2020 Lapua Practical Rimfire Challenge in West Virginia

In 2020, Lapua will again be the title sponsor for the Lapua Practical Rimfire Challenge (LPRC). Modeled after PRS competition, the LPRC features practical-style matches shot with .22 LR bolt-action and self-loading rimfire rifles with optics. There will be four series matches, leading up to the series Finale in October 2020. Shooters will compete for glory plus an impressive table of prizes.

The Lapua Practical Rimfire Challenge Series (LPRC) will be held at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV. The LPRC is designed to test the .22 LR rifle shooter, ammunition, and optics out to 300 yards. While most stages involve long-range positional shooting, shooters will encounter stages set in natural terrain, stages with movement, Olympic stages of fire, and/or smallbore-style stages. Shooters can select from the semi-auto or bolt action division.

LPRC Matches Will Feature Multiple Positions and Movement
LPRC series matches are positional shooting events in field conditions out to 300 yards. You can use either a bolt-action or semi-auto .22 LR rimfire rifle. Much like PRS (Precision Rifle Series), competitors will shoot from a variety of positions: prone, strong/weak shoulders, standing, sitting, and kneeling. There will be shots from barricades, and movement from position to position during stages.

LPRC rules will, to a large degree, mirror PRS rules. However, shooters will see some different type of stages than what is normally seen at a PRS match. For example, there may be unsupported standing or unsupported kneeling shots in some stages. Peacemaker’s goal is not to replicate PRS in Rimfire, but rather to create the ultimate challenge for shooters on the rimfire rifle platform.

Rimfire Tactical Matches Aren’t Really New

We’re pleased to see this LPRC shooting discipline — it sounds like fun. However, the concept of a rimfire tactical/practical match is not new — at least on the West Coast. California shooting clubs have been running “Rimfire Tactical” matches for more than a decade. CLICK HERE to read our comprehensive Rimfire Tactical report from way back in 2008. This article includes free targets, ballistics charts, and a complete run-down on suitable rimfire rifles.

The Concept Behind the Rimfire Tactical Match by Bill Erwin
Many guys who shoot long-range tactical matches practice with .22 LR rifles of similar configuration. Rimfire ammo is way more affordable than centerfire, you do not need a big range facility, and shooting rimfire saves wear and tear on your centerfire rifle. Further, for learning how to read the wind, there really is no better training tool than a 22 LR, even as close as 50 yards. Check out this table showing how a .22 LR ballistics compare to .308 Win:

This table shows how the .22 LR can be an effective substitute for a .308 Win during training. Because the smaller bullet drifts more in the wind, a 22 rimfire shooter will experience roughly the same crosswind effects as if he was shooting a 175gr .308 twice as far out. So, rimfire work can teach you to dope the wind like a .308, but at less than half the distance. Shooting a .22 LR at 100 yards is like shooting a .308 (with 175 SMK) at 230 yards

SPECIAL BONUS–Rimfire Tactical Precision Targets These FREE targets by DesertFrog are offered in Adobe Acrobat format for easy printing. CLICK HERE to download all six targets as a .ZIP archive.