First PRS Match: Prep & Takeaways

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I’ve signed up for my first PRS Match here in Alaska for this coming weekend, in addition to the Skills Div. at the NRL Hunter event in June.

As competent as I feel shooting in mountainous terrain on my own terms, I’ve never competed.

Will be shooting my Tikka 22 CM. As it’s set up now, it weighs 11.5 lbs as shown below.

I won’t be using RF Binos, as my NL Pure/BR4 combo is what suits my shooting and hunting best. I know that’s a limitation for NRL Hunter, but I’ll deal with it.

Would welcome any advice or tips from those experienced and that may have some insight. I don’t need a full rundown, as I know the rules, but any workflow tips or specific advice regarding something that might not be apparent would be great.

 

[thewakler]

For PRS, figure out how to quickly build a position, get stable with minimal/no wobble, then quickly move to establish the next stable position.

If you don’t have a heavy-fill schmedium, ask to borrow one when able. Guys with well balanced rifles can get to less than .1mil wobble zone. Your setup looks like it will be a little rear heavy and you may find it a little more challenging.

Have fun. Stay on glass to help spot impacts and learn how others attack stages. Don’t rush to get off all your shots, 4/5 well taken shots are better than rushing to get all 10 off.

 

[hereinaz]

Only take shots after you settled into the target with acceptable wobble. You can’t miss fast enough to score points.

Find time between stages to clear your mind and be zen chill for 120 seconds. Carry the zen chill into the stage so you can be slow and methodical.

Drink water. Eat snacks.

Write dope on a wrist coach or dope card.

 

[HuntHarder]

My biggest take away was to build a good base, make each shot count and not to worry if you do not get every shot off at each station. I was shooting too fast trying to get all shots off. My accuracy suffered. When I slowed down, my accuracy was much better, which, in turn, scored better. I'm a novice at best tho when it comes to PRS.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Great words of wisdom so far from all.

Supports I’ll be using:

RRS Ascend-14 w Anvil 30
Armageddon Gear Gamechanger X (6lbs)
LS Wild 2-5 Ultralight and Mini Ultralight
Molinator strapped on pack

Looking at the scores from the first match of the season up here for the Long Range Shooters of Alaska, the winner had a score of 76/100, but the next 4 places were only in the 50’s/100. I don’t know the environmentals they were dealing with, but just slowing down and making 5-6 shots really count out of a 10 shot stage could potentially put you in a top 5 finish.

I’m going to really make that my top priority, to just slow down and go for quality over quantity. Goal is to get a 50% hit rate. I’ll update with the results and pics after the weekend.

 

[Dmoua]

Help with squad duties such as pick up brass and spot shots when others are shooting.

 

[BLJ]

Looking at the scores from the first match of the season up here for the Long Range Shooters of Alaska, the winner had a score of 76/100, but the next 4 places were only in the 50’s/100. I don’t know the environmentals they were dealing with, but just slowing down and making 5-6 shots really count out of a 10 shot stage could potentially put you in a top 5 finish.

I understand the desire to be competitive in a competition. That will make us better.
But, I try to keep it from being my primary goal when I shoot NRL/PRS 22 matches.
Anything that I feel that I need to work on goes to the forefront.
Building solid positions, efficient movements, time management. Whatever you may be weakest in. I like to have a plan on what needs the most work and improve in that.

If making these improvements help me finish better in the match, that’s good.
If making these improvements help me be a more efficient killer in the field, that’s great.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I understand the desire to be competitive in a competition. That will make us better.
But, I try to keep it from being my primary goal when I shoot NRL/PRS 22 matches.
Anything that I feel that I need to work on goes to the forefront.
Building solid positions, efficient movements, time management. Whatever you may be weakest in. I like to have a plan on what needs the most work and improve in that.

If making these improvements help me finish better in the match, that’s good.
If making these improvements help me be a more efficient killer in the field, that’s great.

Great perspective as well. Thanks.

 

[ID_Matt]

For PRS - it was said before me but you can't miss too fast. It is a lot of shots in a short amount of time and if you haven't done it before it is easy to burn a bunch of bad shots just trying to get everything off. Better to slow yourself down and just focus on making good clean shots. Focus on getting stable and controlling recoil. Spot your shot, measure if you missed, and correct.

