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I surveyed the 200 top-ranked shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) to get a detailed look at the gear they used to reach the top of the leaderboard. This is the most comprehensive, data-driven look at what the very best in the sport are running, straight from the shooters themselves. The goal is simple: cut through marketing hype and see what actually works at the highest level.
This article is going to share all of the info about the calibers the best long-range shooters in the world are using to maximize their impacts down-range.
Best Rifle Caliber
The chart below shows the breakdown of the calibers that the 200 top-ranked shooters in the PRS are using in national-level competitions:
On the chart above, the various colors represent where a shooter landed in terms of season rank in the PRS. For example, black indicates shooters who finished in the top 10, the darkest blue is people who finished 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the further out they finished in overall standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks each color represents, but basically, the darker the color, the higher the shooter’s overall ranking.
6mm cartridges continue to be the dominant choice among pro shooters, representing 70% of these elite competitors! The 6mm is clearly the standard among top-tier marksmen, although it did drop slightly from the 77% that were running it a year before.
The 25 caliber represented 16% of the top 200 ranked shooters in the PRS, which is up from 10% last year. (More on this below)
Next most popular is the 6.5mm, representing 6%, which is similar to the past few years.
There were also 10 shooters among the top 200 using a 30-caliber, and all of those were competing in the Tactical Division, which is a limited division that requires the use of either 308 Win or 223 Rem. Those shooters still shot well enough to be ranked among the top 200 ranked shooters in the Open Division (crazy impressive!), which is why they are still represented on this chart.
Finally, there were 2 shooters using a 7mm and 2 shooters using a 22 caliber.
The Rise of the 25 Caliber
The real story here might be the rise of the 25 caliber, especially among the shooters at the very top of the leaderboard. The chart below shows trends of what percentage of shooters in the top 25 in the PRS Season Open Division season standings were using each caliber by year.
Among those in the top 25, 40% run a 25 caliber! 52% were using a 6mm, which was still the majority, but the 25 made up a lot of ground in a single year.
The Tradeoffs with Each Caliber
When you see what the pros are running, it is natural to wonder why someone would choose a 6mm, 25 caliber, or 6.5mm over the others. These are not random picks. Each of these bore sizes comes with a distinct mix of advantages and tradeoffs that can tip the scales depending on a shooter’s priorities, style, and the kinds of matches they expect to shoot.
Seeing exactly where your bullet impacts might be the biggest key in this game, at least among those competing at the highest levels. These guys aren’t simply trying to see if they hit the target or not. They want to see exactly where they hit, so if they were 1” or 2” off center, they can correct the next shot to the center of the plate.
Everyone is searching for that “Goldilocks” balance between these 4 competing characteristics:
- Low recoil so you can stay on target and be in a position to see exactly where the bullet hit (as short as 300-400 yards)
- Good ballistics/low wind drift
- Energy downrange for a large bullet signature on impact (as far as 1100 yards)
- Consistency match-to-match and over an entire season (minimal “tuning” or management to stay competitive)
It’s impossible to optimize for all four of those at the same time, so we’re all trying to strike the “right” balance between those competing characteristics, which is very subjective. There is certainly no one-size-fits-all “right” answer, which is why this large sample size of the very best shooters in the world is so interesting!
6mm (0.243″)
The 6mm has been the default choice in PRS for many years for good reasons. With lighter bullets in the 105 to 110-grain class, they offer very light recoil, which makes it easier to spot your impacts and misses. They also tend to have relatively mild muzzle blast, acceptable barrel life (often around 2,000 rounds), and a ton of proven match bullets to choose from with well-established load data. The downside is that they do not carry as much energy downrange as larger calibers, which can make spotting impacts or misses harder on targets 1,000 yards or beyond. In heavy winds, a 6mm bullet will also drift more than a bullet with a higher BC. (Note: High-BC means a bullet is very aerodynamic and able to maintain its velocity further downrange and be less affected by the wind, which is a major advantage in long-range shooting.)
The majority of PRS stages have targets at 300 to 800 yards with short time limits, so the recoil advantage often outweighs the cons of a smaller caliber. That’s why 70% of the top-ranked shooters are using a 6mm. It seems even more common for pro shooters to prefer to run a 6mm in East Coast matches, because winds are typically lower and par times are often only 90 seconds.
At a national-level match last weekend, I spoke with one of the most experienced pro shooters in the game. He is literally one of the guys with the most lifetime PRS points, and here is what he told me:
“Cal, I’ve tried the 25 calibers and 6.5s, but I just can’t see the bullet as well with those. I went back to my 6mm this year, and I started seeing every bullet again.”
So the 6mm is not a tired or “old school” choice. It remains the gold standard and the choice of most pro shooters.
25 caliber (0.257″)
The 25 caliber is the new disruptor. Thanks to bullet manufacturers like Berger and Hornady introducing high BC match bullets in the 131 to 135 grain range, these cartridges deliver ballistics on par with many 6.5mm loads, but with noticeably less recoil. You often get less wind drift than many 6mm setups and a little more energy on target, while still being able to stay on target through recoil and watch your impacts in real time. The tradeoffs include a touch more recoil than a 6mm, slightly more muzzle blast, and sometimes shorter barrel life compared to a slower 6mm (e.g., 6mm BR, 6mm Dasher). For many, the ballistic payoff is worth it, especially in windy parts of the country.
For context, here are the bullet diameters and common match bullet weights that are used for each caliber:
The 25 caliber is between the 6mm and 6.5mm but slightly closer to the 6.5mm in terms of bullet diameter and weight. The 25 cal is almost exactly 2 parts 6.5mm and 1 part 6mm.
6.5mm (0.264″)
The 6.5mm is still a great performer, and it is often the right choice for shooters who value maximum downrange energy. The heavier 140 to 156 grain bullets carry velocity extremely well and buck the wind better than lighter options. That said, the extra recoil requires the shooter to be meticulous in their fundamentals in order to stay on target and see their hit, especially inside of 450 yards. That can make it tough to make corrections in a match setting. In the hands of a disciplined shooter with solid fundamentals, a 6.5mm can (and does) win matches, but the data shows fewer of the very top PRS shooters choose them in recent years because the recoil penalty is real when the clock is running.
If you’re interested in learning more about this balance of different calibers and want direct insight from two-time PRS Champ Austin Orgain, check out this interview.
Up Next
The very next article will expand on the specific cartridges these guys are using within each caliber. Is the 6 Dasher still the dominant cartridge? Have a bunch of guys jumped on the 25 Creedmoor after Hornady started making ammo for it? What 25-caliber is most popular among the guys at the very top? I’ll answer all of those questions and more, so stay tuned!
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