It the world of practical/tactical competition there are now two major sponsoring organizations — the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and the National Rifle League (NRL). The PRS has the most matches (and greater name recognition), but the NRL is definitely on the rise with some great events at sites around the country. This weekend, October 19th-21st, the NRL conducts its 2018 NRL National Championship at the Snake River Sportsman Range in Vale, Oregon. The 2018 NRL Championship will be hosted by the Precision Rifle Shooters of Idaho (PRSID).
This is the final 2-day, National-level match of the NRL’s second season. The event will feature the season’s Top Competitors, plus Ladies, “Young Guns”, and special invitees. NRL President Travis Ishida told us: “The NRL is excited to have the opportunity to bring professional-level events to shooters across the nation. Our Championship is a culmination of a season’s hard work from everyone involved to find out who the best precision rifle competitor in the nation is. This match is going to be epic!”
Match Directors: Nate Lauerman / Jack Wilson
Event Cost: $275.00
Dates: October 19, 20, 21 (2018)
Round Count: 200 plus extra for sight-in/zero
Location: Snake River Sportsman range in Vale, Oregon
3600 Lytle Blvd, Vale, OR 97918
Precision Rifle Shooters of Idaho hosts the 2018 NRL Test the Best Oktoberfest Championship match. This match will determine the 2018 NRL Champion. Competitors who competed in the 2018 NRL season and received qualifying scores are invited to this match.
The closest airport is Boise, Idaho, 77 miles to the Southeast. Participants can stay at the Clarion Hotel in Ontario, Oregon, 20 miles from the Championship venue, the Snake River Sportsman Range. The Clarion offers discounted rates for NRL competitors.
Jerod’s Tactical Trio
Many guys are lucky to have just one accurate tactical rifle fitted with a custom barrel and high-end optics. Well forum member Jerod (aka Stinnett1981) has three!
Jerod calls his tactical trio the “Three Amigos”. All are built with Manners Composite stocks and Bartlein barrels. But there are three different chamberings. In order below (from top to bottom) are: .308 Win (Bartlein 5R, 1:10″ twist); .223 Rem (Bartlein 5R, 1:8″ twist);,and 6.5×47 Lapua (Bartlein 5R 1:8.5″ twist). Read on for a full description of each build.
The tan rifle is Jerod’s .308 Winchester. It has a Manners T4A stock, trued Rem 700 SA, Badger M5 DBM, and Bartlein 5R 10-twist HV contour finished at 23″. The optic is a Bushnell XRS 4.5-30X50mm FFP with G2 reticle scope.
The Green rifle is a .223 Remington. This has a Manners T4 stock, trued Rem 700 SA, Badger M5 DBM, and Bartlein 5R 8-twist HV contour finished at 23″. On top is a Nightforce NXS F1 3.5-15X50mm FFP with MLR 2.0 reticle scope. Jerod says: “This scope and reticle are awesome.”
The Black rifle is chambered for the 6.5-47 Lapua. Components are: Manners T4A stock, Stiller TAC 30, Badger M5 DBM, Bartlein 5R 8.5-twist bull barrel (1″ at muzzle) finished at 26″. The scope is a Nightforce NXS 8-32X56mm with NP2DD reticle.
What Comes Next — A Rimfire Maybe?
While Jarod’s Three Amigos make up a very impressive tactical troika, we’d like to see one more rifle added to the mix — a .22 LR rimfire rig, set up with a similar stock. That would be perfect for low-cost cross-training, or competition in Rimfire Tactical matches. Jerod could build the “fourth Amigo” using a rimfire action. Here is just such a rifle, built by Brian of GA Precision with a modified Rem 40X action in a Manners T4A stock (matching Jerod’s centerfire stocks). Pretty cool eh?
Could This Be the Fourth Amigo? 40X Rimfire in Manners Stock
Brian, a gunsmith at GA Precision, built this rimfire rig with GAP colleague Anthony Soukup.
