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Choosing Your Equipment Choosing your equipment when you first start target pistol shooting can be a daunting task. This page offers a guide to the issues that a new shooter should consider when making decisions about equipment selection. But as a guide only the decision to select equipment when starting target pistol shooting for the first time must take into consideration your personal preferences and circumstance. Equipment Selection Newer shooters often want advice on selecting a pistol, or other items of equipment, such as shooting glasses, spotting scopes, shooting shoes, etc. While most coaching deals with the techniques of shooting, the application of good technique is to some extent dependent on suitable equipment, so this segment provides a few selection guidelines for the potential buyer. Before going any further, the point should be made that in an equipment oriented sport, it is all too easy to be seduced by the latest, or currently most successful market offering, even when it may not be any better than what we already have. We can be attracted by the concept of advanced technology or perhaps the item just looks good. If we are totally honest with ourselves, we may even find we are simply hoping to “buy” a few extra points. There is an old saying in motor racing, “Nothing costs less, weighs less, or breaks-down less than nothing.” In other words, if we don’t really need it, we’re better off without it! This principle applies equally to shooting and accordingly, we should develop a systematic and objective approach when evaluating any potential purchase. Even those who aren’t concerned with cost will find they are better off without any unnecessary gimmicks. All too often, shooting “aids” simply get in the way and distract us from the real job, i.e. the application of good technique. There are some general principles that apply to the selection of all pistols and it is worth drafting a simple checklist in the form of a table to allow comparison of common factors across a range of pistols. This is necessary because it is difficult to compare various pistols when they aren’t all available at the same time. If you have write down a ranking (based on a scale of say, 1 – 5), for each feature you are looking for, the table may show that Brand X actually ranks higher than Brand Y. The purpose of the exercise is to find the pistol that best satisfies your personal requirements therefore it is your assessment that counts. Simply buying the “choice of champions” won’t necessarily give you the best pistol for your needs. Factors to include in you checklist Cost will be a consideration for most of us, so this will usually head the list. Apart from the state of your bank account, a major determinant will be the match or matches for which the pistol will be used. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend a great deal on a pistol for secondary matches, at the expense of your primary event. Once you have decided on your maximum expenditure, there is little point in comparing new pistol prices, as a pistol that exceeds this figure by a significant margin simply doesn’t make it onto the list! Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t shop around for a better deal. The situation is a little different when buying second-hand, but only in terms of value for money. The principle remains the same, first decide on the brand/model then look around for the “best buy”, based on condition, spares and accessories, etc. Reliability Reliability is another item to be placed high on your checklist and closely followed by parts availability. Over the years, there have been a number of pistols that were great to shoot and had a stack of desirable features, but were basically unreliable. Although these brands or models are no longer imported, many are still available on the second-hand market, so if you are new to the sport of target pistol shooting, you should seek expert advice before purchasing any second-hand pistol. Which brings to mind another less important, but still relevant consideration, and that’s resale value, in case you happen to change you pistol(s) at a later date! Whether buying new or second-hand, it is also advisable to investigate the spare parts market. Currently, few importers can afford to maintain a large spare parts inventory and in some cases, supply may be subject to the next delivery from the manufacture, which could take up to six months. Again, ask around and try to establish a meaningful ranking for this item on the checklist. The importance of various features will change according to the match application, but each will contribute something to the pistol’s overall suitability for your needs, so each should be given a ranking. Features that are considered particularly important may attract a double ranking. Some features that you are evaluating may be adjustable on some models, but whether or not this is the case, ranking points should only be allocated according to how well the particular feature satisfies your requirements. For example, one pistol may have a fixed trigger of suitable “reach”, while another may offer a range of positions. As long as it is possible to place your finger correctly on the fixed trigger model, the pistol with adjustable reach offers no additional advantage, so both would attract equal ranking points in this instance. The same ranking process is then repeated for other trigger characteristics, before moving on to sights, weight and balance, recoil recovery (if significant for the intended usage), low bore line, grips, accuracy, and so on. The end result will be a score for each pistol, based on the total of your 5 point ranking for each feature, allowing you to create a short list of two or perhaps three pistols, any of which are likely to be more than satisfactory for your needs. At this stage, if at all possible, we should carry out a final on-range comparison. If this can’t be arranged, a critical review of each of the short-listed pistols will usually be sufficient to make the right decision. It is generally unwise to make a choice