As a part time competitive shooter, I have shot a variety of matches including 3-Gun, USPSA, IDPA and more. Shooting major matches is an expensive hobby, and I spent a few years as an RO for a number of major 3-gun matches. A few years ago I attended a small benefit match in Frost Texas called the “Let Texas Shoot” multigun. It was a 3-gun match but instead of a shotgun it incorporated a precision rifle. This was a new concept to me, and it has since been my favorite all time match. It taught me that shooting super fast carbine stages are not as satisfying as ringing steel at well over 500 yards on the clock. There have been other similar matches since then, but what has my interest now is the Precision Rifle Series. Looking into this genre of competition,I realized that I was not equipped to shoot the Precision Rifle Series matches due to only owning short .308 Gas Guns. This leads me here, this is the beginning of a series of articles covering my introduction into shooting precision rifles and how to start shooting the PRS.
This series of articles will cover what I do in order to get into the sport. I have received a LOT of support from the industry and have some great articles planned with some very interesting and well made equipment. Like 3-Gun, Precision Rifle matches require quite a bit of gear to get going. An accurate Rifle, an Optic that tracks consistently with a reticle that matches the adjustments, and Ammunition that is not only consistent but has the ability to stay supersonic at the given distances you plan to shoot are required. There are some needed accessories such as a bipod, rear bag, sling and extended magazines that become important to shoot some extended strings and from different positions. I will cover all of these items during this series and will show what I plan to use. Below is a basic outline of what will be covered over the next several months, please follow us on FaceBook or Twitter for updates.
The first article will cover a Savage Arms 12LRP chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and topped with a Burris XTR II 4-20×50. I will show how the rifle shoots with factory Hornady 140 grain A-Max and factory Winchester Match 140 grain SMK. Look for this article to cover ammunition selection, rifle selection on a budget, optic selection, Storm Tactical Data Books and how to get the rifle set up and ready to compete.
The 2nd article will cover a host of accessories that makes shooting precision rifles easier. The Kestrel with Applied Ballistics, TAB Gear, Extended factory Magazines from Darkeagle Customs, bipods and more.
The 3rd article will cover the modification of the Savage 12LRP to maximize its potential by Darkeagle Customs. The rifle will get some fantastic gunsmith work, a cosmetic makeover, a JEC Muzzle Brake and eventually a new stock from Manners Composite Stocks. I will also work on load development for the rifle and show how the 6.5 Creedmoor is a better choice than .308.
The 4th article will cover the addition of a completely custom rifle, and will go through the process of selecting what you want in a custom rifle for competition. I will take a trip to Thoroughbred Rifles and will show the process Thoroughbred Rifles goes through to build the highest quality guns available, and what the results are. I will then document the rifle just like the Savage and compare the differences between a factory rifle that is modified vs one that is custom built to order.
The 5th article will go over a trip to North Texas Rifle Precision and some training by sponsored PRS Shooter Josh Ruby. Josh Ruby will train TGR on the proper use of precision rifles and get me ready to compete in a major match. Josh is an experienced shooter in this sport, and will show us the proper way to handle these rifles and shoot from unconventional positions during competitions. We will also cover shooting in the wind and mirage, which as far as I can tell to this point is a bit of an art form.
The 6th and maybe 7th article will cover shooting a gas gun vs bolt gun, the advantages I have learned along the way and the use of muzzle brakes and sound suppressors. This will cover why I would choose a gas gun vs a bolt gun and what applications they best fit. I will also cover the use of sound suppressors and what advantages they have and what disadvantages they have. I hope to do some metering with Silencer Shop if time allows with a variety of suppressors and the competition guns.
As you can tell, this will be a long series for me, and I hope to cover everything from the basics to the advanced topics that new to the sport shooters typically ask. As always, look for plenty of pictures and even some videos to be presented in this series. Thank you for taking the time to read TGR, and thank you to all the industry support I have had thus far.
JH
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…could you please add direct links to the articles in the series ? I am very interested in reading the whole series, but not keen on hunting for them amongst all the other posts… Cheers !
Jason – great article. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.