The Precision Rifle Sequence (PRS), based in 2011, has advanced into one of the aggressive and fastest-growing capturing sports activities on this planet. What began as a small grassroots collection has exploded in reputation and gone international, with over 13,000 opponents capturing in PRS-sanctioned matches in 2024!
The PRS has all the time centered on long-range capturing in real-world subject circumstances. It operates very like NASCAR or the PGA FedEx Cup: opponents shoot matches all through the season, earn factors based mostly on efficiency, and every year, the top-ranked shooters are invited to the PRS Finale to crown the PRS Season Champion. That framework hasn’t modified, however nearly all the things else has.
Explosive Development in Participation & Matches
Again once I shot my first PRS match in 2015, the game was nonetheless small. The brochure I picked up at SHOT Present 2014 listed simply 12 matches for your entire season (see picture). Initially, the one PRS matches had been flagship, two-day matches that folks would journey to from throughout the nation to compete in. These usually embody round 200 pictures over 18-22 phases, with typical goal distances starting from 300 to 1000 yards. We name these “Professional Sequence” matches immediately, and they’re the head of long-range competitors.
The PRS Professional Sequence initially was primarily within the central and japanese US, with the Nationwide Rifle League (NRL) dominating the western half. However because the NRL shifted to hunter-style matches, the PRS has expanded coast-to-coast – and even internationally. There at the moment are PRS Professional Sequence matches throughout Europe, together with in France, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and extra.
Over 2,000 shooters competed in Professional Sequence matches in 2024 – and there are a record-breaking 58 Professional Sequence matches scheduled for 2025!
In 2017, the PRS added the Regional Sequence to make the game extra accessible to newer shooters and those that can’t journey nationwide. These are one-day matches held at native rifle golf equipment with 8-10 phases and goal distances much like Professional Sequence matches. Nearly 7,000 shooters competed in PRS Regional Sequence matches in 2024, and there are over 150 regional matches scheduled for 2025!
In 2021, the PRS added the Rimfire Sequence. Levels at these matches are much like the opposite matches, however you utilize rimfire rifles (22 LR) and usually shoot 25 to 200 yards. The ammo value and another gear could be considerably much less for rimfire, however the total problem is comparable. Matches can both be one or two-day occasions, and there are nonetheless nationwide championships and rankings. Over 4,000 shooters competed within the PRS Rimfire Sequence in 2024, and there are over 200 PRS Rimfire matches scheduled for 2025!
Once you mix all of these completely different collection, you get a transparent image of how staggering the expansion of the PRS has been over the previous decade. It appears to be rising in each path!
Just lately, the PRS has quietly gone international – with rising participation not simply in Europe however Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and extra. And that is just the start. As extra worldwide shooters enter the sector, the game is poised to succeed in a complete new stage. The expansion we’ve seen thus far may simply be the tip of the iceberg!
Stage of Competitors Has Skyrocketed
Whereas the expansion in participation is spectacular, the extent of competitors is what has actually exploded. Again in 2015, in case you positioned within the prime 10 at a PRS match, you had been among the many finest. Right this moment, if that very same shooter time-traveled from 2015 to now and shot a 2025 match, they’d be fortunate to position within the prime 50! The game has advanced in each means.
A detailed pal of mine certified for the PRS Finale in 2016 and completed within the prime 100 that season, however then he received busy with a younger household, work, and life and didn’t compete for a number of years. Final 12 months, he dusted off his rifle and joined me for a PRS regional match. It was eye-opening how a lot the game has superior since 2016! Whereas the modifications have come step by step 12 months by 12 months, speaking with him currently about rifles, gear, and match technique has actually highlighted simply how far issues have come.
Levels Have Extra Positions & Targets Have Shrunk
There are a few well-defined normal “abilities phases,” and final 12 months, we adjusted the most well-liked abilities stage by including 25% extra pictures and 25% extra positions, modified it from 1 goal to 2, and shrunk these targets by 20-40%. Oh, and the par time is usually nonetheless 90 seconds. And I’ll be sincere – whereas they did enhance the problem, it’s uncommon for an excellent shooter to overlook a single shot on that stage, and most experts end in underneath 60 seconds. The PRS Abilities Stage is just a illustration of how phases that had been as soon as difficult merely aren’t anymore, so match administrators should make the identical sort of changes to each stage to separate the sector. (Learn Upgrades PRS Barricade Abilities Stage)
Margins Of Victory Are Razor Skinny
Take this stat: In 2024, over 60% of Professional Sequence matches had been determined by 2 factors or much less. Here’s a breakdown of what number of factors separated 1st from 2nd over the 41 common season Professional Sequence matches in 2024.
7 matches ended up in a tie after two full days and capturing 200+ rounds! 10 years in the past, there have been loads of matches that had been determined by greater than 5 factors – however that’s uncommon with the heavy hitters that present up at each match immediately.
Actually, it’s regular to see 10-15 shooters at each match who’re able to profitable on any given weekend. The bar is simply that top now.
Extra Elite-Stage Shooters Are Competing In Extra Matches Than Ever
When you’ve by no means seen one of many prime 25 professional shooters run a stage, you’re significantly lacking out! What they’ll do with a rifle is unreal. They’re very easy and by no means look rushed – however then you definitely understand they simply cleaned a tricky stage with 20 seconds to spare. Positive, the heavy rifles, sandbags, and fashionable gear assist, however the talent stage on the prime feels nearly superhuman!
Whereas there was once 12 professional matches all 12 months, many of the elite shooters are touring to 8-15 common season Professional Sequence matches, plus the PRS Finale and the AG Cup. Meaning they’re competing in 30 whole days value of pro-level matches every year!
Right here is the variety of matches that every of the blokes who positioned within the prime 20 within the 2024 Open Division mentioned they shot in the course of the common season in 2024:
Capturing only a handful of matches doesn’t lower it anymore. Most of those guys additionally shot the PRS Finale, AG Cup, and perhaps even the IPRF World Championship! Meaning the common is over 13 pro-level rifle matches every year – which can flip nice shooters into actually unbelievable shooters. That’s a severe funding of time, journey, and ammo. Like most sports activities, there aren’t any shortcuts to the highest – to realize actually world-class efficiency, it’s a must to put within the reps.
Right here’s how two of the ten ten shooters give it some thought: Nathan Toungate advised me, “Yeah, the extent of competitors immediately is wild. Kahl Harmon and I speak so much about random stuff, and we each agree that in case you take 6-12 months off, it’s unlikely you’ll ever come again to the identical stage you left.”
What It Takes To Be A High Shooter Right this moment
Simply qualifying for the PRS Finale immediately is hard! The PRS invitations the highest 150 shooters within the Open Division to the Finale, however even cracking that prime 150 requires a severe dedication.
I checked the standings simply earlier than the 2024 finale, and the a hundred and fiftieth shooter within the Open Division had 267.966 factors. That very same rating would have put you within the prime 50 getting into the Finale again in 2017! In 2014, it might have landed you within the prime 20!
Even the scores of these on the very prime are rising. The chart beneath reveals what number of common season factors you wanted to be ranked within the prime 25 getting into the Finale:
The chart beneath reveals the variety of shooters who entered the PRS Finale with an ideal rating of 300 (which means they gained 3 common season Professional Sequence matches). That places them in one of the best place to win the coveted golden bullet with an excellent efficiency on the Finale.
On the PRS Finale, the 12 shooters with the very best season factors are grouped collectively into Squad #1. In 2020, it took 293 factors to be in Squad #1, however previously two years, it took 297 and 298.3! It’s important to nearly finish the common season with an ideal rating to earn a spot in Squad #1 on the Finale!
In 2024, the golden bullet winner (Ben Gossett) entered the Finale with 297.2 factors – however he had 23 different shooters respiration down his neck with greater season totals! Fortunately, Ben had an epic efficiency on the 2024 Finale to safe the title of PRS Season Champ (examine it).
Last Ideas
The PRS has come a great distance since I turned a member in 2016 and was issued PRS #1782. New members immediately are getting numbers above 20,000!
The game is greater, extra aggressive, and extra accessible than ever earlier than. It’s a good time to be concerned in precision rifle capturing – however if you wish to be among the best, the bar retains rising!
When you’re simply getting began, don’t be discouraged. Each prime shooter as soon as began as a newbie. Simply know that to separate your self from the pack, you’ll want to coach sensible, shoot typically, and – as Phil Velayo places it – regularly concentrate on bettering by simply 1%. That’s what makes the distinction on the prime.
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