PRS Talk Minimum required gear for a match?

[fskjester]

What is the minimum gear that you have on you for a competition? Hat? Water? Etc?

Looking to get my load out squared away and any tips would be helpful.


Instagram.com/mattcramer

 

[Rob01]

Minimum gear would be a rifle, scope, ammo and a data card. Other gear to make life easier:

Belt and mag pouches
pack to carry everything
Spare ammo
bags for support
small tool kit
small cleaning kit
water and snacks
Sunscreen
pad and pens
Mildot Master
Weather appropriate gear(cold or wet)

And basically anything else you might think you need but remember to not carry everything and the kitchen sink as it gets old quick and heavy. The more you shoot matches the more you refine your gear. All my stuff stays in the pack and belt and I add and subtract depending on the match.

 

[z71rat]

In addition, depending on the type of match you are shooting, gear could/would include a spotting scope, binoculars, and range finder. Yes, it's a lot of gear, but you would be surprised how much of any and all of the gear you will end up using. I also end up with some sort of sweat band and/or towel. And just pray your spotter is used to calling out either MOA or MIL to match your gear!! LOL

DK

 

[Rob01]

Yup Binos and a rangefinder are in my gear as well. Was typing off memory at work so forgot them. Also carry a towel more to wipe me down than the gear. LOL Never carry a spotter. Too much bulk and binos work fine.

 

[z71rat]

You had a nice list goin from just memory! I keep my list in my phone and do a double check prior to leaving the house!

I also forgot that I use a lot of batteries, so I keep plenty spares of those too!!

DK

 

[Raptor005]

Minimum gear would be a rifle, scope, ammo and a data card. Other gear to make life easier:

Belt and mag pouches
pack to carry everything
Spare ammo
bags for support
small tool kit
small cleaning kit
water and snacks
Sunscreen
pad and pens
Mildot Master
Weather appropriate gear(cold or wet)

And basically anything else you might think you need but remember to not carry everything and the kitchen sink as it gets old quick and heavy. The more you shoot matches the more you refine your gear. All my stuff stays in the pack and belt and I add and subtract depending on the match.

+1 I attended my first match last year and definitely over packed. Only thing I would add is a Bipod (arguably included with the rifle) and Sling.

 

[Rob01]

Yeah a bipod and sling are assumed to be on the rifle already as both are mandatory.

Good call on the batteries too. Always have extras in my bag as well.

 

[bogeybrown]

There seems to be a consensus that binos are sort of the go-to. Are y'all using full sized mega-dollar mil-spec binos? Or throwing a smaller set of compacts in the bag?

 

[z71rat]

I run the Vortex Diamondbacks 10x42. I used to run the Razors, but my eyes have gotten so bad, the focal range of the Razors wasn't enough to cover it. But I also carry a 20-60X spotting scope around, as we usually have need for one. There has been many times that NOT having one posed problems, especially when shooting at greater distances. I want to make sure my spotter can call my hits and misses correctly with my little 'ol 6mm!!

DK

 

[MarkCO]

Here is a little video I did on the gear I took to my first match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu0AWYBQVtY

 

[Rob01]

I run the Vortex Diamondbacks 10x42. I used to run the Razors, but my eyes have gotten so bad, the focal range of the Razors wasn't enough to cover it. But I also carry a 20-60X spotting scope around, as we usually have need for one. There has been many times that NOT having one posed problems, especially when shooting at greater distances. I want to make sure my spotter can call my hits and misses correctly with my little 'ol 6mm!!

DK

What PRS matches are allowing personal spotters to call hits? No competitor is supposed to be on glass when a competitor is shooting except the RO spotting and there isn't supposed to be any coaching.

 

[z71rat]

I don't shoot PRS. The only matches I get to go too, are my various local matches. I don't have the funds or the time available to me for PRS stuff. I wish I did.

DK

 

[bogeybrown]

What PRS matches are allowing personal spotters to call hits? No competitor is supposed to be on glass when a competitor is shooting except the RO spotting and there isn't supposed to be any coaching.

Thanks for that question Rob, I about shit at the thought of having to carry whatever glass I wanted the RO to use while spotting for me.