The first-ever Precision Rifle Expo (PRE) was a success. Over 600 attendees braved hot, humid weather to attend the Expo held September 15-16, 2018 at the Arena Training Facility in Blakely, Georgia. There were 40+ exhibitors displaying products — rifles, chassis systems, actions, barrels, optics, reloading gear, ammo, and other accessories. In addition, live-fire demos and training sessions were offered on the Arena ranges.
“The shooting areas were absolutely top-notch,” said Phil Cashin, President of MasterPiece Arms. Phil praised the live-fire demos: “Never before has there been a gathering of the top professionals in the field of long-range precision shooting. Shooters are … getting the chance to learn a thing or two from these guys. You can see them on the shooting lanes, their expressions of joy when they hit a target from 500 yards to over 1 mile out.”
Comments by Precision Rifle Expo Attendees:
“I thought it was a great event. I saw many excited people who got to experience their first impacts at 1,000+ yards, and some at or past a mile.”
“I loved the opportunity to put [my] hands on so many quality products and compare them. Never have been able to do that in one place before.”
“I drove over 2,300 miles in three days. Will never wash the smile off my face after the first round hit at one mile.”
“I got to try the world’s finest scopes and [purchase one] at a huge discount!”
Precision Rifle EXPO 2018 Exhibitor List
Accurate Ordnance
Alpha Munitions
Atlas (B&T Industries)
Area 419
Armageddon Gear
Barrett
Berger
Bushnell
Cole-TAC
Curtis Custom
Defiance
Federal
GA Precision
Hunts Long Range
Kahles
Kelbly’s
Kestrel
Knights Armament
Lapua
Magnetospeed
Manners Stocks
MasterPiece Arms
McMillan Stocks
McWhorter Rifles
MDT Chassis
Nightforce
Proof Research Barrels
RCBS
Really Right Stuff
Rugged Suppressors
Schmidt & Bender
Sierra
SK Ammo
Stillers Precision
Swarovski
Timney
Trigger Tech
Vortex
Vudoo Rifles
Warnes Scope Mounts
West Texas Ordnance
Whidden Gun Works
The Arena Training Facility
The Arena Training Facility, a 2,300-acre multipurpose training complex for government, law enforcement, military and civilians, was a great choice for this first-ever event. One of the largest training facilities in the southeast, this site offered several exhibition areas, training classes in classroom settings, and live-fire training on a multitude of ranges with targets out to 2300 yards.
Here’s a new ATACR scope from Nightforce that looks to be a fine choice for PRS and tactical competitors who prefer a medium zoom range. The new ATACR 4-16x50mm F1 features a first focal plane (FFP) design that keeps the reticle size constant relative to the target at all magnification levels. This scope boasts other qualities that made the previously-introduced second focal plane 4-16X ATACR popular — it’s tough, compact, and has a ton of “up”. The scope offers either 110 MOA or 30 Mils of elevation, with Zerostop, in a 33 oz. package with 34mm main tube. There’s an integrated stubby throw-lever for fast zooming.
The 4-16x50mm F1 ATACR is available in with ether 0.1 Milrad clicks or 1/4-MOA clicks with reticle hash marks to match the click values. Both optics retail for $2425.00 (street price). That’s pretty expensive for a 4-16X optic, but still over $1000 less than a 3-20x50mm Schmidt & Bender PMII.
Both 4-16x50mm F1 ATACR models feature outstanding ED (low-dispersion) glass and digital illumination for low-light use (red or green at user preference) These scopes are quite compact — 13.1 inches overall. Eye relief is ample 3.5 inches (89mm). Included with the scope are custom Tenebraex flip-up lens covers.
The First Annual Precision Rifle EXPO takes place this weekend, September 15-16, 2018, at the Arena Training Facility in Blakely, Georgia. The event lets precision rifle enthusiasts connect with top manufacturers, rifle instructors, and leading tactical competitors. REGISTER HERE for $25.
Precision Rifle EXPO attendees will be able to meet industry experts, get hands-on product experience, and attend a variety of shooting seminars — all for a modest $25 entry fee. Seminars will include: Precision Hand-loading, Wind Reading, Position Building, Competition Preparedness, Long Range Precision Shooting Intro, and the Fundamentals of Marksmanship. Live-fire activities will include shooting with suppressors, precision rimfire, 1000-yard targets, and one-mile target challenge.
