Quick question for F Class shooters

[SGK]

I was shooting prone at my club the other week and wasn't comfortable. (I blamed a good amount the firing point construction which is pretty shitty poured concrete that slopes all over the place. The position I was shooting from was sloping significantly downward so I had to set my front rest very in order to get alignment with my rear bag, front rest and target. It also meant that my back was very arched as my elbows were lower than desired.) It was suggested that I use a bag to partially support my chest (as I don't have a big belly to lie on ). I was wondering if this was allowed in F Class competition. I'm assuming it wouldn't be...

(I don't think they think at all about prone shooters at my club and even worse at the 500 yard range. Right in front of the one area where the firing point is reasonably horizontal they placed a bunch of large boulders...)

 

[ballisticdaddy]

I am no expert on the NRA rules but I have a low (2") and a standard (4") rear bag as a few clubs we shoot at have similar firing lines. I have actually started using the lower bag almost exclusively as I don't have to get my upper body up so high which is more comfortable. FWIW I don"t have a big belly to lie on either

 

[kzin]

Could be an interesting discussion.
I think it's not legal but I've seen multiple shooters do it in sanctioned competition.

I'm very confident that if a sling shooter did it he'd get reamed instantly.
I don't see any exceptions in the rules for f-class.

 

[CharlieNC]

Lay on the carpet at home and use a series of thin spacers under your rear bag and experiment to find your comfort height in terms of neck, back, etc. During the adjustments be sure to keep the muzzle at the proper height too. When you're happy close your eyes and get comfortable, then look through the scope which then may need moving forward\backward to maintain good sight picture.

 

[F-CLassInfo]

As F class is part of Highpower and is shot Prone
Rule 5.6 for prone shooting applies and states no artificial support for body or rifle.
F class rules don’t specifically state it but do state a rest for rifle, it diverts back to Highpower rules
To the best of my knowledge.

 

[SGK]

As F class is part of Highpower and is shot Prone
Rule 5.6 for prone shooting applies and states no artificial support for body or rifle.
F class rules don’t specifically state it but do state a rest for rifle, it diverts back to Highpower rules
To the best of my knowledge.

Thanks. Makes sense.

 

[Cochran]

I probably have more experience with this particular subject than anyone. I’ve been shooting F-class matches over 20 years and have always had a rolled up sweat shirt under my chest.

At two separate ICFRA world championships and at least two US nationals over the years I’ve asked line refs to check out my gear to make sure they were ok with it. All were fine with it.

However I wouldn’t take it for granted just in case someone gets their kickers in a twist. For most referees common since will prevail but once I saw an ICFRA ref doc a guy a ton of points for something I thought was a nothing deal because someone cried to the ref.

The reason I do it is the same as you. Back and elbow strain. It’s even worse because I lay over the top of the stock and use my left eye. Lower rear bags might help but you’d have to have a front rest that sets very low. Love my Seb rest but it needs a taller rear back to keep the rifle level.

 

[F-CLassInfo]

As with anything, it’s all into interpretation.

 

[SGK]

My back strain the other day was largely due to the fact that the firing point sloped downward. If I had set my front rest for a flat shooting position I would have been aiming into the ground a short distance away. So the front rest had to be set abnormally high. (I did not have a lower rear bag.) That said, I tried placing a small cushion under my chest at home and it was remarkably comfortable vs just propping oneself up on elbows alone.

The other thing I am trying to figure out while practicing setup at home (on a horizontally flat surface) is where the butt of my rifle sits on my 'shoulder'. Naturally, given rear bag height etc, it sits much closer to my neck on the collar bone rather than in the crook of chest and shoulder. I'm wondering whether to send the stock to Manners to get a Masterclass 3-way adjustable butt system installed or just fit a 1" Limbsaver.

 

[dthomas]

I shoot of of my collar bone when shooting prone even with a 3 way adjustable pad. If that is where it sits naturally it won't be a problem.

 

[Ringostar]

I’ve seen a guy use a pillow under his chest at a very big match, and nobody complained. The reason its in the sling rules is obvious, but don’t see that it gives any advantage other then a little comfort in F class. The rifle is supported by a rest and bag, so a cushion under the shooter doesn’t have any effect with the rifle. But you will always have whiners somewhere. They’d rather bitch about others, because they didn’t try it first.

 

[GaryL1959]

You'll probably be fine....until you beat one of the aforementioned 'whiners', then all bets are off. The advice CharlieNC gave above is solid. Spend time one the rifle at home and find the comfort zone.

 

[kzin]

It sucks to have any sport where things are both probably illegal and commonly unenforced.

It puts some people in the position of not doing something because it's illegal in the book, watching other people do it and getting derided as a whiner if they speak up.

I wouldn't care which way they fix it.(not that there is much chance of either)

 

[No.343]

Maybe exaggerating the position for a couple of minutes during dry fire will help stretch your body to make you more comfortable.

 

[SGK]

It's not that I find shooting prone uncomfortable. That particular firing point on my range is absurd as it slopes rather stupidly downwards. (I ran out of elevation on my front rest and had to dial the ground spikes up considerably.) But if you do place a small cushion under your chest you'd be amazed as to just how much more comfortable it is and much easier to move off your elbows. Anyways, I don't intend to get used to it.