Please e-mail address changes, unsubscribe requests, or submissions to me. To subscribe to the "real-time" version of the list send an email to uit_mailing_list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com In this issue: Re: Training without jacket/pants Re: Wanted - sights (UK) (Gehmann 594) Batch testing at Eley Re: Batch testing at Eley Blinders - new ISSF regs Re: Blinders - new ISSF regs Re: Blinders - new ISSF regs Re: Blinders - new ISSF regs Re: Shooting glasses Re: Shooting glasses Re: Shooting glasses Re: Shooting glasses Re: Shooting glasses Re: Shooting glasses ******************************************************************** I may be a little late with this, because I don t follow the live version. I do want to take a dissenting point of view on the issue of not using equipment in order to supposedly develop a more stable position. I see little value in trying to shoot a rifle, particularly in the standing position, without all equipment available. Aside from the significant increase in the potential for injury, there are several reasons for this point of view. First, all the shooting positions are essentially engineering problems. In the Navy we think of and refer to our ships and aircraft as platforms. What we put on our platforms are our weapons systems. Computer guidance aside, in order to make these weapons most effective, we need the most stable platform necessary. The same is true of a competitive shooter, regardless of the position. If one is to develop the most stable platform upon which to mount the super sophisticated target rifle, one must use everything available. We don t remove the ballast from our ships (making it unstable) and take them to the firing range to practice, thinking that when we put the ballast back, the platform will work better. This hypothesis simply does not make sense. The rule of thumb here is to train the same way we will operate in combat. The same is true with competitive shooting. We train our shooters the way we intend to have them perform in competition. Considering other engineering problems, we don t build lightweight buildings and then rush in to reinforce (stabilize) them when a hurricane is approaching. Considering the comments in the UIT letter, I suspect that by now there is a chorus of wailing about the increased balance that will result from training without the equipment. WRONG! If one develops a position without the equipment, one will learn a position to use in matches where equipment is not allowed; not a stable position for matches where equipment is allowed. The two different situations require two different training scenarios. One technique won t significantly help the other and will probably hurt. After all, if one is taking time training without the equipment, one has less time to train with the equipment that is used in competition. Am I against exercises that develop balance? Not at all! There are simply much better ways to develop balance than to try to train without equipment. Tai Chi comes to mind first, as being one of the best ways to improve balance. How about yoga exercises? If one is doing weight training on a machine to build muscle strength, one is taking the long road around. Free weights are a much better way to go, as they not only build strength, but they also require developing the ability to control the weights and to balance the weights. So ditch the machine, draft a spotter and get to work. And while you re at it, don t forget or gloss over the stretching routine. If your muscle system is not flexible, the chance of injury increases and the ability to smoothly control the stability of the platform significantly decreases. So does all this mean that I am advising against training that will develop an inner-awareness of the positions? Not at all! In fact, this is a very important part of developing and maintaining a stable position. As with any engineering structure, our positions need regular maintenance. The better we care for them, the better they work and the better we shoot. The inner-awareness allows us to know when our position is broken, so that we know that they need to be fixed and what we have to do in order to fix them. So, instead of trying to figure out how an unsupported position feels, it is much more efficient to learn what a supported position feels like. That way we can more quickly determine what is wrong and how to fix it. So, how do we do this? Well, many years ago, I picked up a copy of Bob Hickey s book Mental Training. This was the first edition; so new that the cover was printed on cardboard and pasted over the binder of the book. It looked like it had been hand written and "published" on a Xerox machine. While it looked rough, it contained many brilliant diamonds of information. Two of the exercises he described are very good for training inner-awareness. One is the position inventory, which is done in full equipment, in the particular position, just after a very good shooting session. The other exercise is the muscle tension exercise that allows one to determine the effects of minute changes in muscle tension and how it affects shot placement and stability of the positions. When one researches and experiments with this exercise, one will see that there is an advantage to doing some of the exercises without equipment. Since shooting real ammo is not required, it will be advantageous to find