Does a shooting jacket offer significant advantages to a FT shooter?
I’d like to perform as well as I can, but also do not want to stand out as some sort of self-aggrandizing quasi professional when I am anything but.
Appreciate any input.
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Worrying about how you look is a ridiculous waste of energy. The accessories you use are really a personal choice and different people feel differently about them. Once you get past the basics the accessories can help. Most of the time I do use a shooting jacket and it does help, more so with the forced position shots(standing mostly). Lots of people use slings which help if used properly. I don't use a sling most of the time because it is just one too many things to fiddle with. Way back in the dark ages we shot standing in tee shirts but these days all of the accessories can help.
It's all up to you and how much money and effort you want to put into the sport.
Rick B.
Thanks Rick...I come from a sport that is all about rules for everything, esp how one looks! Kind of a joke but there’s even a rulebook called Velominati, take a minute to look at a few of the rules, pretty funny but there’s definitely truth to it as well.
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
Cheers,
Rod
Just a FYI and you probably already know. The only class you can't use a shooting jacket is in Hunter class.
I think all the top FT shooters wear and use a shooting jacket. It helps with stability and reducing the transference of body movement to the rifle.
If it adds a couple of points to your score then it's worth it .... personally I find mine most useful for the forced positional shots, offhand and kneeling.
My advice is to get one that fits you properly, and has ventilation flaps at the sides. Mine is a simple creedmore stiff fabric one ... $90 if I remember rightly , but it certainly helps my game or I wouldn't use it.
Pics of me shooting at last years Nationals .... but even with the jacket I still managed to miss one ! 3 out of 4 isn't bad I suppose ! Continued safe shooting to you.
Heck ya it helps. I shoot hunter class so I can't wear one but during the winter season when some of our shoots started at below freezing temps, I put on an old "Freezer Suit" from back when I worked for a living. It seems that old freezer suit had shrunk considerably and I had a heck of a time getting the zippers shut. First thing I noticed was how much less "wiggle" I had in my sight picture. Then when we got to the "forced position" lanes I thought, Dam, I need to wear this all the time. But I figured it would look a little funny wearing a "Freezer" suit in July so I haven't tried it yet.
Rod, when we get together at the match on the 14th, you can try my Creedmoor hard back coat to see the adantages. You don't need to spend the $500 for a hardback. The standard coat will help.
The advantages for the coat, besides steadying the positional shots, is a reduction of your pulse in the seated position too.
Jackets do help. The difference in my personal bests in Open Class (allows a harness) with and without jacket is 2 points. One reason why I chose open class was so in hot weather I could just use the harness. However at Nationals or a GP count on other shooters wearing a jacket no matter how hot it is as the match will be "hotly contested". Some shooters just drop their jacket off at the standing lane.
I’d recommend the Creedmoor non hardback version, it has all the support you’ll need and is cooler and lighter. I have both and find myself using the lighter one more.
Greg
If you want a less expensive way to try a shooting jacket, you may consider the Champions Choice NRA style jacket for $85. http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetailOptions&item=2002B30
Yeah, I just pulled the trigger on one of those - Champion's Choice is just 16 minutes down the road from me in LaVergne, TN. -
Was gonna get the wife to measure me, but the lefty version is only available in four sizes.
Will post something when it arrives.
Cheap $80 same make as Champ Choice. Different Colors available.
Cheap $80 same make as Champ Choice. Different Colors available.
Nice find, Leo!
I received the Champ Choice jacket a few weeks ago, my first shooting jacket. Shortened the sleeves, cut off the sling harness and it seems very nice for the money. It remains to be seen if I'm wearing it when temps hit 100F.
Cheap $80 same make as Champ Choice. Different Colors available.
And it under "FASHION" at Amazon so there you go.....
Tags
Field Target · Shooting Jacket