PRS Talk 2nd PRS match AAR

[z7.jled]

2nd match in the books and I learned a lot more this time. I tried a few different techniques of addressing obstacles with a sling and different bags. I found that clipping into a belt doesn't work well for me, but a patrol carry seems to work fairly well. I also learned the importance of "find it with the eye, kill it with the scope" as I screwed up the last stage (4/12pts) by shooting at the wrong target first, then fiddle farted around with slings and gear. I only fired 8 shots in 120 seconds.

everytime I review the tape I find little things I screwed up or just inconsistencies in my hand placement from shot to shot. I am going to get a large grip set to see if that helps,

I will probably be in the market for a pump pillow type bag in september and will need some advice from you all on your favorities. I have a tactical udder on the way

I'll be happy to hear your critiques or advise. overall I finished 3rd out of 32 shooters which I am very excited about, but I have a lot of things to work on and grow. summer in central florida (no real wind, I held on plate all day) and a max distance of 630yds helps me keep up with my 308.

Thanks in advance for any advise

 

[Olen_4504]

Hey 3 out of 32 ain't bad! I'm about to sign up for my 2nd match in two weeks. I also struggled the most with just finding the target in the scope. I never shot at the wrong targets, but on a few stages I wasted most of my time getting lost. Since my first match about a month ago, I switched calibers (20" .308 to 26" 6.5c) and ditched the suppressor for a good brake. Should help me stay on target much much better and not get lost between shots.

I tried a Wiebad Gear Pump Pillow yesterday and it worked well, a little pricey for what it is but I think it'll be worth it.

Good AAR!

 

[davsco]

i def had too much magnification at my last match (too hard to find targets), and bipod set too low, among other things...

 

[Olen_4504]

i def had too much magnification at my last match (too hard to find targets), and bipod set too low, among other things...

yeah i dropped my mag down to 15x or even 12x for most stages except the 900-1000yd stage i went back to full mag

 

[z7.jled]

I am going to order a throw lever to help changing magnification quickly, I really like being able to quarter a target with the scope of 18x (max, gen ii razor) bit one side of the be had 4 target arrays set up, easy to get lost fornsure

 

[Sheldon N]

Nice work, third place is a great result. If you're looking for tips, i'll toss a couple suggestions your way.

Simplify. No sling, take the strapped bag off your gun. Remove the bipod unless you're shooting a stage that uses the bipod. You didn't need the giant bag on any of the stages, with the possible exception of the low prone on the multi-step barricade.

Consistent hand placement on the gun. You swapped between thumb wrapped around and thumb on top. Most guys I know shoot thumb on top and that's my preference.

Mental prep on stages. Shoot each stage in your head twice before you get up to the line. Dope, gun position, target location, everything visualized. I noticed on your first stage you didn't have the bipod height correct and didn't have your dope dialed when you got to the line.

Pay a bit more attention to bag placement when using a game changer (or tactical udder if that's what you're getting). At 6:05 you throw the bag on the tank trap and then place the gun. A couple extra second orienting and leveling the bag would give you a larger contact patch and more level surface for the stock to rest on, which can really help stability. My preference would be to get the gun more forward on the bag, right up to the mag well for better balance. Spend the time to build a good position, then the shots come much more quickly once you close the bolt.

One other suggestion I'll throw out there is to go on Facebook and watch the videos of guys like Dave Preston shooting. He's got a public "Athlete" page that has a bunch of videos of him shooting at various matches. Most of the time it's just one bag, simple and smooth execution. That's the end goal to emulate.

 

[z7.jled]

Nice work, third place is a great result. If you're looking for tips, i'll toss a couple suggestions your way.

Simplify. No sling, take the strapped bag off your gun. Remove the bipod unless you're shooting a stage that uses the bipod. You didn't need the giant bag on any of the stages, with the possible exception of the low prone on the multi-step barricade.

Consistent hand placement on the gun. You swapped between thumb wrapped around and thumb on top. Most guys I know shoot thumb on top and that's my preference.

Mental prep on stages. Shoot each stage in your head twice before you get up to the line. Dope, gun position, target location, everything visualized. I noticed on your first stage you didn't have the bipod height correct and didn't have your dope dialed when you got to the line.

Pay a bit more attention to bag placement when using a game changer (or tactical udder if that's what you're getting). At 6:05 you throw the bag on the tank trap and then place the gun. A couple extra second orienting and leveling the bag would give you a larger contact patch and more level surface for the stock to rest on, which can really help stability. My preference would be to get the gun more forward on the bag, right up to the mag well for better balance. Spend the time to build a good position, then the shots come much more quickly once you close the bolt.

One other suggestion I'll throw out there is to go on Facebook and watch the videos of guys like Dave Preston shooting. He's got a public "Athlete" page that has a bunch of videos of him shooting at various matches. Most of the time it's just one bag, simple and smooth execution. That's the end goal to emulate.

Thanks, all great points and I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and critique

Why remove/unstrap the brag from the front of the rifle? The sling slowed me down for sure and the big home brew bag was cumbersome and only helped twice and distracted the rest of the time

 

[Sheldon N]

No problem, glad to be of any help.

As far as why remove the bag, it's not particularly good as rest (compared to a game changer or udder) and gets in the way the rest of the time. You can also generally place a bag by hand more securely then place the rifle on the bag rather than trying to do it all in one motion. There are some limited times where having the bag attached helps out with time management, but generally I find I get a better result when I hold the bag in hand.

Check out the facebook videos of Dave Preston or Matthew Brosseau running the PRS skills stage (4 positions, 8 rounds, 90 seconds). The bag isn't attached to the rifle, but they just move it in uninson with the rifle using their support hand.

Not sure if these links will work, but I'll give it a try.

Here's one of Dave running a 10 position 2 minute stage with a waxed canvas game changer (my favorite bag). If the bag was strapped to the rifle he would have had a hard time positioning it during each transition.



Here's another video of Dave running the skills stage. He moves the bag in unison.

 

[z7.jled]

No problem, glad to be of any help.

As far as why remove the bag, it's not particularly good as rest (compared to a game changer or udder) and gets in the way the rest of the time. You can also generally place a bag by hand more securely then place the rifle on the bag rather than trying to do it all in one motion. There are some limited times where having the bag attached helps out with time management, but generally I find I get a better result when I hold the bag in hand.

Check out the facebook videos of Dave Preston or Matthew Brosseau running the PRS skills stage (4 positions, 8 rounds, 90 seconds). The bag isn't attached to the rifle, but they just move it in uninson with the rifle using their support hand.

Not sure if these links will work, but I'll give it a try.

Here's one of Dave running a 10 position 2 minute stage with a waxed canvas game changer (my favorite bag). If the bag was strapped to the rifle he would have had a hard time positioning it during each transition.



Here's another video of Dave running the skills stage. He moves the bag in unison.

Makes perfect sense, thanks for the videos

 

[TheGerman]

I've been to that range some many times I should have gotten mail there.

Who runs those matches? I know there was a huge dust up about the leadership there a while back and someone else owns it now or something?

I was there when they had their first 'Tac Matches' before PRS was even a thing. Didn't last long as the tactical douche squad ruined it for everyone with all their bullshit and they went back to the regular 550y service rifle steel benchrest matches theyd have.

As far as your match outcome, 3rd speaks for itself.

Only things I saw right off is that you constantly come off the gun once you're in the scope. Find it, aim the scope and regardless of adjustments stay in the scope. Always walk up to obstacles squared on it, people tend to want to shoot off of obstacles and tripods leading with their weak side shoulder and angling the firing shoulder back; be as square as you can, and it feels unnatural at first.

 

[Mordamer]

Spool stage you seemed to adjust dope and paralax after you were on the clock before you took the first shot. Get that stuff squared away before the stage starts. Also, on spools I would have shot with only a small rear bag and a bipod. The first spool you did good, but the second one I have always been able to get solid by just sitting the bipod on the far side of the spool and resting the grip on the the other side of the arc. Looked like you fought with a loose bipod a little bit. Tighten the sucker down where it doesn't move during each shot or from cycling the bolt.

 

[z7.jled]

I've been to that range some many times I should have gotten mail there.

Who runs those matches? I know there was a huge dust up about the leadership there a while back and someone else owns it now or something?

Kyle stephens is running it with another guy, forgot his name. they are doing a good job getting the club matches on their feet with a good atmosphere. MGAC got rid of the 1000 yd range and max distance is 630 for the matches. I guess guys were walking their 50 cals and hunting rifles onto the 1000yd steel so they shut that down.

@Mordamer agreed on all counts, the second spool owned me, the big pillow bag didn't help and I couldn't get steady on the front, so I fought myself into a position and didn't get many shots off. the squads are small (5 or 6 shooters per squad) and the stages are quick so I got caught off guard before that stage and had not dialed dope, adjusted bipod or really planned out the shoot, same thing happened on the tank traps, didnt mentally prep and being knew to this I had no experience to base it on, so I winged it.

thanks again for the feedback. everyone's comments are giving me more things to look at when I review the tape

 

[kthomas]

Sheldon has some excellent input. I want to emphasize the importance of simplicity.

I saw a lot of people (including really good shooters) struggle with gear at this year's Quiet Riot. I would see people bring 3-4+ bags and a tripod to shoot a stage, and struggle to manage all that gear while trying to shoot targets on the clock. I'm surprised some of these shooters didn't have wheels on their tripods, they were dragging them around stages so much. Some of those Utah boys love their gear.

Recently I've been focusing on simplicity. I only bring two bags to matches now - a mini fortune cookie and a small Traust rear bag. Using less gear allows you to focus more on the actual stage than your gear, you don't overthink things as much as you would if you had a lot of gear options. For me, it makes shooting a lot more fun and pure. Plus, I shoot a lot better.

David Preston and Matt Brosseau are perfect examples. Both top PRS shooters which shoot with minimal gear. I know Matt B. brings only 1-2 bags to a match, and he is one of the most successful PRS shooters currently.