You may want to tune in to Shooting USA tonight. There are three interesting topics covered in the one-hour cable TV broadcast. Hornady’s A-Tip Bullets are featured in a product spotlight. Next the ultimate speed-shooting contest, the USPSA Steel Challenge, is covered. And for the tactical/PRS crowd, Shooting USA interviews Tom Fuller of Armageddon Gear. The hour-long Shooting USA show runs on the Outdoor Channel Wednesday nights at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific time, 8:00 PM Central time.
1. Hornady A-Tip Bullets — Worth the Very High Price?
This week Shooting USA reviews Hornady’s new A-Tip bullets. These A-Tips generated a lot of buzz because of their high price and unusual packaging. These expensive ($75-$85/box) aluminum-tipped projectiles have very consistent bullet BCs according to Hornady. They are sold in sequential order for consistency, and shipped in clear plastic egg-crate style packaging to protect the tips. The jury is still out on these bullets, as we haven’t seen them used much in competition outside the PRS realm. But if you are curious, check out this report.
2. Steel Challenge — Fun and Fast Steel Plate Competitions
For fans of steel shooting, Shooting USA will cover the famous Steel Challenge, a speed shooting competition with eight standardized steel plate stages. It’s all about speed — the top guns can nail all five targets in under three seconds. Run by the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) a division of the USPSA, the Steel Challenge is fast and exciting. Regional matches are held at affiliated clubs through the USA, with a large annual World Speed Shooting Championships (WSSC) that attracts competitors from around the world. In 2018 and 2019 the WSSC was held in Talladega, Alabama. LEARN MORE HERE
3. Armaggedon Gear — Tactical Accessories
Finally, this week’s Shooting USA episode visits Armageddon Gear in Georgia. This company, founded by former U.S. Army Ranger Tom Fuller, sells support bags, gun cases, slings, suppressor covers, scope covers, and a wide variety of other accessories popular with the PRS/NRL crowd. With a 22-year Military career behind him, Tom Fuller is creating and selling what he knows, shooting gear. Fuller’s company is an American success story, as Armageddon Gear now provides products to the U.S. Military, Law Enforcement, as well as PRS/NRL competitors.
We know that quite a few hunters and tactical shooters read the Daily Bulletin. Here’s a product for you guys that need a multi-purpose padded support that can be easily carried and adapted to a variety of positions (such as on platforms, vehicle hoods, as well as flat ground). This versatile bag can be used on the front (supporting the fore-end), or in the rear (supporting the buttstock). Made in the USA, “The Brick” Grippy Bag costs $39.95 from Armageddon Gear. Measuring 6″ x 3″ x 3″, “The Brick” is offered in two colors: Coyote Tan and Black.
Made by Armageddon Gear, and sold through the Armageddon Gear Store, “The Brick” has unique features that make it ultra-handy in the field. First the “grippy” outer material is rubberized and textured so it can provide a firm grip on a support surface as needed. Overlapping Velcro-lined straps allow the bag to be attached to a rifle fore-end, buttstock, tripod head, shooting sticks, or pack. The square cross-section provides secure contact between the rifle stock and support surface. You can easily adjust the firmness of the bag by adding or subtracting filler material. (Some guys will fill their Brick with sand; others may prefer beads or other lighter media to save weight.) The panel under the strap is nylon to allow the shooter’s hand to easily slide underneath the strap when desired.
Here’s something that should make you smile. We know that PRS competitors love their support bags. At a PRS matches you’ll see all sizes and shapes of bags — rear sandbags, front bags, barricade bags, even bags you wear on your arms. And now the bag has evolved to the Nth Degree — the Numero Uno bag. This jumbo bag may seem like a joke, but it does offer some advantages.
On his Facebook page, Robert Brantley showed a fellow who used the “Mother of All Bags” in a recent PRS match. This huge camo-fabric bag seemed to be inspired by bean bag chairs. Brantley posted “The Numero Uno! When there’s only time for one bag, why settle for less?”
At the 1:05 time mark the shooter uses the Uno for low position support. It works!
This thing was big enough to support the shooter in seated position, three feet off the ground. We’re not sure about the filling but we suspect the Numero Uno is filled with lightweight packing materials or the material used inside sleeping bags.
Between stages, the Numero Uno also serves as a comfy back rest. Note the color-coordinated orange camo shooting jacket, orange rifle stock, and orange suppressor cover. Who says PRS guys can’t be fashionable too?
PRS Competitors Up in Arms about Big Bag
The giant Numero Uno bag stirred some controversy on Facebook:
“What’s next… the tactical couch?” — Jacob P.
“This is when they need to put rules on the amount of bags you can use. It’s to the point where it’s getting out of control, and PRS shooting is becoming a joke.” — Bryan L.
“This is getting out of control. Need to start restricting to one bag, one tripod. See where skill comes in and not so many crutches.” — Bryce H.
