Jackets for highpower

[Telperion]

I've been looking through Champion's Choice online catalog and they offer jackets in three materials: cloth, cordura, and leather. There is a big price jump from cloth to cordura, then a smaller jump to leather. I'm a believer in the idea that buying cheap can be expensive in the long run, but at the same time I'm new to a sport that has a LOT of gear and expenses, and I'm trying to maintain a budget. Which of these coat materials is best? What are the qualities that are important in a jacket, and how does the choice of material matter?

[ETCss Phil McCrackin]

I am in your exact same situation, as a matter of fact when I attended the PACFleet and All-navy matches this year, I wasn't just on a budget, I was well under it! After trying a couple of loaner jackets I found these to be the important qualities;

1. Material should have little/no give. Cloth jackets seemed to never feel tight no matter how much you cinched them up, whereas cordua felt more stable.
2. I thought that the hardback option on Creedmoor jackets contributed GREATLY to stability in the off-hand position. Now, jackets without a "Hardback" would solidify off-hand but the Creedmoor product just seemed like I had placed the rifle on a fence post, especially when paired with the following...
3. The "sticky" rubber material on the elbows and midsection varied greatly between brands and types within brands. According to your body shape, some may have the tendency to "bunch" instead of "lay flat and grab" when placed in contact with something. I.e. rifle butt, shooting matt, etc..

Since we share the same financial constraints, you might try perusing E-bay from time-to-time because some quality equipment occasionally shows up on there.

[Steve Smith]

The coat cannot do what a good position will do. Ultimately the coat won't help you cheat a good score. A comfortable coat is better than a "hardback" as long as the shooter does the job of learning a rock solid position.

Personally I use a CC leather coat and love it. I have owned a Creedmore hardback, but it is not comfortable to me.

[odiedog]

The cordura coats work fine. I think leather coats fit better (over time they break in) but I waited until I was well settled in the sport before buying mine. The hybrid cordura coat with leather sleeves is very popular around here. Binding in the sleeves is the biggest complaint about the cordura coat. Also make sure you are looking at a High power coat. ISU coats are made for a differwent kind of shooting.

Credemore and CC both make good coats. You should try them both on before you buy. Talk to others at matches. Get into position with them on since just standing there won't tell you a thing about how the coat fits for shooting. Both companies use different templates and fit different body styles. I've heard comments on both not fitting some and fitting great for others. Not sure but it seems Credemore favors taller thinner profiles, CC more of a compact, stockier build.

Coats don't replace a good position but in the developmental stages, they sure help a lot. Some of the high masters can shoot almost as well without them but you don't see them standing on the line at important matches without them. At the expert to master level, I think a good fitting, supportive coat is critical. If not only for support, they help protect you from pain and numbness from long periods in the sling.

jm2c, Steve