based on any one-off score you may shoot with a pistol, as there are too many variables involved. However, if you have followed the above process, any decision you make will be a considered choice, rather than an impulse purchase, so at this stage, we can trust your personal preference. Let’s now move on to discuss a few other reasonably popular items of equipment that may contribute to an improved level of safety, comfort or performance. Following your initial visit to a pistol range, the first step most people take is to purchase some form of ear protection. However, at this early stage, we are unlikely to know much about either earmuffs or earplugs, and the choice is often barely adequate, particularly when some of the more powerful cartridges are involved. Unfortunately, many shooters are unaware that although noise levels may not be high enough to cause immediate discomfort, they can still result in varying degrees of hearing loss over time. Accordingly, poor quality hearing protection can actually be worse than no protection. At least, when completely unprotected, one will quickly leave the range if noise levels become unacceptable! Therefore, regardless of whether your preference is for plugs or muffs, you should always buy the best available. In this case, best means those with the most effective sound reduction qualities, not necessarily the most expensive. Any form of ear protection worth considering will carry a standards rating (usually expressed as an attenuation factor), and selection is simply a matter of comparison. When evaluating earmuffs, the quality of “fit’ is one of the most important factors in sound reduction. To achieve optimum conformation with the skull shape of the wearer, the shell of the muffs must be free to move in several planes, and the ear cushions should be both thick enough and sufficiently flexible to achieve a good seal around the ear. It’s a good idea to look to the future when choosing earmuffs, and ensure replacement cushions will be available when the plastic covering hardens and no longer fits properly. Although dismissed as a gimmick by some shooters, “electronic” earmuffs are worth considering, as these offer both effective ear protection and the ability to hear range commands or normal conversation. The wearer hears all sounds at a chosen (i.e. adjustable) volume, no matter how loud the bang. Useful for all shooters, particularly valuable for judges, and almost indispensable for on-range coaches! However, keep in mind the fact that electronic earmuffs are subject to the same standards as the basic product. In other words, if the earmuffs don’t provide a suitable level of protection when turned-off then the electronic circuitry alone will not overcome this deficiency. Various types of disposable earplugs are available, but most are really only suitable for contingency use. However, a growing number of shooters favour individually moulded earplugs, which not only work very well, but are as comfortable as any “foreign body” in the ear can possibly be. These generally match the price of a good pair of earmuffs but, being small enough to slip into a shirt pocket, are less cumbersome and certainly more convenient when used with some styles of headwear. While on the subject of hearing protection equipment, noise reduction can contribute to higher performance levels through improved concentration, and quite a number of top competitors wear both earmuffs and earplugs, for this reason! Shooting glasses also fall into this category of safety equipment that may have an additional role for performance enhancement. Some form of eye protection is recommended for all forms of shooting and is, of course, compulsory in several pistol matches. However, the field of optics has much more to offer than just eye protection, as important as this is. In the past, shooters were forced to choose either basic safety glasses, or sunglasses offering only limited protection. Those requiring prescription lenses were even worse off, but modern materials have now made it possible to combine high impact protection with excellent optics (including prescription where required) at an affordable price. In matches where steel targets are used (such as International 1920 Match), the risk of a ricochet is quite significant and many shooters favour the impact resistant wrap-around styles. Originally developed as “personal windscreens” for road cyclists, name brands, although expensive, offer a very high level of protection, while still providing largely distortion-free optics right across the lens. At a local level, a couple of Australian manufacturers cater for a wider range of shooting sports with either conventional frames in a range of lens tints, or quick-change frames with interchangeable lenses, in either glass or “plastic”. Other accessories such as an instantly adjustable nose bridge, or various types of occluder for the “off” eye, are also available. Although sports oriented, these spectacles can be used for street wear without turning heads, so selection is basically a matter of personal preference for style and lens tints. However, there are also a number of really specialised “shooting systems” (Knob loch, Neostyle, Gehmann etc.), which have no application outside the shooting sports (except when used for “special effects” in one of Mel Gibson’s “Mad Max” movies!). These are usually available as a basic frame, which can then be fitted with a bewildering range of attachments, either to suit a particular discipline or to cater for a shooter’s personal needs. The main advantage of these shooting aids is the degree of adjustment available to suit various facial structures and shooting styles. When correctly set up, this wide range of adjustment allows the shooter to see through the centre (i.e. the most accurate) area of the lens and to locate the lens at right angles to the line of sight, both vertically and horizontally. This facility provides the most distortion free optical situation possible but ironically, this is not the feature that attracts the average buyer! In most cases, the major selling point for these units is an adjustable