Shooting Jacket Recommendation

I am struggling to shoot better in the Swiss rifle matches at a local gun club. In these matches we shoot from the prone position out to 300 meters.

My position is unstable. I can feel my elbows sliding across my shooting mat. Currently I am using a padded USMC-style cloth shooting jacket. I was given the opportunity to try another shooters jacket at the last match which made my position much more stable. I believe this other jacket was a Creedmore.

My question concerns who I should buy my next jacket from. I see that Creedmoor offers some very nice coats starting at around $320 whereas Champion’s Choice have some that start around $125.

I want a good jacket that will last me several years and am not averse to spending what I have to. I just don’t want to spend too much.
What do you folks recommend?

 

I went with a Creedmoor jacket. Most of the guys in my local club run them. You've tried one so you know what you're getting will be a help. Their canvas is plenty stiff so I didn't find the need to pay more for leather. They're a huge help in prone, as you've seen.

FWIW, in prone you're only really using top chest, shoulders, and arms of the jacket. The ventilation option is nice here in Texas. I've not found any need for the 'all position' upgrade, because you can just leave the bottom few straps undone. Checkout their fullbore prone coat, as it seems like the ideal mix of features for pure prone shooting.

There are a few other 'worthy' coat builders, but I went with Creedmoor for my personal jacket.

Even without a jacket, you should have a fairly stable position. Your elbows should not be sliding. Work on your basic position and the jacket will help take care of the last 10%. (Make sure your sling-arm elbow is directly below the gun, or as near as possible. This won't feel right or natural at first, but it can become comfortable with practice.) Without a jacket, I notice more shaking/wobble in my sight picture, but my basic position is still quite stable. (I almost never shoot prone without at least generic elbow pads for comfort though)

Make sure you have a good glove and try to find a position that's as repeatable as possible (i.e. same exact position of the buttstock on the shoulder, same cheek weld and head position, etc). Trying to shrink your prone groups can be tough, because the little things start to matter a lot. I like the 'NRA Highpower Shooting Glove' that Creedmoor sells as its the most comfortable for my fingers.

 

Champions Choice leather coat works for me.

 

I use a Creedmore hardback coat but I shoot 3 positions. The harback is fantastic in the off hand position, it feels like you are leaning on a wall. I think this is the best overall coat but if you are only shooting in prone Creedmore have a less expensive deluxe canvas coat that will really help.

You can try the canvas coat and if you want to upgrade later just sell it.

Good luck.

 

if you can afford it go with a good leather jacket. I bought one over thirty years ago and it is still in fantastic condition. You get what you pay for, do it right the first time and you never have to do it again.

 

I have mainly used a creedmore hardback over the years but bought a champions choice all leather like 6 years ago but only started using it about 4 years ago. This last year I bought a custom fit Monard.

Now opinions on them are this:
Really liked the creedmore and like the leather sleeve version the best as I found the sleeves too stuff when in all canvas. But the leather tore after a couple of years of use.

The champions choice all leather fits like a glove and it took me a little while to get used to it as it was not as stiff as the creedmore. After geting used to it I found I really like the flexibility in the all leather and it really fit like a glove.

The Monard is well great but it cost like twice what the others are and not really for a new shooter.

The champions choice leather cost right about the same as the creedmore and if I was you I would buy creedmore as i think it will help you with your positions a little more.

 

Mikee if your USMC shooting jacket if right hand xlarge I would be interested in taking it off you hands.
Randy

 

Sorry INGarand it's a medium.

I went ahead and ordered a Creedmoor deluxe canvas. I'm looking forward to it's arrival so that I can try it out.

 

You should be very happy with it.