Now I'll be like a kid waiting for Christmas morning until the vest arrives.

I talked to Chris Winstead (very nice guy) this afternoon, and he went to personally check how much of which colors of leather he had in stock based on the colors I was interested in. Hopefully by our next St Louis match (November 4th), I'll have my new vest.

I honestly believe that it will help me hit a few extra animals during the next match. While wearing nothing more than a T-shirt at our last match, I actually rubbed a raw spot on my shoulder from my 1712 FWT. Maybe I'm holding it a bit too tight against my shoulder, but the vest should definitely cushion and insulate me from the rifle a bit more.

I just had to share.

SteveM.

Careful.. the first match that I shot using my Hardscrabble vest I was so excited to get it that I couldn't settle that damn dot down on the targets.

Steve,
You will not be disappointed in the vest, but your comment about wear a spot on your shoulder.... I can only remind you of what one my late mentors used to say, "relax the stomach muscles." That applies all the way, not just to the stomach, sounds to me like you are tightening up. Been shooting too much 50 cal?

Mary

I think that most of the chafing ocurred while I was getting the rifle and myself into position. I don't try to intentionally hold it tight against my shoulder, but it seems like as I'm tucking the rifle in, I'm probably squeezing or pulling too hard.

This leads me to wonder about whether it's better to stay in position for all 5 shots, or to lower the rifle between shots. I think I'll start another thread.

SteveM.

As a shooter of both highpower and smallbore, I lower and reposition for each shot. In HP, with the long bolt throw / travel, you tend to hit your safety glasses with the back of your hand. The recoil also throws you off quite a bit. Plus we want to keep our brass from hitting the concrete. I have never seen anyone stay in one position shooting HP. I have tried both methods in smallbore but prefer to keep my firing discipline the same for both HP & SB by repositioning each time.

Anyone use one of the Mesh Hardscrabble vests that can compare it to a full leather one? It gets really hot and humid here and a mesh vest would be ideal but I am curious if they give you the same overall feel that the leather ones give. Only tried a leather and I like the way it hangs pulling my torso down evenly under its weight and giving me a good anchor for my resting arm. Wondering if the mesh gives this same feel.


Dee

Dee wrote:Anyone use one of the Mesh Hardscrabble vests that can compare it to a full leather one? It gets really hot and humid here and a mesh vest would be ideal but I am curious if they give you the same overall feel that the leather ones give. Only tried a leather and I like the way it hangs pulling my torso down evenly under its weight and giving me a good anchor for my resting arm. Wondering if the mesh gives this same feel.


Dee

Aug, in Gonzales, anything but buck naked is gonna be hot, I have one and if you will let me know what month to bring it, your welcome to try it.

Thanks for the offer Dawg I will have to give it a try sometime next year. Lord knows your right about nothing being cool to wear down here in the summer months. I always tell people up north at least they can put on more clothes when its cold, but when its hot you can only get so naked.

Dee

I have shot some good matches with my insulated coveralls on but if your finger gets too cold, you can't feel your trigger very well.

I guess I would rather shoot at 100F at Ben Avery than 20F at Bull River.

Jerry G wrote:I have shot some good matches with my insulated coveralls on but if your finger gets too cold, you can't feel your trigger very well.

I guess I would rather shoot at 100F at Ben Avery than 20F at Bull River.

Ditto..... can't wait to get to AZ for good!!!!! But I got to get me a HP rifle first

Dee

I have the mesh vest but have never worn the full vest to make a comparison on support or comfort. I can tell you that it is still warm to wear, although undoubtedly cooler than the full vest. I shot SB a few weeks ago in the lower 90's with little breeze and took the vest off between relays. There was a noticeable difference with the vest on and off.