aperture attachment that, apart from reducing the shooter’s field of view dramatically, allows the shooter to artificially regulate his or her depth of field. Although of undoubted value to some shooters (particularly those more senior), for the vast majority this expensive attachment is simply an unnecessary complication. So, why might you need a spotting scope and what features should you look for? In most instances, the use of a telescope is more a matter of convenience than necessity, but there are occasions when it is pretty well indispensable. One such instance is when shooting 50 metre (Free) Pistol under Australian conditions and another is when acting as “spotter” for a Metallic Silhouette shooter. In both situations the shooter has no other way of determining the point of impact of a shot. In ISSF 25 metre events, results are scored and called after each 5 shot series, so although a spotting scope can offer an advantage in that the shooter can progressively monitor his or her shot-by-shot performance, it isn’t actually essential. Probably the greatest value of a spotting scope is in the development and/or reinforcement of good technique, by confirming our analysis of a shot, or series of shots. For example, the sight picture we see at the moment a shot breaks may suggest that the shot will be low on the target. If, when you look through the scope, you find that the shot was correctly called, you can be confident that your technique is essentially sound and the sights are reasonably well adjusted. On the other hand, if the shot has landed in an unexpected area of the target (even if it is a central “ten”!), this is a warning that either the sights need adjustment, or at least one aspect of your technique has been less than perfect for this particular shot. Finding a telescope that is capable of simply showing you the location of your shots doesn’t appear too difficult and in fact, most purpose built spotting scopes will do a reasonable job in average conditions. But to be of any real value, a spotting scope must allow you to find all shots in all conditions. This is not always easy when the light is poor, or there are raindrops on the target, or on occasions when a shot was neatly placed into the ring of one of the numbers at 50 metres! However, if you can’t confidently identify each of your shots (and decide whether that mark in the “five” ring is actually a shot), you are likely to be distracted and frustrated to the point where your technique will suffer and you will probably perform better without any scope at all. It is not enough that the telescope allows you to identify particular shots. It should also have a sufficiently wide field of view to include the main area in which a shot is likely to fall. The “filed of view” is the area that is included in the image you see through the telescope and its size is inversely related to the degree of magnification available, i.e. the higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view. As the field of view is effectively a cone of vision extending forward, the longer the target range (or the lower the magnification), the larger the area within this cone. In practical terms, this means a telescope that covers the whole of a target at 50 metres will only show about half of the same target, when it’s viewed from a range of 25 metres. It is possible to search a target in sections, but this takes time and is not an option when spotting for a Metallic Silhouette shooter because there is rarely any chance of finding a shot that falls off-target, if the initial impact is missed! Therefore, telescopes offering a selection of lenses of varying degrees of magnification, or alternatively, infinitely adjustable magnification within a specified range (i.e. the “zoom” feature), may be more flexible in some applications than fixed power models. However, many shooters also use a spotting scope to evaluate “line” shots and may base a score challenge on this assessment. To be sufficiently confident to lodge such a challenge, the shooter will require quite a sharp image. Potential buyers should be aware that most variable power scopes only offer this degree of clarity within a fairly narrow range of magnification. Other factors you should take into consideration when choosing a spotting scope. The Brightness of the image is determined by the size of the objective (i.e. the front) lens of the telescope, relative to the magnification involved. While there is no practical unit of measurement for brightness, it is generally accepted that the brightest image will be achieved when the diameter of the exit pupil at the ocular (rear) lens is 7mm or more. This diameter is determined by dividing the diameter of the objective lens (in millimetres) by the magnification. Of course, while a 7mm exit pupil is the ideal, it is possible to achieve an acceptable level of brightness at less than half this diameter. After all, the average spotting scope with a magnification of about 20X and an objective lens around 50mm has an exit pupil of only 2.5mm. The point is, when buying a telescope, the bigger the exit pupil, the brighter the image will be. In practice this generally means that the bigger the objective lens the better. On the other hand, a large bulky telescope is not the most convenient item to carry when flying to the National championships and, as is so often the case, some degree of compromise may be necessary. The matter of size highlights another consideration; finding a suitable tripod or stand for the telescope of our choice. Over the years telescopes have been mounted on just about every make-do contraption imaginable, but in the end, most shooters find that the best option is a sturdy, adjustable camera tripod. However, a small stand that can be clamped to the bench or partition may be a worthwhile investment for those occasions when luggage space is limited. For most the most part, a telescope and tripod combination will probably be the most expensive purchase other than your pistol(s), so it is worth putting some time and thought into your selection. Wherever possible, try various brands and models on the range. Talk