, challenging, and affordable precision shooting sport. It combines the satisfaction of reactive targets with the technical skill of long-range shooting — all in an accessible format you can enjoy at local clubs or in your backyard.

It’s also a great cross-training sport for rimfire and centerfire shooters, sharpening range estimation, holdover, and wind-calling skills.

Creedmoor Sports carries the equipment you need for Field Target, from shooting coats and gloves to bumbags and pellets. Get the gear that helps you hit every target.