BLUF: I know nothing, and am thinking of going to a PRS-style shoot with a hastily zeroed rifle and my best guess at my drops.
TLDR:
After months of reading threads, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted. I wasn't in a rush because I had a list, and was going to take my time (
for budgetary reasons) putting together a really awesome Tikka build:
- Tikka CTR 308
- KRG X-ray w/spigot
- Atlas bipod
- Nice bag(s)
- Alpha glass
From a budget perspective, it would probably be another 6 months before I would be able to purchase what I wanted (or thought I needed) and actually start shooting.
The plan started to go off the rails when I saw a Tikka CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor sitting on a shelf at Cabelas for 5% off retail last weekend, so I bought it. Last night, I noticed a PRS club was holding a friendly match 30 minutes away 17 days from now.
In the past, I've often found that if I don't hop straight into something, I end up chasing gear for years and rarely go to the range. So tried to figure out the minimum setup to get out there and shoot (probably badly). This is what I have coming/purchased:
- I was able to find some ammo, so I'll have 20 rounds to zero it, and another 100 rounds for the event.
- Strelok Pro
- I took the advice from the Guide to PRS in one of the subforums, so I bought a Harris, 6-9, notched leg, swivel, and a pod-loc.
- I have a sock with rice.
- And the remaining budget leaves me with a scope in the $1500 range. I was looking at a Steiner at Cameraland that fit the bill, but some people chimed in that it wasn't as good as the Burris Offerings in that range. I'm looking for FFP, with an upper magnification range of 20 or less, reliable tracking, and a fairly simple MIL reticle (no giant Horus).
So am I crazy for rushing out there and just shooting an event with targets out to 750 yds? My home range is a static range that maxes at 125 yds. I have a couple of ranges within an hour that push 300yds, but that's not much elevation adjustment , so I figure this will be my first chance to actually send some rounds at a decent distance and see how this all works. Oh, and I have little to no practical experience with a rifle. All my trigger time is with pistols.
Thanks,
Carlos
Hi Carlos,
I did a video comparing my hand loads to off the shelf and included the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELDM off the shelf cartridge. You can view the video at
. A good average MV for what I had was 2,780 fps.
Now, I agree with what others are saying...go out and have a good time. If the match is based on targets out to 750 yards, by all means, try to hit them, BUT, as I began to shoot PRS, I finally realized that MOST targets for the matches I shoot are between 450 - 700 yards, with the rest in the 800 - 1000 range. So I started to practice and focus on those shorter shots so when the match came, I was confident that I'd hit at least 50% of the targets (missing some short targets). Setting a goal and reaching it feels good. When I felt confident on the short stuff, I really focused on the longer ranges. Just how I thought of it so I didn't get really upset and depressed that I couldn't hit 1000 targets right off the bat.
The other folks are correct when they say "learn your positions". PRACTICE with your rice bag off the back of a chair in the back yard, off different rungs of a ladder, off the trunk of your car (put a blanket down first!), or any other position you can think of. I have another video on positions and possible bag placement that you might want to review.
I started with Stelok Pro and it's a good app. Plug in that 2,780 mv to start, zero the scope at 100 yds, then go out to that 300 yard target you mentioned close to your house. Hit THAT center vertically and you'll most likely be good out to 500 yards. We didn't talk about wind, so ASK others with perhaps better environmental equipment what they're getting for wind. Watch some videos on wind (yes I have one on that too!) and understand when to dial wind and when to hold wind. This will come over time.
You'll be so pumped up on the day of the match don't forget some basics:
- First...THINK SAFETY! Practice dry firing 10 rounds, then, when 10 is up, bring the bolt back open and remove the magazine...SAY IT WHEN YOU DO IT..."Bolt back, mag out!" which is what you'll do and should say when you are finished shooting the stage.
- Remember the 180 rule: Your muzzle should never break a 180 degree plane perpendicular to the target (90 degrees either side of you and also above you).
- FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER until you HAVE THE TARGET CENTERED IN THE RETICLE AND YOU'RE READY TO ENGAGE IT.
- BOLT OPEN when transitioning from position to position on a stage...practice this
- Do you have dummy rounds? If not buy some. Practice a jam and how to clear it.
- Figure out where you'll keep your extra magazine on you in case the one in the rifle messes up
Finally, HAVE FUN AND TAKE YOUR TIME. Go slow, don't worry about the timer, you're not there yet, so focus on safety, position, and getting the shot off. Good luck buddy and please let us all know how it goes!