to as many fellow club members and other pistol shooters as possible. Most will be able to provide practical advice from their own experience, particularly in respect of suitability for specific applications. Also, shooters are more credible than staff at sales outlets when it comes to the matter of reliability. Pistol shooter’s telescopes generally travel a lot and not surprisingly, often suffer the effects of vibration. Some brands and models are more susceptible than others and that is something salespeople are unlikely to tell you about. When it finally comes time to buy the chosen item, don’t take it on trust, even when the unit is new and in the box. When buying in-store, it is worth pacing out and focusing on objects at various test distances from the shop counter to make sure that particular unit will do what you require. Fortunately, one aspect of spotting scope evaluation has actually become easier. Since the introduction of new ISSF Rules, which ban the use of a spotting scope in Air Pistol, the ability to focus to ten metres is no longer needed! Although most new shooters receive instruction on stance and position as part of their basic coaching, the selection of suitable shoes rarely rates a mention. This is rather surprising, in view of the current trend towards special footwear for just about every other pastime! This is not to say that we should all rush out and buy purpose-built shoes for pistol shooting although that may well be the best answer for serious competitors in the long term. But we should certainly ensure that our footwear is, at the very least, not hindering our performance. So just how important is suitable footwear? Well, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) considered it sufficiently important to finance research in this area, as part of the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The Melbourne Institute of Technology developed a computerised procedure for testing OAP shooters, with the aim of improving their stability. Essentially, this involved the use of electronic innersoles to produce a computer graphic of various pressure points within the shoe when the shooter assumed his / her stance. From these graphics, precision inserts were made for each shooters’ shoes. Sure, these were elite shooters, but if we accept that a stable stance is basic to your performance, then without appropriate footwear, you are unlikely to achieve your potential at whatever level you aspire to. The occasional competitor and some recreational shooters may feel footwear is the least of their problems, but most shooters (at all levels of performance), are prepared to try anything within reason and within budget constraints. Accordingly, this article is primarily concerned with affordable alternatives for the majority. The first consideration must be eligibility and while some disciplines place no restrictions on footwear, it’s important to remember that the ISSF specifically rules against shoes that reach above the ankle. Also, for safety reasons, most clubs insist on closed footwear, regardless of the discipline involved. In combination, these two rules prevent the use of those two Aussie icons, elastic sided boots and thongs! So, what features should you look for, or alternatively, what should you avoid? One point before we go any further - don’t overlook conventional shoes. The soles of the shoes used for shooting need to be as flat and firm as possible, preferably with a built-in “wedge” style heel, to provide maximum stability in all directions. Similarly, the innersole area that is in contact with the foot, while supportive, should have minimal cushioning. The upper section of the shoe should also offer a degree of support without constriction that may lead to local discomfort or circulatory problems. While this sounds fairly straightforward, satisfying these requirements for a particular individual sometimes involves a lot of searching. Feet are almost as variable as hands, so finding the right shoes can be as big a challenge as finding the perfect grip, even when there are no abnormalities present. Of course, anyone who has, or suspects that they may have physical problems with their feet, should consult a podiatrist. Any remedial treatment required should precede shoe selection. When looking for suitable shoes, don’t be surprised if the cheaper brands best match the requirements. In fact, rather than head off to a specialised shoe shop, the “poverty” section of your local department store is probably the best place to start the search. This may sound like heresy to those who normally favour top brand sport shoes. However, these masterpieces of design often have sophisticated shock absorbing features that are great for running and games, but actually reduce our ability to stand still! Some are also designed to minimise gait problems (such as pronation), which is another feature the pistol shooter is better off without. Apart from anything else, a pair of purpose-built shooting shoes usually costs less than a pair of these name brand “runners” or “cross-trainers”! While on the subject of cost, shoes designed for lawn bowls are worth consideration. Although the soles are relatively flexible, in most other respects they are quite suitable for shooting and are often reasonably priced. For those who can’t find a suitable alternative and/or are interested in buying specialist shooting shoes, several brands have been imported in recent years. By the way, shooting shoes are sold in metric sizes (e.g. 45cm, etc.), so check your metric size before ordering. If you opt for a pair of purpose-built shooting shoes, a word of warning, don’t use them for walking, even if it’s only from the car park to the range. The soles will lose their rigidity and can even develop some degree of curvature. As supplied, they usually come equipped with either spring-loaded trees, or clamps to ensure the soles remain flat when not in use. If the manufacturers feel this is important, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to wear them off the line and risk turning them into just another pair of (rather unusual) casual shoes. |