TargetTalk

The Air range at our club is separate from the main club house and as such doesn't receive any heating until we shooters arrive and switch on the portable heaters. Sadly it takes about an hour for the room temperature to rise to anything that could be considered warm.

When I was shooting a postal competition there last Monday evening I resorted to tucking my pistol hand up my jumper (minus the pistol obviously) for a few minutes following each card, just to achieve some degree of flexibility in my hand and finger muscles.

My first thought to address this particular problem was the chemical devices that fishermen, and other outdoor pursuit types, use to warm their hands during cold weather. However, these things heat for up to 8 hours, which seems a bit of a waste for my hour and a half, or two hours at the club.

I then found the device below on Amazon (where else?). It is rechargeable, heats up in 15 seconds, and can be switched off again when I've finished shooting.

My question to the group is: Are such devices permitted when shooting ISSF/NRSA competitions? (Live or Postal).

I thought I'd ask you guys as some smart Alec at the club will no doubt challenge its use... probably because he didn't think of it first! :)

Many thanks.

Zeddsded wrote:My question to the group is: Are such devices permitted when shooting ISSF/NRSA competitions? (Live or Postal).

I thought I'd ask you guys as some smart Alec at the club will no doubt challenge its use... probably because he didn't think of it first! :)

If anyone queries it, ask them to quote the rule number; then tell me because I can't think of one.

IMHO, 100% legal.

Thank you David,

I will let you know of any challenges... and indeed if it helps with my sub-zero shooting!

Cheers,

Jon

David Levene wrote:If anyone queries it, ask them to quote the rule number; then tell me because I can't think of one.

IMHO, 100% legal.

+1

Zeddsded, could you provide the link for that item? Thanks

My club range is bloody freezing as well at this time of year. I like the look of that, I may have to get myself one. Thanks for the tip.

No problem, the Amazon.co.uk link is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HotRox-Recharge ... rds=hotrox

It's not as cheap as the chemical variants, but I feel that it will be much more suited to the kind of use I'm looking for.

Cheers,

Jon

I use one of the old-school ones that runs on lighter fluid. Works great.

Zeddsded wrote:No problem, the Amazon.co.uk link is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HotRox-Recharge ... rds=hotrox

It's not as cheap as the chemical variants, but I feel that it will be much more suited to the kind of use I'm looking for.

Cheers,

Jon

I've ordered one from this seller. Whoopee! no more cold hands.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/HotRox-Recharge ... TWRDM9TOMM

Zeddsded wrote:No problem, the Amazon.co.uk link is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HotRox-Recharge ... rds=hotrox

It's not as cheap as the chemical variants, but I feel that it will be much more suited to the kind of use I'm looking for.

Cheers,

Jon

Thanks for this, I shoot at an outdoor range and what with cold and wind (the weather, not me) last weekend my scores dipped a bit. 20 yards with the LP10 was interesting. I'm just about to put and order in.

Cheers,

Mick

Our range is indoors, but bloody cold in the winter. I think I'm going to get one of those, too.

john bickar wrote:I use one of the old-school ones that runs on lighter fluid. Works great.

John have you had to change the tip (the catalytic burner as they call it) yet?
That looks very nice...

I have one like John's that I need to dig out and try. I have been using the chemical ones and have discovered that you should not buy them in bulk. They have a shelf life.

I've also been told that if you seal one up well enough, you can halt the reaction and save it for later, but I have discovered that "later" isn't very far into the future, or, my seal wasn't that good.

Like Mr. Bickar, I use a catalytic hand warmer. From my experiences with various brands of these things, the original Japanese "Peacock" remains the quickest and easiest to light. The entire shell heats up, unlike some of the battery-powered units which only heat on one side. Their 'Standard' unit fits a pocket nicely, but when the temps get below 40*F at my outdoor range I carry it under my jacket to keep my core temp comfy. If you just want to warm hands, the 'Mini' should be enough. They generate an incredible amount of heat for the small measure of fuel used. Less than a tablespoon of painter's naphtha will run the Standard for 16 hours. To turn it off when not needed, just lift the wick housing. They ship with a nifty valved funnel, too. Amazon sells it.

http://www.hakkin.co.jp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TwknUGh3K8

I then found the device below on Amazon (where else?). It is rechargeable, heats up in 15 seconds, and can be switched off again when I've finished shooting.

I've ordered one.
Have you had any problems charging it from the computer USB port ?
I have ordered a mains USB charger.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141431366548? ... EBIDX%3AIT

rmca wrote:John have you had to change the tip (the catalytic burner as they call it) yet?

No. I've been using it for 3 or 4 years, but only in the winter months.

You could probably make one from a snippet of Coleman lantern mantle, available at WalMart. No rooting through the wilds of the net trying to find such an item.

The handwarmers use a tiny bit of platinum plating as a catalyst.

Lantern mantles work on a different principle. They are also VERY fragile once you've lit them the first time. They use a metal oxide that glows white when heated by a flame, which you can't see, but it still there.

Awhile back after a very tough free pistol match in a town called Napier in the middle of winter I was somewhat inspired into a design.

Couldn't feel my finger, it was terrible. Shot a mediocre score - lots of 4s and 5s. I digress.

Essentially the essence of design was a felt lined mitt which attached to the TOZ with domes/double sided tape: supported by a sub-structure of plastic ribs.

In the interior of this felt lined mitt there would be motorcycle heat pad lattices - available from ebay for like 5 dollars.



12V at 10W - drawing .83A. Small 1-1.5 A/h SLA battery would do it.

Anyway - maybe this inspires someone?