TargetTalk

Hi all, first post....

What is the purpose of the shooting jackets? (and pants and shoes)

My research so far has indicated that the coat can not help prop you up, and has to be meaurably loose.

The only thing I can figger is it keeps heart beat from transferring to the rifle......

thanx
dan

In prone (and kneeling) shooting the jacket supports the sling, so that it does not sag. This means that the sling does not have to be tourniquet-tight around the arm to stay up. It also spreads the weight of the rifle from the upper arm across your back, so you tire less quickly. There is also an amount of padding on the elbows and non-slip material (usually textured rubber) to make life alittle more comfortable.

For standing, I believe the jacket does offer some support. For ISSF shooting there are restrictions on how tight and stiff the jacket can be, but these do still allow for support. All serious shooters will use a jacket for these reasons.

As for trousers and shoes, the trousers are primarily used for standing and kneeling, prone-only shooters don't need them. The trousers have zips at the back to allow the legs to be bent for kneeling, and and also padded on the seat so the heel doesn't dig into your bottom too much. There is also non-slip rubber on the knees.

For standing the trousers offer support to the lower back. About five years ago the ISSF considered banning trousers, which was vociferously opposed by shooters. Doctors working for the DSB (German Shooting Federation) reported that banning trousers could bring cause back injuries especially in younger and older shooters.


Tim S
Exeter UK

Guest wrote:In prone (and kneeling) shooting the jacket supports the sling, so that it does not sag. This means that the sling does not have to be tourniquet-tight around the arm to stay up.

It also isolates the sling and, to a lesser degree, the gun as well from the shooter's pulse and breathing. In prone, sitting and kneeling, only the top of the jacket is buttoned (or buckled if you're using an NRA-style coat in, e.g., a high power match.) Buttoning too tightly in those positions is counter-productive because then it will transmit the shooter's pulse and breathing, making it harder to get the gun to settle down for each shot.

Also, the coat has non-slip patches on the elbows, which helps in prone because they stick to the patches on your mat and in sitting and kneeling by sticking to the patches on your knees.

For standing, I believe the jacket does offer some support. ... All serious shooters will use a jacket for these reasons.

You bet. It's nearly impossible to be competitive in a rifle event without a shooting coat.

As for trousers and shoes, the trousers are primarily used for standing and kneeling, prone-only shooters don't need them. ... There is also non-slip rubber on the knees.

The non-slip rubber is really helpful. In both sitting and kneeling, it makes a huge difference to be able to be able to rest an elbow on your knee and not have it move. Patches on your knees also help in prone, especially in high power, where the recoil of the gun can be enough to push your whole body. In NRA high power, where stiff leather pants aren't allowed, but non-slip rubber patches are, the patches are THE reason to have shooting pants.

Kinda what I figured for the heartbeat, but was not aware of the sling help a jacket give you.

thanx again

dan