Shooting with a vest

[bugabob]

Recently bought a Hardscrabble vest (mesh with leather) and have used it one time which happened to be my first match. I wore a short sleeved shirt under it. I was a little disappointed in that the vest didn't seem to help steady my hold much at all.

It's as if my left arm (I'm a righty) needed some kind of tacky spray as it pressed up against the leather.

Would a long sleeve shirt help? Any other suggestions? Is this a dumb question?

Bob

[Dee]

Sounds defective I would send it back... Ha... Just kidding with ya. I don't think that the vest will improve your hold all that much, only practice will help improve your hold. Remember the vest is not holding the rifle you are holding it. The vest is just a way to try and get consistent repeatable placement of the buttpad on your shoulder and to help remove the visual movement in your scope from your pulse. It should also help to anchor your left elbow or back of your arm to your torso. Did you get your vest made with a rough suede patch in the area your arm rests against your side? You definetly do not want that contact point sliding around and shifting as you say is happening.

I also noticed you say this was your 1st match. So I wouldn't think to much into the vest performing or not just yet as you personally probably have a lot to learn and refine about your technique still yet to do. Then again people shoot for years and still can not always get their hold to be what they would like at any given time. Somedays you just feel like a granite post and other days you feel like a noodle waving around in the breeze.

Right now I use a mesh shotgun vest but I am thinking about getting measured in Winnie for a Hardscrabble vest as that is about the last thing I can get to aid me in some way.

Give yourself and your vest a few matches or a few years to come together. This is my 3rd year and I am just now thinking of a vest now that I am AAA in both rifles hopefully the vest will help me squeeze out a few more points.

Dee

[Innocent]

Dee has given a great answer. The vest helps you repeat shoulder placement and can help dampen the vision of the heat beat in the scope. It does not work like the attire worn in position or prone shooting. I have not shot with the Hardscabble mesh version, but have shot with some shotgun vests in the past and done quite a bit of silhouette with no vest. They are not as good as the thicker Hardscrabble or Sanchez vests but then some people do not do well wearing heavy clothing.
Also, continue trying to shoot without it and see if you notice the difference.

Dee...a vest will help you get in to the class of no trophies...not that that is bad, when you hit master class you really learn to BS!!!


Innocent Mary

[AZRifle]

Recently bought a Hardscrabble vest (mesh with leather) and have used it one time which happened to be my first match. I wore a short sleeved shirt under it. I was a little disappointed in that the vest didn't seem to help steady my hold much at all.

It's as if my left arm (I'm a righty) needed some kind of tacky spray as it pressed up against the leather.

Would a long sleeve shirt help? Any other suggestions? Is this a dumb question?

Bob

I "think" your main point was not stated well and what you made of it has been overlooked. Are you saying that your left arm is slipping as you are trying to hold it against the vest?

I am not familiar with the mesh type you are talking about but, I do have the all leather type. I know the all leather is very solid and does not give.
If you arm is not being held solid, my guess is it is the drawback on not having the all leather version. The mesh does not add to the support for the left arm like the leather provides.
There is a large difference from the leather to the mesh as far as left arm support but, there is also a large difference in price.

Jerry

[Jerry G]

The Hardscrabble mesh vest does have leather on the left side for a right handed shooter. It should give your support arm traction against your side. Keep in mind that a vest is NOT a shooting jacket. It only provides a 'grip' surface for the butt of your rifle and your supporting arm. It will NOT steady your rifle for you. It also provides you with enough pockets to carry all your stuff to the line.

[jneihouse]

I have both kinds, the full leather (I'm on my 3rd one) and the mesh type...IMHO there is a huge difference in the two, but as Mary and Dee have said, it mainly helps in consistant rifle placement and off arm placement and the dampening of heartbeat and minor muscle movement. I used to shoot in long sleeves and felt like it gave me a slight advantage in hot weather, as the shirt would become wet with sweat and allowed my off hand elbow stick to the leather better...but as I began to improve and understand what went into building a shooting position I discovered that I was actually so badly out of position that I needed the sleeves to help cover the mistakes I was making...Improved my position relative to the gun and target and the advantage the sleeves gave was no longer there...just my 2 cents worth.

Kitty

[bugabob]

Thanks for the great replies, everybody. Sure is nice to take advantage of your knowledge and experience!

Bob