PRS Talk Shot My First PRS Match

[turkey_creek]

Title says it, but a year ago PRS wasn’t even on my radar. Traded for a B14 HMR at the new local stored of August. .308, because that’s what I have shot deer with for years and had reloading equipment for, even though I wasn’t loading it.

Threw the Strike Eagle 5-25 I already had on it. Shot some of the misc factory match ammo through it. Got a case of American Marksman 175 SMK loads. Set it aside for the winter.

March I started shooting it again. Bought an Omega 300. Little trial and error, it shoots quite well with 175 SMK over CFE223 or Varget, and 169 SMK over Varget. Finally posted some crap about it on Facebook and my old platoon sgt chimes in and says I should try PRS.

So that brings us to a couple weekends ago. I can squeak out some 7-800 yard practice, but it’s pretty hillbilly. Loaded some 169’s at around 2615 to keep the recoil down a bit. I shot 40/80 that day, and the gent that had been keeping most of the scores was pretty impressed when he realized I’d been shooting .308. If I could have shot the first couple stages over, scores would have improved as I’d run out of time on them.

I have a set of 9x40 Steiner binos, but I need to find some with a bit more magnification and a tripod. And a heavier bag. I also need to find the right magnification level for me. If shooting static at 5-800, I’ll be at 16x, but there was no way I could pull that off and still see misses. Recoil management needs some help.

 

[Partsunavailable]

Welcome to the game. Your list of "needs" is laughable. Don't worry about that list of things because it won't stop growing. Focus on the fundamentals and having a good time, everything else will fix itself. You can fix fundamentals to do a better job of spotting or you can turn it down to 12 until it becomes easier.

 

[turkey_creek]

Welcome to the game. Your list of "needs" is laughable. Don't worry about that list of things because it won't stop growing. Focus on the fundamentals and having a good time, everything else will fix itself. You can fix fundamentals to do a better job of spotting or you can turn it down to 12 until it becomes easier.

Oh I am absolutely certain that the list will continue to grow and be never ending. At this point I just want the time to get to a couple more matches coming up.

 

[R_A_W]

I have a set of 9x40 Steiner binos, but I need to find some with a bit more magnification and a tripod. And a heavier bag.

definitely get a tripod & a heavy fill fortune cookie or schmedium is a very good idea

9x binos are fine, glass quality matters more than magnification. regardless, it's safe to delay new binos for a while.

Recoil management needs some help.

work on natural point of aim, steadiness & recoil management will improve

40/80 @ your first match is great, keep it up

 

[Vace9089]

Been looking at doing some PRS around here at home just to learn.

 

[newgen5]

I shot my 1st and 2nd matches this month, finishing 3rd from last place both times with lots of dropped shots and timing out on stages. It's a steep learning curve but the experienced shooters have all been super helpful, letting me try out their gear and giving tips on how to get better. Along the way I upgraded my bipod, shooting bags (on my 3rd one), magazines (needed 10 round capacity not 5!), added a muzzle brake (didn't have one on a fresh out of the box Proof MTR) and got a wristband for stage DOPE. I'll really need a chassis to level up, the Proof stock just isn't made for PRS, but it's a ton of fun and everyone's been way more friendly than in USPSA. Not ready to drop $2K on LRF binos and $1K on a tripod...yet.

 

[turkey_creek]

I shot my 1st and 2nd matches this month, finishing 3rd from last place both times with lots of dropped shots and timing out on stages. It's a steep learning curve but the experienced shooters have all been super helpful, letting me try out their gear and giving tips on how to get better. Along the way I upgraded my bipod, shooting bags (on my 3rd one), magazines (needed 10 round capacity not 5!), added a muzzle brake (didn't have one on a fresh out of the box Proof MTR) and got a wristband for stage DOPE. I'll really need a chassis to level up, the Proof stock just isn't made for PRS, but it's a ton of fun and everyone's been way more friendly than in USPSA. Not ready to drop $2K on LRF binos and $1K on a tripod...yet.

