Shooting Vest

[Dirtrider....]

I am tired of shooting trap with the box of shells on the ground... so i've begun my search for a padded vest. Went to Bass Pro shops and they had one Redhead vest but the pad felt very thin. Saw a few vests at Prado shooting range but they didn't have pads inserted. Didn't see any vest at Turners.

Never had a vest before and my buddies dont shoot trap... so questions abound now... yes i've searched google including site specific but results mostly say buy from such and such website. i really like to try on clothing before buying.

Are the pads supposed to be really thin?
Any retailers in southern California where i can try on a few different vests?

I really need to replace my pad on my old 870 pump. The pad on the stock is hard as a rock and my sissy boy shoulder is sore today... lol Was probably just going to install a limbsaver.

Thanks for any input...

[Jeepergeo]

Why not just a belt-held bag? They work great and you don't have to wear one of those funny looking "war correspondent" vests.



Even Wally World carries a few.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bob-Allen-Sportswear-Divided-Shell-Pouch-with-Belt-in-Green/15073900

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Eliminator-Clay-s-Over-and-Under-Bag/21270217

[Dirtrider....]

True... i dont reload my ammo so no need for the shell pocket in the back of a vest and i sure dont change chokes while standing on the filed.

guess i was looking to help reduce the feel of recoil and thought a shooting vest with pad would help in conjunction with a better stock pad. i'm probably over thinking the whole thing.

[deckhandmike]

I would get a new recoil pad. I find I shoot worse wearing layers since the gun moves around as the layers slide around.

[tpuig]

I picked up a light short sleeved Browning shirt a few years ago. It has an inside pocket for a gel pad. That pad also works in my pheasant vest, and a Browning shooting vest I got on sale online.

A vest is a personal choice/preference item, like shoes. Everybody seems to eventually find the one they like. I usually just use a pouch with a wide web belt, but the vest is pretty nice. Having the pad helps a bit if you shoot a lot, too.

The pad is a called a Reactar and runs about $20. Made by Browning, but other companies make similar products. I like it because I can just wear the shirt with the pad when I shoot rifle, instead of the vest.

Take a look on the Cabela's website and you'll see a bunch of choices for shooting vests, running from about $40 on sale to well over $200. IIRC my mesh Browning vest is discontinued, but there are some nice and affordable ones available.

Hope this helps.

[ysr_racer]

Most of the gun ranges here in Sol Cal have a selection to choose from.

Where do you shoot at?

[Dirtrider....]

You are correct that there are a lot of choices online... But I really prefer to try on before buying... Just a personal choice. So trying to find local shop that has a few choices. Bass pro shops has one in stock. Didn't like that one.

I usually shoot at prado but really want to head over to triple b to demo some guns. prado has a few of one brand but they don't have a pad. I'll check triple b to see if they sell them when I'm there.

[famebyassociatn]

I shoot clays with my 870 with the supercell pad. It absorbs the recoil well to the point I don't notice I'm shooting a 12 gauge. The limbsaver will work just the same.

[screemnjay]

The Best http://bunkershooting.com/TheBunkerVest.html
Chuck Dietl

[ckyrulez]

I picked up a light short sleeved Browning shirt a few years ago. It has an inside pocket for a gel pad. That pad also works in my pheasant vest, and a Browning shooting vest I got on sale online.

A vest is a personal choice/preference item, like shoes. Everybody seems to eventually find the one they like. I usually just use a pouch with a wide web belt, but the vest is pretty nice. Having the pad helps a bit if you shoot a lot, too.

The pad is a called a Reactar and runs about $20. Made by Browning, but other companies make similar products. I like it because I can just wear the shirt with the pad when I shoot rifle, instead of the vest.

Take a look on the Cabela's website and you'll see a bunch of choices for shooting vests, running from about $40 on sale to well over $200. IIRC my mesh Browning vest is discontinued, but there are some nice and affordable ones available.

Hope this helps.

+1 for Browning. The vests are good quality and a lot of models give you the choice to add the extra Reactar pad that tpuig mentioned. Personally, I always use the vest without the pad because the recoil doesn't really bother me.

[epic1856]

Another thing to look at is the extra layer of clothing (vest). Right now no issues, but come summer time I prefer the least amount of layers possible.

So I recommend getting both a vest and a shell bag.

[GordonLWilliams]

My 14 year grandson and I went to a fabric shop....bought the material...took it to a cleaner {to sew the material on which shoulder we wanted [right side for us]....for 5 bucks they sewed it on and we have done it to all 3 vests. He's shoots 20's and I figured when he started shooting the Citroi {12 GA} that he wouldn't notice the recoil..it works for us...If memory serves me right, I think the material cost us less than a buck & 1/2..