Mat modification rules?

[Pommy Chris]

Those who know me know my back is stuffed and I shoot off a bench which I hate. I have a letter from my doctor to shoot on the bench as 2 discs in my lower back are bad enough that I was advised have 3 vertebrae fused which is not going to happen My problem is bending forward or arching back (shooting off the ground) hurts like hell as bone touches bone. I hate the bench as it wobbles and the ground does not, anyone who thinks a portable bench is an advantage has clearly never shot off one so I want to find a way to get back on the ground again. I am shooting well, really well at the moment but getting on the ground if I can should be the next step.
My question is there anything in the rules re wearing a corset so support my back ie stop it arching too much while on the ground? I have not even tried it to see if it would help yet, just really wondering about options. The other thought is some sort of lump sewn into the mat where my hips are might stop my back arching too much, any thoughts?
If I try to shoot on a mat I get to about the 5th shot and I am gritting my teeth with pain, but there must be a way I can shoot without a bench..
Cheers
Chris

[johnk]

Chris,

Have you considered building a ramp to shoot off. something that raises your front end but keeps your body in a straight line so that you don't have to arch your back? I suspect that a reasonable state association would approve that, what with your accepted medical condition & all.

John

PS: A bench can be made quite rigid, but maybe not enough to beat a determined cross wind: https://plus.google.com/photos/11805844 ... pN2lvKDedg

[AlanF]

Chris,

I believe it would be possible to engineer a portable bench which would be stiff enough that the wobble would be insignificant. I've seen ones which come very close. Then you have the advantage over prone shooters of a flat surface and a better view of mirage and flags. So potentially portable bench shooters can be very competitive.

Alan

[mike H]

Chris,

I believe it would be possible to engineer a portable bench which would be stiff enough that the wobble would be insignificant. I've seen ones which come very close. Then you have the advantage over prone shooters of a flat surface and a better view of mirage and flags. So potentially portable bench shooters can be very competitive.

Alan

Chris
Being over that three score and ten milestone,I find joints are not as flexible as they were when younger,particularly the neck doesn't swivel too well.
As Alan stated,the height of the bench has benefits,so maybe it all balances out.It is easy to give advice when not in your position,but I would be trying to work with the movement of the bench and not worry too much fighting it.
Mike.

[aaronraad]

My question is there anything in the rules re wearing a corset so support my back ie stop it arching too much while on the ground? I have not even tried it to see if it would help yet, just really wondering about options.
Cheers
Chris

I don't think there are any restrictions on wearing a TR style jacket while shooting F-Class, just as long as the jacket conforms to the TR rules. If you can get one to offer the correct support within the rules, that's a starting point.

[Pommy Chris]

My bench is quite stable, but I have yet to see a bench that gently resting your arm on it does not move the cross hairs around half a minute. On a good mounds like Townsville (concrete mounds) the bench is fine, but I have shot on ranges when I am on the end on the mound and the bench is leaning at a horrible sine angle and is totally unstable and mounds where you seem to be only able to get three of the 4 legs to sit properly . With ftr rules too I have seem people with everything from carpet to wooden rubber covered boards with spikes on to put the ftr bipod on which must be like shooting off a bench, except more stable. The main reason I want to get away from the bench if I can is team shooting and the problem of travelling with a bench on planes for example. I have been having a read of the rules and apparently there is no limit to the thickness of shooting mats anymore so I wonder if this would allow a thick wedge under my hips to keep my back straight? Someone at the club today said I can try to borrow a corset, but I think I would really have to get one made to immobilize me in the correct place.
Chris