TargetTalk

So here is the problem...For years a good Creedmore light codura jacket has sufficed for shooting both high power and smallbore. Now this 60 year old back of mine says "enough" and after about five minutes standing creates sciatic pain (right leg) and irritates the lumbar discs. This makes for a sometimes very uncomfortable session of standing to shoot. I have consulted with my doctor, had the xrays and MRI's, he says there is age related degeneration but nothing requiring an operation. I had an epidural injection that made a big diference for the sciatica and I exercise with a pilates ball and free weights nearly everyday for back therapy.
Yesterday I experimented with a little extra back support by slipping a 10" x 14" piece of stiff cardboard in the back of my shooting coat. This made a radical difference! My old hold returned and 9 and 10's on the A-36 target were in my sights for the taking. Now this is probably not legal for any competition but I am planning to do some more experimenting with the cardboard stiffener in practice...maybe use a piece of carpet as an alternative. At least I won't return home from a practice session wondering if it is time to give up shooting. I always wondered why folks ended up benchrest shooting...and now in Europe they have this new standing with support for senior shooters. It would be great to stay in the game a little longer without resorting to alternate support devices. Has anybody else done any experimenting along these lines? Please report. Also, please recommend a good shooting clothing advisor. If I wanted to buy a reinforced jacket that was legal (NRA), who knows the limits and can recommend a proper coat? The folks at Creedmore have always been great to work with...I am thinking of talking to them.TIA[/b]

Hi coolcruiser

There have been a few threads recently on this subject, however, i suggest you go down your sports shop [one that specialises in Gym and weight lifting equipment] and get a lumbar support belt. I use one in the standing position and it has given me a new lease of life as i am over 60.
The one i recommend is made in the US and has velcro fastenings and has some vertical bones in the material to support the lower back.
They are called LP Support and come in 3 sizes. So try on before purchase.

Check how far apart your feet are as too far apart can induce leg and back pain. Shoulder width apart is about right.

The veterans class for air rifle where the muzzle is rested on a stand seems to be only done in Germany but i may be wrong. Its not pure bench rest but half way which must be good for us oldens. The competitions are normally over 40 shots not 60 and scores of 390 + are quite common.

My own national shooting body the NSRA don't seem interested but then they are still in the last century.

Peepsight