TargetTalk

Recently taken up pistol after a 25 year absence (used to shoot when I was 16 - a lot of changes since then...).

Am still on the re-learning curve, but doing OK. The shape of my groupings currently suggests I am having problems with my stance (and grip) but its the former I am more concerend about at present.

I have 2 questions.
First, is there a particular kind of footwear that pistol shooters wear within the rules (I have yet to see special pistol shoes, but maybe I have not been looking properly?). I am currently wearing a pair of old squash shoes - very flat soles and good contact with the floor - but clearly designed to let me move around a court at speed, rather than stand comfortably.

Second - I have noticed that I occasionaly "wobble" during a shot. 9out of ten shots are fine - my body is relaxed and the movement in my sights is controlable and in my arm. Occasionaly (and apparently randomly) my whole body sways slightly. Thats an instant abort - but any idea whats going on, and is this something other shooters experience?

Mike

There are semi specific shooting shoes made by Sauer <sp?> and AHG, to name 2 I know of. The idea is to have a very flat sole which is also pretty inflexible. A new pair of shoes i.e. those that haven't yet been broken in are pretty good but basically you want something flat and stiff.

Rob.

A lot of recommendations that I got were for skateboarding shoes. Found a pair of Vans at one of the discount shoe stores (Payless?) during a buy-one-get-one-half-off sale. Very comfortable shoes, and very stable.

-Ted

Hi

Our Sporter Air Rifle team wears skating shoes, to the point of bringing them in the gear bag. Very flat, very cheap. No ankle support though.

Mike
Wichita KS

mikeschroeder wrote:Hi

Our Sporter Air Rifle team wears skating shoes, to the point of bringing them in the gear bag. Very flat, very cheap. No ankle support though.

Mike
Wichita KS

Which of course you can't have for pistol shooting (ankle support that is).

Rob.

Rifle shooters wear tall boots

Pistol rules say the shoe can't cover the ankle and in "equipment check" they actually LOOK at the foot to see if the ankle is visible.

full ISSF rules are at: http://www.issf-shooting.org/rules/rules.asp

there are more rules about clothing than there are about guns

I've shot my best scores no shoes, socks only.

shoot good

Poole
http://arizona.rifleshooting.com/

Would urge some caution when selecting specialist shooting shoes. If you have an in-line stance, the Sauer heels are quite high and I know several UK shooters including myself subsequently moved to AHG as they are very flat and do not tip you forwards, others like the Sauer arch support so best to try before you buy. I think AHG is the widest fitting, followed by Sauer are the Pardini is narrow in comparison.

Much to the irritation of my coach (David L), I like shooting in sports socks as I have fallen arches in my feet, it provides a very flat surface and when on 25m ranges with the slightly elastic rubber compound, the floor contact is excellent. The wording of the ISSF rules is ambiguous but I have since seen several other fans of sports socks only footware in the summer. Just watch out for the spent cases on 25m ranges!

PaulT wrote:Much to the irritation of my coach (David L), I like shooting in sports socks as I have fallen arches in my feet, it provides a very flat surface and when on 25m ranges with the slightly elastic rubber compound, the floor contact is excellent. The wording of the ISSF rules is ambiguous but I have since seen several other fans of sports socks only footware in the summer.

As you say Paul there is a little abiguity:-

8.4.7.4 Low-sided shoes should be worn. Any high-sided type shoes
(such as Rifle, Basketball, or Ski boots, etc.) which cover the
ankle bone, or could give support, are not permitted. Shoes will
be checked at Equipment Control. Clothing will be checked on the
firing line.

I actually put great emphasis on "...SHOULD be worn." That, coupled with what I believe to be a common sense approach, would lead me to allow shooters to shoot in socks.

So you see Paul, it's not the rules that make me object to you shooting in your socks, it's..................(only joking)

I vote for Chuckie Taylor low tops.

$15 a pair at Ross clothes, and absolutely NO cushioning in the sole, so no wobble. Sort of like just wearing socks, plus protection from the brass on the ground.

The idea of shooting in socks is really interesting. It had never occurred to me. In a different context, I much prefer to dance bare-foot because of my much greater awareness of my ground-foot contact.

I tried out this idea on bare concrete, using an air pistol. I found my shooting stance to be really comfortable with a very enhanced awareness of my feet positioning. Obviously not a good idea if there is hot, spent, brass around; but otherwise I recommend the experiment.

ben

The idea of shooting in socks is really interesting. It had never occurred to me. In a different context, I much prefer to dance bare-foot because of my much greater awareness of my ground-foot contact.

I tried out this idea on bare concrete, using an air pistol. I found my shooting stance to be really comfortable with a very enhanced awareness of my feet positioning. Obviously not a good idea if there is hot, spent, brass around; but otherwise I recommend the experiment.

ben

The idea of shooting in socks is really interesting. It had never occurred to me. In a different context, I much prefer to dance bare-foot because of my much greater awareness of my ground-foot contact.

I tried out this idea on bare concrete, using an air pistol. I found my shooting stance to be really comfortable with a very enhanced awareness of my feet positioning. Obviously not a good idea if there is hot, spent, brass around; but otherwise I recommend the experiment.

ben

The idea of shooting in socks is really interesting. It had never occurred to me. In a different context, I much prefer to dance bare-foot because of my much greater awareness of my ground-foot contact.

I tried out this idea on bare concrete, using an air pistol. I found my shooting stance to be really comfortable with a very enhanced awareness of my feet positioning. Obviously not a good idea if there is hot, spent, brass around; but otherwise I recommend the experiment.

ben

I too like to shoot in socks but I do not like steping on things like stones brass and the like. So I started to wear my leather mocasins. Still good ground contact and some protection and I get no comments about my feet.

Tom S.

I have a pair of Sauers and they are wonderful to shoot in - extremly stable. I wouldn't say that scores have improved, but I feel more confident when wearing them.

Chuck Taylor low cuts! What a fantastic idea. Haven't thought of that! Am running off later to get a pair. Always wanted one, never had an excuse.

Shooting in socks... do see couple of people at the range. But go for the Chuck Taylors.

I think the matter of footwear is important....comfort, confidence, stability etc. However, I seem to have noticed that changes in footwear tend to alter the body position/sight picture/head alignment ever-so-slightly. To that end, seems that practices and matches should all be on the same "understanding" (sorry for the pun). IMHO CraigE