 

[forsyth793]

I have never been to a Precision Rifle Match, but I have been to many Highpower Matches. I would recommend going to and observing a match close to you. You will learn a lot and You will learn some new words as well. I would imagine the match director could find something for you to do Too.

 

[z71rat]

I personally would recommend just going to one and shooting. Nothing beats or even matches the actual experience of actually doing it. Above all else, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the very best equipment that you can get that you can afford. Honestly, if you equipment isn't up to it, you are starting off that much farther behind. Cheap equipment will only get you so far, right up to the failure point.

DK

 

[bab029]

MOA Rifle, MOA ammo, glass that dials elevation, decent dope, bipod, and rear bag. In order of importance.

Just show up to a local club match and shoot.

 

[Rob01]

I personally would recommend just going to one and shooting. Nothing beats or even matches the actual experience of actually doing it. Above all else, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the very best equipment that you can get that you can afford. Honestly, if you equipment isn't up to it, you are starting off that much farther behind. Cheap equipment will only get you so far, right up to the failure point.

DK

Exactly. I tell people that all the time that just want to go and watch. Watching doesn't help you learn what gear you need and don;t and where your training and gear are lacking and need work. Go shoot. Have fun and learn.

 

[pizfiz]

Exactly. I tell people that all the time that just want to go and watch. Watching doesn't help you learn what gear you need and don;t and where your training and gear are lacking and need work. Go shoot. Have fun and learn.

Spot on. Shit, you can YouTube all the match footage you want. Do that first if you want, then get in a match.

 

[hondo1312]

I 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th the notion of showing up and shooting versus watching and learning. If the match director is worth a shit, he'll ask if you've ever a shot a match before, and if you haven't, squad you with some patient, experienced guys so you learn something.

 

[SporterII]

MOA Rifle, MOA ammo, glass that dials elevation, decent dope, bipod, and rear bag. In order of importance.

Just show up to a local club match and shoot.

It is also good to have water and snacks. To me they are before rear or any other bag.

 

[fskjester]

Alright after going to the match here's what I can say was nice vs necessary.

Necessary

1. Rifle. Make sure it's in good working order, several people lost time or received a DNF on a stage because of malfunction that could have been avoided. Have a dope for it if possible otherwise zero it and get a ballistic app. Zero it at a minimum of 100 though. No less. A SLING. Learn how to shoot with that because positional stages are 80% of the difficulty. Bipod, get a cheap on off amazon if you can't afford a decent one, they are helpful.
2. Optic. The person who won was using a 1-8x28 power Trijicon! We shot out to 620 yards and several people had way more scope than necessary.
3. Ammo. Get some freaking match ammo... it's an advantage you want. If you're going to compete then get it. If you just want the experience... your call, however regret is tougher to swallow than the extra few bucks for some match ammo.
4. Something to carry everything. I used a $30 backpack from LAPG. Some people had expensive stuff, most important thing is you can carry your gear. It's not a 3 gun match, you don't get to bring a cart. We had to shoot 1 stage in full gear.
5. Water & Food. Nothing is worse then a full day in the elements and you start getting headaches from being dehydrated or not eating. Just a couple 1 liter bottles of water and some beef jerky is my go to.
6. Clothes & Boots - bring gear for the weather that day and throw some rain gear in your car if it has any chance of raining.
7. Shooting bags... I would put these on the fence for need vs not needed. I love mine and wouldn't be caught without them. The reason I put them as necessary is because... If you can't afford a nice Weibad bag or something like it, just grab some socks and airsoft bb's and make your own.


DO NOT bring the sand filled shooting bags. I mad that mistake first time at a match. Carried around 10lbs worth of sand shooting bags until I realized technology had changed and these pillow bag things were AMAZING!

That's the necessary stuff. The stuff that would have been nice?

Binoculars or a monocular couple times it would have been nice seeing where the guy before me was hitting so I could adjust better for wind.
Rangefinder - some ukd targets may have been easier knowing the distance.
Kestrel - usually someone just gave us wind speed, however these would probably be nice.
Tripod - someone had a tripod and shared it with the group. It was nice, not necessary but nice.

Any stuff I'm forgetting?