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FT Blog: Field Target fashion

FT Blog: Field Target fashion

London has its Fashion Week, New York, Milan and Paris also! Each is renowned for their style and contribution to the fashion industry, if you are into that kind of thing. Field Target on the other hand doesn’t have a fashion week, it doesn’t need one and FT shooters can be found strutting their stuff on the firing line, our own equivalent of the catwalk, every Sunday.

Now it is all well and good having your designer rifle prancing around the FT circuit waving about Steyrs, Air Arms, Walthers etc., and don’t believe for one minute either that because you keep your rifle in a case between lanes you aren’t showing off! You know people will only be more curious to see what you so casually hide. But anyway it isn’t all about the main event, it is how you accessorise that can make or break the look. To complete the 2015 FT ‘look’ read on.

FURNITURE FADS

The biggest and most obvious statement you can make is a change of stock. It’s quite probable that no one will remember your old one but they’ll certainly notice a new one. Wood laminate still seems to rule the roost and the liberal use of colour is the way to go. Drab laminates consisting of shades of brown are out, there is such a choice of colours and themes now you can really let your imagination run wild. A word of caution, once you have carefully selected a colour scheme don’t skimp on the quality of the workmanship, it will show, the work of Gary Cane sets a benchmark here. Also, and to ensure you’ll be noticed, plump for a high gloss lacquer finish. As for the style there seems to have been a trend in recent years towards larger, chunkier pieces of wood and this doesn’t look like changing soon.

A shiny new stock is quite an investment to make and not therefore an option for everyone. So what if you are quite happy with your current woodwork but are feeling a little left out? Well what about a custom finish to refresh things a little? A quick search through magazine adverts or the internet will give you plenty of choices for a professional job with more finish options than you can shake a stick at. If budget is still an issue or you are plain tight (like me), or the urge takes you, you could always break out the spray cans. I have seen many brilliant amateur stock refinishing efforts and just as many bad ones, you make the choice and you take the risk.

GETTING HOOKED

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Multi-adjustable butt hooks have been a favourite of the FT shooter for years now and it is easy to see why. They are easy to fit, look great (in a technical sort of way) and while not exactly cheap can be found for a reasonable outlay. It could also be the case that they even serve a practical purpose. New models do appear on rifles from time to time but the old favourite from System Gemini is by far the most popular. FT being what it is though means enough is never quite enough so for 2015 get extreme and add a few parts to your butt hook so it looks more like something that is going to try and eat your shoulder.

You don’t need to make things bigger to be noticed , think along the lines of an understated piece of jewellery that just brings things together as a whole. The wind indicator shouldn’t be just a length of tape from an old cassette (remember those) wedged in the filler cover. It should be bright and feathery, dangling from a brightly polished purpose made swing-out arm.

PULLING POWER

Trigger blades are easily fitted on most rifles too, even if this is the only thing you do replace it shows serious intent to those ‘in the know’, after all the trigger is such an important point of contact. For this season go for something tactical looking such as those produced by Maestro Design for a nice contrast against your shiny stock. These particular items are 3D printed too so you’ll feel bang up to date with the latest ‘tech’ and you can tell everyone so.

MOUNT UP

The monster telescopic sights that sit atop most FT rifles I don’t think can be classed as accessories, they are such an essential part of the set up needed for what we do! But of course that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own little accessories to make them stand out from the crowd.

Starting with how you mount your scope and you really aren’t going to look like a serious FT contender unless you fit a rail between your rifle and mounts. Any rail should fit seamlessly as to become almost invisible as a separate component. Mounts can be fairly utilitarian items, purely functional but a timeless look can be achieved even here with the use of stainless steel Allen bolts as opposed to the run of the mill black. Moving on to turrets and it is time to think big again! Although there is a fine line between stylishly oversize and the ridiculous that makes people think you just can’t see, which in turn begs the question as to whether or not you should be allowed to shoot!

I may have been a little flippant with my fashion guide but I think it is fair to say that most FT shooters take a lot of pride in, and gain a lot of pleasure from, their equipment. Nothing wrong with that; it is part of the fun of shooting to be nosey and see what changes people make to their kit. Most of the changes that people make are generally born of a practical need and desire to improve overall performance, the fact that things quite often look good (because of some thought put into the design) is a nice bonus. I like my kit to look ‘just so’ I won’t deny it, but for 2015 I’m going to try and let my shooting do the talking.

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  • FT Blog: Field Target fashion - image {image:count}

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  • FT Blog: Field Target fashion - image {image:count}

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  • FT Blog: Field Target fashion - image {image:count}

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