For hunter:
- Use your limiters. Lot of MD's like to put the targets in the not so obvious locations which may be all the way on one side of the limit
- Lot of times you will see the placard with your naked eye, so take a second as you are setting your tripod up to scan for it.
- Use logic based on the target aray. If it is left to right and you found the first target, you know the next is going to be to the right. Same with near to far. Sounds silly, but is easy to forget when you are on the clock.
- Take your time ranging targets and try to range the base of the target if you can. Rangefinders won't always pick up the actual steel and you'll get a false range on the hill behind the plate.
- ask questions on the clock.
- Think about your positions. You have an arms length to work with from the shooting position. Just because the shooting marker is on a 12" tall crooked, wobbly rock, does not mean you have to shoot off of it. You may be able to lay down right next to it and shoot prone.
- work flow is huge for time. Being on glass quick saves a ton of time, as well as being able to look at the stage and easily decide how you want to shoot it.

 

[SloppyJ]

Slippery slope! I did this once and ended up with a new action, a foundation stock with a weight kit, and a new barrel the next month. It's super fun man. Don't set your expectations too high, it will be hard to be competitive with people shooting 30lb 6 dashers so just focus on soaking it up and having fun.

Most every squad I've been with has been extremely friendly and willing to help with anything. Getting to a stable position quickly is the name of the game. You might want something to write down your holds on it as well if you have stages with multiple distances. A cheap QB play calling sleeve and a dry erase marker work in a pinch.

 

[slowelk]

Great words of wisdom so far from all.

Supports I’ll be using:

RRS Ascend-14 w Anvil 30
Armageddon Gear Gamechanger X (6lbs)
LS Wild 2-5 Ultralight and Mini Ultralight
Molinator strapped on pack

Looking at the scores from the first match of the season up here for the Long Range Shooters of Alaska, the winner had a score of 76/100, but the next 4 places were only in the 50’s/100. I don’t know the environmentals they were dealing with, but just slowing down and making 5-6 shots really count out of a 10 shot stage could potentially put you in a top 5 finish.

I’m going to really make that my top priority, to just slow down and go for quality over quantity. Goal is to get a 50% hit rate. I’ll update with the results and pics after the weekend.

You don't need all of those bags in my experience. I carried two bags during my first PRS match earlier this spring, and spent way too much time thinking about how to use them, and/or trying to use them. Your gamechanger should be the only bag you need. It works as a barricade rest and as a rear bag. The more stuff you have the more time you're going to spend thinking about what to use.

My first match I had too much stuff, wasn't sure how to deploy it all, I got 54th out of 82, and I think my hit percentage was 30-40% mostly because I was too slow. I was too slow getting steady, too slow finding targets in the scope. Prior to my second match I practiced using one bag and a lot of tripod rear support, I also decided I would not touch my scope magnification (Maven rs1.2), I decided to leave it at 8x. Second match I got 17th out of 68 my hit percentage was in the low 70s. Leaving the scope magnification at 8x saved me a ton of time and was not preventative on targets from 300 to over 1200.

Make an educated initial wind call based on your gun number, use the whole plate (target) and be ready to correct accordingly.

The only other limiting factor I see is the lack of bipod height adjustment you will have with the short atlas. I've used the gunwerks elevate and often had to be higher then the highest you will be able to go with that atlas.

Good luck, competing is a ton of fun.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Slippery slope! I did this once and ended up with a new action, a foundation stock with a weight kit, and a new barrel the next month. It's super fun man. Don't set your expectations too high, it will be hard to be competitive with people shooting 30lb 6 dashers so just focus on soaking it up and having fun.

Most every squad I've been with has been extremely friendly and willing to help with anything. Getting to a stable position quickly is the name of the game. You might want something to write down your holds on it as well if you have stages with multiple distances. A cheap QB play calling sleeve and a dry erase marker work in a pinch.

Copy that! I have a small Armageddon Gear wet erase arm board.

 

[Macintosh]

it is AK...if its pouring rain and a wet erase board isnt working, a simple wide roll of masking tape and a sharpie works too. Just stick to arm, engage.

