PRS club match - Not really African hunting related, but may be of interest to some

[rifletuner]

This is how my son and I spend one day out of each month - at a club precision rifle shoot as the Melbourne SSAA range. This time we had strong switchy winds that could make it very difficult to work out wind holds on the fly. We shoot off a range of different props, and targets were mostly 1MOA to 2MOA at 200 meters to 500 meters.

This video is my best stage of the day on Saturday. The course of fire is often the shooters choice at these matches, but this time it was mandated that we shoot in the order of left barrel, right barrel, off the tyres, then off the cinder block. Two gongs at 200 meters. Fire one shot at each target off each of the barrels shoot the large gong, small gong then a third shot at the large gong again, off the tyres & cinder block just two shoots at the large gong then small. Ten shots total in 105 seconds.

My son was running my 6Dasher barrel, so that left me running the 223Rem trainer barrel with 75gn ELDM bullets. We could run any equipment we wanted, but I just ran my sand fill "Schmedium" Game Changer bag for the stage (and the whole day). I got 9 his for 9 shots on this stage, but timed out before I got the 10th shot off.

Even though its very different to a lot of shooting on safari, I think its really beneficial as you have to shoot accurate shots quickly and reassess your plans when you realise what you had planned to do isnt going to work once you start a stage. It doesnt replicate the stress of hunting, but Its a good option to help getting used to shooting under stress. And it forces you to shoot from positions you wouldnt otherwise choose. Anyway, it works for me.

 

[Inline6]

It is very good practice, it is not square, it makes you build different positions, it adds a stressor, gives you feed back on your improvements.

I see a lot of people run barrels that way. I run it with my bipod, I feel I can get more stable quicker.

(This is not meant to be a smart butt) My question to you is what is taking you so long to break the shot? If it is 200meter, I feel you may have your power cranked up a little high causing you more time to find the target in your scope. If it is not that, tell me what you are seeing. I might be able to help gain you a few seconds. I would dry fire the heck out of props in the backyard just to work on cutting down my times.

 

[rifletuner]

No, its not finding the target. I run my scope on 15 power almost 100 percent of the time and can find targets pretty quickly most of the time. I am just slow by the standards of PRS.

I know I need to do more dry fire and also more live fire too, but just cant spend any more time on it at the moment due to other commitments.

 

[Inline6]

@rifletuner it looks like you are running a MDT chassie. If that is the case I one on my 22lr. I have the mirage shield on my for a place to rest my thumb. Your hand holding your scope is allowing your rifle to rock back more than it needs to. That is eating up time, I would back the power off of 15 too. You can make those hits on 8X if you wanted. 200 meters you need to hit steel not center punch paper.

If you have a chance to play with it. Run your bipod so the front of the bipod is inside of the barrel top and your rear grip is inside the rear of the barrel lip. You can us a rear back under your grip. It is solid and fast if you practice. Your rifle won't wobble as much as you are seeing now. If you smooth a few things out, you will have no problem staying on time and making quality hits.

Good luck on the next match.

 

[matchu865]

I know NRL hunter exists, and they have 'power factor' but it'd be cool for a competition like it to have a class that mandated a dangerous game capable cartridge. Yardages might have to be reduced though.

 

[Inline6]

I know NRL hunter exists, and they have 'power factor' but it'd be cool for a competition like it to have a class that mandated a dangerous game capable cartridge. Yardages might have to be reduced though.

You might get a one off big might. People are actually reducing speeds now so they have time to spot trace. Oh and that is on a 26 pound 6BR of some type. The comps just aren't what they used to be.

 

[rifletuner]

@rifletuner it looks like you are running a MDT chassie. If that is the case I one on my 22lr. I have the mirage shield on my for a place to rest my thumb. Your hand holding your scope is allowing your rifle to rock back more than it needs to. That is eating up time, I would back the power off of 15 too. You can make those hits on 8X if you wanted. 200 meters you need to hit steel not center punch paper.

If you have a chance to play with it. Run your bipod so the front of the bipod is inside of the barrel top and your rear grip is inside the rear of the barrel lip. You can us a rear back under your grip. It is solid and fast if you practice. Your rifle won't wobble as much as you are seeing now. If you smooth a few things out, you will have no problem staying on time and making quality hits.

Good luck on the next match.

Yes, MDT ACC. If you look at the video, on the left hand barrel, I firstly put my hand on the forend because thats my normal hold. But I didnt feel stable so went to holding the scope and that was better for me on this stage. In hind sight I should have put the bag down closer to the edge of the barrel as that probably would have started me off more solidly.

I have tried shooting off the barrels with the tripod before and agree it is very solid, but dont find it stable off the tyres when we have to shoot off the side wall as its like resting on a bucket of jello. So my thinking this time was to just run the bag for everything and was pretty happy with how it worked. I have tried the scope power at a range of settings, but find 12 to 15 power works best for me.

 

[rifletuner]

I know NRL hunter exists, and they have 'power factor' but it'd be cool for a competition like it to have a class that mandated a dangerous game capable cartridge. Yardages might have to be reduced though.

I quite like the BASA format for that. They tend to run an IPSC style format with DG calibre rifles.

 

[mark-hunter]

This is great thread, thank you for starting it @rifletuner . I dont shoot PRS at home, but I shoot f-class and various similar type local matches under local match rules!

I am in full agreement with you that similar training, competition, experience and trigger time adds to hunting skill in the field! I can often compare hunters who participate in such events, and those who do not, and I can see the difference in the skill and gun safety.

Besides from skill improvement, frequent participation in matches teaches an individual stress control, reducing buck fever to zero.

 

[rifletuner]

This is great thread, thank you for starting it @rifletuner . I dont shoot PRS at home, but I shoot f-class and various similar type local matches under local match rules!

I am in full agreement with you that similar training, competition, experience and trigger time adds to hunting skill in the field! I can often compare hunters who participate in such events, and those who do not, and I can see the difference in the skill and gun safety.

Besides from skill improvement, frequent participation in matches teaches an individual stress control, reducing buck fever to zero.

Yeah, it all helps. I shot benchrest for 20 years, and its great for teaching trigger control, wind reading and shooting under pressure. Some match formats are more relevant to hunting than others, but it all helps.

I shot at an international match in Sweden years ago. After the match was over, one of the locals took us out to the running moose range and ran the Australian team though the running moose format. They said our scores were higher than the average hunters there, although not as high as they guys who specialised in running moose matches.

 

[mark-hunter]

I shot at an international match in Sweden years ago.

I am in long range shooting club, and we are members of ICFRA.
So, my buddies go to European F-class matches to Bisley UK.

But I am afraid they are above my league. Better guns and equipment, and more importantly they have time to go and to prepare. TIme is my overwhelming limiting factor.

I work on drilling jack up rig, and cannot devote so much time preparing for international match, which I can easily miss, if I am at work.
So, I hang around as a secretary of the club, web page admin, and coach for new members, and go to local matches when time permits.