Shooting jacket recommendations

[Dwwhite]

Longtime lurker here with a first post.

I'm hoping to access some of your collective knowledge to help me with the purchase of a shooting jacket.

I'm looking for an appropriate jacket for centerfire sling shooting. I've pretty well settled on the Creedmoor product line, but am open to other suggestions.

My budget is $3-350, so all leather or a full custom is out. I'm currently looking at the Cordura Lite, Hardback and Fullbore prone. I'm shying away from the prone coat against the off chance I might try to shoot XTC someday, but realistically, I'll be shooting off my belly 95% of the time.

So... is the hardback coat a help or a hindrance for prone shooting?
One more consideration is my west Tx climate, which leans toward hot and hotter.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[chkunz]

The Creedmoor Hardback is great for standing but I see no advantages for prone. I mostly shoot XTC with the M14 so I use the Creedmoor for that type of competition. When I shoot the conventional (sling)Mid Range or Long Range prone matches I use an old leather coat and only buckle the top buckle.

 

[mgdietrich]

to me there is no reason to buy a Creedoor coat for prone. They are heavy, bulky and dont fit a bunch of people shoulders very well. I have a Monard and have also used other ISSF style shooting coats. Any off the rack ISSF style coat from champion shooters supply would be a good prone option.

 

[Medic505]

Or,
Shoot F-Class in a tee shirt and shorts.

 

[Erud]

I agree that the hardback offers no advantage if only shooting prone. Would probably go with something lighter like mgdietrich's pink smallbore coat, but not in pink. It works for him though, can't argue with his results.

 

[Dwwhite]

Thanks for all the input so far, I thought this forum might give better advice than some of the "others" out there

FWIW... The Monard is out. I can't think of a good way to explain that kind of money to my CFO.

I guess I'm mostly hearing that the hardback might be a little overkill, which was also my first impression.

Is there an advantage to an International style vs. NRA? Conforming to a rule book isn't really a consideration as I'm not, nor am I likely to ever be, a serious competitor. So if one style is better, I'm open to suggestions.

Medic: Come August, yours will probably seem like a really good idea, but I guess I'm kind of a masochist

 

[chkunz]

You did not give us a lot to go on here. For example what cartridge are you planning on shooting? Are you dealing with heavy recoil or light recoil? Refer to my other thread, "We need better questions". No criticism here but many times the questions are lacking in important detail and that limits the effectiveness of getting good answers. For example "hardback" is all about the standing position and is of no value prone. You only use the top strap prone so everything below that is in the way, etc., etc., etc....

 

[FatBoy]

to me there is no reason to buy a Creedoor coat for prone. They are heavy, bulky and dont fit a bunch of people shoulders very well. I have a Monard and have also used other ISSF style shooting coats. Any off the rack ISSF style coat from champion shooters supply would be a good prone option.

I have both a creedmore hardback and a Gehmann ISSF. The ISSF sleeves are more comfortable in position, cooler when it's hot out and has provisions to remove the bunched up material on the shooting shoulder.

My daughter has the champions choice ISSF coat which is almost exactly like the Gehmann.. For $150, you cannot buy a better coat.

 

[chkunz]

Another point, buy a used coat. A used coat should be cheep so if it is not cheep do not buy it. Most experienced shooters will have one that they will loan you to try. I have given away three or four. Shoot it for awhile until you learn something about coats.

 

[Dwwhite]

Sorry for the lack of specificity,

I shot 3P smallbore for a number of years, but have been out of that game for more than a decade. At that time I used club, or University owned equipment, but everything conformed to US/ISSF rules.
I say that to explain that I'm not a total neophyte, just out of the loop.

About a year ago, on a lark, I started piecing together a .308 any/any gun. (It's basically a poor mans Palma rifle with a scope) This is purely for my own enjoyment, not for any serious competition. After using a cheap USMC style lightweight coat for a while, I know I need (read "want") to upgrade, but any of the high power/NRA style coats are a new thing for me.

I guess in my head, I associated the ISSF coats with smallbore, and NRA coats with high power, and just needed a direction to head off in.

Again, thanks for any input

P.s. A used coat would be great, but between the nearest club being 150 miles away, and me being an unreformed lefty, my access to used equipment is pretty limited

 

[Lbart]

DW
I am in El Paso. I am a lefty also. If you are near a size forty I may have one for you.

 

[MGYSGT]

Dwwhite

I also shoot in my right mind (Lefty). A friend gave me his old righty jacket and I took all the rubber off. Got new rubber from Creedmore or Champion, can't remember which. The local cleaners did alterations, so I had them sew it on. Only problem is I didn't buy the pulse pad. Big mistake. Also my coat is leather. Thinking about cutting off about 1/2 of the bottom. I never use the bottom straps cause I no longer look like I did when I was in the Marines. I seemed to have swelled. Besides it's gets a little warm her in Arizona. Lots of options out there.

tom

 

[Rtheurer]

Dw

Moragan hit on this and I would like to expand on it. THE most important feature of the coat for prone shooting is the fit across the shoulders. It needs to be snug but not to snug. Trying to fill up any large coat with sweatshirts or what not will lead to extreme frustration. What ever happens Make sure you find one the fits across the shoulders .... all else is secondary to that. Last but not least make sure it fits across the shoulders.... got it? Good.

good luck, you can spend as much or as little as you want.. as along as it fits... well you know the rest.

Russ T

 

[Shortround]

I have a Creedmoor heavy Cordura lefty from the high power days has been worn less than half dozen times. I think it's a size 44, maybe 46. The exact model I'm not sure of and can't look since I'm at Ft. Bragg right now and won't be back home till around the 20th.
If interested, ring me at nine one eight, five seven five, three eight one four or e mail bdotlipeatattdotnet

Yep it's a size 46. Red and silver. Heavy cordura with pouch in the back.

 

[dbduff]

I have a creedmore hardback left shooter jacket inherited from a dear friend. Green, I would describe in "as new" condition. Maybe he wore it half a dozen times and was then in his early 70's. Size 46. 150$ plus shipping.
D. Duff

 

[watercam]

+1 for a Gehman or Champions Choice version of the same thing. I know a certain shooter who also makes tube gun stocks that shoots one with outstanding results. I have a custom Monard and when it wears out (which isn't taking too long), I am buying one of those two.

 

[Dwwhite]

Gents,
Again, thanks for the help and suggestions. I really appreciate the offers as well, but I seem to be inbetween everybody's sizes.

Given the fact that I'll probably never shoot xtc, you all have got me leaning toward one of the less expensive CC coats, probably in ISSF configuration.

Maybe I'll post a review upon purchase.

 

[Road_Clam]

While I have no experience with jackets, I had Creedmoore build me a premium custom shooting mat, and let me throw out a positive plug, Creedmoore products are TOPS in quality fit and function. Got it pretty fast too, I had it at my doorstep in about 3 weeks.

 

[Syncrowave]

I got a Champion's Choice cordura coat last year when I started SR shooting and it seems to do everything I want it to. $220

 

[davek]

I like the leather nra shooting coats, they fit and wear well, Champions coats have worked well for me for a long time, I use the same coat for prone and nmc. Davek.