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Shooter's Mat for Someone Getting Started In Mid-Range Competitions??

sfldiver

I've never shot prone before, and I'm looking to enter the world of mid-range (600yd) shooting competitions later this month in Central Florida. I've been told I need a shooter's mat, so I've been searching online for one. I've found the price fluctuates from $40 to upwards of $200, and my untrained eye is having trouble distinguishing the features that make one better than the other. I'm not adverse to spending a few bucks, as long as I know that I'm spending the money for features that fall in the category of "money well spent."

What features should I be looking for in a shooter's mat that I would use to get started shooting prone in mid-range shooting competitions?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Adrian
 
I'm fairly new also and am using the midway mat for a few months now. It's held up and seems to be well built. I got it because the indoor 22lr league I'm in has a like 20 of them and they have all held up with club use so I figured I was good to go.
 
If you are getting a midway mat, I would recommend the pro version which is substantially wider. It's on sale now for the same price as the smaller mat.
 
Thanks for the suggestions mj and jrm. I actually looked at the Midway mats, because I saw a write-up on it on this website about them and they're reasonably priced. Both the pro series and the standard competition in olive drab seem to be backordered. The only one they have is the competition in multicam, but if I went that direction, I was looking at the pro series model, as jrm suggested.

Thanks again!
 
Creedmoor Sports has some good roll up mats.

If don't need the extra padding, Tab Gear makes an extremely durable fold up mat.

Crosstac makes a very good tri-fold mat, but it's pricy.

BUT, the Midway Pro is pretty good and a lot less expensive because it's on sale so often. Good place to start.
 
Most of the F class shooters at Palm Bay use a mat from Harbor Freight. The kind you would cover furniture with when moving. Cost about $8 bucks.
 
Depends a lot on what the ground is like. If it's a nice soft smooth surface, then you don't need a heavy pad. I guess a quilted furniture pad would work on sand or grass.
 
sfldiver,
Buy a good mat with the vinyl waterproof bottom! Creedmore and Champions Choice have them. Do not go cheap and buy twice ! Cry once and be done with it. Both companies are run by shooters and are good people.
 
Malabar's 600 yard line is covered over head and has astro turf on the ground. I know you did on mention Malabar, just guessing since it is Central Florida. I use the Harbor Freight cargo mat. I've seen plenty of Midway mats and they do hold up well.
 
A national F class record was recently tied from an old piece of carpet. The shooter has other nice mats but likes the carpet better. It is very stable in the x/y plane, is comfortable, and holds rest feet in place very well.
 
I use a Hawkeye mat that I have had for probably over 25 years. Has the waterproof bottom. This thread really tells me what a great mat this is. If you want to shoot off of a carpet, go ahead. Ranges vary from soft grass, to pea gravel, to hard ground, to concrete. You need to really cover all the bases.

So I shopped online the last couple minutes and just by looking at pricing and what they seem to be, Monard shows one but not much detail, $195 and probably built like the rest of their stuff, has zippered side to add padding. Waterproof material but unsure of bottom.

Creedmoor Deluxe Fold-Up Shooting Mat seems to have everything I like, fold up, bottom waterproof and about $95. So this is probably what I would buy today unless the Monard comes with the same rubber that I have on the Monard coat, which means I probably wouldn't slip even if it was tilted vertically!
 
It's a shame that MidwayUSA has their pro series mat on backorder, because it seems like the heavy favorite for a very reasonable price. I reached out to MidwayUSA, but they were unable to provide any additional estimates on it's arrival time, other than to say it is "Overdue."

Lot's of great info from everyone - thanks!
 
sfldiver said:
It's a shame that MidwayUSA has their pro series mat on backorder, because it seems like the heavy favorite for a very reasonable price. I reached out to MidwayUSA, but they were unable to provide any additional estimates on it's arrival time, other than to say it is "Overdue."

Lot's of great info from everyone - thanks!
Click to expand...

When I ordered mine it was also overdue...from date of order to my door was 2 weeks !! For 50 bucs you can't beat it.
 
My first mat came from Dillon Precision -

http://m.dillonprecision.com/mcontent/p/9/pid/24650/catid/27/Shooting_Mat

- and I still use it for indoor smallbore and some outdoor prone stuff if the ground's damp or muddy. I bought a Creedmoor a couple of years ago that I prefer now, but the Dillon's still serviceable after 12 years use. I see them often at the mid- and long-range matches I shoot, they're well thought of.

You didn't mention if your plans are to begin in F-Class or sling/irons? The latter I think deserves a better choice in mats as your body's position stability and comfort affect your scores more than the former.
 
I'm asking the same question that Steve just did. Are you planning on shooting sling or F class? A sling shooter might prefer more padding, where in F class you don't want your rear bag riding on a lot of padding. I've seen several F class shooters cut a large hole in their mat, where their rear bag sits. I bought the basic Midway mat when I started, they didn't offer the pro series yet. If shooting from wet ground, I get water seeping through at the stitching. I also wish that I had a wider mat. I got a small bathroom rug to lay beside for my elbow. It's not an issue on grass, but the course sand at Ben Avery was scraping me up.
 
Ringostar said:
I also wish that I had a wider mat. I got a small bathroom rug to lay beside for my elbow. It's not an issue on grass, but the course sand at Ben Avery was scraping me up.
Click to expand...

'Zactly why when Creedmoor had a springtime mat sale a few years ago I opted for the full length fold-out wings - on BOTH sides - after a week on the clinkers at Whittington Center late in '06. They're just canvas but great for keeping the sand from a couple of the lines at Lodi off the non-slip stuff.
 
Scroll down to my reply #4. Your body will thank you at the end of the day...

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3873567.msg36575468#msg36575468
 
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