Posted by Jay Buckler on March 06, 2000 at 18:35:39:
I am about to spring for a better shooting coat.I don't mind paying up
to $400.00 for a jacket but would also like some pants. #1 Does leather
offer much advantage over cordura? Is it cooler? #2 Are leather pants
necessary for kneeling since that is the only position they are used in?
Would cordura suffice for that position? #3 I can't kneel on my knees
any longer. I noticed in the rule book alternate positions can be
petioned for with a letter and picture from a doctor. Can sitting be
substituted for kneeling? Thanks all.
Posted by Rich in Ks on March 06, 2000 at 22:01:57:
I don't think I have any answers but maybe more questions. I have a Champions Choice Leather coat on the way. I know its not the best but better than my 40 year old 10X canvas. ... I too have had some trouble with kneeling but fortunately through daily dry firing I've got to a pain free point. I cann't shoot with running shoes as it hurts my foot and ankle. So I wear 8 inch boots. Legal for NRA but not for ISU. I have been considering square toed ISU legal shoes but they are expensive. I thought the square toe would add stability. I tried screwing a square piece of metal to the toe of my right boot. I could not see any help. Further I discovered I could get more stability just buy adjusting my position and working on it. ... I doubt if sitting would be a substitute as its much steadier than kneeling. Why don't you go to the NRA web site and send them a question. I'm sure they have ran into this before many times. If you get an answer let the list know. I may need it before long. ... Rich
Posted by Cjim on March 07, 2000 at 06:45:17:
If you are concentrate on UIT (ISSF) type of shooting. European suppliers like Anschutz and Gehmann both are good chocies. Their catalogue also give advises on what to measure in order to give a good fit jacket and pants.
Try search their website and check it out yourself.
Posted by Rich in Ks on March 08, 2000 at 10:24:43:
I suggested earlier checking the NRA web site. But I found nothing there. In checking the rule book as you referenced I see you can get a temporary substitute position with a medical letter of disability to shoot the next more difficult position. Thus you could shoot standing in place of kneeling. ... For a permanent solution you could find a substitute position or special equipment or both and send pictures to the NRA Protest committee. It doesn't say how to contact them though. Perhaps rather than you submit to them your solution you could contact them by calling NRA headquarters and request some information on solutions they have approved for other shooters in your predictament. That may give you some things to try and then you could pick what suits your needs best and submit your application.
Posted by Phillip Reedy on March 08, 2000 at 10:59:22:
Just wanted to send a few comments on your questions. #1. Leather is probably more durable in the long run, but the canvas coats provide great performance for the money spent. There are a lot of high-level shooters out there that just use cloth jackets. I doubt that one material would be cooler than the other, since the canvas coats are woven quite tightly. If you anticipate shooting in warm/hot conditions, you should look into the coats that have a mesh back panel.
#2. Pants are used in the other positions, as well as kneeling. Pants give you a measure of lower abdominal support in the standing position, and are therefore quite useful in that position. The usefulness of leather in kneeling is the same as for the other positions, i.e. durability, but that also means that cloth/canvas is just fine too.
#3. Sorry, can't help you there....
I know of many shooters who do just fine with cloth jackets/pants. It's nice to have leather, but it certainly isn't needed. My feeling is that if you have a limited amount of money to spend, that it's better to buy a set of good cloth pants and jacket, rather than a nice leather jacket and no pants.
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