TargetTalk

I am looking at getting back into three position rimfire and air rifle shooting. I borrowed a jacket years ago - don't remember the brand but it was canvas. My questions are what are the advantages and disadvantage between leather and cordura, is a hard back better for standing and a disadvantage for prone, are the Creedmoor jackets worth the extra cost over a Freeland from Champion? Also, are the older leather Hawkeye jackets worth considering.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

That's a difficult one, canvas gives much better support in the standing position, where as its not so important for prone.

Some of the very latest synthetic material shooting clothing which is huge money are more suitable for all 3 positions than just canvas, leather or a combination of both. Whichever way, there has to be some sort of compromise and trade off between one position and another.

I do know a few shooters who have a prone jacket for prone and a stiff canvas jacket for standing and kneeling. Could prove expensive.
Seek advice from other shooters/coaches and clothing dealers.
Peeps

Well over the past 2 years I have gone through 4 jackets so far and a couple pairs of pants.

As peepsite mentioned, a good canvas jacket is important for the standing position in particular as it offers the support necessary. On the other hand it is not necessarily needed in the prone position where the sling holds the majority of the weight and can hinder with the overall comfort. I was using a canvas jacket before I got my new one and it worked well overall - took me to youth commonwealth games and I won the national junior title in 3p and prone with it but I still did not feel like it offered the support necessary for standing.

My latest jacket and pants are the anschutz scorpion fusion line. Overall I really reallly like these. Perfect fit just about everywhere, and supportive where they need to be, etc. These are made out of the newer synthetic materials in some places (back, top of pants and a bit on the front of the jacket) and canvas and leather in other places. As I mentioned, these are really nice - the nicest suit I have come across so far IMO which includes the thune, etc but they are quite expensive. For just starting out again I don't know if it would be the best choice just because of the cost.

Whats your price range for a new outfit?

Well if your planning on shooting both .22 and air an international style jacket may be the best option. Creedmoor coats are very good coats.
the advantages of Creedmoor is you can get a mesh option that alows it to vent for warm weather use. I have owned 4 coats in my shooting history and the latest is a creedmoor. it has leather arms and a Cordura body with vents. A full leather coat will definately do the same job.
as for hard back coats ... I don't think its leagal in Air rifle.
I would not eliminate the used coat option my 2nd coat was a used Champion leather and it worked well until it shrunk (i really gained weight). You could allways buy used and resell once your more definate on your direction.

"little_doodie"
as for hard back coats ... I don't think its leagal in Air rifle.

By hard back I thought the original poster was referring to a harder canvas or synthetic material which is completely legal in air rifle - as long as they pass the appropriate stiffness/thickness checks (which most of the manufactured coats/pants do). For ISSF anyway, the rules for jackets and pants are the same in air rifle as they are in prone/3p, etc.

I think the "hardback" is a Creedmoor term on there High power style coats that have take up straps etc.

I could be wrong?

little_doodie wrote:I think the "hardback" is a Creedmoor term on there High power style coats that have take up straps etc.

I could be wrong?

Ahh, ok, just did a search and there was a "hardback" shooting coat.

http://www.creedmoorsports.com/store/pr ... t=0&page=1

In which case these would not be allowed for ISSF as you mentioned.