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F-Class Shooting Vest

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:11 am
by IanP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AHeh3nZm5c

Have a look at the youtube video link above and open it up full width at 1080 resolution. You will see USA F-Open Team Captain, Shiraz Balolia wearing a thin leather F-Class vest.

Image

I have been concerned with my shoulder connection to the butt of my stock. I generally wear a shirt with pockets and the butt always seems to hang up on my pocket even when velcro'd closed. If a jumper or waterproof jacket is worn over the shirt it still somehow manages to catch my pocket.

Looking at Shiraz and his vest which also has a thin suede leather pad to enhance the shoulder connection, I think I have found a solution to getting the best possible shoulder butt connection.

I went down to Walden Miller who make shooting jackets for full and smallbore shooters and had a chat to them about making me a vest. Initially I got them to make me a sleeve less shooting jacket in blue denim which works fine but looks horrible as the shoulders have not been shaped as for a vest.

I sent Wayne Miller the link to Shiraz and asked if he could make me a leather vest like in the video. The response was positive and the price very reasonable. I hope to have it to wear at the Queens.

Wayne is happy to make them in any of the leather colours available and I'm getting one in club colours. It will have the club yellow on the back and a maroon front. I want it with a left top pocket to hold glasses and a biro and no other pockets just a zip up front.

If you think these vests might help you shoot better through providing a better shoulder contact then you can also benefit from my discovery by contacting Walden Miller.

A leather vest with a top pocket and same style as Shiraz can be made for $243.00. Thats about the price of 4 boxes of Berger bullets. If you want the jacket lined then add another $30.00. If anyone is interested then you could do what I did and contact Wayne Miller on 08 8374 3884. www.waldenmiller.com.au

I would love our F-Class club team to all have one of these for teams shoots. It will be interesting to see if any other shooters think the vest is a good idea. The vest's shoulder pad conforms to the NRAA thickness requirement for those that were wondering.

Ian

TR or not TR

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:34 am
by bartman007
Ian,

One of our key differences to the TR boys, is that we don't have to wear a hot jacket whilst shooting in summer.

I will be interested to see how you perform with this new piece of equipment. If you win the Queens, you may see quite a few converts! I might even cut the sleeves off my TR jacket :shock:

Good luck.

PS: what color were you thinking of running with? Maybe talk to the Braund boys for some advice on pimping 8)

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:36 am
by RAVEN
:!:

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:04 am
by IanP
RAVEN wrote:Ian Rob Mousley has been wearing something similar for years
these are made of thick cotton and could have a padded area sewn in.
Ian did you get a price on a red hat?
The Ukraine's and some of the european compeditors were wearing a similar padded area with straps to secure it in place.
Have a look at shot gun vest Ian
RB

Richard, I looked at shotgun vests as Walden Miller make them as well. Too loose fitting and mostly mesh. I think a vest will be cool enough even in our summers as its nothing like the full jacket the TR shooters use.

How hard/possible would it be for you to arrange club graphics/logo on the back?

Ian

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:26 am
by RAVEN
:?:

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:39 am
by IanP
RAVEN wrote:I would suggest an embroided patch
RB


I just looked at the video and thats what Team USA have used. Its all done with embroided patches.

The yanks always have superb equipment and I'm sure some thought went into this simple vest design for F-Class use!

Ian

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:53 pm
by jasmay
Huh?? Where did all the posts go?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:55 pm
by AlanF
Remaining posts have been deleted. Off topic and went a little too far - not fair on Shiraz.

Resume the topic if you like.

Alan

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:01 pm
by RAVEN
doh :-#

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:20 pm
by SENDIT
Anyway...how did the usa team go? Oh yeah thats right :oops:

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:41 pm
by jasmay
Well, as I said, keen to see your results Ian...

Works for some not for others, those ontop at the worlds were not using them.

3 Aussies in the top 16 including myself @ 12th and Daryl @ 10th and mike @16th.... Keep us posted Ian, and thanks for the info on manufacture if we decide to give one a go!

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:02 am
by IanP
jasmay wrote:Well, as I said, keen to see your results Ian...

Works for some not for others, those ontop at the worlds were not using them.

3 Aussies in the top 16 including myself @ 12th and Daryl @ 10th and mike @16th.... Keep us posted Ian, and thanks for the info on manufacture if we decide to give one a go!


Jason, I dont know how you have turned this info on vests into a personal rave on what works for high scores. This post is about my finding a solution for a shoulder contact patch that works for me and sharing it with other shooters.

Very few shooters in F-class wear anything but their normal clothes to shoot at club and top competition level. I include myself in this group, but as I have said above I have found what I consider to be a better approach by wearing a vest.

I have made this info available to all and perhaps you should order a vest and try it out before suggesting it is without merit.

Finally, the Australian team shot very well at Raton and its a pity I could not have been there to contribute. Having said that, the point I was making was that the the Americans have superb equipment and for me the vest that Shiraz was using gave me the solution I was looking for!

Ian

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:03 am
by IanP
AlanF wrote:Remaining posts have been deleted. Off topic and went a little too far - not fair on Shiraz.

Resume the topic if you like.

Alan


Thanks Alan, most appropriate thing to do!

Ian

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:37 am
by jasmay
Ian, sorry your took my comments in that fashion., all I have said is it will be interesting to see how you go. (In a few more words)

I thought forums were about making comments on personal experience at times?

Anyway, a lot of comments, not off topic, and regarding butt weld have been deleted so what is here no longer has continuity...

Sorry you have taken my comments so personally...

Jason...

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:41 am
by DenisA
Something that I've often found to be a problem addressing the rifle when prone, is that some shirts drape a little more than others and snag on or catch the butt. Its very annoying when it happens.

I could see that a fitted vest would alleviate this issue.

The padding to reduce the impact of recoil goes without saying.