Shooting Mats for Non-Average-Sized Shooters

Airgead · Jul 23, 2017

Looking for recommendations on some shooting mats that would suffice for what I'm calling non-average-sized shooters. My daughter and I are going to an Appleseed shoot later this year and I want to upgrade from the rug fragments we used last year to a real product because both of our elbows and knees were pretty roughed up from the rug. I'm looking for some products that have serious padding to them since there is a lot of prone shooting and kneeling shooting.

Here's where the size factors kick in... I am 6' 4" and have big shoulders so I have a wide hold with my arms when prone. I am a little concerned that I would overrun the pads for elbows.

My daughter is 4' 7" but as she's 10 I expect her to grow more yet. I'd like something that's sized for her.

I've looked at Champion's Choice and Creedmoor as those seem to be the popular choices in the precision shooting world. I'm not adverse to spending that kind of money of them, but wondered if there's other good options, especially ones that are good for tall/big people or good for youth shooting.

Note -- not looking for an all-in-one product to fit all of that or even products from the same maker.

Jim Watson · Jul 24, 2017

Midway Pro is 74" x 34.5". $90
Smaller mats down to $20 for the moppet.
https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=shooting+mat&uac=true&userItemsPerPage=48

Compare with specialty outfits like Champion's Choice.

Airgead · Jul 24, 2017

Jim Watson said:
Midway Pro is 74" x 34.5". $90
Smaller mats down to $20 for the moppet.
https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=shooting+mat&uac=true&userItemsPerPage=48

Compare with specialty outfits like Champion's Choice.

Do you have one of these? What are the elbow pads like? I am a little suspicious of the ones that look like they embed them in the mat rather than be a separate piece - at least based in the picture.

Jim Watson · Jul 24, 2017

Sorry, mine's a Champion's Choice.

Varminterror · Jul 26, 2017

Lay down on the floor, build your prone position, and have your daughter (or other), measure the widest span of your elbows. Check specs for different models, and match up that width.

I use an older Bushmaster branded mat (wanna say it was a Creedmoor commission), Boyt Harness, and Midway mats. I'm broad shouldered with a 6'1" wingspan, so maybe a little narrower than you, but I fit well on any of these 3 brands.

For your daughter, take a look at 3/4 length mats. That'd let her be able to use the mat even when she gets older, but still hopefully let her get her feet off of the mat at the bottom end.

FN in MT · Jul 27, 2017

Take a look at US Peacekeepers. They do a wide, nicely padded, shooting mat. I have spent HOURS on mine and love the thick padding.

Airgead · Jul 28, 2017

Thanks everyone. I'm looking at these suggestions.

MislMan · Aug 8, 2017

I don't shoot prone but I shoot a lot from the bench. I use a slide-on elbow sleeve on my shooting arm elbow. That way my elbow is always covered and doesn't slide off any mat. I was previously using a folded towel to protect my bony elbow from the shooting bench but the towel moved around and I had to pay attention to it a move around a lot. No more distraction from the towel. If wearing a support sleeve is against the rules, you might try a bath towel folded lengthwise placed across the shooting mat. This would give you wings (Red Bull)

FL-NC · Aug 15, 2017

Yoga mat.

Skylerbone · Sep 25, 2017

I bought a pair of MidWay mats for my eldest two and they worked fine. At 6'2" wearing a 48Regular suit (220 lbs) I feel your pain on the width part. I'm tempted to order the larger MidWay model but they aren't overly padded, but I'd bet it would work for an afternoon here and there. Yoga and camping pads can get a bit chewed up if placed on concrete but offer great comfort.

Airgead · Sep 25, 2017

I ended up getting two MidwayUSA Pro Series Gen 2 mats (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/342825/midwayusa-pro-series-gen-2-competition-shooting-mat) and we used them weekend before last at an Appleseed shoot. The width didn't end up being a problem for me - I could comfortably put out both elbows as needed for the program. My feet and lower legs hung off the end of the mat, but that's what I expected of just about any option as I'm 6' 4". My daughter got along fine with hers. Although the knee pads didn't hit her right, she didn't seem to be bothered by it - and she was wearing shorts.

The only negative I have about the mats was the material got very hot in the sun.

Shooting Mats for Non-Average-Sized Shooters

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Jim Watson

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Jim Watson

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FN in MT

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