Welcome to “What The Professionals Use” 2024 Version! I surveyed the top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) from this previous season to study what gear they’re operating in long-range rifle matches. These guys symbolize the very best precision rifle shooters within the nation. (Study in regards to the Precision Rifle Collection)
Over the subsequent few months, I’ll be publishing the entire particulars they shared about their rifle, optics, and different gear they use to compete on the highest stage. It’s been 5 years since I final surveyed the top-ranked shooters, so I’m excited to share how issues have advanced and altered. There are various issues within the information that stunned me!
We’ll begin by taking a look at what caliber and particular cartridges these shooters use to compete and earn their spot on the high.
Greatest Precision Rifle Caliber
5 years in the past, nearly all of shooters shot a 6mm, with a number of utilizing a 6.5mm. However I do know a number of of the highest shooters that began utilizing a 25 caliber final 12 months. In reality, right here is an article I wrote based mostly on an interview with two-time PRS champion Austin Orgain, the place he shared all the main points of the 25×47 and 25 GT that he competed with this previous season: Austin Orgain: High Shooter Highlight & His Experiment With 25-Calibers.
With that in thoughts, I used to be to see what number of others had converted to a 25 caliber. Here’s a breakdown of the highest 200 ranked shooters over this previous season and which caliber they selected to compete with:
On the chart above, the assorted colours symbolize the place a shooter landed by way of season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the high 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in general standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every colour represents, however principally, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s general rating.
77% of the highest shooters are nonetheless competing with a 6mm! That features 7 of the highest 10 shooters. So, the 6mm maintains its dominant place because the caliber of selection for the PRS.
10% are actually competing with a 25 caliber, which wasn’t as many as I believed it is perhaps. Nonetheless, there have been 5 utilizing it amongst those that completed within the high 25, which represents 20% amongst that group on the pinnacle of the game. Truthfully, I don’t know if there would have been a single shooter utilizing it if I’d executed this identical survey the 12 months prior.
So why hasn’t the 25 caliber been extra in style earlier than? I keep in mind a dialog with Bryan Litz the place he informed me, “Cartridge reputation at all times follows bullet design.” The reality is there haven’t been many nice choices by way of match-quality, high-BC bullets in 25 caliber. (Notice: Excessive-BC means a bullet may be very aerodynamic and in a position to preserve its velocity additional downrange and be much less affected by the wind, which is a serious benefit in long-range taking pictures.) However, over the previous 12 months or so, you could find two nice choices for 25-caliber bullets:
There have been nonetheless 6% of shooters utilizing a 6.5mm, together with 2 of the highest 10 shooters. So, the 6.5mm continues to be a really aggressive caliber selection for PRS-style taking pictures.
Why would somebody go along with a 6.5mm over the 6mm? Nicely, one of many largest causes is the heavier 6.5mm bullets make it simpler to identify your impression. Within the PRS, you possibly can’t get any assist whilst you’re on the clock taking pictures a stage. A crucial a part of this sport is having the ability to spot your impression, whether or not it’s on the right track or a miss, so you possibly can continually appropriate to attempt to middle your subsequent shot. That is likely one of the largest variations that separates these high shooters from the common competitor. They see most of their pictures, and in the event that they don’t hit the middle of the plate, they will calculate what correction it could have taken to hit the middle after which apply that information to their subsequent shot. These heavier bullets have extra vitality on the goal and make it simpler to identify your impression. One other half is that bigger cartridges sometimes even have barely higher ballistics and fewer wind drift, which might probably convert a miss simply off the sting of the goal into an edge hit.