Shot my second match Sunday and it was absolute dogshit. I’ve made the habit to clean my rifle every 3-500 rounds, but only a solvent patch, wire brush, and patches til they’re clean, repeated maybe twice. This time I scrubbed a lot more, gun had 16-1700 rounds down it, thought maybe it was time. I think I’ll stick to the previous regimen only. Put 60 rounds through it couple days before the match, four round group that morning to confirm. Group was ok, not stellar. I had shots all over. I loaded the same load I had been running, but damn.

Anyway, I’ve got a bag on the way, my Steiner binos are a little low power but they’ll work for now. I could use a tripod, but I’ve got other priorities other than that at the moment.

I’m almost tempted to see if perhaps I can’t swap my Bergara’s barrel and chassis over to my 700 Rem and then upgrade to a heavier barrel and chassis on the Bergara. That would be fabulous, because that 700 has begun to show its flaws.

One guy did let me shoot his chassis .308, and it’s hella nice. Mine needs more weight.

 

[scissorhands]

Keep it up! Having a tight shooting gun is nice for the confidence, but as long as you are shooting 1moa you should be good to go. Rifle weight will definitely help with balance and recoil.

 

[Mulepackhunter]

Congrats man keep at it, I suggest 22LR matches as well. And gas gun matches, I had one of each gun already so just looked at all matches so I could find them in my timeframe easier. They are all fun and I’ll say the 22LR will surprise you on how tough it is. Much tougher in my opinion than center fire or gas gun. The one I shoot is 1 Moa and under on all targets then we do a bonus at 220 and 320 yards.

 

[FremontCo45]

I started last year with a bergara HMR in 6.5. Welcome to the fun! I found adding weight helped a lot. first match was about 14.5#. Second match was 16.5#. Huge difference in seeing my misses. I also don't get to live fire practice as much as I'd like, so an indoor dryfire system has helped me with target acquisition and trigger control.

 

[turkey_creek]

I started last year with a bergara HMR in 6.5. Welcome to the fun! I found adding weight helped a lot. first match was about 14.5#. Second match was 16.5#. Huge difference in seeing my misses. I also don't get to live fire practice as much as I'd like, so an indoor dryfire system has helped me with target acquisition and trigger control.

How do you successfully add weight to the HMR? I’m sitting around 14# now, and wouldn’t mind a bit more. If/when I shoot the barrel out of it, if I stick with it still, I know I can gain a fair bit there.

 

[FremontCo45]

How do you successfully add weight to the HMR? I’m sitting around 14# now, and wouldn’t mind a bit more. If/when I shoot the barrel out of it, if I stick with it still, I know I can gain a fair bit there.

I put #8 shot in the buttstock and the foreend then siliconed it in. It was butt heavy but workable. I also added lead to the little open spots of the area 419 arca rail. If I was to do it again I'd either buy the arca rail that takes brass weights or make my own out of cold rolled steel. I made my own weights for an oryx chassis that worked well enough. I'd probably use 3/8" steel for the rail. I pretty much redneck engineered as best I could. Good luck.

 

[tabell]

Much better than my first match, it was terrible. I went home thinking man I suck, don't ever want to do that again. Then I realized I dialed wind the wrong direction all except the very last stage where I was able to connect with over half of my shots. Kind of a head scratcher at the time! Im glad I stuck it out, made 5 more matches after that. More matches planned for next year and a new rifle being built as we speak, when the bug bites it bites hard.

What I can tell you is everyone's post is right, go shoot cause your list will grow not shrink lol.

 

[turkey_creek]

Much better than my first match, it was terrible. I went home thinking man I suck, don't ever want to do that again. Then I realized I dialed wind the wrong direction all except the very last stage where I was able to connect with over half of my shots. Kind of a head scratcher at the time! Im glad I stuck it out, made 5 more matches after that. More matches planned for next year and a new rifle being built as we speak, when the bug bites it bites hard.

What I can tell you is everyone's post is right, go shoot cause your list will grow not shrink lo

Shot my fourth yesterday. The second and third were rough, and yesterday it was raining but I did connect with 47%. I’m not mad about it.

I think I’ve got all the basics acquired once my tripod gets here tomorrow, sans rain gear. Then shoot the barrel out.