Posted on 07/08/2015 12:28:13 PM PDT by w1n1
Looking down from atop a three-story shooting tower, 12 steel targets stand out along a green hillside, each one further away than the last. They’re all challenging, and the furthest sits at 936 yards.
When the buzzer sounds, you’ll have three minutes to shoot all 12. The problem is, you can’t actually see the targets yet. You’re starting at the bottom of the tower’s stairwell, carrying 200 rounds of ammunition, a coat, a gear bag, a sling, sunscreen, elbow pads, bipod, and a heavy sniper rifle. By the time you get to the top of those stairs and see the targets for the first time, a minute will have disappeared. You’ll be breathing hard, and shooting fast.
“It started out as a way to test the practical use of a precision rifle in a military or law enforcement environment”
This is a Precision Rifle Series match, where extreme accuracy, speed, and physical toughness come together. Sniper matches have been around for a long time, but the PRS is gluing them together into a cohesive, Winston Cup-like string. There’s a $5,000 check at the end for the season points winner, and if you’re the top gun at the PRS National Finale, you could take home a $20,000 purse and prize package, just like last year’s winner, Ryan Kerr of California.
Unlike classic long-range events, PRS has a hard edge – like maybe a 3-Gun competition for sniper rifles. The organizers (notably Rich Emmons) drew ideas from 3-Gun Nation, USPSA/IPSC, and the Bianchi Cup. The result appeals to practical riflemen everywhere.
“BB5It started out as a way to test the practical use of a precision rifle in a military or law enforcement environment,” says Chris Reid at Benchmark Barrels. “From there it’s morphed into a kind of timed field shooting.”
At every match the courses change. The distances aren’t marked, and some of the targets move. Virtually everyone uses a detachable box magazine or DBM in a bolt-action rifle. Mounted to a fiberglass stock or a chassis system, the DBM allows for fast reloading of 10-round magazines. Although shooting a semi auto sounds tempting, experts say the bolt-action rifles with DBMs are more stable in recoil. This platform helps the shooter watch bullet trace and impacts. Seeing the hit or miss guides the shooter to the proper aim for the next shot. Most of the top shooters use 6mm to 6.5mm cartridges, which aid in viewing impacts. The 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua, and the 6.5 Creedmoor are popular choices, but cartridges up to the .300 Winchester Magnum can be used. Most guns are heavy, but remember, you’ve got to carry it all day – up to 12 hours at a pop. Read the rest of it here.
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I always like the idea of pistol golf, X targets, have to hit the target, time recorded per target. Run this through a battle or “shoot /no shoot” range. Can’t advance until target is hit. Winner is the lowest overall time.
No, I do not think I could handle it. I cannot even SEE 936 yards, never mind hit a target at that distance.
I do fine up to 250 yds or so, perhaps even adequately at 500 yds (with the right weapon and optics) but people who can shoot accurately at those super-long ranges are out of my league.
hell, I’ve never been that good of a shot to begin with. when I was younger, dad used to have matches in the back 40 and all his derelict bench shooting buddies would be there all weekend driving my mom crazy. the best I ever did was a 6” gong at 1000 yards... and it took me 9 shots to hit it if I remember correctly. Remington 700v in 25-06, 180gr. Still have the rifle, wouldn’t give it up for anything. Those were the good ol days for me.
I was at an IDPA range once with a .38. One of the targets was a 6” steel plate at about 50 ft. I fired and fired and kept missing. 17 shots downrange. Finally the rangemaster asked if I noticed the steel plate was shaking? I said Yes. He told me I was hitting the 1 1/2” wide post the plate was sitting on. Shot after shot. Raised barrel, dropped plate on shot 18.
Completed course red faced (and broke)
Oh, this would be so much fun.
But realistically, I don’t think I would be physically capable at this point in my life.
Won’t let me use my .338 Lapua with a 250 gr. match king. 1000 meters is a cake walk and it don’t get hard tell 1600 to 2000 meters. I never ran to a fight ever, let the bastards walk into the kill zone. Snipers don’t wear track shoes! Slide into the hide- set the range card- wait to take the shot- become the smoke and be gone.
by TiborasaurusRex
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Last updated on Feb 5, 2015
Long range precision shooting covered in detail.
***** “No, I do not think I could handle it. I cannot even SEE 936 yards, never mind hit a target at that distance.
I do fine up to 250 yds or so, perhaps even adequately at 500 yds (with the right weapon and optics) but people who can shoot accurately at those super-long ranges are out of my league.” *****
Same here and with the Years and additional 60lbs that they brought with them I’d be lucky to get on site, let alone pinging that first target. But I’m dumb enough to try just because there was a time I could do it.
(That is also why I have a big shiney MC in my driveway, but ohhh I do love her for short runs)
TT
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