SREM FT Derby Serbia - Supporting International Air Gunners in Serbia

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse

In an increasingly connected world, the bonds of shared interests and passions reach across borders, transcending boundaries, and uniting like-minded individuals from different corners of the globe. Target shooting, a sport known for its precision, discipline, and dedication, serves as a testament to this international camaraderie.

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse

At Optics Warehouse, we take immense pride in being a part of this global community. Today, we're thrilled to share with you an exciting venture with air gunning partners in Europe. We've sponsored a group of talented air gunners for a Field Target (FT) event in Serbia where competitors will come together to test their skills against the backdrop of the beautiful Serbian countryside.

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse

In this blog post, we'll delve into the thrilling world of Field Target shooting with first-hand insights into air gunning and pictures of the event.

The group we sponsor, all members of the Airgun Serbia (AGS) forum, are a relatively new field target community seeking to grow their numbers both locally and internationally. For their most recent competition, we sent them a range of different scopes and accessories to assist them in their mission to increase their members and host regular target shooting events, all for the love of the sport and the wider community.

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse

On the AGS forum, members commented that this was the best and most successful FT tournament that they have organized so far. The field itself was very thoughtfully laid out with a very logical arrangement and layout of the tracks and targets. There were targets in the woods, in the trees, on the flat... a true FT terrain setup. As accustomed, shots were fired at 25 positions with two targets per position making a total of 50 targets and 50 possible points. Everyone was full of enthusiasm and recognised the event as a great opportunity to gain shooting experience and socialize with like-minded friends.

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse

We caught up with Miodrag Jankov to ask some questions and get a firsthand look into their world. Here's what he had to say about the challenges, camaraderie, and the art of hitting the mark.

How did you first get involved in field target shooting?

It all began in 2022 when a group of shooting enthusiasts gathered and decided to give it a try. As it was a new thing at the time, there was no shooting range or any other necessary equipment. We managed to get the targets produced at small factory, assembled them and organized the first event in February 2023

What aspects of field target shooting do you find most enjoyable or rewarding?

Since field target differs quite a lot from what we used to do (bench rest), I guess the most rewarding thing is friendship and spending time in nature practising your hobby. Also, the sound you hear when you hit the target has become music to our ears!

Can you describe the equipment and gear you use for field target shooting?

Some of us have quite good complete setups, whereas others just have rifles which they use for bench rest competitions. The most popular are Walther LG400, Steyr FT, Anschutz and FWB. However, there are also FX, HW, Diana- mostly PCP’s.

The most popular scopes are Falcon T503 and 50x. However, quite a lot of people use Vector Optics Sentinel X. There are also some Deltas and Hawkes.

How do you choose your rifle, scope, and other accessories?

Most of the information we got online by looking at competitions, what other shooters around the world use and, of course, the very helpful reviews from OPW. Accessories are a different thing, some people make their own, some buy adjustable hamsters and other gadgets.

What scope are you currently using?

Currently, I use Falcon 50x as it provides very good parallax readings and I have got used to it.

What is your favourite FT scope and why?

This is a really difficult question to answer as I also use Sightron, Delta, Immersive but if it comes to FT then it must be Falcon.

Are there specific techniques or tips you would share with someone new to field target shooting?

Since we are all beginners in this sport, we are still not proficient marksmen and it would be difficult to advise anybody. However, the most important thing is to practise. The more you practise, the better you will be. One more thing– don’t change your setup all the time.

Can you share a particularly rewarding or memorable moment related to field target shooting?

It would probably be when we first gathered to compete. It was the opening of a new chapter in our hobbies, we really enjoyed it from the word “go” and my only regret is that we didn’t start it sooner.

How do you prioritize safety in field target shooting, both for yourself and others?

Safety is absolutely the most important thing in any shooting discipline and we feel that one cannot emphasise enough how critical it is. Before every event, we have a meeting to go through procedures which need to be respected at the range. We have never had any incidents and we want to keep it that way.

What advice would you offer to someone interested in getting started in field target shooting?

As I had previously mentioned, we are beginners ourselves so the most important thing for a beginner is to be prepared to learn and not to rush into buying new equipment immediately. You should start with what you've got and once you get the hang of it, you will know what you need. It is a journey of learning and training, not a sprint race.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Miodrag. We look forward to hearing more from you and the group soon. The group's future plans include monthly competitions, bringing in more competitors from abroad, more promotion and more engagement with the local community. We look forward to supporting the group in their future projects and maybe even entering a competition ourselves. Happy plinking guys!

SREM FT Serbia - Optics Warehouse