However, George Gardner of G.A. Precision was not too concerned: “Simmer down boys — the guy running it didn’t place well. I’m pretty sure it was more of a funny thing for him. What is the PRS supposed to do? Make a Size limit? He carried it all match long. I’m really not sure it was helpful but it made for great commentary.”
The True Origin of the Numero Uno
In truth, the super-sized Numero Uno bag was crafted by Armageddon Gear in jest. Watch this original Numero Uno spoof video with Armageddon’s owner Tom Fuller. You’ll see the the bag was created as a joke item. Tom’s wise-ass idea was that, if the PRS allowed only one bag in matches, then it should be the biggest bag possible — the Numero Uno. Enjoy…
Thinking of trying out the Precision Rifle Series, starting off with a gas gun? Well Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com did just that, competing in his first-ever PRS match up in Washington State. With its timed stages (some just 90 seconds long), Gavin learned that PRS is about speed as well as accuracy. As a PRS newbie, Gavin found the competition fun but challenging. Gavin’s account of his experiences, set forth in two articles with accompanying videos, will help other novice PRS competitors prepare for PRS-type matches and assemble the right equipment.
What PRS is All About
PRS is all about pushing your rifle skills to edge. You may have to hit targets at four different distances in 90 seconds- and dial in your dope between each shot. These kinds of challenges are super-difficult, but with enough experience and practice, it’s amazing what you can do. I saw guys that were so smooth, steady, fast, and accurate, it was mind blowing! It doesn’t come easy, and the guys at the top of the heap are super-dedicated. — Gavin Gear
This video has cool Aerial Drone footage, and in-depth explanation of stages:
Gavin’s First PRS Match: The Experience
By: Ultimate Reloader
Gavin told us that he’s wanted to try out the PRS game: “For a long time I’ve talked with friends about trying out a PRS-style match. Life has been busy, but when the right opportunity came, I decided to give it a try. My friend and shooting partner Jim Findlay offered to help me prepare, and told me it would be ‘fun to shoot gas guns together’. I decided I would shoot an AR-15, and thought that would be an ideal opportunity to try something new — the 22 Nosler. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was getting myself into, but that’s typically the way things happen when you’re really trying something new. It was a great experience, and it taught me a lot about shooting. I also made some great connections and friends during the match. If you are at all interested in PRS (Precision Rifle Series, or just Precision Rifle in general) I would suggest you enter and compete in a match. You most likely won’t regret it.”
Gavin enjoyed his first match: “Overall, the match was more fun and more laid back than I thought it would be. The guys in our squad were all really helpful, and even loaned me gear to try out when they noticed my gear wasn’t right for a particular shooting activity. One such case was when Ken Gustafson (of KYL Gear) offered to loan me one of the bags he had made. Below you can see me shooting off the infamous unstable tippy tank trap with a KYL Gear bag, and I’ll have to say [the bag] was amazing. It helped me lock down my rifle and get on target. What a great feeling!”
Gavin did experience issues with his “stout” 22 Nosler loads: “I did run into some trouble — I had loaded my 22 Nosler rounds to max charge weight with Varget powder and experienced some failure-to-feed issues during the match. Initially I thought my bolt needed more lubrication, but [it was] between 96 – 100°F during the hottest part of the Match day.” With the ultra-high ambient temperatures, Gavin experienced over-pressure. Word to the wise — “Test everything you plan to use on match day, and take into account things like weather conditions as well”.
Gear Choices and Selection
Gavin tells us: “In order to be successful in a PRS match, you need a rifle that is accurate enough, extremely reliable, has great ergonomics, handles well, and fits your budget.”
22 Nosler AR-15 rifle used by Gavin in the PRS match
18″ 1:8-twist 22 Nosler Upper
Two Stage Match Trigger – .154″ Hi-Speed DMR (GEISSELE AUTOMATICS)
Hogue AR-15 rubber grip
Magpul PRS stock
Harris S-BRM 6-9″ bipod
Vortex Viper HS-T 6-24x50mm scope
Action Type — Bolt vs. Semi: While most PRS competitors use bolt-action rifles, there are classes of competition that specifically call for semi-automatic actions to be used. Even so, in Open Class where you can pick which action type you’d like to use, there’s a split between the two for various reasons. I used an AR-15 in my first match, and for comparison, I think I’ll use a bolt-action rifle in my next match!
Support — Bipods and Bags: I think the first thing I said when trying to shoot from a barricade was: ‘You have to be kidding’. For someone used to prone shots from a bipod (when shooting long-range) this new challenge seemed impossible. My reticle was literally all over the place trying to shoot a target at 400 yards. But over time things improved drastically! Part of this improvement came from practice and technique, and part came from using the right support systems, such as the Game Changer Bag from Armaggedon Gear:
Photo Courtesy Accurate Ordnance.
All the Gear Items You Need — Bags, Bipods, Optics and More
UltimateReloader.com’s PRS Gear Summary covers Rifle Choice (gas gun vs. bolt-action), chambering options, optics, support systems (bipods and bags), dope cards, accessories and much more. Both novice and experienced PRS competitors will find this article well worth reading.
