I'm thinking of buying a new jacket now that I’ve started shooting constantly 94s to 97s but not sure if I should buy one from Shooting Stuff.co.nz or TSNZ or if I should buy a custom one or standard one I'm willing to pay up to $600 but I'm a D grader I’m using a club one at the moment and it’s the only peace of my gear I don’t own.

www.bangontarget.co.nz also have Gehmann jackets.
I bought one of these a month ago and love it!
Check this thread . There are pics on page 2.
I paid $370 for mine.

Thanks i will check them out

Jackets range on Gehmann Website
Neil has prices on hand for them.

I got the ahg-Shooting Jacket Stenvaag Skorpion FUSION custom made one and I love it took no more than 6 weeks from order to on my back from Shooting Stuff.

If TSNZ don't have one in stock DO NOT ORDER it will take 10 years to get here one of my mates has ordered one and still is waiting (over 3 months now)

I know a guy who got a $600 one from Shooting Stuff and he shot 6 one hundred in a row after he got it! It is all leather and looks real good.

I think it comes down to were you what it made my one was from the UK so it cost me about $1700 I would not say it is three times better than the custom $600 Shooting Stuff one I would say it is about the same! However if money is not your biggest worrie I do like the ahg-Shooting Jacket Stenvaag Skorpion FUSION it glows in the dark!

yea i fought of getting the ahg-Shooting Jacket Stenvaag Skorpion FUSION but i asked some people if i should get one of those but they recommend I shouldn't think of getting one of those till i was A or M grade the $600 on Shooting Stuff is the one i have been really look at as more logical.

I may have the money to get the $600 one but i am not %100 sure i should because how much could the $600 one help my score compared to the $270 or the $395

Don't let your grade dictate your gear!

I am also D Grade! now shooting as Master Grade

In the last 12 months

Got my self a FWB, ahg-Shooting Jacket, Built a Range at home and a lots of other stuff I know I am lucky that I can do this! however I sold my Motor Bike to get my FWB and still think this is a cheap sport compared to owning a Jet ski or Jetboat etc..

However my shooting has only got better and better!!

Hi all,
something I've never seen elaborated on is which part of the jacket's fit that counts the most?

I'm new to it all and currently using a club jacket that is a larger fit than my downtown gear...
It has had a cross-shoulders tensioning strap fitted and this I've snugged up some and in keeping with the usual addage, I can't get my elbows closer together than approx my ribcage width.

The sleeves are a loose fit about my arms (shoulder down to wrist).

Now if the primary point for us is to anchor the sling without slipping, then I would think most all of the jacket fit doesn't matter except maintaing the anchor at a constant point?

So I would think the fit around the rifle butt-to-shoulder contact-point and maybe the elbow to elbow fit across the shoulders when in the prone position to matter most and other wise the jacket can be a sloppy fit else where...?

regards
ian

My understanding so far, and a little experience, is the chest needs to be very snug, almost tight.
If the rest is too sloppy, you can end up with too much overlap (where it buttons up) which has a limit in the rules of 75mm if I recall correctly.
At the same time, I've seen some who only have the 2 buttons at the chest done up and all the lower ones undone. (Often due to abdomenal inconsistencies!)
There's probably more advice that can be added here...

yes, well.

when I look at the manufacturers ads, the guys have shoulders like dwarves and the butt pad is out over the shoulder joint.

Whereas in prone, I find my butt-spot is hard against my collar-bone.

if you get my meaning...

Yeah, I'm the same... as you.

I have decided to get the standard $270 one on Shooting Stuff and at the end of next years indoor session when I'm 18 and hopefully stopped growing and saved up the money i will go all out and get the ahg-Shooting Jacket Stenvaag Skorpion FUSION

Oh grasshopper, you must never stop growing <:|

Actually it looks pretty good and a great price.
I've been thinking of the Gehman models (canvas) but I like the comment in this one re prone shooting and at half-sizes, should be able to get a good fit without going custom...

Dunno if I can handle the thought of a $600 jacket for couple of times a week use.

Not this stage of my career.

The fit across the chest is most important as many people tell me that they only do up one button of there jacket when shooting prone this one thing I like about my Jacket it has three buttons that are close together around ya chest and I get a even fit.

If I had to save for a jacket I wouldn't be getting a ahg-Shooting Jacket Stenvaag Skorpion FUSION I would be investing my money on a Good Scope and Stand, Mat, Glove as $270 jacket will get you 97% there!

I want to be the best in New Zealand within the Next 5 years ;-) so I want to try it all.

I've got a good scope and stand ,mat ,glove, two great rifles its just a great jacket i need now.

The most important fit is accross the shoulders. Basically, if you put the jacket on and you can make your elbows touch, it's too loose. Ideally, you don't want to get your elbows any further in than your shoulders. I can get my biceps parallel to each other, which means it fits pretty well - if you're not sure what I'm talking about, let me know and I'll put a picture up to illustrate.

Fluff

Also make sure you can fit 6 boxes if Elly Black in every pocket ;-)

I have had 3 jackets over the years "an off the peg" leather one that cost $300 in 1980 a MCnatty leather one that wore outafter many years use and finally a Stenvaag Canvas/leather one that cost me $1100 via TSNZ about 4 years ago (Skorpion is the latest variation). This was by far the best one and worth the investment. I normally advise my shooters to go for a tailormade one if they can aford it as the jacket fits your body shape better. As Fluff says shoulders are important. The jacket must pass the overlap test esp if shooting outdoor.

The difference between the $300 Shooting Stuff type off the peg and the $600-800 ones are quality of manufacture. Iwould expect the $600+ ones to last a lot longer, fit better

One of the Wgtn guys has a Gehmann mid-range canvas one that cost him around $600 this looks good value, passes EC
Others are using the "club" type ones

Suggest look at what the top shooters are wearing. Most have an old faithful that still passes EC others upgrade at various times. It all comes down to personal preference. You spend $4000+ on rifle but balk at $600 for a jacket

It just I'm not sure on spending $600 on a jacket that might only fit for 6 months and i've asked a some M Grader i know about buying shooting jackets and they told me what to look for in a bad jacket.
The thing on my rifles is i inherited both of them from my dad who spend a little bit to much on rifles so I didn't have buy them.

I guess you answer your own question here Zack, if you are still growing then its not worth spending good money on a jacket that will only do for a little while, and I would suggest that you A, find a good second hand jacket that has still got a few 10.1s left in it, B carry on using a club jacket (so long as the club will let you), until you feel confident that you are not going to grow too much more.
The McNatty jackets had a few more adjustments than most others and are quite axceptable for club shooting and if neccessary you can mor permanantly secure those adjusments for championships etc and release & resucure them as required to cater for your growth. I think Darryan Miller still makes them.