Nonetheless, the draw back of a heavier bullet with extra vitality is elevated recoil – which makes it tougher to remain on the right track and shoot exactly. If it was all about high-BC bullets with plenty of vitality on the goal, we’d all be taking pictures 300 Norma Magnums or 375 CheyTacs! However discover that no one is doing that! Everyone seems to be looking for that “Goldilocks” steadiness between these competing traits:
Good ballistics/low wind drift
Low recoil so you possibly can keep on the right track and be ready to see the place the bullet hit
Massive bullet signature when it impacts down vary (so you possibly can appropriate and middle the subsequent shot)
It’s inconceivable to optimize for all 3 at one time, so we’re all attempting to strike the “proper” steadiness between these competing traits, which may be very subjective. There’s definitely no one-size-fits-all “proper” reply, which is why this massive pattern measurement of the perfect shooters on the planet is so fascinating.
When you’re fascinated with studying extra about this steadiness and getting direct perception from one of many high 10 shooters, it’s best to try this text.
There have been additionally a handful of shooters utilizing 22 caliber, 7mm, or 30 calibers, and I’ll increase on these after I current the precise cartridges these guys had been utilizing under.
Greatest Precision Rifle Cartridge
Now let’s take a look at the precise cartridges these top-ranked PRS shooters believed gave them the very best odds of competing:
#1) 6mm Dasher @ 41%
41% of the highest shooters had been utilizing a 6mm Dasher! Wow!!! There have been even 5 of the highest 10 shooters utilizing a 6mm Dasher: Austin Buschman, Jeff Guerry, Ken Sanoski, Chris Kutalek, and Nick Gadarzi. The 6mm Dasher was the most well-liked cartridge the final time I did this survey 5 years in the past – however solely by a comparatively slender margin over the 6mm Creedmoor (see that information). We’ve by no means seen such a dominant displaying within the PRS by a single cartridge!
Typically, as a taking pictures sport matures, the group ultimately settles on a small variety of cartridges which have confirmed to be optimum for that particular sport – just like the 6mm PPC for Benchrest or the 300 WSM for 1,000-yard F-Class. This information clearly says the 6mm Dasher has established itself at that very same stage within the Precision Rifle Collection. Whereas I don’t anticipate the 6 Dasher to go away, it will likely be fascinating to look at how this would possibly nonetheless change with the current curiosity in 25-caliber cartridges.
I’ve heard many individuals discuss with the 6 Dasher as “the simple button” in the case of load growth and reloading. I’m not a man who jumps from one cartridge to a different, and I had been utilizing the 6mm Creedmoor for a number of years – however I lastly determined to attempt the 6 Dasher early final 12 months. I can attest to it being extraordinarily straightforward to discover a load that has a 5 fps commonplace deviation (SD) in muzzle velocity or much less. I labored so onerous to get constant velocities out of my 6 Creedmoor, however I did it with the Dasher with actually zero load growth! I believed I’d break within the barrel with a load that I heard a high shooter say they’d used throughout a number of barrels – and I’ve by no means modified it. It prints bug holes and has 3-5 fps SDs – so I didn’t need to do any tinkering.
Listed below are the common muzzle velocities these guys reported for the 6 Dasher for the commonest weight bullets out of a 26” barrel:
105 gr. = 2,847 fps (based mostly on 21 shooters)
109-110 gr. = 2,825 fps (based mostly on 18 shooters)
#2) 6mm GT @ 11%
The following hottest cartridge was the 6mm GT, representing 11% of those rivals on the very high of the sport. There was only one shooter within the high 25 utilizing a 6 GT, however it was Kahl Harmon, the man who took 1st and gained the golden bullet because the 2023 PRS Season Champion.
The 6mm GT cartridge was launched round 2019. It was designed by Geoge Gardner of GA Precision and his pal, Tom Jacobs of Vapor Path Bullets, with the purpose of constructing the right cartridge for aggressive rifle taking pictures. The case size and 35-degree shoulder of the 6 GT helps it feed from a regular AICS journal with no need a spacer package just like the 6 Dasher or different 6 BR instances. The 6 GT case has a small primer pocket, which many imagine creates a stronger case head, extending the lifetime of your brass. Some additionally suppose a small rifle primer produces extra constant velocities, too.
