PRS Bread and Butter

[xswanted]

You've got a ton of good advice here, and I like your perspective on "less is more". With your own private range out to 1000 yards you've got something a lot of people would be very envious of.

PRS matches are won and lost inside of 600-700 yards. There may be some longer stuff here and there, but the positional shooting is what separates the winners. If you look at how the top guys shoot they almost never time out and they clean stages more often than not. The thing that makes those stages tough is the number of transitions, the wide variety of positions, and the complexity of target order and target acquisition. You don't need to shoot "fast", but you can't dick around. Build the position, get on target, break a clean shot, pick up and move, one shot every 10 seconds is a good goal, moving at a relaxed not rushed pace. It's super tough.

If you're looking for what to practice, it's positional shooting. No more prone, unless it's for gathering dope. Build yourself a traditional barricade (like the PRS skills stage), maybe get a folding step ladder, or something like a 4x4 post in the ground with a bunch of 1" dowels coming out both sides for positions all the way from crouching to tall standing. Then work on shoot/move/shoot/move/shoot move. As far as targets to set, I like the 200-600 range with small steel. Right now the stuff I practice on is 2" at 200 yards, or 6" at 350 yards, or 10" at 600 yards shooting with 223. Hittable but forces discipline, makes you susceptible to wind and forces you to watch your misses, etc.

Set yourself little match stages that keep you busy and moving around. Different targets from different positions, dialing and changing, holding over, etc. A lot of times it's not just that you have to hit the target, it's that you have to remember the messed up shooting order that the match director set for the stage. Things like from position A shoot targets 1,3,1,2 then from position B shoot targets 2,3,1,3 in that order in 90 seconds. Helps to have the mental game ready to memorize and execute that shooting plan.

As far as gear just one bag is all you need, a waxed canvas game changer is my favorite. No extra doo-dads necessary to win. I do love my tripod and binos though... very helpful to stare at targets, memorize the stage, watch others shoot, watch the wind. All part of the mental prep.

Great stuff here.

Thank you!

 

[300_whisper]

Tagging in, great question and thread.

 

[Hoodoo]

You've got a ton of good advice here, and I like your perspective on "less is more". With your own private range out to 1000 yards you've got something a lot of people would be very envious of.

PRS matches are won and lost inside of 600-700 yards. There may be some longer stuff here and there, but the positional shooting is what separates the winners. If you look at how the top guys shoot they almost never time out and they clean stages more often than not. The thing that makes those stages tough is the number of transitions, the wide variety of positions, and the complexity of target order and target acquisition. You don't need to shoot "fast", but you can't dick around. Build the position, get on target, break a clean shot, pick up and move, one shot every 10 seconds is a good goal, moving at a relaxed not rushed pace. It's super tough.

If you're looking for what to practice, it's positional shooting. No more prone, unless it's for gathering dope. Build yourself a traditional barricade (like the PRS skills stage), maybe get a folding step ladder, or something like a 4x4 post in the ground with a bunch of 1" dowels coming out both sides for positions all the way from crouching to tall standing. Then work on shoot/move/shoot/move/shoot move. As far as targets to set, I like the 200-600 range with small steel. Right now the stuff I practice on is 2" at 200 yards, or 6" at 350 yards, or 10" at 600 yards shooting with 223. Hittable but forces discipline, makes you susceptible to wind and forces you to watch your misses, etc.

Set yourself little match stages that keep you busy and moving around. Different targets from different positions, dialing and changing, holding over, etc. A lot of times it's not just that you have to hit the target, it's that you have to remember the messed up shooting order that the match director set for the stage. Things like from position A shoot targets 1,3,1,2 then from position B shoot targets 2,3,1,3 in that order in 90 seconds. Helps to have the mental game ready to memorize and execute that shooting plan.

As far as gear just one bag is all you need, a waxed canvas game changer is my favorite. No extra doo-dads necessary to win. I do love my tripod and binos though... very helpful to stare at targets, memorize the stage, watch others shoot, watch the wind. All part of the mental prep.

