Perhaps you might do a video about your shooting goals over the years, and especially your current goals as an already very successful rifleman? I think narration over previously recorded video segments would be awesome and give you an opportunity to script it and carefully plan out your points. Some of your best videos (IMO) are ones that i just listen to as if they were podcasts because the narration is so solid.
As you said, it could be for various reasons where you want to start out with a shooting coat. Mostly, how far you go into High Power rifle. I have an M-1 NM, and because of personal reasons, I had to let go of my M-1A, It was exactly like yours with the oversized stock and I did shoot out the Springfield barrel and had it replaced with a Krieger, then I bought a Rock River NM AR-15, however, shot it very little (Life issues) I got out of rifle after that, about the same time the AR's really dominating the shooting line. However, a lot of work but they were great times, I believe you understand what I mean. Nice video, Haha,, I shot offhand with my M-1A just like how you demonstrated, However, I would hold as tight as I could pushing back against the front of the Magazine to shove the butt of the rifle into my shoulder (Tight as I could without developing a shake) and when the front sight was there,, it was there. Hehehe.. You have Good advice to new shooters Konrad-Dave
Konrad: Enjoy your video's! Very informative and to the point and precise. Don't make them just to hear yourself talk. Thank you have learned a lot!! Bill L
Thanks and good advice. I started high power this year after shooting a year in Sporter 22 and Air Rifle, which I really enjoy. I did find a very inexpensive Champions Supply canvas coat, which actually fits quite well for now. I decided this year to put my money in optics, and them a match grade upper. Keep the videos coming and I would appreciate any info you can share on group size that I new comer should expect in practice. Thx again, FletchMan
The air rifle experience will give you a great head start. The highpower targets will seem easy by comparison. For newer shooters, spend your time on decreasing your hold size. That will give you faster progress towards smaller groups and higher scores.
Konrad - Thank you and will do. Our club has a monthly match, using SR-1 Target reduced for 100 yards. I've started with that, and since I do not have a match grade barrel yet, feel that is good for a while. Since I reload, I am able to use Sierra Match King 53 grain Match Hollow Points and 26 Grn of Varget powder, which produces consistent sub MOA groups from my 16 inch 1:8 AR barrel. A humble beginning, but fun. I dry fire at home 3 times a week and live fire at the range once a week in a match format. So, i will work hard on decreasing my hold size as you pointed out. Thx.
PS - I just purchased a Hi-Lux 4x34 Service Rifle Scope and will mount it tomorrow. It will replace a Leopold VX-4 freedom. The VX-4 is not a bad scope, but the reticle disappears into the 9 and 10 ring on the Sr-1 with my aging eyes. The Hi-Lux reticle is round a lot like the aperture sights I shoot Sporter with, which I think may work better. The Hi-Lux also has AE from 5 yards to infinity. So, I have no excuse with the optics I've choosen.
As for ideas regarding content. I would really appreciate a video on shooting from the sitting, specifically with an M1A. The traditional styled stock gives me tremendous trouble when trying to create a solid foundation. I currently shoot “open legged” and it’s not ideal. I am unable to cross my legs or even cross my ankles.
My sitting position uses a modified cross-ankle. The ankle of my right leg is underneath the calf of my left leg. This allows my legs to be extended but still lets my knees separate.
Appreciate the “through the years” approach to laying out the shooting coat. I’ll forward this to a few new shooters. “I could make a Spice Girls comment, but won’t”..... you’re a better man than I 😂. I don’t let all the eye rolls bother me with my obscure references ...😂😂
Konrad hold."grand master",good training.gran, m14, to the mouse gun. my jacket was used , and my glove was my mothers.moms glove. call your shoot! float in.then your last shoot was 99% on the mark. Linda wright hold, Fred hill hold , Dave Tubb hold and Konrad hold. thanks for you time!
Konrad - Thank you for commenting about pulse transferred into the sling at 12:03. I do notice this quite a bit with my setup. I have an older canvas shooting coat. I have tried my sling in the "no pulse" configuration and that helps some. Right now, it sitting I my pulse move my sights more than 1 moa. Maybe even 2. So I have a Question: In your experience, with a different, better jacket what is the best I can expect? Thx. FletchMan
The canvas coats are quite thin and let a lot of pulse transfer into the sling. A thicker and stiffer coat material will dampen a lot of that pulse. Regardless of the coat, wear a sweatshirt underneath it to help insulate the pulse even more. You may find that most of the pulse in sitting is coming from your legs. That's why I went to a more open leg position so my arteries weren't constricted.