The unique claims had been that the 6 GT might simply push a 105-115 gr. 6mm bullet at 3,000 fps with a modest 34-35 gr. of Varget powder. I requested these high rivals what bullets they had been utilizing and how briskly they had been operating, and listed here are the common muzzle velocities they reported for the 6 GT for the commonest weight bullets out of a 26” barrel:
105 gr. = 2,897 fps (based mostly on 5 shooters with 26″ barrels)
109-110 gr. = 2,869 fps (based mostly on 9 shooters with 26″ barrels)
So this group is operating the 6 GT round 50 fps sooner than the standard 6 Dasher load with the identical bullet, however they’re far in need of the three,000 fps claims when the 6 GT was initially launched.
Tie for #3) 6mm BR @ 8% & 6mm BRA @ 8%
The following two cartridges had been the 6mm BRA and the 6mm BR, that are extraordinarily related and had been every represented by 8% of those high shooters. Not one of the guys within the high 10 had been utilizing these cartridges, however there have been 3 utilizing the 6 BRA and 1 utilizing the 6 BR among the many high 25. These, together with the 6mm Dasher, 6mm BRX, and 22 Dasher, are all variants of the 6 BR case. You’ll be able to see a pleasant side-by-side photograph of the 6mm BRA and 6mm Dasher under.
Beneath is a take a look at the most well-liked variants these shooters had been utilizing that had been based mostly on the 6mm BR. Every has small tweaks that add a bit case capability to the 6mm Norma BR case. Nonetheless, for those who held these instances in your hand, it is perhaps onerous to inform them aside with out shut inspection.
#5) 6mm Creedmoor
The following hottest cartridge is the 6mm Creedmoor, with 7% of those high shooters choosing it, together with 1 of the highest 10 shooters (Kyle McCormack). The 6 CM has 25% extra case capability than the 6mm Dasher (41.6 gr. of H2O for the Dasher vs 51.9 for the 6CM). These shooters operating a 109 or 110-grain bullet from a 26” barrel averaged a muzzle velocity of 2825 fps with a 6 Dasher and 2966 fps with the 6 CM. Which means the 6mm Creedmoor is 141 fps sooner than the 6mm Dasher! That could be a 5% enhance in velocity, however it takes round 29% extra powder weight to get there. So that you get much less wind drift and extra vitality on the right track, however at the price of barrel put on and barely extra recoil. That’s why some go for the Creedmoor, however many go for the Dasher. Whereas everybody has an opinion on which is healthier, they’re clearly each aggressive on the very highest ranges (the highest 10 within the PRS).
#6) 25×47 Lapua
Making its first debut on this record is the 25×47 Lapua, with 5% of the highest 200 shooters utilizing it – together with Austin Orgain within the high 10 and a pair of extra shooters within the high 25!
“Once I tried out the brand new Hornady bullets in my 25×47, I used to be like, ‘Man, that factor truly shoots actually good!’ I had tried the 6.5 Creedmoor a bit bit final 12 months and didn’t actually just like the recoil, however I did like how the larger signature from the heavier bullets. So I believed this 25-caliber is perhaps a pleasant steadiness between that recoil and the heavy bullet – and it truly is. It’s fairly a bit much less recoil than that 6.5 Creedmoor, and clearly, it’s extra recoil than a Dasher – however it’s an excellent steadiness between the recoil and the vitality of the bullet downrange and on the plate. I don’t know that it actually provides you an enormous benefit over the rest, aside from carrying a bit bit extra vitality – however it has shot properly for me.” – Austin Orgain
Austin gained 3 main PRS matches in 2023 utilizing the 25-caliber, which is what caught the eye of different high shooters. The primary main, two-day PRS match Austin used the 25×47 in was Clay’s Cartridge Firm Basic in March, which is understood to be one of the difficult PRS matches – and Austin gained it with a 7-point lead over 2nd place and a 15-point lead over third place! Then, a few weeks later, he took it to the Field Canyon Showdown in Kansas, the place he completed 1 level behind Morgun King, however these two had been 10 factors forward of third place! “After that sequence of occasions, the 25-caliber actually began catching some traction, and it appeared like lots of people began ordering 25-caliber elements,” Austin stated.
To study extra about what Austin thinks in regards to the 25×47 and 25 GT, try this text: Austin Orgain’s Experiment with the 25-Caliber.
#7) 6.5 Creedmoor
The great outdated 6.5 Creedmoor nonetheless represents 4% of those top-tier shooters, together with the blokes who took 2nd and third: Andy Slade and Morgun King. Andy additionally used his 6.5 Creedmoor to win the AG Cup on the finish of 2023 (learn extra about that). Which means 20% of these within the high 10 had been utilizing a 6.5 Creedmoor, and there have been one other 2 within the high 25 utilizing it. With 4 shooters represented among the many high 25, the 6.5 Creedmoor had extra shooters than some other cartridge aside from the 6 Dasher at 10!
Clearly, the 6.5 Creedmoor stays one of the succesful precision rifle cartridges available on the market. I’ve plenty of associates who ask me for recommendation once they purchase a rifle, and I proceed to advocate the 6.5 Creedmoor greater than the rest. Whereas there appear to be haters on the market for something in style or mainstream – there’s a good cause the 6.5 Creedmoor has grow to be as in style because it has. That’s why there are actually extra SKUs on the cabinets of most sporting items shops for six.5 Creedmoor than some other cartridge – even the 308! If you’re attempting to optimize a rifle for PRS-style competitions and plan to reload your entire ammo, then perhaps it’s best to contemplate the 6 Dasher or different cartridges on this record … however that doesn’t imply the 6.5 Creedmoor can’t nonetheless be aggressive. I’d wager Andy Slade and Morgun King would possibly argue it’s nonetheless the optimum selection for these matches, and I’m undecided how you would argue with them, contemplating their outcomes!
#8) 308 Win
I wager a lot of you might be most likely shocked to see the 308 Win had 7 shooters represented amongst this group. When you aren’t shocked, you might be possible new to this sport. I’m reporting on the top-ranked shooters within the PRS Open Division, however there’s additionally a Tactical Division that limits shooters to both the 308 Win or the 223 Rem. Just a few of the shooters competing within the Tactical Division with a 308 or 223 did properly sufficient in matches that their general factors put them within the high 200 of the Open Division.
For instance, Scott Peterson took 1st within the Tactical Division utilizing a 308 Win and was ranked 74th within the Open Division. Robert Brantley took 2nd within the Tactical Division with a 308 and was ranked 79th within the Open Division. Truthfully, the truth that these guys had been ranked so excessive within the Open Division whereas utilizing a 308 Win is a real testomony to their taking pictures expertise. I imagine if these two guys reshot the matches utilizing a 6mm Dasher or any of the opposite in style cartridges, they’d have very possible positioned within the high 25 within the Open Division season standings. They’re each excellent shooters who particularly selected to compete within the PRS Tactical Division, which is why they’re utilizing a 308 – not as a result of they imagine the 308 is aggressive in opposition to these different cartridges.
I truly ran the ballistics to see the distinction between the 308 ammo these guys are operating in comparison with the commonest 6 Dasher ammo others had been utilizing – and there wasn’t as huge of a niche as I anticipated. Three of those guys had been operating a 308 Win with a Hornady 176 gr. A-Tip very near 2,720 fps, and I in contrast that to a typical 6 Dasher load of a Berger 109 gr. LRHT at a median of two,822 fps. The ten mph wind drift at 1,000 yards was 2.4 mils for the 308 and a pair of.3 mils for the 6 Dasher! I initially thought you’d have much less margin for error in your wind name utilizing a 308, however it doesn’t seem like important with that 176 gr A-Tip bullet on the velocities they’re operating it at.
