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Originally posted by trapper189:
It says the target pictured is 2/3 the size of the actual target and the distance was 50’. Those magazines are rare and hold what, 5 rounds? I’d get bored after the first 100 rounds. That’s 357 mag reloads. Almost 6 hours spent reloading if it took 1 minute each.

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I'm not sure I could lie prone for 10 shots much less 1785 shots. Surely wouldn't be able to get back up

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Originally posted by sigfreund:
Shooting supports that aren’t “artificial” in that they rely on something such as the ground, bench, etc., are an interesting (to me) subject.

The single sling that was also a carrying strap was long used by American military forces as a way of improving steadiness. I’ve actually thought from time to time about trying to relearn how such slings are used, but then I get lazy and go back to using tripods, bipods, benches. I also cannot get into the proper prone position that benefited from the sling support. I’m no longer comfortable in kneeling or sitting either, so ….

I don’t know how much of this is still valid, but in various traditional competition disciplines such as three position 50 foot small bore, there were sometimes restrictions on gear. For example, when I was doing it as a teenager, a palm rest was not permitted. A palm rest is an aid that extends down from the forend of the rifle to rest on one’s support hand palm when shooting from the offhand position. That permits folding the upper arm against one’s chest for additional support rather than having to hold the rifle into shooting position by muscle power alone. In competition years later they were permitted, and I still have one.

Hooked butt plates were also commonly prohibited. The hook of that device is placed under one’s armpit to reduce the effort to keep the rifle barrel from rotating down, especially in the offhand position.

Slings were almost always used, and especially ones designed to wrap around the upper portion of the support arm. That type could often be tightened to the point of reducing the pulse in the lower arm and therefore forend movement. They were probably prohibited in the junior program but I used one later.

My father had been a competitor in the Army and he gave me one of his shooting coats. They were a snug fit to help with support and had elbow pads. Even today specialized coats for the purpose are available for traditional shooting disciplines. I’ve never tried one, but I believe they are very stiff, often made of thick leather, and have straps to tighten them around one’s chest. All that helps reduce the effects of heartbeat and other small, involuntary movements. One thing I found out in Germany was that such coats for competitions were prohibited. They couldn’t be stiff and tight for the purpose, evidently because they were considered an unnatural aid.

And then the shooting gloves. They were used on the support hand to reduce the pressure caused by the rifle and sling with a tight hold.

As I say, recollections.