Konrad - Thx. I will give the open leg position a try. I do have a good sweatshirt and will probably purchase the coat soon. Interesting. Thank you and Best Regards, FletchMan
Thank you for all of the wonderful videos. They've been immensely helpful as I've returned to the sport. I started out in 10m air rifle in high school, and the fundamentals seem basically the same. I'm currently shooting Garand with a decent Creedmoor Hardback. It's amazing how much a good coat can help, and its a far cry from the sweatshirts that we were restricted to in high school. Any advice for someone thinking about transitioning to M1A?
If you are starting in highpower rifle competition, I would recommend skipping the M1A and going straight to an AR-style rifle. You will be able to shoot smaller groups for a longer period of time and for less money.
Those are used to hook to the sling so it doesn't slip down your arm. These can be used when not competing for service rifle awards. A properly configured sling shouldn't slip down the arm anyway.
In the 3 picture comparison, it is obvious to me that your support side hip is less jutted out as your coats improved in fit and rubber gription. Is this due directly to the support the coat gives or the coat not being as flexible to allow you to jut your support side hip out? As a smallbore shooter beginning into highpower, I find the creedmoor hardback jacket confining, but then again maybe I'm adjusting the straps too tight. You do not appear to cinch down your jacket to the extreme I've been told is needed. Can you give us an idea how snug the straps are compared to how much more you could tighten them?
There is certainly more tightness across the hips with the newer coats. That doesn't necessarily make it better. I like to get my hip out forward as this creates more of a shelf for my elbow to rest on. Shooters with more International training will probably want more hip movement as well. I don't like to have too much tightness across my hips as this limits my hip movement. I want to use bone support rather than the coat to hold up the rifle. To be honest I haven't really paid attention to how tight the buckles are. It's just something I tighten during the prep period. The key is to allow the right amount of hip flexibility.
I used the terry cloth collar for many years. But over time the velcro became worn and the collar would come off when I removed the coat. I stopped using it last year and found that not having one didn't affect me at all, and it was actually one less thing to think about. It might be useful if the collar of the coat rubs against your neck.
I tighten all the straps for standing, only the top one for sitting, and only the top two for prone. Getting good fit and tightness across the shoulders is a good guide.
I think when I ordered the coat, I specifically asked for it to NOT be a hardback. I didn't want a stiff back to interfere with the amount of back bend I have when I shoot standing.
Anything that gets you to the match and shooting is suitable for getting started. I have found that the short-barreled AR's can be difficult to extend the arm in prone since their sling swivels are so much closer. This causes the buttstock to get pushed away from the shoulder.
@@konrad1853 Thanks for answering - that reminds me of another question if you don't mind. I have a few years of experience shooting bolt action rifles and am new to the AR. While practicing dry firing in standing position, the AR buttstock doesn't seem to want to rest firmly in my shoulder, but instead sort of only just touches the side of my shoulder. Im guessing if that is the correct placement then the pistol grip is meant to absorb recoil. Is that correct, or should I be maneuvering the buttstock into a firm recoil-absorbing position in my shoulder like with a bolt action? Thanks!
The low recoil of the .223 AR isn't really a problem. Having said that, you still want to keep the buttplate (or part of it) tight in your shoulder. Start developing your position by keeping your head erect or at least not tilted left or right. Then, bring the rifle into your shoulder and work on adjusting the rifle so it conforms to your head position.
I'm a beginner, only 4 matches so far (last season of course) and lately have been practicing my standing in a t-shirt. Not surprisingly, my scores are the same (low 180's) in a t-shirt as with a (borrowed) coat. Once my fundamentals are solid, perhaps I can justify shelling out for a coat (for standing) to squeeze out those precious points. Konrad, have you ever shot standing in a t-shirt? I know you wouldn't necessarily do that but, how well could you do (on a good day)? In fact, would be COOL to see a video of THAT this summer :D Do it for science! LOL
I have only put the rifle in my shoulder a couple of times while wearing only a t-shirt. Based on this, I would never want to shoot standing that way. The coat provides so much more to keep the support arm in place. That being said, I might be able to rig something up to show my wobble and contrast the two situations. It might be a video I make someday.
@@konrad1853 That would be interesting from a practical marksmanship perspective and much appreciated. As solid as your fundamentals must be to have earned the success you've had to date, I'd be surprised if you couldn't shoot high master standing in a bathing suit :D
The AR platform, in my opinion, is the most practical choice in highpower rifle competition. It shoots well, is easy to maintain, and has modest reloading cost.
The coat provides rubber pads so the rifle and your elbows are "stuck" in position and do not move. It also dampens the pulse that is transferred from your body to the rifle via the sling.
Looks like we’re really trying to tame our left arm and wrist, and anchor those to our left hip, yeah? I’m not any kind of competitive shooter, but still, maybe the goal is to 1) lock the left wrist in place, with shooting glove(haven’t tried), and 2) anchor bicep to hip. I’ve tried with left bicep resting on a 2-3” piece of foam wedge between bicep and left hip (redneck engineering), and that seemed to be quite a bit more stable.
The goal is to build a bone-supported position where the skeletal system takes that weight of the rifle. The left forearm transfers the rifle weight down to the hip and then down to the leg.
Best High Power content on TH-cam
Those jackets shrink like crazy over the years.
Testament to quality; 15 years of use! Takes the shock off buying a decent jacket :)
Perhaps you might do a video about your shooting goals over the years, and especially your current goals as an already very successful rifleman? I think narration over previously recorded video segments would be awesome and give you an opportunity to script it and carefully plan out your points. Some of your best videos (IMO) are ones that i just listen to as if they were podcasts because the narration is so solid.
As always, very informative! Thanks, Konrad.
As you said, it could be for various reasons where you want to start out with a shooting coat. Mostly, how far you go into High Power rifle. I have an M-1 NM, and because of personal reasons, I had to let go of my M-1A, It was exactly like yours with the oversized stock and I did shoot out the Springfield barrel and had it replaced with a Krieger, then I bought a Rock River NM AR-15, however, shot it very little (Life issues) I got out of rifle after that, about the same time the AR's really dominating the shooting line. However, a lot of work but they were great times, I believe you understand what I mean. Nice video, Haha,, I shot offhand with my M-1A just like how you demonstrated, However, I would hold as tight as I could pushing back against the front of the Magazine to shove the butt of the rifle into my shoulder (Tight as I could without developing a shake) and when the front sight was there,, it was there. Hehehe.. You have Good advice to new shooters Konrad-Dave
Very helpful info for a new rifle competitor!
Wow thats what I needed actually, thanks! Glad your channel is still alive
Konrad:
Enjoy your video's! Very informative and to the point and precise. Don't make them just to hear yourself talk. Thank you have learned a lot!!
Bill L
Thanks. I'm always looking for new video ideas.
looking at your response I hope you know I meant you don't make them just to hear yourself talk. But right to the point. Great video's!!
Thanks. I just bought an Anchutz coat. Leather and cordura
Awesome video, thanks!
Thanks and good advice. I started high power this year after shooting a year in Sporter 22 and Air Rifle, which I really enjoy. I did find a very inexpensive Champions Supply canvas coat, which actually fits quite well for now. I decided this year to put my money in optics, and them a match grade upper. Keep the videos coming and I would appreciate any info you can share on group size that I new comer should expect in practice. Thx again, FletchMan
The air rifle experience will give you a great head start. The highpower targets will seem easy by comparison. For newer shooters, spend your time on decreasing your hold size. That will give you faster progress towards smaller groups and higher scores.
Konrad - Thank you and will do. Our club has a monthly match, using SR-1 Target reduced for 100 yards. I've started with that, and since I do not have a match grade barrel yet, feel that is good for a while. Since I reload, I am able to use Sierra Match King 53 grain Match Hollow Points and 26 Grn of Varget powder, which produces consistent sub MOA groups from my 16 inch 1:8 AR barrel. A humble beginning, but fun. I dry fire at home 3 times a week and live fire at the range once a week in a match format. So, i will work hard on decreasing my hold size as you pointed out. Thx.
