FTRPA's FT season 2026; Off with a great start

Falls Township Rifle and Pistol Association has been hosting FT matches for a long time.
In fairly recent times, the responsibility passed to John Stellwag and he has done a fantastic job juggling two different disciplines in his dutes as head of the "Adult Airgun" scene at FTRPA.

This last 17th of May, saw the first FT match of the 2026 season, and it was a great match.

Not too hard. With some challenges, but eminently "shootable". I would rate the "pucker factor" at around 7/10

I don't have official numbers, but it felt like a TDR of around 26-27, so, not hard.

Still . . . nobody cleaned it. LOL!

There were, IIRC, 16 or 17 entries (between Rifle and Pistol), and we all had a blast.

Winds were very low (though NOT non-existent)  and the main challenges were the dappled light spots of the forest canopy, and the heat. Temp in my scope rose to 97° F while in the sun (it only took a couple of minutes), and went down to 86 °F while in the shade and in the cooling breezes of the lake.

I had a great day, as I was finally able to track correctly the temp shift of my scope, I am using a Vector Optics Continental 6-30X56 FFP @ 16X, and it ranges real well. Taking a look at my temp strip just before taking the shot and correcting for that specific temperature gave good results.

But, enough talking! I know that y'all want to see the pictures. So, let's get the show on the road!

As any good match, it all starts with the MANDATORY, Shooters' Safety Meeting:

I was assigned to start at lane 8 (the farthest down the line)  because I was shooting "solo".
Yes, it is a bit annoying, but on the other hand, it did allow me the time to get pictures and track the temp. So, good learning opportunity!
As usual, we present the lane and then the detail of the targets:

Do you like my High Tech Shooting Sticks? LOL!

Clearly presented targets well within the alignment requirements.

Now we walk all the way back and look for lane 10, which was the offhand lane:

A detailed look at the targets:

Now, I'm hearing some of you shouting: "You skipped a lane!, You skipped a lane!, You forfeit all your points!"

Hmmm, well, yes, I skipped a lane, BUT under the direct instructions of the MD. Without questioning, without doubt. The MD is there for the welfare of everyone, so his decisions are not to be taken lightly. Sometimes we may not agree with them, but we all need to abide by them.

Once the lane 10 was done (missed 50% of my standers, :-(  )

​​It was time to shoot lane 9:

Beautiful lane on both sides of the tree (nothing BETWEEN the tree, LOL!)

See if you can find the third target. . . . 

Hint:
.
.
.
.
Way back to the right! A challenging shot due to the distance, and also because you had to choose your shooting position well.

From there, we went to lane 1:

This is the long lane at FTRPA. It is also the lane where little wind will create havoc because there is a road back there, JUST before the far target.

Can you see thje road? No?
Well, that is sort of the point.
You need to look for small hints of wind back there because the road behaves like a wind-tunnel, channeling a large volume of wind into a smaller opening, speeds can multiply by themselves easily.

After lane 1, we go to lane 2:

This lane is also long-ish, but it is a lane that tests scopes, this is why:

You see that Black Armadillo, with a dark grey KZ, just resting in the shade?
Well, it is a challenge when the day is bright, you are shooting from a bright spot, the target is in the shade, and there is little contrast between faceplate and KZ.
IF you "click" or have a FFP scope, the solution to the lack of resolution between KZ and faceplate is to reduce the magnification; something that even Hunter shooters can do, as long as when they reset the magnification they do not go past the 16X or immediately lower mark in their scopes.
Reducing the magnification should not affect the POI in a goof quality scope, and in a FFP scope, it will not affect the hold-offs.
I didn't have any problems resolving the KZ from the Faceplate, and that is an advantage of ED glass at the objective lens.
To ME, it is a bit annoying that some of the makers of the "top" scopes for FT are still resisiting the idea of using ED/HD/ULD glass for their objectives, but it is what it is.  Caveat Emptor and all that.

​After lane 2, we go to lane 3:

And, its detail:

Lane 4 presents the aspect that it is the first lane on the LEFT of the "path", and so, it is partially open to the winds from the lake:

The detail:

Lane 5 is again on the RIGHT of the Path:

Be careful not to mix the squirrels in this one!

Lane 6 returns to the LEFT:

That Weasel was a bit of a challenge for some.

​Lane 7 is on the right again:

Was the last lane for me:

Shooting the back rabbit was a bit of a challenge because there were various leaves and weeds that needed careful analyses and a careful placement of one's self to avoid obstacles in the pellet's path.

By the time I finished (rather fast, being by my lonesome self), people were still shooting:

All in all, a great day in the forest, with friends and our well loved sport.

Thanks to all that helped setup, takedown, and to all that attended, it makes the sport what it is: a great place full of great People!

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM