Training Courses Backyard Training Setup & Methods for PRS?

[Crang]

I shot my first PRS match about 18 months ago. While I was very competitive shooting from prone, it quickly became obvious learning/experimenting with all the various improvised positions was not best accomplished against a clock. Quite honestly I stunk it up on all the stages that werent prone as I had no experience at them. Had a major health issue, and just getting back on my feet and ready to start practicing-

So my question is this- what do you all do to practice at home? Build various barricades and obstacles to dry fire off of and test various positions? I would love to see some ideas if you have some type of a setup. Get an old 55 gallon drum, some plywood and 2x4s and start building? Put aiming points on the fence around the yard and practice getting steady on them?

I am taking a Rifles Only class in the fall but definitely want to be able to put in the time at home. In addition to actual obstacles I would be interested to hear any type of home training regimen the more experienced guys had to make sure I am working on the right skills with the time I have and not developing bad habits.

All ideas welcome- thanks.

 

[Sheldon N]

Nothing wrong with any of your suggested options. It doesn't need to be complicated though. Get a 5 foot folding ladder and a positional bag like the SAP Solo Sac or a Game Changer or similar. Dry fire at 1/2 MOA targets from each ladder position. Change positions often, no more than 2-3 shots per position before you move to the next step. Pay attention to stability and getting that perfect trigger break every time where the reticle stays dead nuts centered on the target through the whole trigger break. Pay attention to target acquisition, can you bring the scope up exactly to your eye on target without having to hunt in the scope. Practice every day, mix in some live fire as much as possible on 1-2MOA targets.

And go start shooting 1 day club matches as much as possible. Best practice for matches is more matches.

 

[...]

i would build a simple V-TAC barricade and get yourself a pellet gun....set up tin cans a varying distances......

 

[Lunabear]

When I first started into prs I got hooked and wanted to start practicing at home as well. I did everything you thought of and built some barricades. Lol as the obsession for impacts grows I built more and more and now I look at everyday objects and think of how I could make an obstacle or if it was one how I would handle it. Now I have enough barricades and stuff that I’m considering hosting matches but the best easiest and probably most fun way to practice is bring a like minded friend to the range with you and put on a mini match. Timer and all. Gets you the stress of it all and you can even wager lunch or something lol

 

[Crang]

Some great advise here.....hadn't even considered a pellet gun or ladders. I found the tank trap particularly humbling- definitely want to build one of those too. My redneck packrat neighbor has a yard full of old tires and barrels I may offer to 'dispose of' for him....

Lucky I have 3 different monthly matches on different weekends within a 3 hour drive. Can stay plenty busy.

 

[stevenc23]

 

[lte82]

Nothing wrong with any of your suggested options. It doesn't need to be complicated though. Get a 5 foot folding ladder and a positional bag like the SAP Solo Sac or a Game Changer or similar. Dry fire at 1/2 MOA targets from each ladder position. Change positions often, no more than 2-3 shots per position before you move to the next step. Pay attention to stability and getting that perfect trigger break every time where the reticle stays dead nuts centered on the target through the whole trigger break. Pay attention to target acquisition, can you bring the scope up exactly to your eye on target without having to hunt in the scope. Practice every day, mix in some live fire as much as possible on 1-2MOA targets.

And go start shooting 1 day club matches as much as possible. Best practice for matches is more matches.

I do something real similar. I have a ladder, a gate with flat and angled tubes, saw horse, vertical posts, and a NRL22 target package from JC Steel at 50-100 yards. I mostly shoot the 1-2 moa targets from positions, and the smaller stuff from prone. When I take the time to practice on them I shoot well in matches, when I don't I definitely struggle more.

 

[Sheldon N]

I like that video from Paul. I do a variation of his "11 second drill" every range trip. Start 5 yards back with gear in hand. Run to the barricade, set gear and break a shot. I'll do it on a 2 MOA target, working through every rung on the ladder, trying to hold around 10 seconds from "go" to impact. I walk back to the start position each time, then immediately start again. Does a good job of training target acquisition, position building and also elevates your heart rate and adds a little pressure. Lately I've been working on doing the drill support side... that's a lot harder, not at 10 second there yet.

 

[Kane0519]

That’s a good drill idea. Simple, but effective in practicing multiple skills (building position, quick target acquisition, speed).

 

[sheepdog697]

Very good info on this post. Anyone mind posting up pictures of their homeade barricades?

 

[Diver160651]

Very good info on this post. Anyone mind posting up pictures of their homeade barricades?

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/updated-rrs-tripod-barricade-practice-device.6841189/

I took a different approach..

But I do shoot a lot off my deck, fence and tripod during the night to control rodents- actually, it’s just more fun.

Joining NRL22 matches is a fun way to practice with others. In some ways the reduced yardage and slower barrel speeds rewards those practicing good fundimentals much more than you might think.

 

[Sheldon N]

Very good info on this post. Anyone mind posting up pictures of their homeade barricades?

You don't need anything more than this...

 

[Diver160651]

You don't need anything more than this...

Sheldon,

The image did not come thru.

FYI - ya, you are correct again.. toss in a warehorse, GC etc on anything and it all shots the same I get that, but as you know, cattle guards, rope/bungee maybe not exactly.

 

[Crang]

Ended up drawing up the plans for a practice barricade. Will build next weekend. May end up getting a water barrel and building a tank trap. all of which can come with me to the real range on weekends or dry fire from at home. Also looking into getting an IOTA for dry fire practice since my scopes only go down to 50 yards parallax and I need it to be about 10 yards. A pellet rifle would be nice- looks like the Benjamin Armada could be tinkered with to get heavy enough and attach a sling, bipod, heavy stock, etc and get some useful practice out of but out of my price range for awhile.