PS - I just purchased a Hi-Lux 4x34 Service Rifle Scope and will mount it tomorrow. It will replace a Leopold VX-4 freedom. The VX-4 is not a bad scope, but the reticle disappears into the 9 and 10 ring on the Sr-1 with my aging eyes. The Hi-Lux reticle is round a lot like the aperture sights I shoot Sporter with, which I think may work better. The Hi-Lux also has AE from 5 yards to infinity. So, I have no excuse with the optics I've choosen.
Thank you for posting this. Great information.
As for ideas regarding content. I would really appreciate a video on shooting from the sitting, specifically with an M1A. The traditional styled stock gives me tremendous trouble when trying to create a solid foundation. I currently shoot “open legged” and it’s not ideal. I am unable to cross my legs or even cross my ankles.
My sitting position uses a modified cross-ankle. The ankle of my right leg is underneath the calf of my left leg. This allows my legs to be extended but still lets my knees separate.
Nothing like a good sitting position...@@konrad1853
Appreciate the “through the years” approach to laying out the shooting coat. I’ll forward this to a few new shooters.
“I could make a Spice Girls comment, but won’t”..... you’re a better man than I 😂. I don’t let all the eye rolls bother me with my obscure references ...😂😂
Feel free to forward any of my videos to anyone that wants to get more out of the sport and might find them useful.
Konrad hold."grand master",good training.gran, m14, to the mouse gun. my jacket was used , and my glove was my mothers.moms glove. call your shoot! float in.then your last shoot was 99% on the mark. Linda wright hold, Fred hill hold , Dave Tubb hold and Konrad hold. thanks for you time!
Nice 👍
Konrad - Thank you for commenting about pulse transferred into the sling at 12:03. I do notice this quite a bit with my setup. I have an older canvas shooting coat. I have tried my sling in the "no pulse" configuration and that helps some. Right now, it sitting I my pulse move my sights more than 1 moa. Maybe even 2. So I have a Question: In your experience, with a different, better jacket what is the best I can expect? Thx. FletchMan
The canvas coats are quite thin and let a lot of pulse transfer into the sling. A thicker and stiffer coat material will dampen a lot of that pulse. Regardless of the coat, wear a sweatshirt underneath it to help insulate the pulse even more. You may find that most of the pulse in sitting is coming from your legs. That's why I went to a more open leg position so my arteries weren't constricted.
Konrad - Thx. I will give the open leg position a try. I do have a good sweatshirt and will probably purchase the coat soon. Interesting. Thank you and Best Regards, FletchMan
Thank you for all of the wonderful videos. They've been immensely helpful as I've returned to the sport. I started out in 10m air rifle in high school, and the fundamentals seem basically the same. I'm currently shooting Garand with a decent Creedmoor Hardback. It's amazing how much a good coat can help, and its a far cry from the sweatshirts that we were restricted to in high school. Any advice for someone thinking about transitioning to M1A?
If you are starting in highpower rifle competition, I would recommend skipping the M1A and going straight to an AR-style rifle. You will be able to shoot smaller groups for a longer period of time and for less money.
@@konrad1853 Thank you very much sir!
Great info thxs
What are the straps on the left shoulder used for? Thanks.
Those are used to hook to the sling so it doesn't slip down your arm. These can be used when not competing for service rifle awards. A properly configured sling shouldn't slip down the arm anyway.
In the 3 picture comparison, it is obvious to me that your support side hip is less jutted out as your coats improved in fit and rubber gription. Is this due directly to the support the coat gives or the coat not being as flexible to allow you to jut your support side hip out?
As a smallbore shooter beginning into highpower, I find the creedmoor hardback jacket confining, but then again maybe I'm adjusting the straps too tight. You do not appear to cinch down your jacket to the extreme I've been told is needed. Can you give us an idea how snug the straps are compared to how much more you could tighten them?
There is certainly more tightness across the hips with the newer coats. That doesn't necessarily make it better. I like to get my hip out forward as this creates more of a shelf for my elbow to rest on. Shooters with more International training will probably want more hip movement as well. I don't like to have too much tightness across my hips as this limits my hip movement. I want to use bone support rather than the coat to hold up the rifle. To be honest I haven't really paid attention to how tight the buckles are. It's just something I tighten during the prep period. The key is to allow the right amount of hip flexibility.
