Field Target
Outdoor air rifle shooting at steel animal-silhouette targets hidden across a woodland course at unknown distances — combining precision marksmanship with range estimation and fieldcraft.
Field Target (FT) is an outdoor air rifle discipline that simulates hunting scenarios. Shooters engage steel animal-shaped targets at varying distances (8–50 metres) from different shooting positions — prone, kneeling, standing, and seated. Hit the “kill zone” (a hole 15–45 mm in diameter at the centre of the silhouette) and the target falls backwards with an audible clang, providing instant feedback.
Pinhoe TSC specialises in indoor target shooting and does not offer field target courses. This page provides educational information about the discipline. For field target in Devon and the Southwest, use the BFTA club finder to locate courses near you.
No Firearms Certificate required for sub-12 ft/lbs rifles in England and Wales (Scottish shooters require an Air Weapon Certificate).
FT and HFT
Field Target (FT) is the standard format. Any position is allowed. Adjustable parallax scopes are permitted for range-finding. Targets are typically set at unknown distances between 8 and 50 metres. Most popular format in the UK; governed by the British Field Target Association (BFTA).
Hunter Field Target (HFT) is more challenging. No adjustable parallax scopes are allowed — range estimation must be done by eye or using mil-dot reticle calculation. Positions are usually standing or kneeling rather than prone. The format more closely simulates practical fieldcraft.
Other variants include Vintage Field Target (pre-1980s rifles), Pistol Field Target (air pistols, shorter distances), and Air Rifle Silhouette (standing offhand at metal animal shapes).
Range finding
Parallax method (FT): Adjust the parallax wheel until the target image is crystal-clear, then read the distance from the calibrated wheel markings. This is the standard approach in FT — accurate but requires a correctly calibrated scope.
Mil-dot bracketing (HFT): Measure the kill-zone diameter in mil-dots through the reticle, then calculate: Distance = (kill-zone size in mm ÷ mils measured) × 1000. Requires knowing the kill-zone size (which is declared in the course booklet) and practice to execute under pressure.
Equipment
Entry level (£400–£800): Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles such as the Air Arms S410, Weihrauch HW100, or Daystate Huntsman. PCP is strongly recommended over spring-piston for consistency.
Intermediate (£800–£1,500): Daystate Air Ranger, Air Arms EV2, Steyr LG110 FT. Better consistency and trigger adjustability; competitive at regional level.
Competition (£1,500–£3,000+): Daystate Red Wolf, Thomas FT, Air Arms Ultimate Sporter. Electronic regulation, match barrels, custom stocks.
Scopes: 10–50× variable with side-focus parallax wheel. Good glass is important for low-light woodland shooting. Budget £200–£1,500.
Accessories: adjustable shooting sticks for seated shots, pellets matched to your rifle (test as for benchrest), kneeling pad, waterproofs for outdoor shooting, and a chronograph to confirm you are shooting within the 12 ft/lbs limit.
UK competition
Club level: Monthly shoots on local courses, typically 30 targets. Entry £10–£20.
BFTA Regional Grand Prix: Series of events across each region with graded classes (C, B, A, AA). Entry £20–£30.
BFTA National Championships: Weekend event, usually held in June, with multiple courses. The best field target shooters in the UK compete. Entry £30–£50.
World Championships: The World Field Target Federation (WFTF) holds the World Field Target Championships biennially. GB team selection is via national performance.
Not offered at Pinhoe TSC
Pinhoe TSC specialises in indoor range disciplines. If you are interested in air rifle shooting indoors, we offer:
- 10m Air Rifle — standing position, indoor
- Prone Air Rifle — lying position, 20–25 yards
- Air Rifle Benchrest — supported seated, 25 yards indoors
Our Give it a Go programme lets you try indoor air rifle for £50 across three sessions.