Competitive Air Rifle requires
specialized gear that is used to provide stability to the
shooters and limit movement while in position. Shooters have
boots, pants, a jacket, a glove, a visor, and depending on the
shooter, glasses and blinders. The shooting boots have
completely flat rubber sole that have no give, unlike typical
footwear. They extend to above the ankle to provide
support for the shooter.
The jacket and pants are typically made
of canvas and leather, and designed to be as rigid as allowed
within the international rules. These provide support for the
shooter in position, as well as increasing the contact area
and friction between the shooter’s elbow and hip, a larger
area and more friction make it more difficult for natural
forces to cause the position to shift, where the position
without the jacket and pants is unstable and prone to
movement.
Shooting Jacket and Pants
The shooting glove is similar as it
cushions the shooters hand from the mass of the rifle on their
hand and, increased friction to prevent the movement of the
rifle on their hand. Visors and Blinders are worn on the
shooters head to limit external light, so that no matter the
lighting conditions there is a more consistent amount of light
reaching the shooter’s eye and affecting their vision and
sight picture. Glasses are depending on the shooter’s
individual sight, but allow for prescription lenses to be used
to consistently correct vision while shooting.