a place where these exercises can be done wearing the least amount of clothing possible. I am not going to describe these in detail, because Mr. Hickey has done such a wonderful job describing them in his book. He even goes to the trouble of including some basic forms to guide the student through the exercises. Mastering these exercises and including an active relaxation exercise once a day will take a shooter most of the way to developing a sharp and discriminating awareness of their positions. All these exercises require diligent use of a shooting journal. Next to the rifle, the journal, or diary, is the most important piece of equipment an athlete has available. Regards, Lt. Stephen B. Flatt U. S. Naval Reserve Rifle Team [Editor - Well, I guess you told me. But I still disagree with some of what you said. Perhaps you are thinking we are saying shooters should train without clothes all the time, which is clearly not the case. I certainly agree that you should shoot from a stable platform. Doing exercises like training without clothes enhances your feel and awareness of the position, which translates into a more stable position, especially when wearing the clothes. If your position changes noticeably when wearing clothes, then the clothes are dictating the position, not the fundamentals of position construction. A human being is a living, moving thing, not a boat. We can engineer boats to do exactly what we want and have complete control over all the systems. Boats do not feel or learn how to get better. We also are not saying that you shouldn't do balance or training exercises such as those you mentioned. Tai Chi is an excellent training regimen that would benefit everyone. That is not what this topic is about though. The problem with only figuring out what a supported position feels like is the clothes mask too many variables. There are many people who allow their clothes to dictate the position rather than support the position they should have. Doing some training without the clothes heightens your awareness of what feels right and wrong; clothes dampen that ability. A person who has done "naked" training will know something is wrong before someone who hasn't. Which seems to lead into your last paragraph where you state, "it will be advantageous to find a place where these exercises can be done wearing the least amount of clothing possible." I'm sure I must be missing something, but how is that much different from what JP, myself and maybe some others have been advocating?] ******************************************************************** Gehmann rearsight 594- I stumbled over Robin Szemeti comments regarding the 594 Gehmann rearsight and would like to add that it does include an iris. It is a great sight that won gold in Atlanta and Seoul and a good number of European competitions. Wolfgang Woerner ******************************************************************** I went today and batch tested Tenex EPS at Eley, as I only have 1500 rounds of my last batch UF1188 left. They only had 12 batches available to test, as the Spanish Federation ahd been there earlier in the week, but I can report an improvement over my previous tests. Last time, July last year I tested 14 batches (10 rounds at 50M) and extended tested 8 of those 14 batches (<= 14.5mm initial group). I eventually selected 10,000 of UF1188 getting an average group size of 13.3mm (12.5, 12.5, 14.5, 13.5). Today I tested 12 batches and 6 of them were 13.5mm or better (10 shot groups) and over 40 shots, two batches met 13.1mm average group size. Best group (10 shots) this batch test was a wonderful round group of 10.5mm. One intesting point, was I took some 18 month old pre-PES tenex and grouped it. I previously selected it at the range, producing 15.6mm group and now it groups between 17 and 20mm (4 x 10 shot group)!!!!!! Regards Bob M ******************************************************************** > When you they messure group size (i.e.10.5mm), does it mean edge to > edge, center to center? edge to edge, at widest point in any direction for a 10 shot group. when people talk about a Eley batch that 'made 13mm in their rifle' they will be talking about the average of 4 ten shot groups from the final test. -- Robin Szemeti ******************************************************************** Dear list, I'm currently at the World Cup in Aus. and we've been given a sheet that indicates a change in what head gear you can wear & some other stuff. I'll try and type in the most of it below for your consideration. I'll let y'all read it without colouring your thoughts other than to say that the only serious media (1 tv camera) that I have seen was at one of the shotgun finals... Kind regards, Mike ------------------------------------------------ As advised by the ISSF the following will apply at & from the Word Cahampionships Lahti Finland. Aado Maranik ISSF Information In the interest of presenting the shooting sport in the most favourable way and enhancing the projection of individual athletes to a wider audience, the ISSF has taken a number of decision relating to public relations. These decisions do not represent changes to the Official ISSF Rules but are now presented as mandatory requirement made under the spirit of the ISSF Rules. 