Air Arms Multi-Faced Target Sprint Target

Outdoor airgun shooting has been around since 1980 and, with the steady rise of Field Target and latterly, Hunter Field Target shooting, there’s never been a better time to get involved. However, for those who wish to inject some serious athleticism into the equation, the relatively new discipline of Target Sprint is the answer.

Pulse racing

This exciting discipline requires the competitor to run and then shoot, and is not only good for our health, but it obviously makes for a great spectator sport too. Guns used are low powered target models, such as Air Arms’own MPR, fitted with dioptre sights, so rules keep things fairly standardised. Unlike Biathlon, where the shooter carries the rifle, Target Sprint sees the competitor take their gun from the rack, shoot, then leave the gun back in the rack and carry on running; so, safety isn’t an issue.

There are UK and International events, with the former requiring the competitor to run 400-metres, shoot five knock down targets, run another 400-metres, shoot five more knockdown targets, then run the last 400-metres to a finish. All the shooting takes place at 10-metres and is shot from the standing position. Each knock-down target disc is 49.5mm for National events, and this reduces to 35mm for International events. Try and shoot anything standing after a brisk run, and you’ll begin to grasp the challenge!

Top British manufacturer, Air Arms, has been the sport’s main sponsor in the UK, so it should come as no surprise that they now make and supply their own Target Sprint Target box, which is a high-grade unit, constructed of stainless steel for durability. In keeping with the sport’s requirements, the unit is a five-port target system and very neatly incorporates the two target sizes possibly required. Want to switch from one target size to the other? Then it’s a simple matter of removing and reconnecting the pivoting paddles.

Visible result

As the shot enters the aperture, the knock-down paddle inside falls, which then brings up the outer paddle to blank off that hole with a white plate. From the firing line, all the shooter sees is a black kill zone effectively disappear and turn white if the shot is accurate. It’s all wonderfully simple yet works brilliantly. The target box can be floor or wall mounted, and is remotely resettable from the firing line, via a waxed pull cord, which comes supplied.

At 13.4lbs, it’s clear that this Multi-Faced Target Sprint Target is a super robust unit, designed to withstand many years of competition and, as such, represents a sound investment for any club or organisation, looking to take up the Target Sprint Discipline. For more information about Target Sprint, check out targetsprint.com or britishshooting.org.uk