All Types of Products Will Be on Display
The Precision Rifle EXPO offers a unique opportunity to check out the latest products from dozens of top companies all in one place. At least 42 companies will be at the EXPO, displaying complete rifles, actions, triggers, stocks, optics, reloading gear, ammo, electronics, rangefinders, chronographs, ear protection, support bags, bipods, tripods, and all manner of accessories.
Precision Rifle EXPO 2018 Exhibitor List
Accurate Ordnance
Alpha Munitions
Atlas (B&T Industries)
Area 419
Armageddon Gear
Barrett
Berger
Bushnell
Cole-TAC
Curtis Custom
Defiance
Federal
GA Precision
Hunts Long Range
Kahles
Kelbly’s
Kestrel
Knights Armament
Lapua
Magnetospeed
Manners Stocks
MasterPiece Arms
McMillan Stocks
McWhorter Rifles
MDT Chassis
Nightforce
Proof Research Barrels
RCBS
Really Right Stuff
Rugged Suppressors
Schmidt & Bender
Sierra
SK Ammo
Stillers Precision
Swarovski
Timney
Trigger Tech
Vortex
Vudoo Rifles
Warnes Scope Mounts
West Texas Ordnance
Whidden Gun Works
Arena Training Facility — 2300 Acres
The 2300-acre Arena Training Facility is a premier shooting facility with multiple shooting ranges from 50m to 2100m. Arena’s 1000-yard covered Known Distance range offers multiple benches, steel and paper targets out to 1000 yards. On Arena’s UKD (unknown distance) range shooters can engage steel out to 2300 yards. This 2100m UKD range boasts a 3-Story Shooting Tower, Air-Conditioned Shoot House, and multiple Positional Challenges.
Report by Craig Arnzen, Area 419
As the PRS and other tactical/practical competitions continue to grow, a guy tends to wonder, just how good are the top competitors? And what are they actually doing (and viewing) as they complete a stage? Well, a great video from the new Long Range Precision Shooters YouTube Channel let us see what the best in the sport see through their scopes when they shoot.
This video features Dave Preston, 2015 National Champion and perennial powerhouse, shooting the PRS Skills barricade. Dave Preston is widely considered the best in the nation running this PRS stage. Dave nearly always shoots 100% with the fastest recorded time. In this video you’ll see him successfully engage all eight shots in under 43 seconds — that’s crazy fast. This includes a POV sequence (4:35 time-mark) showing the actual view through Dave’s scope as he completes the stage.
Watch this video! Dave offers excellent advice on gun-handling and body positioning for barricades. Listen to what he says and you WILL shoot better.
This video features the PRS Skills Barricade, an 8-round, 4-position stage featured at the majority of PRS matches throughout country. It’s called a “Skills Stage” as it is run the same way at every national match and gives shooters the ability to compare skill levels based on hit percentage and speed.
The target is a 10″ plate at 400 yards. There are four different positions, with two shots each. Most people run this stage in about 70 seconds, some in the mid-60s, the greats in the high 50s, and Dave does it in the low 40s… mighty impressive!
The Right Gear Aids Stability and Lets You Shoot Faster
Let’s also take a look at two pieces of gear that really helped Dave Preston get stable and shoot fast.
1. BARRICADE BAG — To Get Stable, Really Stable
In the video Dave is using a Solo Sac from Short Action Precision This bag was designed by USMC Solomon Mansalala, and $5 of every purchase goes to help the Marine Scout Snipers buy gear. It’s a very soft/dense bag and is popular at matches.
The other bag that sees a LOT of use, and is far and away the most used, is the patented Gamechanger Bag from Reasor Precision Solutions and Armageddon Gear.
2. MUZZLE BRAKE — To Make Your Follow-Up Faster
You’ll notice that in the video the rifle is very steady through firing, even though he is not applying a lot of pressure to the rifle. Dave is using a Hellfire Muzzle Brake from Area 419. Combined with the soft-recoiling 6mmBR cartridge he is able to spot his impacts and make adjustments, and can also make very fast follow-up shots as his rifle hasn’t bounced way off target.
