A Data-Driven Approach To Precision Rifles, Optics & Gear
Home / What The Pros Use (page 5)

What The Pros Use

This is hard data on what gear the best precision rifle shooters in the country are using. Each year, we ask the top-ranked precision rifle competitors about what equipment and gear they run (like cartridge, scope, stock, barrel, gunsmith, and a bunch of other items). These posts are the results of those annual surveys, along with deep-dives from some of the top shooters.

Rifle Caliber – What The Pros Use

Rifle Caliber

Welcome to “What The Pros Use” 2018 Edition! I recently surveyed the top ranked shooters in both the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and the National Rifle League (NRL) to learn what gear they’re running in long range rifle matches. These guys represent the best precision rifle shooters in the country, and over the next several posts I’ll be publishing the results. Learn more about the PRS & NRL. Most Popular Rifle Caliber I can remember a time when there was a battle between which caliber was most popular: 6mm or 6.5mm? That battle appears to be decisively won at this ...

Read More »

What The Pros Use 2018!!!

What The Pros Use 2018

Back by popular demand: Welcome to What The Pros Use 2018 Edition! I recently surveyed the top ranked precision rifle shooters in the country to learn what gear they’re currently running in long range rifle matches. I’ll be publishing the results over the next several posts. I’ve done this for a few years, although I skipped last year. This year there will be a few new, exciting twists! Results for PRS & NRL First, I surveyed the best shooters in both the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and the National Rifle League (NRL), so it’s based on an even larger, more widespread ...

Read More »

What The Pros Use – King of 2 Miles Edition

Best Extreme Long Range Rifle

Earlier this week I traveled to watch the King of 2 Miles rifle competition (Ko2M) at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. It’s one of the few matches where great shooters from across the country gather to push the limits of what is possible with small arms as they engage targets out to 2 miles (3,520 yards). It was interesting to see what the top shooters were using in terms of equipment and gear, and I’ll share a summary of that in this post. In subsequent posts, I’ll go into more detail on some of the issues these ...

Read More »

Advice From Top PRS Shooters

Advice From Top PRS Shooters

Earlier this year, I asked the highest ranked shooters in the Precision Rifle Series a simple question: If you could just give one piece of advice to a new shooter wanting to get into this sport, what would that be? Their answers are packed with hard-earned wisdom. I personally learned a lot, and this advice has changed my approach and how I practice. I’ve shared a few of these quotes in previous posts, but I just wanted to share the full list with all my readers, because it is so helpful. Although these guys each completed the survey individually, it’s ...

Read More »

Favorite PRS Matches & Tips from Top Match Directors

Best PRS Match

New precision rifle matches seem to be popping up everywhere. Several years ago, there were only a handful of major precision rifle competitions in a given year, and now we have options in every corner of the country a couple of times a month. Each match is unique, with varying courses of fire, distances, format, etc. With the number of matches growing so quickly, I wanted to ask a large group who shoot lots of matches to see what their favorite was. So earlier this year, I surveyed the top 100 shooters in the Precision Rifle Series and asked them. ...

Read More »

Custom Rifle Actions – What The Pros Use

Custom Rifle Actions

I recently surveyed the top 100+ shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the actions those guys were running on their custom rifles. For those not familiar with the PRS, it’s an organization that tracks how 2,000+ competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. PRS matches are tactical/practical long-range rifle matches shot in the field conditions. Typical ranges for steel targets are from 300 to 1200 yards, and they are engaged from prone and improvised positions, often under extreme time pressure. It is one of the fastest growing shooting sports, and has attracted some ...

Read More »

Precision Rifle Gunsmiths: Who The Pros Use

Best Rifle Gunsmith

I recently surveyed the top 100+ shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the gunsmiths those guys trusted to do work on their match rifles. For those not familiar with the PRS, it’s an organization that tracks how 2,000+ competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. PRS matches are tactical/practical long-range rifle matches shot in the field conditions. Typical ranges for steel targets are from 300 to 1200 yards, and they are engaged from prone and improvised positions, often under extreme time pressure. It is one of the fastest growing shooting sports, and has ...

Read More »

Precision Rifle Chassis & Stocks: What The Pros Use

Most Popular Precision Rifle Stock and Chassis

I’ve been really looking forward to this post, because there has been so much advancement in how we use stocks and chassis over the past year. More has changed on this front than any other. So I’m excited to dive into some of that in this post! I recently surveyed the top 100+ shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the stocks and chassis those guys are running this year. For those not familiar with the PRS, it’s an organization that tracks how 2,000+ competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. PRS matches are ...

Read More »

Long Range Scopes: What The Pros Use

Best Long Range Scopes

I recently surveyed the top 100+ shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the scopes those guys are running this year. For those of you who may not be familiar with the PRS, it’s an organization that tracks how top competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. PRS matches are tactical/practical long-range rifle matches shot in the field conditions. Typical ranges for steel targets are from 300 to 1200 yards, and they are engaged from prone and improvised positions, often under extreme time pressure. It is one of the fastest growing shooting sports, and ...

Read More »

Long-Range Calibers & Cartridges: What The Pros Use

Long Range Calibers and Cartridges

I recently surveyed the top 100+ shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), and this post reviews the calibers and cartridges those guys are running this year. For those of you who may not be familiar with the PRS, it’s an organization that tracks how top competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. PRS matches are tactical/practical long-range rifle matches shot in the field conditions. Typical ranges for steel targets are from 300 to 1200 yards, and they are engaged from prone and improvised positions, often under extreme time pressure. It is one of the fastest growing shooting ...

Read More »