Creedmore offers a terry cloth collar option on their canvas coat...do you recommend that?
I used the terry cloth collar for many years. But over time the velcro became worn and the collar would come off when I removed the coat. I stopped using it last year and found that not having one didn't affect me at all, and it was actually one less thing to think about. It might be useful if the collar of the coat rubs against your neck.
How snug or tight would you say you wear your shooting coat? Do you tighten some straps tighter than others?
I tighten all the straps for standing, only the top one for sitting, and only the top two for prone. Getting good fit and tightness across the shoulders is a good guide.
Nice video. Is your coat Hardback or regular?
I think when I ordered the coat, I specifically asked for it to NOT be a hardback. I didn't want a stiff back to interfere with the amount of back bend I have when I shoot standing.
@@konrad1853 Thanks
Do you think a 16" barreled carbine/m4-style AR is suitable for getting started in highpower?
Small disadvantage at 600, or if one is over 5'10".
Anything that gets you to the match and shooting is suitable for getting started. I have found that the short-barreled AR's can be difficult to extend the arm in prone since their sling swivels are so much closer. This causes the buttstock to get pushed away from the shoulder.
@@konrad1853 Thanks for answering - that reminds me of another question if you don't mind. I have a few years of experience shooting bolt action rifles and am new to the AR. While practicing dry firing in standing position, the AR buttstock doesn't seem to want to rest firmly in my shoulder, but instead sort of only just touches the side of my shoulder. Im guessing if that is the correct placement then the pistol grip is meant to absorb recoil. Is that correct, or should I be maneuvering the buttstock into a firm recoil-absorbing position in my shoulder like with a bolt action? Thanks!
The low recoil of the .223 AR isn't really a problem. Having said that, you still want to keep the buttplate (or part of it) tight in your shoulder. Start developing your position by keeping your head erect or at least not tilted left or right. Then, bring the rifle into your shoulder and work on adjusting the rifle so it conforms to your head position.
I'm a beginner, only 4 matches so far (last season of course) and lately have been practicing my standing in a t-shirt. Not surprisingly, my scores are the same (low 180's) in a t-shirt as with a (borrowed) coat. Once my fundamentals are solid, perhaps I can justify shelling out for a coat (for standing) to squeeze out those precious points.
Konrad, have you ever shot standing in a t-shirt? I know you wouldn't necessarily do that but, how well could you do (on a good day)? In fact, would be COOL to see a video of THAT this summer :D Do it for science! LOL
I have only put the rifle in my shoulder a couple of times while wearing only a t-shirt. Based on this, I would never want to shoot standing that way. The coat provides so much more to keep the support arm in place. That being said, I might be able to rig something up to show my wobble and contrast the two situations. It might be a video I make someday.
@@konrad1853 That would be interesting from a practical marksmanship perspective and much appreciated. As solid as your fundamentals must be to have earned the success you've had to date, I'd be surprised if you couldn't shoot high master standing in a bathing suit :D
Is AR platform better for high power match?
The AR platform, in my opinion, is the most practical choice in highpower rifle competition. It shoots well, is easy to maintain, and has modest reloading cost.
@@konrad1853 Thank you for the advices. Greatly appreciated.
What is the purpose of a shooting coat?
The coat provides rubber pads so the rifle and your elbows are "stuck" in position and do not move. It also dampens the pulse that is transferred from your body to the rifle via the sling.
🤦🏻♂️
Looks like we’re really trying to tame our left arm and wrist, and anchor those to our left hip, yeah?
I’m not any kind of competitive shooter, but still, maybe the goal is to
1) lock the left wrist in place, with shooting glove(haven’t tried), and
2) anchor bicep to hip. I’ve tried with left bicep resting on a 2-3” piece of foam wedge between bicep and left hip (redneck engineering), and that seemed to be quite a bit more stable.
The goal is to build a bone-supported position where the skeletal system takes that weight of the rifle. The left forearm transfers the rifle weight down to the hip and then down to the leg.