More Long Range Precision Shooters Videos Coming Soon
I think this series from Long Range Precision Shooters (LRPS) will be a good one. They already have a couple more videos ready to release including one with 2018 King of 2 Miles Champion Robert Brantley. CLICK HERE for the LRPS YouTube Channel.
With most optics rebate programs, typical savings are fifty bucks — maybe $75 if you’re lucky. Here’s something WAY better — now through the end of October 2018, Bushnell is offering TWO Hundred Dollars ($200) off the price of Bushnell Elite Tactical Riflescopes. That’s great for PRS and tactical shooters — that $200 can pay for your support bags and other essential accessories.
Terms of Bushnell Rebate Purchase any qualifying Bushnell Elite Tactical Riflescope (excluding red dot) and receive a $200 rebate. Limited to 2 qualifying riflescope purchases. Product must be purchased between 9/1/2018 through 10/31/2018. DEADLINE for mail in or online submission 11/30/2018. Click here to Download FORM.
Here our two of our favorite First Focal Plane (FFP) Bushnell Elite Tactical Scopes. Compact for their magnification ranges, both are good choices for hunters and/or PRS Competitors:
The First Annual Precision Rifle EXPO will be held September 15-16, 2018 at the Arena Training Facility in Blakely, Georgia. The event is specifically designed to connect precision rifle enthusiasts with top manufacturers, precision rifle instructors, and ace competitors. REGISTER HERE for $25.
Precision Rifle EXPO attendees will be able to meet industry experts, get hands-on product experience, and attend a variety of shooting seminars — all for a modest $25 entry fee. Seminars will include: Precision Hand-loading, Wind Reading, Position Building, Competition Preparedness, Long Range Precision Shooting Intro, and the Fundamentals of Marksmanship. Live-fire activities will include shooting with suppressors, precision rimfire, 1000-yard targets, and one-mile target challenge.
The Precision Rifle EXPO offers a unique opportunity to check out the latest products from dozens of top companies all in one place. At least 42 companies will be at the EXPO, displaying complete rifles, actions, stocks, optics, reloading gear, ammo, electronics, triggers, support bags and more.
Precision Rifle EXPO 2018 Exhibitor List
Accurate Ordnance
Alpha Munitions
Atlas (B&T Industries)
Area 419
Armageddon Gear
Barrett
Berger
Bushnell
Cole-TAC
Curtis Custom
Defiance
Federal
GA Precision
Hunts Long Range
Kahles
Kelbly’s
Kestrel
Knights Armament
Lapua
Magnetospeed
Manners Stocks
MasterPiece Arms
McMillan Stocks
McWhorter Rifles
MDT Chassis
Nightforce
Proof Research Barrels
RCBS
Really Right Stuff
Rugged Suppressors
Schmidt & Bender
Sierra
SK Ammo
Stillers Precision
Swarovski
Timney
Trigger Tech
Vortex
Vudoo Rifles
Warnes Scope Mounts
West Texas Ordnance
Whidden Gun Works
All Types of Products Will Be on Display
Exhibitors will showcase optics, actions, barrels, stocks/chassis systems, complete rifles, suppressors, and the latest in electronics. In addition, targets, ear and eye protection, bags and support equipment, and other accessories will be on display.
Arena Training Facility — 2300 Acres
The 2300-acre Arena Training Facility is a premier shooting facility with multiple shooting ranges from 50m to 2100m. Arena’s 1000-yard covered Known Distance range offers multiple benches, steel and paper targets out to 1000 yards. On Arena’s UKD (unknown distance) range shooters can engage steel out to 2300 yards. This 2100m UKD range boasts a 3-Story Shooting Tower, Air-Conditioned Shoot House, and multiple Positional Challenges. Situated two hours from the Atlanta airport, the Arena complex offers multiple climate-controlled classrooms, a main building, and a clubhouse, along with the impressive range facilities.
