Purpose of the flap on the front of the prone shooting mats?

[Venomgland]

I see some of them have pockets for a bipod so you can load the bipod, but what is the rest of it for? Some have places for a pen and paper, but its so far forward its in an inconvenient spot. If no one can give me a good enough reason to keep it. I'm just going to cut mine off.

 

[Mike Casselton]

I used to have a token hanging from my restricted area badge.
One evening a Major General was coming through our AO and while we chatted he asked what the token was for.
I couldn't help myself and said "It's for making people ask dumb questions".
He laughed his ass off and pressed on with his tour.

The flaps on mine tend to collect sand and shit that would otherwise get closer to the center of the mat. They might also be there just because everyone else does it too.
It's a 5 monkeys thing.

 

[Spblademaker]

Mine has pegs and grommets, used to secure it to the ground.

 

[Winchester59]

I always thought it was to prevent dust from being kicked up from muzzle blast when shooting on dirt, but never really had anyone tell me that.

 

[antithesis]

Cut it off and then let us know why you wish you kept it later. Then we will know why it is really there.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Elbows most people lay too far back and put their gear there. Me, I just lay in the dirt. The subterfuge won't last but at first glance I look like Operator as Fuck. Also, when nobody is looking throw dirt on your rig so your clothes will match up.

 

[supercorndogs]

I put a candy dish on mine, and hand out Worthers Orginals, and Raisnettes rather than shooting.

 

[Eustice]

I assume you mean the unpadded part forward of the Bipod loading strap? I think it’s there for a few reasons. To keep dirt flying up from the muzzle blast is one of them.

If you shoot off a concrete pad on a shooting line, the flap allows you to move that out past the line to be able to stake it into soft material while still using the Bipod strap over the firm shooting surface. Most likely the concrete or decking will be raised a bit so thus gives better options while holding down some of the dust.

If you use the mat in the field and want to put it over a log or stump while using the strap to load the Bipod then it wouldn’t hold very well if the strap was the furthest forward position on the mat. It gives a bit more material to drape over things.

If you are pretty tall and don’t want to use the loading strap you can slide further forward on the mat. That will keep your knees and legs off the ground which is nice for us tall folks who may be shooting off the grass or dirt when it’s wet out. When it’s wet there isn’t such an issue with dust and dirt, either.

The flap has grommets on each corner for staking it down. I found the little zippered pouch isn’t so much for pens and paper but for keeping the stakes or cordage. I took cheap metal tent stakes from Wally World and cut them down to fit in the pocket. I also have a bit of 550 cord (or used to) and a metal ring with a piece of webbing on it to help pull the stakes if they’re difficult to get out.

 

[Eustice]

Cut it off and then let us know why you wish you kept it later. Then we will know why it is really there.

I really like this idea. The best way to see what it does is to not have it anymore. Haha!!! Make sure you remove it in a way that it can never be put back on for maximum effectiveness if the test.

 

[demolitionman]

Cut them off of my shooting partners Matt. He was glad to be rid of the flap. Mine is a cheap old midway Matt. The flap is tiny in comparison to his(a cabelas mat). I kept mine on and every time I shoot I wonder if I should just cut it offf....or quit being a pussy and ditch the mat altogether and deal with the mud ticks and rocks!

 

[Eddystone]

Took my shooting mat hunting, caught unlimited crap from the guys. Threw it under my sleeping back and padded the boulder for comfort the next morning. Easier to sit still that way. If it annoys you fold it under the portion you are using before you cut it off. I find it very helpful and slide way back off the mat to keep the rifle over it. Dust being a thing here in AZ, it can be hard to spot impacts sitting in a dust cloud! Even shooting of a 20 ft cut bank with the brake overhanging face edge raised a dust cloud that took 2-3 seconds to clear. Prone on the flat would throw dirt in my face, receiver, and scope lenses. I am no OAF guy, just enjoying shooting more than detail stripping a rifle. Have fun..

 

[TheGerman]

Report

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Took my shooting mat hunting, caught unlimited crap from the guys. Threw it under my sleeping back and padded the boulder for comfort the next morning. Easier to sit still that way. If it annoys you fold it under the portion you are using before you cut it off. I find it very helpful and slide way back off the mat to keep the rifle over it. Dust being a thing here in AZ, it can be hard to spot impacts sitting in a dust cloud! Even shooting of a 20 ft cut bank with the brake overhanging face edge raised a dust cloud that took 2-3 seconds to clear. Prone on the flat would throw dirt in my face, receiver, and scope lenses. I am no OAF guy, just enjoying shooting more than detail stripping a rifle. Have fun..

I agree with Eddy, if it bothers you tuck it under!

 

[Venomgland]

Ok, sounds like it has a purpose. I just didn't know what it was for. Thanks

 

[earthtrekker1775]

I agree with Eddy, if it bothers you tuck it under!

Sounds like something a Thai hooker would say.

 

[vh20]

Sounds like something a Thai hooker would say.

Or Buffalo Bill (the one in Silence Of The Lambs).

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Sounds like something a Thai hooker would say.

I wouldn't know. I never made it to Thailand or any where else in the far east in my 20 years + 12 days in the service.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Why the extra 12 days

 

[Mike Casselton]

Why the extra 12 days

Insurance. Just in case some admin type fucks up

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Why the extra 12 days

The military said the Defense Finance Accounting System couldn't process retirements in the middle of the month. The irony of it was that I was managing that programming software maintenance team my last three years in the Air Force. Karma bites bytes!