Nonetheless, the 308 has significantly extra recoil with 50% extra vitality on the muzzle with that load in comparison with the Dasher load – so what these 308 shooters did to land within the high 200 of the Open Division continues to be very spectacular! The elevation adjustment for the 308 is 12% extra at 1,000 yards, however that isn’t as huge of an element for these rivals. Whether or not you must dial 7.7 or 8.7 mils for elevation doesn’t matter a lot; so long as your ammo velocity may be very constant, it’s best to hit the plate. It’s actually the distinction in wind drift that’s the most important issue as a result of that principally tells you the way a lot margin for error it leaves the shooter for his or her wind name – and it appears just like the 308 with that 176 gr. Hornady A-Tip bullet on the velocities these high shooters are operating is surprisingly much like a 6 Dasher. The most important distinction between the 2 is recoil, with the 308 having considerably greater than the 6 Dasher – which is why no one within the high 50 of the Open Division chooses to run a 308.
#9) 25 Creedmoor
We’ve obtained another considerably in style 25-caliber cartridge on our record, with the 25 Creedmoor represented by 6 of those high 200 shooters, together with 2 inside the high 25.
One great point the 25 Creedmoor has going for it’s you should purchase match-grade 25 Creedmoor brass from Alpha Munitions that is able to load. I do know at the very least 2 PRS Season Champions (Austin Orgain and Austin Buschman) who’ve informed me they’ve the utmost confidence in Alpha brass. They each load virgin brass and would take it to any match. So, you wouldn’t need to wildcat or fire-form your brass for those who had been utilizing a 25 Creedmoor, however you would need to do this with the 25×47 – at the very least till Alpha introduces that as an choice. (Perhaps after they learn this text! 😉)
The Remainder of The High Precision Rifle Cartridges
Past these 9 cartridges above, there have been a handful of different cartridges that had been solely represented by 1 or 2 shooters among the many high 200:
22 GT
22 Dasher
223 Rem (Tactical Division)
25 BR
25 GT (Alpha Munitions informed me they plan to launch 25 GT brass subsequent week!)
6mm ARC
6×47 Lapua
6mm BRX
6.5×47 Lapua
7mm SAW
Not one of the cartridges above had been represented amongst shooters within the high 25. Now, that doesn’t imply that if one of many high 25 guys had been taking pictures one, they’d have positioned decrease. These are essentially inherently much less succesful than the extra in style selections. It’s merely an commentary I believed was value mentioning. None of those symbolize the “confirmed path” to success – but. 😉
Muzzle Velocity SD By Cartridge
Lastly, I believed it’d be fascinating to take a look at the common commonplace deviation (SD) in muzzle velocity that these top-ranked shooters reported for every cartridge. (Study extra about SD & velocity.) That was an non-compulsory query on my survey, and I requested that in the event that they didn’t know their actual SD over a 10-shot string, they go away that reply clean. The information under exhibits the common SD reported for every of the cartridges that had 5 or extra shooters who crammed of their SD among the many complete high 200 shooters within the PRS. I sorted the record with the bottom reported common SD on high, and you’ll see the pattern measurement that averages had been taken from within the 2nd column.
That’s fairly fascinating information. I’ve personally loaded and shot 1000’s of rounds of 6mm Dasher and 6mm Creedmoor, and I’d say these common SDs very carefully match my expertise with these cartridges. I’d say that any of the numbers which might be based mostly on 13 shooters or extra are possible fairly indicative of what you would anticipate, for those who used related elements to what these guys are operating. Nonetheless, these cartridges based mostly on a pattern measurement of 9 or much less would possibly needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Coming Up!
When you loved this content material, there’s extra to come back! Over the subsequent few months, I’ll be publishing a ton of knowledge on what the highest precision rifle shooters are utilizing.
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