1. It is most desirable that for the Media, TV etc. that the face is visible so that expressions can be seen. 2. This means that if headgear, caps etc. are worn that these must not obscure the face, neither from the front nor from the sides. Caps with a peak that is sufficiently high that does not obscure the face are permitted, however side flaps are not allowed. 3. Blinders attached to the rifle sight or shooting glasses of under a cap or headband may be no wider than 20mm. 4. Rifle rests (stativs) if used must be sufficiently low when the rifle is rested it does not obscure the face. 5. Dispensation on religious grounds may be obtained from the ISSF Secretary General. At the conclusion of Finals; Range Officers, Jury Members, Team Officials and others must not go forward to congratulate medal winners but must await the controlled departure from the field of play after accredited journalists have had the opportunity to obtain photographs and undertake interviews. ******************************************************************** Not surprised at this new clarifications from the world HQ. But first of all we must admit we haven't been very cooperative in giving something worth while to the press and general public... We as athletes have been far too protective of our sport and some have been outright insulting about it. People, We have to loosen up and get with it because we are going to need friends and public sentiment in support of our sport. NRA has found this out, and USAS is finding out now. As the sport is really mental in nature, we can live with the minor changes. Chet Skinner, Coach ******************************************************************** First of all, of the cameraman is in front of the firing line taking pictures of peoples faces he deserves to be shot! Second, and more seriously, what do you people do to keep the glare from lights behind you off of your lens? It can be quite distracting. Jim Bongiovanni [Editor - Aside from automated cameras (or bunkers behind the targets), most media must take pictures from the side from behind the line. I'll vouch for not being able to see faces a lot because of blinders. Reflections on my lens was my concern as well. I figure I'll have to fashion a new blinder that sticks out from my head a little bit (about 2 fingers width). It will look pretty silly I imagine, but they'll be able to see my face! ******************************************************************** When ordering new lenses for shooting glasses get them anti-reflection coated on BOTH sides. That will cut down the reflections lots and lots. It also protects the glass / plastic a little better from scratches. A cunning plan to align the lens is to use the reflection of your eye. In a darkish room with a little side light, if you carefully look while twisting the lens around you will see the reflection of your eye in the rear surface of the lens. Align it until the rear pep and the iris of the eye line up. This will make sure that the surface is at right angles to the line of sight. To align the lens in the centre of vision. A white board marker is useful to write a cross (but don't cross the lines in the middle) to indicate where the centre of the lens is. ( a circle is just as good) Do this with the glasses off of course. If everything is kept moveable the centreing can be done by the shooter. Once the lens is aligned in the approx place, tighten everything a little then check. Finally tighten you your satisfaction. Ross Mason ******************************************************************** Michael - A note for the folks buying shooting glasses: LensCrafters and most other opticians will not cut lenses for the 23mm Knobloch or 25mm Champion frames. The reason is that their clamp that holds the lens while it is being shaped is itself about 25mm in diameter. They have no problem making lenses for the 32mm and 37mm frames. If anyone knows of an optician that will cut lenses for my 23mm and 25mm frames, please let me know. Doug Clark PS - Looks like Matt Dardas has me beat for the worst eyesight on the firing line! ******************************************************************** Yes, I still have questions on shooting glasses. Varga offers shooting glasses with a 22mm lens for rifle and a 37mm lens for pistol. My coach has recommended getting the 37mm lens because he says that it will be easier to center the larger lens on the rifle sites. I'm not so sure. He also recommended taking the rifle to the doctor's office to have him center the lens. That should go over like a lead balloon!! Since I generally shoot prone, and not too much 3-P, does it make a difference which lens size I get? My eye doctor has told me that the lab that he uses can grind lenses in my perscription to fit the 22mm lens. Jim Bongiovanni [Editor - The 37 will not be easier to center, but Varga should have a device you can buy that will allow you to cetner the lens. I have no trouble with my 37 in prone (and 3P), but others obviously do. I'd go with the 22, and if you can't see the windflags without moving your head, get the 37 for your other eye or setup your scope so you can glance into it without moving your head to check mirage. Just ask your doctor beforehand about bringing your rifle. I think I just took my frames and the rear sight and demonstrated how things would be setup and at what distances. The prescription most likely will not be your normal one since the lens is further from your eye.] ******************************************************************** jmbongiovanni wrote: > > shooting glasses with a 22mm lens for rifle and a 37mm lens for > pistol. My coach has recommended getting the 37mm lens because he > says that it will be easier to center the larger lens on the rifle > sights. I'm not so sure. Indeed. The problem is that you might be sighting (if you are like me) as near to the upper inside corner as you can. A normally made small lens, pressed into the corner, will have its center much closer to the corner than a similarly made large lens, as in the following picture of 2 lenses... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X /--\ \ X \__/ | X | + | X | | ^ \_____/ / \ / \ Although exaggerated, the center + in the larger lens is clearly a lot farther from the corner next to the eyepiece, than the (unmarked) center of the smaller lens. > He also recommended taking the rifle to the > doctor's office to have him center the lens. That should go over > like a lead balloon!! Not necessarily a bad idea. Although I drew the focal centers in the physical centers of the lenses, your doctor does not have to make them that way. For ordinary glases, the optometrist will normally measure your eyes and make the focal centers of the lenses match the centers of your eyes, which might be closer or farther apart than the centers of the frame cutouts. You want the same kind of measurement and cut for your shooting glasses, so that in your normal shooting position you will be looking through the focal centers of the lenses. The doctor can move the + (focal center) of the large lens to be mounted in the middle of where the small lens would be. This is actually quite easy - the lenses are already ground and are bigger than normal glasses, so your local lens installer just has to place the center of the oversize lens where the doctor specifies and then cut out the shape of the frame that will hold it. Please do not assume your doctor won't let your bring the rifle in for fitting, as long as you ask first and of course keep it properly cased until ready for the actual fitting. Many doctors, unlike AMA management, support any legal and reasonable activity their client wishes to pursue and will be happy to provide special glasses as required for these activities. If your current eye doctor refuses to fit your glasses to your chosen athletic equipment, find a different one who will! - Benjamin McLeod ******************************************************************** On Monday 15 April 2002 04:11, jmbongiovanni wrote: > Yes, I still have questions on shooting glasses. Varga offers > shooting glasses with a 22mm lens for rifle and a 37mm lens for > pistol. My coach has recommended getting the 37mm lens because he > says that it will be easier to center the larger lens on the rifle > sites. I'm not so sure. get the 22mm one .. you will have great difficulty getting the 37mm one cetralised, because it will colide with the bridge of your nose and/or the bridge piece of the glasses before you get it in the correct position. > He also recommended taking the rifle to the > doctor's office to have him center the lens. That should go over > like a lead balloon!! not necessary ... the adjustments are easily made with the aid of a friend. In any case as your position changes over time ( which mine does ... ) and you try slightly different cant and cheek piece positions you'll want to re-center the lens anyway .. so you might as well learn how now. it takes about 15 minutes ... The Champion glasses have a simple lens centreing device ( rather like a small tube with a ~2mm hole, about 10mm long ) that clips onto the lens allowing you to check that it is both central and aligned at 90 degrees to the rearsight ... (if its in the wrong place or at an angle you cant see through the sights ..) its probably a not necessary , but it does make a useful check. Maybe varga do a similar device? -- Robin Szemeti ******************************************************************** When I was fitted for my shooting glasses, the optician (an experienced shooter) asked me to bring my rifle. He explained that if I required a strong lens then the distance from the eye to the rear aperture was critical in arriving at the correct prescription. At smaller corrections this is apparently not an issue. Regards Cliff Walker ******************************************************************** > When I was fitted for my shooting glasses, the optician (an experienced > shooter) asked me to bring my rifle. He explained that if I required a > strong lens then the distance from the eye to the rear aperture was > critical in arriving at the correct prescription. At smaller corrections > this is apparently not an issue. hmm .. I know the people I ordered mine from add a small correction factor to the lens for this reason, so whilst it is essential to get the right lens prescription, I'd still say actually setting the thing up once you have the correct lens is easily done at home .. YMMV My favourite trick is to toss them onto my cap/glove when going to change targets and then kneel on them when as I go return to pick up my rifle ... -- Robin Szemeti ******************************************************************** End of UIT Mailing List #24 Michael Ray - DBA & Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach UIT Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/index.htm