 

[schmidty3]

NRL.

Ive been running my mavens/BR4 combo.

Honestly didn't find it too limiting....placed upper 3rd the 3 times I used it.

I did well in 2 of the matches with that setup.

In amarillo it got me a bit. If the targets are hard to find, and/or don't have much around them to orient to, then swapping between optics was a problem. Having to find 3 blended in antelopes at 450-600 yards across 400 acres of space 3 times with no references was tough That was an expert level match though. I'd drop a 2 or 3 on the stage...and the RO would say "well that's better then most". It was demoralizing

If you can find the targets quickly and easily then you'll be fine. (Easier said then done. That's the single biggest use of time).

I tried to use the br4 for the wind calls, increasing the speed and using the clock. I probably would've been better off just mathing it off of the gun number.

That and sometimes the br4 may not be the easiest thing to range with since it's one handed.

I won a 40% leica cert at the last match and got the geovid pros ab+. We will see if that's a game changer or not this weekend. The glass sure seems nice. But I think the BR4 beats it on being a rangefinder.

You're shooting skills, so id ask the RO's for help with ranges and finding the targets (or go up before your turn and watch, get your targets found and dope figured before you shoot). Get the hang of it. Then slowly ween yourself off of the help as you go. You should have the jist figured out in 4 or 5 stages.

The other skill is asking the right questions. (When not in skills). Being specific. Instead of wallowing in doubt if that target you see is the 3rd or 4th, ask the RO, "is the target that's next to x feature the 3rd target" etc.

I'm no help at PRS. Lol. Im a lower 3rd prs guy . The cadence you have to run at makes it tough. And it doesn't help that I'm using a 16 lb 6.5 and going against 25 lb lil 6mms. It's hard to track misses in awkward positions with that

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

The Long Range Shooters of Alaska PRS Match finished up this evening.

There were some aspects that went as expected and others that did not.

It’s a crowded space under the covered shooting range, with 4 squads running 10 stages side by side.

Targets were quite small and the stages were quite challenging, atleast with an 11 lb gun, compared to some with 25 lb+ setups.

I definitely made some silly mistakes, such as screwing up the firing order on a couple stages that really cost me.

My goal was a 50% hit rate and I ended up with 49.3% and in the middle of the pack, a ways behind @Marty, who was at 62%.

I can’t see myself being competitive, without a significant investment of time and money to build a PRS gun.. which for one, my wife wouldn’t be too happy about and the largest factor of all is this:

FUGG muzzle brakes! Seriously. The experience of shooting alongside half the competitors that feel they need muzzle brakes on 20 lb+ rifles chambered in 6mm cartridges can go to hell.

This alone is the reason that I’ll never shoot a PRS Match again. Double plugged and my ears and head feel horrible, hours after the match finished.

I’ve seen where my deficiencies are and will work on these by myself, in the mountains.

P.S. My Scythe didn’t blow up, so there’s that.

 

[Lawnboi]

40 shooters under a cover with brakes makes for a loud day.

But I understand, I gave up on muzzle brakes a while ago, I just wish more would.

 

[SloppyJ]

Forgot to mention the muzzle brakes. The last time I shot a match there were only two of us running a can and we were in the same squad. The other guy won it with a 6arc and a can.

Thanks for the report back. My first one was frustrating for sure. Lots going on and all new rules for me. I still don't like leaving my bolt open like they make you do. Just seems weird to me.

However, the 25lb 6mm gun is so much fun. If you have a chance, build one. Or grab an extra stock and 26" MTU barrel. I use mine a lot taking people out who haven't shot longer ranges and it's a cheat code for sure. Check the hide for stocks.

 

[hereinaz]

My hate for muzzle brakes was cemented at matches.

Good shooting!

 

[id_jon]

Shot a match in Parma this weekend, one stage you had to shoot inside a dog house, so the brake guys got theirs. I shoot a 22lb suppressed 6.5cm and see most shots decently well. A 25lb 6mm with a brake is just a bridge too far for me lol

 

[BLJ]

Obviously you won’t get the exact same feedback, but it is a lot quieter at the 22 matches if you do decide to build a rifle.