TargetTalk

Hi,I am new to the forum and am seeking advice from the experts.

I am from the UK and normally shoot Air Rifle FT & HFT but have recently bought a superb Anschutz LG380 Match rifle for use in 7 yard Bell Target competitions.

Normally,these type of competitions are shot informally at pubs & clubs in the Midlands of the UK - and some take it very seriously,using the latest 10M Match air rifles and Target Jackets.

Now to the main point of the post - I have bought a double canvas Anschutz Jacket and have been using it fairly regularly for around 3 months but it is quite uncomfortable - Fits well enough for an off the peg jacket but as it is still extremely stiff & pinches slightly under the arms and in the elbow joint - My question is will the jacket loosen up much or is there any way I can accelerate the breaking in period?

Last resort would be to take a knife to the jacket and trim the excess canvas in the pinch point areas and stitch it back up ( We dont shoot to international standard and there is no restriction on clothing specification etc...)

Any advice would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks

Mac

Is it pinching when you are in the shooting position holding the rifle, or does it pinch when you have your arms down by your sides.
It's just a lot of people put the jacket on and have their arms down and say it's tight/pinching etc, they aren't cut like any normal jacket so can feel that it's tight under the arm shoulders when your not in position.
The jacket will break in after a while and soften slightly, sort of molds eventually to your body shape, but if it's pinching badly now it may always pinch unfortunately.
Have you got an adjustable shoulder strap, if so is it pulled up too tight, as a lot of new shooters tend to overtighten these to try and get the butt to fit in the shoulder and this can cause the jacket to pinch across the shoulders and under the arm.
Without seeing you in the jacket it's a bit hard to give you anymore advice I'm afraid.

forgot to say, what do you wear under the jacket, I tend to wear a shooting jumper which pads out the areas in touch with the stiff canvas and helps with the comfort, unfortunately if your jackets tight now and you only wear something thin it's not going to be much help

Thanks for the replies - It's pinching whilst in the shooting position unfortunately - I have tried it with a thin long sleeve T shirt underneath and then a cotton hoody but cannot get a comfortable fit.

It appears that there is too much overlap of the canvas in the underarm & elbow joints where the stretchy material is and it bunches up,causing the discomfort.

I have thought about unpicking the stitching so I can get inside the joints and trim back the excess canvass but chickened out as it may be difficult to stitch back together neatly.

If you cut the jacket you wont be able to stich it back together by hand or on a standard sewing machine.

To have it done properly talk to Pippa Taylor of Tenpointnine tailoring. She IS the best in the UK for shooting related clothing alterations. Beware tho she is very much in demand.

Based in Wolverhampton.

http://www.tenpointnine.com/


cheers

Remmy

P.S im also in nottingham happy to advise anytime.

Thanks Remmy