Gun fit: An HFT shooter’s guide

I want to talk about something that’s often overlooked but is absolutely critical in HFT — and, to a lesser extent, FT too — and that’s gun fit.

Getting a rifle that suits your body, your shooting style and the discipline you’re competing in is essential.

Pick the wrong gun and you might not just be wasting money — you could be throwing away points every time you walk onto the course.

Why is gun fit important for HFT shooting?

Let’s start by busting a common myth: small shooters need small guns.

Rubbish. I’ve seen juniors like Jake Jones handle full-sized Steyrs like professionals, shooting the hind legs off a horsefly at 40 yards.

Equally, I’ve seen big lads rock up with tiny rifles and sweep the floor with the competition.

It’s not about size — it’s about fit.

When you pick up a rifle, it should feel right. Yes, a heavier rifle can offer more stability — especially with springers — and can certainly help in windy conditions.

But there’s a balance.

If you’re hauling it around a 30-shot course and your arms are jelly by the last peg, your performance will suffer.

Gun fit isn’t just about comfort, it’s about functionality across all of the shooting positions.

A good friend of mine, Rex Bennett, is the perfect example.

He was a springer man through and through, but eventually, cocking and carrying the rifle around started to ruin his day.

He switched to an HW100, and now he’s still shooting and enjoying the sport.

Pride is great, but it’s not worth sacrificing your back, your enjoyment or your scorecard over.

Match your rifle to the type of shooting you do

It’s not just about the rifle, it’s also about choosing the right discipline for your physical ability and preferences.

If mobility is an issue, have a look at benchrest. You shoot from a seated position, it’s highly technical and demands focus and precision.

If getting up and down into prone is tricky, FT might be a better fit.

Most FT shots are taken from a seated position on a cushion and FT allows you to dial in your scope — ideal if your eyes aren’t what they used to be.

But if you love crawling in the mud and thrive on adversity, then HFT is your calling.

Within HFT, you’ve got two styles: traditional HFT and stick shooting.

Stick shooters take every shot standing up and using a set of sticks for support.

Take Jean Greatrex, for instance. At nearly 75, she’s still shooting at the top of her game.

At the recent UKAHFT event at Womersley, she shot an incredible 54 using her Air Arms S400 — outshooting many younger, fitter competitors.

Her sticks carry the weight of the rifle, giving her the control she needs without fatigue.

Many stick shooters modify their rifles to work better with their sticks — and if this interests you, check out my video on the Shooting & Country TV channel called Alive and Sticking.

For those doing traditional HFT, you’ll be expected to shoot from a variety of positions: prone, kneeling, standing and supported.

And unlike FT, once that first shot is fired, there’s no adjusting your scope or rifle.

That’s why a good, adaptable fit is so important. Your rifle needs to work in every position — without any compromise.

How to adjust your airgun yourself

Rifles like the Air Arms XTi-50, Steyr FT and Daystate GP are popular for a reason. They’re adjustable — cheekpiece, butt pad, hamster — everything can be dialled in to fit the shooter.

A well-fitted stock won’t just make you more comfortable; it’ll make you more stable, more consistent and more confident.

Take Marc Stephenson, for example, shooting his Daystate Red Wolf in a PRS Grand Prix stock.

In the kneeling position, the rifle’s deep forend allows him to rest his forearm along his thigh, rather than relying on his elbows. This reduces muscle strain and creates a rock-solid base.

His cheekpiece is set so that his eye is perfectly in line with the centre of the scope — vital for reducing parallax error.

At the back, a wide PRS butt pad grips the shoulder and prevents slippage.

Every part of his set-up is there to make sure nothing moves unless he wants it to.

You will win HFT competitions with an airgun that fits you

Let’s also look at Geoff Ryder, shooting an HFT-500.

In prone, the rifle is supported by the ground at the rear, while the front hamster adds depth and lets Geoff grab the peg lower down, where it’s most stable.

Again, the cheekpiece ensures perfect eye alignment. With the weight biased toward the rear, it’s incredibly steady from prone.

Now go back to Marc for a supported standing shot. His butt pad is locked into his shoulder, eye alignment is still perfect, and his front hand is braced against a tree.

The hamster presses into his glove, helping him lean into the rifle. His glove stops his hand from moving, and the set-up stops the rifle from shifting side-to-side or front-to-back.

That’s intelligent gun fit — and it wins him valuable points.

Gun fit isn’t just about comfort — it’s about getting repeatable, stable shooting positions.

And sometimes, it’s better to buy a cheaper rifle and invest in a better stock than to chase the latest fancy kit.

A well-fitting rifle will score better than a high-end one that doesn’t suit you.

And if you’re feeling creative, be like Roy Pearce — he turned a piece of skirting board into a bespoke stock.

It might not win any beauty contests, but it fits him perfectly and helps him shoot to his best.

That’s what really counts.

Airguns that fit perform more consistently

The reason there are two pictures of Marc in this article (main picture and above) is simple — he’s the poster boy for proper gun fit.

When he first started shooting, he used a rifle that was accurate, but it didn’t fit him properly.

The cheekpiece was too low, which meant he often struggled to get his head in the correct position.

Watching him try to manipulate a rifle that wasn’t suited to him was painful — and his scores reflected that inconsistency.

However, once Marc switched to a rifle that fitted him correctly and focused on alignment and overall gun fit, everything changed.

He quickly became a major player at Maldon and is now regularly found at the top end of the results table.

Yes, Marc has put in the work to improve — but there’s no doubt that a well-fitted rifle has played a key role in his success.

Airguns that don’t fit are not as accurate as ones that do

In the world of HFT and FT, the margins are razor-thin.

One dropped point can cost you a place — or a trophy.

So why on earth would you give away accuracy and stability because your rifle doesn’t fit you properly?

Take the time to get your gun fitted to you. Adjust the cheekpiece. Fine-tune the butt pad. Tweak the hamster.

And if your rifle doesn’t let you do that, consider upgrading your stock — or switching rifles altogether.

Because in a sport where every point counts, gun fit isn’t a luxury: it’s a necessity.