Over 100 air rifle and air pistol competitors are expected for the Crosman All-American Field Target Championship (CAAFTC) at Rochester Brooks International Skeet and Trap Club on July 8-10. Core members of Team USA will be highlighting the event as will Rossi Morreale, host of television’s American Airgunner. The event is free for the public to attend.
The CAAFTC is sanctioned by the American Air Gun Field Target Association and is a featured AAFTA Grand Prix event. The 120-shot match has competitive rifle divisions based on allowable gun and support equipment. Major differences include:
- Hunter Division - rifle fires at a maximum 20 foot pounds of energy (FPE), shooter may use a non-attached bipod, non-restrictive clothing, and sitting stool.
- Open - maximum 20 FPE rifle, shooter may wear a body harness, no bipod, 6”maximum height seat.
- World Field Target Federation (WFTF) - similar to Open but shooters compete according to international standard of maximum 12 FPE for rifles.
- Freestyle - 20 FPE rifle, no other restrictions.
The pistol competition includes similar divisions based on shooting styles. Both rifle and pistol divisions include sub-classes based on the air rifle powerplant: piston driven or precharged pneumatic.
Leo Duran, Chairman for AAFTA, will be competing in the WFTF Piston division. Joining Duran from Team USA is Matt Brackett of Massachusetts, who finished second in the WFTF Piston World Championship last year in Lithuania, by a single point. Greg Sauve of Wisconsin, also of Team USA and the 2013 WFTF World Champion for the Veteran age class, will be back to try to add to his 2012 and 2014 CAAFTC titles.
The CAAFTC is a headlining event for the Crosman National Field Target Series and many nationally ranked shooters will be attending. Scores logged in the CAAFTC count towards the National Series and participation earns additional bonus points. Craig Evans of Pennsylvania won the CAAFTC Pistol Hunter title in both 2013 and 2014 and is currently ranked fifth in the country in the Crosman National Series. Shooters who compete in both rifle and pistol qualify for the top award of All-Around. Glenn Thomas of New York, ranked second for the Crosman National Series All-Around, will be competing in the CAAFTC for a chance to close the gap on Randy Ebersole of Oregon, the current leader. Sixteen shooters ranked in the Crosman National Field Target Series will be competing in the CAAFTC.
“If you want to see some of the country’s finest air gun shooters, this is the hottest event of the summer and it’s free for the public,” says Chip Hunnicutt, marketing manager for Crosman. “Alongside the world-class shooters, we’ll have enthusiasts simply having a good time and even parents bringing their kids for some good fun outdoors.”
The weekend begins on Friday, July 8 with the PyramydAir Gunslynger match followed by the Quigley Bucket Challenge. Additional details, directions and a competitor roster is available online at www.crosman.com/connect/crosman-field-target-championship.
