02-24-2012, 08:44 PM
Here is why I mentioned to stay away from the Midway Mats assuming your intened application is competive High Power Rifle Competition. I take this from the US Rifle Teams Forum, the most experienced Highpower competitors on the face of the earth.
Dan Davis
Short, bald, old Highmaster
Group:Members
Posts:150
Joined:14-September 09
Posted Today, 08:25 AM
I've used a certain brand of mat for years, having tried a lot of them and settled on the best, for me. I needed another for a junior, needed it for this weekend, and couldn't get ____________ to answer the phone. Midway, coincidentally, had their $100 "Pro" mat on sale for $50, so why not.......? My admittedly biased opinion:
The mat, in and of itself, is not a bad product. It is, however, not suitable for serious competition. My impression is that it was designed by people who shoot only casually, and not competitively. It was then manufactured by the Chinese, who certainly knew even less about something like NRA Highpower. (I was disappointed to find it was made in China, but I get disappointed like that a lot lately.)
My first act was to cut off the silly forward extension flap…..it only serves to add bulk and slow the rolling-up process. This is something only people under a time constraint to get into the pits or back to 300 would understand.
In order to be rolled tightly enough to get the velco straps fastened, the mat must be rolled too tightly to slip over your scope stand. Again, something only a competitive shooter would need to do. The mat is too stiff to be folded in half, then rolled. If rolled as a single layer, as it is obviously intended to be, it will stay curled up front and back when unrolled. Not a problem, unless you have only two minutes to occupy your firing point. The grip surfaces appear to be plastic, and are functional, but not as sticky as they should be.
My opinion is that the Champion’s Choice or Creedmoor products are much better suited to highpower or smallbore, and the Midway mat should be left to armchair commandos and others of the tacticool crowd.
This is from a High Master point of view and is not intended to offend anyone who is happy with the Midway Mats, they serve a purpose. My son uses one and is happy with it, but I continually see him struggle with the time constraints and become hurried when he shoud be establishing a solid position and confident of it. In my opinon it costs him 2-3 points every match.
Bob
Dan Davis
Short, bald, old Highmaster
Group:Members
Posts:150
Joined:14-September 09
Posted Today, 08:25 AM
I've used a certain brand of mat for years, having tried a lot of them and settled on the best, for me. I needed another for a junior, needed it for this weekend, and couldn't get ____________ to answer the phone. Midway, coincidentally, had their $100 "Pro" mat on sale for $50, so why not.......? My admittedly biased opinion:
The mat, in and of itself, is not a bad product. It is, however, not suitable for serious competition. My impression is that it was designed by people who shoot only casually, and not competitively. It was then manufactured by the Chinese, who certainly knew even less about something like NRA Highpower. (I was disappointed to find it was made in China, but I get disappointed like that a lot lately.)
My first act was to cut off the silly forward extension flap…..it only serves to add bulk and slow the rolling-up process. This is something only people under a time constraint to get into the pits or back to 300 would understand.
In order to be rolled tightly enough to get the velco straps fastened, the mat must be rolled too tightly to slip over your scope stand. Again, something only a competitive shooter would need to do. The mat is too stiff to be folded in half, then rolled. If rolled as a single layer, as it is obviously intended to be, it will stay curled up front and back when unrolled. Not a problem, unless you have only two minutes to occupy your firing point. The grip surfaces appear to be plastic, and are functional, but not as sticky as they should be.
My opinion is that the Champion’s Choice or Creedmoor products are much better suited to highpower or smallbore, and the Midway mat should be left to armchair commandos and others of the tacticool crowd.
This is from a High Master point of view and is not intended to offend anyone who is happy with the Midway Mats, they serve a purpose. My son uses one and is happy with it, but I continually see him struggle with the time constraints and become hurried when he shoud be establishing a solid position and confident of it. In my opinon it costs him 2-3 points every match.
Bob