We’re told the 6.5 Creedmoor is now the best-selling chambering in new bolt-action rifles sold in the USA. Accurate, versatile, with moderate recoil, the 6.5 Creedmoor serves hunters, paper punchers, and PRS shooters equally well.
As part of its online Load Data Center, Nosler offers very complete load data for the popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This medium-sized cartridge has become one of the most popular chamberings for tactical and PRS shooters. The 6.5 Creedmoor combines excellent accuracy, good mag-feeding, good barrel life, moderate recoil, and reasonable component cost. That’s why this cartridge has caught on quickly. GET ALL 6.5 Creedmoor Load Data.
How does barrel length affect 6.5 Creedmoor Muzzle Velocity? CLICK HERE for RifleShooter.com barrel cut-down velocity test.
According to the Sierra Load Manual: “Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17.”
Click Each Image to Load PDF File for Listed Bullet Weights
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI®) has accepted two new Hornady-marketed cartridges, the 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (6.5 PRC) and the 300 PRC. Notably, for both cartridges, SAAMI lists a Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 65,000 PSI. The 300 PRC is NOT just a necked-up version of the 6.5 PRC. The 6.5 PRC has a 2.030″ case body length, while the 300 PRC is considerably longer, with a 2.580″ case body length (rim to case mouth). Both PRCs share a fat 0.532″ rim diameter, hence these cartridges require a magnum bolt face.
The 6.5 PRC is designed for the PRS and tactical crowd. GA Precision’s George Gardner, who helped develop the 6.5 PRC cartridge, has posted: “It’s a non-rebated short mag based on a short RCM [Ruger Compact Magnum] case. It has 3-4 grains less capacity than the 6.5 SAUM which nets about 30-50 fps deficit to the SAUM.” Cartridge and chamber drawings for both RPCs are available from SAAMI:
Both cartridges were developed by Hornady Manufacturing Company, a Voting Member of SAAMI. “SAAMI member companies are the leaders of firearm and ammunition development and innovation,” said Rick Patterson, SAAMI’s Executive Director. “Both the 6.5 and 300 PRC cartridges seek to meet the demand for increased accuracy in today’s trending sport of long-range shooting, and we are pleased to add these new cartridges to our SAAMI Standards.”
New 6.5 PRC Is a Short Magnum Requiring Magnum Bolt Face
Dubbed the “big brother” to the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 PRC fits in short or medium actions with a standard magnum bolt face (.532″). The case geometry features a long cartridge case neck and 30-degree case shoulder. It sort of looks like a 6.5 Creedmoor on steroids. For its factory-loaded 6.5 PRC Match Ammo, Hornady is showing a 2910 fps Muzzle Velocity with the 147gr ELD Match bullet. That’s not very impressive. Why go to the trouble when you can get those kind of velocities from a 6.5-284 with a standard bolt face? The 6.5 PRC requires a magnum bolt face. Moreover, the 6.5-284 is a barrel burner. The 6.5 PRC surely promises to be likewise.
Now, to be fair, with handloads, we expect you’d see meaningful speed gains with the 6.5 PRC compared to the 6.5-284. Also it may work better than a 6.5-284 in a short-action magazine — that may be what Hornady is thinking…
The .300 PRC — A Longer Version of the 300 Ruger Compact Magnum
The 300 PRC seems to be more a hunting cartridge than a cartridge for tactical games. Talking about this cartridge, Hornady states it would be an “excellent choice… for hunting applications” as well as “long-range precision shooting”. Inspired by the 300 Ruger Compact Magnum (RCM), the 300 PRC has a longer case body (2.580″) compared to the 300 RCM (2.100″), for more case capacity. That gives it the ability to push big .30-caliber bullets at higher velocities. But honestly, there are many other well-established Magnum hunting cartridge, so we doubt the .300 PRC is going to become popular among the hunting crowd. Time will tell however.
“Both the 6.5 PRC and the 300 PRC are multi-functional cartridges that are excellent choices for target and match shooting as well as hunting applications,” said Joe Thielen, Hornady’s Assistant Director of Engineering. “The primary focus of the design of both the 6.5 PRC and the 300 PRC has always been long-range precision shooting.”
Jerod’s Tactical Trio
