I was just reading WFTF Rules and I hope that our community of more experienced WFTF shooters can provide clarification/insights on butt hooks and shooting position.
Just wondering if my position is legal?
Here is my current shooting position. The rules seems to state that If there is a knee support and an additional shoulder support, my position is illegal. However if I adjust the top butt hook shoulder support up (providing no shoulder support), would my position then be legal?
Hmmmm, your picture does not show enough information to issue an opinion.
What the rule tries to eliminate is having a "sandwich" of gun between three body parts.
So, it ALL depends on whether your butt hook has a lower end extension that can rest on a knee or a thigh.
If it does, then:
It's up to you to make sure that the lower "wing" of the butt hook does not engage any other body part. If you want to have a lower wing support, then you need to convert to the full "South-African" or "Dead-Man's" position.
Issue with "mixed" positions is that they are impossible to Marshall.
I THINK, that at some point in time, we are going to end up with a "box" the rifle needs to fit, like the one used for the bumbags. There are so many variations that at some point in time we'll need to regulate this.
JMHO
HM
Thanks for the additional picture. I now see how long the extension is, its shape and how it is supposed to work. However, the picture still doesn't tell me the whole story because one thing is how it is supposed to work and another how you are making it work.
Your position is not that uncommon among spring-piston shooters that use shooting jackets. Your butt-hook really is locking into your upper arm, not your shoulder pocket. That is OK, it has not been restricted nor prohibited under WFTF rules.
If I was a Marshall at that match, I would look at you shoot from your 7 O'Clock position.
That would tell me if your lower wing extension is touching your sides (the jacket would show a depression), or your legs (your trousers would show a depression).
IF the Jacket tells me that you are using the lower wing extension to support the butt against your ribs/sides/lower section of the shoulder/upper arm, then the position would be legal.
IF the trousers showed that the lower wing extension was resting on the inner surface of your legs (thighs), then it would be an illegal position.
AND, BTW, I qualified as a WFTF Marshall in Lisbon. So, this is not only just an opinion.
Again, you are the best geared (pun intended) to define if your position is legal or not. Hope this information helps in determining that.
It was great to see you at PHX! Hope to see you in NI 😉
Keep well and shoot straight!
HM