 

[Sheldon N]

Sheldon,

The image did not come thru.

FYI - ya, you are correct again.. toss in a warehorse, GC etc on anything and it all shots the same I get that, but as you know, cattle guards, rope/bungee maybe not exactly.

I'll try attaching directly..,

Cattle guards and round post aren't too bad if your rifle has good balance. Rope/bungee/t-posts/chains are their own devil, they suck no matter what.

 

[308pirate]

I like that video from Paul. I do a variation of his "11 second drill" every range trip. Start 5 yards back with gear in hand. Run to the barricade, set gear and break a shot. I'll do it on a 2 MOA target, working through every rung on the ladder, trying to hold around 10 seconds from "go" to impact. I walk back to the start position each time, then immediately start again. Does a good job of training target acquisition, position building and also elevates your heart rate and adds a little pressure. Lately I've been working on doing the drill support side... that's a lot harder, not at 10 second there yet.

Love it. I'm going to include that in my practice trips. One of the things I immediately identified as needing work after my first PRS match was that I could be faster in getting setup and getting that first shot out.

 

[Diver160651]

Ended up drawing up the plans for a practice barricade. Will build next weekend. May end up getting a water barrel and building a tank trap. all of which can come with me to the real range on weekends or dry fire from at home. Also looking into getting an IOTA for dry fire practice since my scopes only go down to 50 yards parallax and I need it to be about 10 yards. A pellet rifle would be nice- looks like the Benjamin Armada could be tinkered with to get heavy enough and attach a sling, bipod, heavy stock, etc and get some useful practice out of but out of my price range for awhile.

Just be aware that a lot of pellet guns do not like to be shot the same way you might your rifle. The internal springs/gas pistons and slow pellet exit speeds do weird things.

If you can spring it - lol; try to get a PCP. Benjamin make a good entry level rifle that will put pellets were you aim. It is also so quite nobody will know except for the smack of the pellet.

Mine was a few $ but I shoot it a ton.

 

[Crang]

Just be aware that a lot of pellet guns do not like to be shot the same way you might your rifle. The internal springs/gas pistons and slow pellet exit speeds do weird things.

If you can spring it - lol; try to get a PCP. Benjamin make a good entry level rifle that will put pellets were you aim. It is also so quite nobody will know except for the smack of the pellet.

Mine was a few $ but I shoot it a ton.
View attachment 6930588

Yeah the Benjamin Armada is a PCP. Seemed to be ideal. Full rail so can put a bipod and QD sling mounts and use my actual gear. Probably put a knockoff Magpul PRS stock on it so it has a precision rifle feel. Double stage trigger like my TRGs. Can turn the gas down a bit and use it for drills in the yard. Setup I think it would be about 11 lbs so add 3 lbs of lead weights to the stock and front rail. Its actually the cost of the PCP setup that has me on the fence. Would need a good sized 4500psi carbon fiber tank otherwise I would spend 1 hour pumping for every 10 minutes training with it. Thats just not appealing. Will have to go big or go home if I do that one.

 

[Diver160651]

Yeah the Benjamin Armada is a PCP. Seemed to be ideal. Full rail so can put a bipod and QD sling mounts and use my actual gear. Probably put a knockoff Magpul PRS stock on it so it has a precision rifle feel. Double stage trigger like my TRGs. Can turn the gas down a bit and use it for drills in the yard. Setup I think it would be about 11 lbs so add 3 lbs of lead weights to the stock and front rail. Its actually the cost of the PCP setup that has me on the fence. Would need a good sized 4500psi carbon fiber tank otherwise I would spend 1 hour pumping for every 10 minutes training with it. Thats just not appealing. Will have to go big or go home if I do that one.

I have Chickens and a small garden. Of course that means I had a huge rat issue. But I also have a couple labs, so poison and traps were/aren’t ideal.

I put cheap NV on it and practice in the dark keeping the rats in control by shooting off chair backs, my deck railing anything for support. Now the infestation is down, it more or less every other night, and I might only get the shot at one. But it keeps me entertained.

Your right about the CF tank and gauges. But it is one of the best moves I’ve made.. Well that damn Voduu 22 might actually be even better.

 

[PracticalTactical]

I have to drive 1.5 hours to my practice range, so even shooting a 22 LR is 3 hours on the road round trip, so I need something more convenient.

I've been using a PCP pellet rifle (FX Dreamline) for 10 yard PRS practice in the basement lately. It's a whole lot more interesting than dry firing. The rifle has a 14 shot mag, so I have to open the bolt between position changes.

I made a 11 position PRS Practice Cactus out of 4x4s and I put some of those interlocking floor pads behind in so it's easy on the knees.

The thing that made it interesting for me is how I need to dial the scope for the shots.

I have a single aiming point on the front of the target, but the scoring rings are on the back side of the target and offset from the aiming point. (so you cant cheat and aim right at the scoring ring with a 10 yard zero)… I have to dial for windage and elevation.

So for example, the scoring ring is up 10 MOA and over 2 MOA, then another is up 20 MOA and over 5 MOA, etc. Just put the scoring rings in places that might be based on values from your last match.

This way I'm not just pulling the trigger, I'm physically duplicating the entire sequence.... except for parallax.

It's a whole lot cheaper than even a 22 LR and I can practice every day.

I find that a lower velocity is helpful as it forces good follow through, since it has longer barrel time.

 

[Tobyboy22]

I use this during the winter months

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