This. Read this, memorize it, and then read it again.

The third paragraph is quite possible the most important. Moving is becoming more and more of a challenge. Shoot 2 shot's at target A and B from left side of barricade, then shoot 2 more shot's at target A and B in that order, but from the right side of the barricade. Dialing your scope each time, readjusting, etc. All that add's up time. And they are now coming up with difficult positions. While going through the stage in your head you think "ok I can see target C from prone, no problem." But then when you lay down you realize there is a bluff between you and the target, so you have to shoot of the barricade "conveniently" placed next to that position. And you just wasted 20 precious seconds of time...

I am lucky enough to have a 1000 yard range on my property, and I've set up a barricade, a pole climber, and a pole barricade. I've got a good buddy that shoots with me, and we go out early mornings when we don't have anything going on and practice. Make it a game, come up with your own "stage" and see who cleans it. Loser buys beer. Great way for both of us to get some practice in, and fine tune our discipline.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Hi guys,

I’m just getting involved with a few PRS matches and have shot a number of informal steel and tactical type matches.

I have my own private range that I can practice beyond 1000 yards.

I’m learning, at lest I think, there is a “bread and butter” type distance that PRS shoots focus on.

Is this fairly standard or is it just a coincidence on the couple I’ve shot?

Distance doesn’t seem to be the focus but more so different positions, speed and adapting to conditions.

What’s your opinion? Where is most of the money in PRS made?

0-600?

0-800?

What are your thoughts?

I’ve shot over 1000 at a couple but it seems most of the shots are inside 600.

Excellent thread xswanted, I'm glad you started it.

 

[xswanted]

Excellent thread xswanted, I'm glad you started it.

Thank you,

I’ve been eyeing PRS events for quite a awhile and only shot one real one but I had fun.

Most of the misconceptions I had about it were wrong.

I learned a lot about adapting to odd shooting positions in a short amount of time.

And did I mention I had fun?

I’d like to learn more about it so I know what to practice and how to practice. Not necessarily to try win anything but at least be able to feel really good about what I’m doing if and when I go shoot another one.

I love F Class, benchrest and silhouette shooting so I figured I’d add this to the list of shooting sports I can throw my hand in at.

I like learning from accurateshooter as well as opposed to other gun/shooting forums. I feel like people here are more legit, “I’ve already done it and I can actually help you” type of people rather than some of the “experts” found elsewhere.

 

[300_whisper]

@xswanted i did my first real PRS match in January and it was eye opening for me. I really want to get big into it. I’m trying to balance career progression, young family, and firearms. It’s hard!!

 

[xswanted]

@xswanted i did my first real PRS match in January and it was eye opening for me. I really want to get big into it. I’m trying to balance career progression, young family, and firearms. It’s hard!!

Same boat here!

I don’t know if I want to go head over heels into it but I’d like to shoot 3 or 4 a summer and try to at least compete. With the exception of benchrest, I’ve been fortunate enough to win a shoot in about every rifle discipline I’ve tried so it’d be a real feather in the hat to win one doing this. I don’t know if that can happen, but it’ll be fun at least giving it a try.

 

[linebaugh]

Lots of very positive posts here and everyone has the right ideas. Go shoot and have fun. You will meet a great bunch of guys, improve your shooting skills and learn a lot at the same time.

Don't take yourself too seriously out of the gate. I did that and it nearly ruined the sport for me the fist season I shot. Shoot against yourself, do your best and don't worry about beating anybody but yourself. At the end of the day if that means you are in first or last place it matters not as long as you did your best and can live in your own skin.

I will make a comment about trying to win a match as a newbie. There are some hella good shooters out there and they have been doing it a while so they are ahead of the cart. Winning a match is a very high mark these days. Nothing wrong with having a 1st place goal but you are going to earn it and you can take that to the bank.

Great thread and you got a bunch of great advice here. Thanks for posting