Dress impressions

[Dombo63]

I'm not quite sure what a "Japanese General" looks like; probably the nasty little fellow from Bridge on the River Kwai with a few more medals and a bigger sword.

I have certainly never seen any of those at Bisley. My own shooting garb is an ancient US army jacket of 1950s vintage that I've had since student days, fairly warm, big pockets to put stuff in and I don't care if it gets muddy. If it's wet I have some waterproof trousers in what looks like German army camouflage so army surplus at about a tenth the price of say ski or walking kit. Again, comfortable, does the job and not fussed if it gets covered in mud.
If Mr Houghton sees me and objects to my "military" clothing I hope to at least receive a suitably deferential salute to whatever rank he thinks I may hold.

[Gaz]

My club has a policy of discouraging military clothing. The thing that really gets on my t*ts are the guys who wear repro Waffen SS caps! Thankfully not in my club but when I walk past them in the butts I have to bite my lip - "Big fan of the SS are you?" wants to blurt out.

I've seen those guys wandering around at the trade shows. Next time I'll tip off a member of staff.

I think it's dodgy as hell for shooters (especially practical shooters) to rock up wearing cast-off DPM or MTP gear, especially the guys who turn up in bloused DPM trousers and field jacket with assault boots underneath, looking like a regular soldier who's taken his headdress off. On the flip side, ex-military gear's cheap, practical and doesn't show stains etc. I have a pair of old MTP trousers stashed away at Bisley in case of bad weather, as it happens - but I'll never buy or wear a camo jacket of any pattern.

When the public see people toting guns - any guns - and wearing camo gear, they don't think "oh, target shooter", they think "what's his Action Man fixation about? Is he stable? What kind of weirdo plays dressup with a gun?"

[Polchraine]

If Mr Houghton sees me and objects to my "military" clothing I hope to at least receive a suitably deferential salute to whatever rank he thinks I may hold.

And I trust you will salute him back in an appropriate manner! One finger should be adequate.

[Ginger]

From the 2014 NRA Bible:

"SECTION 57 – DRESS, EQUIPMENT AND POSITIONS
201 Dress for civilian target shooting should be appropriate to the Discipline
and weather prevailing or expected. Military uniform should only be worn by
military personnel on duty (Para 202). A competitor whose dress, equipment
or position is thought inappropriate or likely to bring the Association into
disrepute may be challenged by the RO or other member of staff, and may be
required to withdraw."

Answers all the questions and should be enforced.

Sorry Steve, I pm'd this response rather than posting. Here we go again.

Afraid it doesn't answer all the questions old bean, to quote "may be required to withdraw", this implies it talking about partaking in an competition of some kind.

Personally I have a DPM combat smock (old DPM 95 not current service issue), in the boot of my car in case it chucks it down, but also this might be the only kit that some people have if they mainly do Stalking etc.

Saying that if its the full head to toe camo then it does look silly, but if its just a jacket or trousers then I have no issue with that. Will black cargo pants be classed as Police uniform and therefore banned next?

[Christel]

Perception is the root of all evil. Not sure who said this, someone did, clever too.

[bradaz11]

seriously?

yes, if you are wearing matching dpm top and bottom, it does look a little off, but for the most part people dont look twice at you, even saying you get weird looks in shops, i think its more people wanting to see weird looks.

i wear dpm combats a lot, and have never ever heard comment on it. BUT i know i wouldnt wear the jacket with those trousers, but would with jeans. and when i say this, i dont just restrict this to shooting.

at the end of the day, unless you are walting it up like wearing a beret with it etc, who's business is it?

i wear my 95's as they are the comfiest trousers i have had, if they did them in black i would always be in them.

i find it offensive when i see troupes of people at places like the british shooting show, dressed head to toe in tweed as it paints shooters in a bad light, as a bunch of elitist toffs. do i try and impose my views on others and get it banned from clubs? no, because its non of my business what other people wear.

i tihink its down to this attitude of assessing what you think other people think when they look at you..... and then imposing rules so not to offend these people...... without actually asking what these people looking at you are thinking.

do you dress in a certain way when going to tesco so that people aren't offended? thats just as legal as what we do

[dromia]

He is a little confused and simplifies things too much.

I am definitely a "gun nut", although I'm not fond of the term prefering enthusiast rather than nut, however I do not wear or possess any camouflage clothing so his hypothesis is totally wrong!

[zanes]

When the public see people toting guns - any guns, they don't think "oh, target shooter", they think "what's his Action Man fixation about? Is he stable? What kind of weirdo plays with a gun?"

FTFY.

[nigelc]

Oh and I wonder why I am not a member of the NRA sign01

[Blu]

Gaz,

but I'll never buy or wear a camo jacket of any pattern.

Fair enough that's your choice and I respect that, have to say though I don't get why you'd wear MTP pants but wouldn't wear a camo jacket of any kind.

When the public see people toting guns - any guns - and wearing camo gear, they don't think "oh, target shooter", they think "what's his Action Man fixation about? Is he stable? What kind of weirdo plays dressup with a gun?"

Well I don't know about where you shoot but where I shoot (when outside of my own property) I don't generally bump into members of the public and I certainly don't tote guns of any type outside of the range. People who live in and around Bisley more than likely don't give anyone wearing camo a second glance anyway as they are so used to seeing it around that area.