Why a hoodie under a shooting jacket?

[Lovesbeer99]

I don't get it. Why wear a hoodie under a shooting jacket? Is there a purpose to this? Do people shoot better when they sweat more?

Any why a hood as opposed to just a sweatshirt?

Thanks in advance.

[poortrader]

I wear a hoodie because my ears get cold.

[Sam1911]

A heavy sweatshirt under the shooting jacket provides bulk and padding that greatly assists in both your comfort -- keeping the sling from cutting off your circulation as quickly, padding your elbows, etc. -- and to fill out the jacket's material which noticeably increases it's rigidity and the amount of support it gives you.

When I shot 3-position small-bore in college we had sweatshirts we'd cut to just cover what the jacket covered. Except in the winter, one extra square inch of sweaty material cutting off the breeze was too much. But the benefits of the extra padding were worth it.

Man, I can still remember the smell...:eek: :barf:

-Sam

[Lovesbeer99]

I meant a competition shooting jacket, like a 10X. Not a field shooting jacket.

[chestnut ridge]

If this applies to high power rifle; then the hood keeps the hot brass
cases from your fellow shooter from flipping down the back of your neck.
This usually happens during a rapid fire string; and tends to cause a
disruption in the force.

[Howard Roark]

I've never worn nor seen a hoodie worn in the summer.

I use one for cold weather only.

Sweatshirts add padding that cut down on pulse.

[mokin]

The same reason I wear a hoodie at work. To keep my neck and ears warm. Also brass down the neck does hurt.

[MutinousDoug]

For the few of us that consider cleaning our gear; washing a hoodie is a lot less problematic than laundering a shooting coat.
In July and August I try to wet down my hoodie before donning it, to make slow fire tolerable.
Brass deflection and padding as mentioned above are considerations as well.

[Howard B]

Also, by putting extra padding between you and the sling, it can help with dampening heart beat/pulse to the sling and then to the rifle.

[30Cal]

Higher body temp = lower heart rate
keeps the brass out of your coat, keeps the coat from getting doused in sweat, helps limit pulse transmitted through the sling.

[Capt Marvel]

It has been a few years, but back in 1960 & 1961 I shot on the Marine Corps Base rifle team at Camp LeJeune, NC. My team Captain was Eric England. Eric went on to become the NCOIC of the 3rd Marine Division sniper school in Viet Nam. If you can find a copy, they wrote a book about him, titled "THE PHANTOM OF PHU BHI".

We were instructed to wear a heavy sweat shirt under our 10X shooting jacket. The explaination was, first in the hot sun, it would absorb sweat and stabaslize body temempature. And number two it would "dampen" sight movement due to pulse beat from the sling on your left arm.

Having fired the 800 meter sniper course with a scope, I can tell you the pulse beat will move the cross hairs off the target. Remember if it is a 8 power scope any movement is magnified 8 times.

So guys I can tell you the concept is over 50 years old.

[Howard Roark]

Eric England also still holds the record for a 1000 point agg high power rifle match, 998-45 shot on Easley Range Ft. Benning Ga. in 1968. Outstanding!

I have taken a temperature reading on my shooting mat on that same range in August of 118deg. Having to have one person medivaced off the range and having one soldier pass out on the gun at the 600 yard line I don't see how a hoodie could be tolorated on that kind of heat.

I'll save mine for cooler weather.

[Big Daddy Grim]

I was at some shootin matches a few years back and some of them said it helped with consentration it cut down on views from there side distracting them. I think it's stupid if its hot I shoot better when I am confortable.

[Soupy44]

Some people might find this amazing, but with enough training, weather is of little consequence (temperature wise). I've been shooting smallbore now for 16 years and have shot in everything from tornado warnings, to snow, to heat. The snow was the most interesting since I was completely unprepared for it (shooting coat, thick underarmor, athletic shorts). It sucked pretty badly, but as soon as commence fire was said, I shot some of my best scores ever at that time.

The sweatshirt is for filling out the shooting coat and dampening the pulse. The brass down the neck thing I cannot comment on as I'm only just getting into high power, but certainly sounds like a good idea. I have to disagree with the higher body temp -> lower pulse. Everything I have learned about the human body says the opposite would happen.

[LongRifles, Inc.]

You are all missing the most important part though to this voodoo ritual of profuse sweating.

You never, never, never, never, ever, ever, ever wash the hoodie.

That is all.

[grimjaw]

Lovesbeer99, I wear a hoodie frequently because I have no hair and it keeps my head warm. I have rather thin hoodies for the sweating part of it. But I usually don't wear them in warmer weather, either.

jm

[Cannonball888]

In case you want to shoot gangsta style.

[wanderinwalker]

To some of these replies: ROFLOL!! :D

As for my reply, it goes along with the extra padding, reduced pulse on the rifle, reduced constriction from the sling, the hood keeps brass out of your neck AND a sweat shirt launders with far more ease than my shooting jacket.

If I were shooting a dinosaur rifle, I might even say the extra padding would help with recoil. But seeing as how I am shooting a rat rifle, I figure the extra padding just gets the LOP a smidgen further out. ;)

AND, one of my hoodies is a state team shirt from a couple of years ago. Still fits! :p

[Hollywood Marine]

When I was shooting service rifle in the Marine Corps and later the bolt gun in high power competition, I wore 2 sweatshirts under my Ten-X leather coat. As stated above it helps to keep the sling from cutting off the circulation in the left arm (right-handed shooter) and also dampens the effect of the pulse beat in long range any sight matches, and yes the hood will keep you from catching a hot case down the back of your neck during rapid fire.

[edSky]

For the folks who do wear them in the summer, does it matter whether they are cotton or polyester?

I've also read, in addition to keeping spent cartridges off your neck, it also gives you added sun protection. If anyone's ever had a sunburn on the back of your neck you can appreciate that.

[Lovesbeer99]

So I appreciate all the responses, but I wear a hot weather truespec hat (with a brim that goes all the way around) to keep the brass off my neck.

I would like to keep the cirulcation in my arm though. I can't believe no one has come up with a simpel solution yet. I think I have it, but I'll need to delvelope it.

[Soupy44]

This main answer to that is sling placement on your arm. You need to keep it away from the big artery on the inside of your bicep. Most high power shooters like very low positions in which case you could place the sling closer to your elbow. I, being a smallbore shooter, like a higher position and thus keep it higher up closer to my shoulder. I can go into the different theories of the two positions if you want, just let me know.

[Lovesbeer99]

Soupy44 - yes please, or even start a thread on how to use a sling. I'm just learning, but all I have is the internet and books. My shooting has improved greatly, but with my web sling I feel like I'm wearing a turnakit (if I spelled that right). I just bought a leather sling, but I haven't tried it yet in the field. I doesn't seam to fit my AR as it seams to short. I will probably start a thread on that.

Thanks.
Lovesbeer99