left hand postion in standing

[Johan]

I want to change my shooting position, but before doing so I want to make sure I don't make a mistake.

I have been shooting with the rifle on my fist for a long time now, but it gives me big problems. I am relativley tall with a short torso and long arms. The problem is that I want to shoot with my left arm close to me, but when I shift my fist closer, the barell is pointing to the heavens, to conponsate I have tried everything, nl. lowering the butplate to the max alowable issf air rifle rules and even made a lower razor block for my fwb700alu, but the aliminium rib under the rifle only enable to lower a maximum of 8mm which is not enough.

I have been thinking and trying out shooting the rifle on my plam, it solves a lot of problems I have, but I want to know the up and downside of the position.

One other thing, the air rifle rules say that a plam rest is not allowed. Now when is something a razor block and when is it a plam rest? If I make my own razor block for my rifle that fit into the issf dimesions and that are to anatomicaly formed, will it be allowed, I have been thinking about one that almost look like Katy Emmons's, but a lot smaller of coarse.

Any help will be apreciated!

Thank you

Johan

[peepsight]

I have seen some shooters with the same problems as you remove the fore end completely. This does lower the front end considerably and you can still maintain the fist support and good butt adjustment in the shoulder.

The ISSF dimensions for depth, top of barrel to the underside of the fore end support must not be more than 90-mm, so anything less than this is OK.

Take your fore end support off and try it.

Peepsight

[xcrunner8k]

you should try taking the thing off first like peepsight said. i use a palm-up position similar to matt emmons and it is very stable, though it will feel very weird at first. i keep the wrist mostly under the rifle... too far to the side doesn't offer enough support for me.

be careful with making your own block. there is a maximum width rule (which escapes me) and it may not be anatomically formed. i don't really know what that means, but you're safe just making a straight block and that will be sufficient. make one out of cheap wood at first and see what dimensions you really want, then make a final product.

[peepsight]

Often shooters use a palm position to lower the rifles muzzle and often a fist position to raise it. This some times forces you to use a hand position that is not the best or most comfortable. You are using a compromised hand position to attain a good rifle elevation.

If you removed the fore end and either made up a new one that's smaller in depth or not one at all, you may then still be able to use your favourite hand position while maintaining the desired rifle position.

Peeps

[Johan]

Thank you very much for all the replies!

I have tried removing the razor block, the problem is that the FWB700ALU has an aluminium rib that stretches a couple of inches. It is only about 1 inch thick, so I have to put my fist in front of it and then I have the same problem.

I have started experimenting with different positions and the most comfortable one is definitely the same as Matt's, maybe a little different, but very close.

I made a spelling mistake, I meant one that are not anatomically formed. I want to make a much shorter razor block than the standard one that is going to fit into the rules, my biggest fear is that if I one day shoot at a international comp. they are not going to allow my razor block. I think ISSF must make themselves more clear regarding that rule.

One last question, do you feel pulse beat when you shoot on the palm?

Thanks

[robf]

no, because it should be rested on the wrist joint/bone, rather than the palm.

The palm doesn't carry much pressured pulse anyway... try feeling for one in that area :D

If you carry it too far into the palm you will run into problems with support consistency.

[jhmartin]

Johan .... if you make one yourself that allows the rifle to be lower on target, you should be within the ISSF rules. As you noted it cannot be anatomically formed.

What does that mean? If you were to take a mold of your hand/glove and transfer that to the razor block, that would not be allowed. If you sanded in finger grooves, I'd say that's not allowed either.
If you just sand the edges down, that's OK.