First PRS Match
- Thread starter Belton45
- Start date
What did you learn that was so humbling? Did you have fun?Shot my first center fire PRS match today and that was a humbling experience. Wow!!
I'm curious what you found humbling. I recently shot my first PRS and the things I thought were hard going into the match were hard. Positional shooting and the setups on the clock were humbling as expected.
Things I didn't expect to be that hard were finding targets through the rifle glass. I could find them with bino's and get my index points but through the glass was really struggling to see them. I had to back off the zoom down to ~12x and it helped a ton but I now know why folks spend big money on glass, a prairie dog at 500yds once it is shot up and not white anymore can be tough to see.
Managing the scope changes, getting setup in line so I could find the targets, and getting a stable sight picture were too much most stages. My first 4 stages I only got off ~4 of 10 shots per stage. One stage I zero'd as I couldn't find the targets and it was a multi position stage with big targets swings.
My last stage, I scored 8 of 10 on the PRS standard. I ran the KYL rack way too fast and couldn't get on the small plate. I definitely got better through the match but there is plenty to work on. I didn't get last but was toward the bottom.
It was challenging but fun. I've already went out and practiced running mock stages with varied positional setups. I wish I had a better long range range nearby, it would make it easier to practice. I need to figure out how to dryfire setups at home.
Cheers,
Toby
Things I didn't expect to be that hard were finding targets through the rifle glass. I could find them with bino's and get my index points but through the glass was really struggling to see them. I had to back off the zoom down to ~12x and it helped a ton but I now know why folks spend big money on glass, a prairie dog at 500yds once it is shot up and not white anymore can be tough to see.
Managing the scope changes, getting setup in line so I could find the targets, and getting a stable sight picture were too much most stages. My first 4 stages I only got off ~4 of 10 shots per stage. One stage I zero'd as I couldn't find the targets and it was a multi position stage with big targets swings.
My last stage, I scored 8 of 10 on the PRS standard. I ran the KYL rack way too fast and couldn't get on the small plate. I definitely got better through the match but there is plenty to work on. I didn't get last but was toward the bottom.
It was challenging but fun. I've already went out and practiced running mock stages with varied positional setups. I wish I had a better long range range nearby, it would make it easier to practice. I need to figure out how to dryfire setups at home.
Cheers,
Toby
Belton45
Silver $$ Contributor
Pace was my biggest issue. And just trying to get fundamentals right. I was shooting with a top shooter in the US, he was a tremendous help, so there was quite a few corrections through ought the day. I only fired 58 of my 80 shots just due to speed and then finding targets and remembering everything u need to remember. After I was done for the day I remembered I had never even seen my scope level all day. Lol.
We were trying to avoid some rain and was a small squad so we were moving pretty good. Did not have much time between spotting and changing stages and trying to get ballistics and understanding the course of fire at each stage.
With all that said I can’t wait for next match be here to see if I improvement. Have some drills to work on at home now
It was pretty amazing to hit a target at 778yds from top of a fence post!!!!
We were trying to avoid some rain and was a small squad so we were moving pretty good. Did not have much time between spotting and changing stages and trying to get ballistics and understanding the course of fire at each stage.
With all that said I can’t wait for next match be here to see if I improvement. Have some drills to work on at home now
It was pretty amazing to hit a target at 778yds from top of a fence post!!!!
Mimic what you see from good PRS shooters. Practice getting into position, dry fire , come out of that position and transfer to another and dry fire that position. Remember bolt back when you transition from one area to another. As you start doing this take the time at first to build a solid shooting position that your comfortable with. Drop your magnification down to help acquire the target, as you get faster finding the target add more magnification to find where you're good at getting on the target. I know I'm leaving things out but this should help. I truly believe that Rob01 is pretty much A.S. site authority on PRS, but there are many on here that have good experience that you can build on from their information. I'll close with this....lots of good videos of the best PRS shooters running stages on YouTube.
linebaugh
Silver $$ Contributor
Sounds like a perfect first match to me! You will get better and meet many great people as you go forward.
You don’t need long range to practice. Most I ever had was 400 yards when I lived in CT and for a year or so they shut that down and o only had 100. You still shoot off props under time but you just make the targets smaller. The under time part is important as you need to learn what 90 and 105 seconds feels like while on a stage.
Also practice not making any excessive movements when getting into position. Don’t move in and shuffle around trying to find the proper position. Practice moving in and getting the rifle on the prop and you behind it in a single motion. It helps a lot.
And don’t just practice things that make you feel good. Push the comfort zone and set up multiple targets.
And most importantly, have fun.
What I need to figure out is what heights I'm going prone vs kneeling vs standing. Some of the props were in the grey zone in between positions and that made it challenging having not had to contort my body behind the rifle to get on target. That is where dryfire practice would help me understand what I should do. That and a big pillow bag to help fill/stabilize the awkward spaces when in a modified prone or on a roof slope etc...
I also need to work on how I put rifle down in line with the target so I can drop down into the glass and be on target. That would aid in my ability to find the targets.
For sure the clock is difficult but right now for me I need to hit the targets I'm able to get setup for first. If I can only get setup for 5 positions/shots I want to hit all 5 shots. That definitely didn't happen on the clock. I need to have confidence in my rifle/fundamentals to make a good shot happen then I can work on getting faster.
Cheers,
Toby
I also need to work on how I put rifle down in line with the target so I can drop down into the glass and be on target. That would aid in my ability to find the targets.
For sure the clock is difficult but right now for me I need to hit the targets I'm able to get setup for first. If I can only get setup for 5 positions/shots I want to hit all 5 shots. That definitely didn't happen on the clock. I need to have confidence in my rifle/fundamentals to make a good shot happen then I can work on getting faster.
Cheers,
Toby
Yeah practice those positions as depending on people’s body types, ages and abilities it can be very different how they approach a prop. I am in my late late 50s now so not doing some things like I would have 20 years ago. Just need to find what works for you. Same with bags. Some use those monster bags and some don’t. My buddy uses one and I don’t and we usually get close to the same hits on stages.
Pointing the rifle at target area does help saving time finding targets. If you toss it down and it’s not on target I just look over the top of the elevation knob until it lines up and then on scope and the target is there. Not being on max power is a good thing with that too. Be lower where you have a larger FOV but still see targets fine and be able to use holds. Usually that 14-18x range is where it works well with a 25-36x top end scope.
And Toby made an excellent point about getting hits. It’s been said for years that a slow hit is better than 10 fast misses and it’s true. The speed will come but make your hits. I see newer shooters do it all the time rushing to get to 5 positions and missing when they could have only shot 3 positions and timed out and made good hits. Hits are what counts.
Pointing the rifle at target area does help saving time finding targets. If you toss it down and it’s not on target I just look over the top of the elevation knob until it lines up and then on scope and the target is there. Not being on max power is a good thing with that too. Be lower where you have a larger FOV but still see targets fine and be able to use holds. Usually that 14-18x range is where it works well with a 25-36x top end scope.
And Toby made an excellent point about getting hits. It’s been said for years that a slow hit is better than 10 fast misses and it’s true. The speed will come but make your hits. I see newer shooters do it all the time rushing to get to 5 positions and missing when they could have only shot 3 positions and timed out and made good hits. Hits are what counts.
Glad you had fun! Climbing the ladder is the most fun IMO. My 1st match my score was terrible but I smiled the whole way home. I was hooked! Work hard and you’ll be amazed how fast your scores improve.
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