Camelback in Hi power?

[MacPelto]

Another question for the high power shooters. I just bought a service rifle and am starting to build my positions for high power shooting. I'm here in Texas, and it's starting to get hot out, so my question is, what do the rules say (if anything) about wearing a camelback under your shooting jacket?
I have a copy of the rules on the way, but they're not here yet, plus this doesn't seem like the sort of thing that they would necessarily address.

I spent all the money on a rifle, and I'm using a borrowed jacket that's quite large on me, so there's room under there for it, but I don't want to start practicing that way if it's illegal in a match.

THanks y'all.

Mac

 

[Steve Smith]

There is no rule regarding a Camelbak. I haven't worn one while shooting, but I've had it nearby a lot. What I usually do is hydrate like mad the day before and then more the morning of a match...usually with a weak mix of gatorade and water. Then ice and more of the mix into the camelbak and bring it along with me. You usually get to prone by the hottest part of the day and I have shot many a string with the camelbak right next to me, taking sips between wind changes.

 

[ETCss Phil McCrackin]

I usually wear my Camelback Viper to/from/in the butts, and hang it on my sissy cart while shooting. As seen in this pic:

 

[Quintin Likely]

Creedmore at one time offered a hydration option for their coats, I guess it was some kinda Camelback type thing that slipped into the back pockets of the coat. I don't see it in the catalog or website anymore though.

Whether by Camelback or whatever, stay hydrated! Especially since you're in Texas, which ain't known for it's cool, comfortable summer temps. I dragged myself up from slow prone one hot and humid southwest Georgia day and saw my target walking towards me from downrange. Keep yourself hydrated. Normally I can park close enough to the firing lines to where I can bolt to my cooler and grab a couple bottles of water in between relays, but I never thought about using a Camelback. Might have to look into that.

 

[AFhack]

I've only been shooting high power for about a year now - but here in Alamogordo NM it's gets pretty hot as well. But your post got me thinking two things:

1) I've never felt the need to drink during shooting... I do keep water bottles handy, but I only use them before/after shooting

2) If your shooting coat is large enough to fit a camelbak underneath it isn't it too large to do you much good? Only reason I ask is that the creedmoor model I was loaned to try fit tightly against my back and gave me noticable support along the spine when in the standing position.

 

[MacPelto]

2) If your shooting coat is large enough to fit a camelbak underneath it isn't it too large to do you much good? Only reason I ask is that the creedmoor model I was loaned to try fit tightly against my back and gave me noticable support along the spine when in the standing position.

It is a bit large, but it provides me with sling padding, rubber traction, etc.

Mac

 

[Matt-man]

The Creedmoor hydration option was a sleeve on the back of the coat in which a Camelbak bladder could be carried. I'm going to do something similar this year with the Camelbak "Unbottle:"



The clips on the side are for attachment to webbing or the like. I'm going to have some webbing loops sewn on the back of my coat so I can attach the Unbottle.

Actually, my cunning plan doesn't cover pit duty or scoring. Thinking about it now, a regular Camelbak (with shoulder straps) would probably be more useful as I could wear it without my coat. On the line I'd wear it over my coat. Wearing it underneath the coat wouldn't work - 2 liters of water on my back would seriously screw up the fit.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I survived Camp Perry and many July matches here in "cool" New Hampshire by draining a 3 Liter Camelbak Unbottle. Usually it rides around in my pit bag, with my lunch and hand wipes (another neat trick, BTW). When I shoot prone it goes under my range cart in that little, precious pocket of shade provided under there. Never figured out how to get it to hand for offhand stages though. Could just hang it or lay it out flat; the hose is pretty long.

 

[hipwr223]

If you are not pissing all day long you are not getting enough water. I thought I was smart enough to know that by now, but it cost me in a big way last year. The day of NTI I simply was not taking in enough water. I was focused so much on the match that I did not see I was in trouble until I started to get dizzy near the end of the day. I figured I had not had a sip of water in about 5 hours in that hot sun and I was dry. I left the Viale range in a little bit of a haze and got to my mod and drank a huge amount of water. Within seconds I felt a horrible pain in my gut right around my Appendix. I knew something bad just happened. I felt like crap the rest of the week. Got home and was having some pretty major abdominal pain. It would come and go. Long story short I ended up bursting my appendix just a few weeks after Perry and the Dr attributed it to being so dehydrated then. It also caused a couple of decent sized kidney stones to form. One passed pretty easy, the other I just passed a couple months back and it took 14 days to work it's way out.

I damaged myself pretty good by not drinking enough. Again, if you are not pissing every hour when you are out in the hot sun all day, you are not getting enough water.

 

[Steve Smith]

Jeez, John, I'm sorry to hear that! I'll save the "you know betters" and just say I hope you are feeling much better now, and your words will ring with someone.

One of my first matches I had a friend get very ill. I cooled him down and got him full of water, but it was pretty scary. Some people will say that you can over-hydrate, but I'm not really sure that that is true if you are out in the summer sun with a heavy coat on all day. I usually start the day before and basically drink every time I think of it (and make a point to think of it very often). Basically just walk around with a water bottle all day and refill it often. Drink ALL day. Then, the morning of the match I start with it again. Sure, I'll run off to piss often but I am ALWAYS feeling good and rarely complain of the heat when I am really hydrated.

 

[warth0g]

If you drink enough water your urine shall look light yellow or even no color. Beware if its getting darker.


warthog

(shooting can get you in to the most ehh peculiar discussions)

 

[Detritus]

Some people will say that you can over-hydrate, but I'm not really sure that that is true if you are out in the summer sun with a heavy coat on all day.

if you live someplace like coastal Texas it ain't even true if you're shooting in t-shirt and jeans!!