My PRS Journey

PRS Shooting,

This is a story about my journey into PRS (Precision rifle shooting) the highs and lows of a competitive nature are un relentless PRS is a sport that if just one component is off along with your fundamentals while using you rifle or rifle set up is not catered for this type of shooting it will see you stagnate long before you even have the chance to grasp the challenges that are presented to you and having the chance of being competitive , as you begin to understand the basics of what is required to become an marksman shooter and hitting targets in a natural manner which many describe almost second nature which is expressed as an extension of your mind and body to be able to project your self behind the scope with confidence and make the shots with solid impacts that hit’s to there intended targets,

Australian National PRS Series.

The journey requires commitment and dedication to become more then the average shooter in every way physically and mentally the latter being the most important as not preparing the body to be able to cope with the recoil and the finches will see you missing targets faster then a firing pin striking a primer,    

My CORSE OF FIRE, or COF, is a profound journey that transcends mere words. It can be described in numerous ways, encompassing the specific distances required to engage targets in the correct sequence, as well as the myriad technical aspects influenced by a wide range of variables such as environmental conditions and tactical shooting positions. The process culminates in the moment of squeezing the trigger and executing a shot, filled with the hope that everything has been performed meticulously, leading to the coveted call of “Impact!” from your spotter. While this encapsulates the fundamental elements of the firing process, there exists a vast array of intricate details that often get overlooked. The anticipation of the trigger's release, the moment of striking the primer, and the ignition of the propellant combine to unleash an incredible amount of force, propelling the projectile down the rifled barrel toward the intended target. However, even the slightest flinch, an improper trigger pull, or inconsistency in the ammunition can result in a significantly widened spread in outcomes, frequently resulting in missed targets and the accompanying frustration that ensues.

When I started shooting PRS I was using my hunting rifle the Lithgow 102 6.5 creedmore crossover its a great rifle very accurate and definitely more then adequate for its intended purpose of being a hunter style rifle, shortly after shooting my first club match I soon started to see a whole new world of different style rifles that id never seen before most of them customised to fit the shooter,

I started of like anyone shooting PRS and that starts ringing steal with a positive excitement of hitting my first target in an position other then sitting next to a bench or laying prone on the ground just shooting paper chasing the ultimate group size and going home putting the vernier callipers measuring my groups sizes and tweaking my reloads for a better tighter groups, The gratitude and congratulations with the encouragement of the range officer (RO) letting me know with a well done mate you hit your first 400m steal target was enough to create an addiction for more hits on steal but would also ultimately lead me down the rabbit hole of what it takes to be competitive in PRS shooting,

I was hooked and I was obsessed with improving myself, my first PRS match and I experienced the drive and attraction with an un relentless urge to improve myself now  that’s a feeling that ultimately lead me on a journey to take on a new challenges and a business opportunity presented itself to be able to customise and transform a factory rifle in a stock rifle chassis in to a hybrid rifle solution that could be competitive being but also an introductory style set up for the PRS beginner that hasn’t yet developed the knows or understanding to invest into a fully customised PRS rifle set up but would still like the options to be able to convert there rifle back into a lighter style hunter profile if required,

So I set of to make the OIC1 modular forend for the newly acquired Lithgow 105 Woomera 6.5 creedmore which translated back from Australian Aboriginals as throwing stick or hunter spear which would be thrown with great accuracy to capture prey with hence the tribute to this origin, the Lithgow 105 adopted the KRG (Kinetic Research Group) X-ray chassis which would be more inline with my requirements to progress in my positional style shooting as it had the ability’s to adjust the length of pull with trigger requirements and also I could just my check riser to adopt the perfect eye relief for my new scope that I had mounted to the top of my new rifle the first focal plane Meopta Optika 6 in 5x30x56 that at the time I could afford, I was ready to go so I thought,

It was defiantly a step up from my previous set up, and was able to start engaging more targets quicker then ever before with and with success but with that also came a level of frustration as the limitations of buying a rifle that is limited to the aftermarket components such as the 105 fast became apparent and along with that the limitations stated off once again in a search for a better rifle that I could customise , I wanted to adapt and customise my rifle to me without spending a massive budget, I wasn’t sure if this was something that would ultimately grasp me with the dive to strive and become the best that I can be but also with the products that I have designed for the KRG chassis range,

It still is a great journey to prototyping parts, testing and trials to make the best possible forend for the KRG but also to have the best possible price to comparable function to cater for newbie shooters that don’t have the budgets to afford a high end custom built competition rifle that is often a demanded for PRS ,So I set to work and the journey has led me to learn step by step what I takes to shoot PRS but then all of the hardships and improvements that are required to make a comfortable profile that help any shooter get on target with ease, Iv defiantly cut my work out for my self to learn something new is one thing but to then develop something at the same time is another, the way I see it Im a fresh canvas untouched by influences of what many seem to think what should be the ideal set up because is available but is it really the best or could it be improved on? Who knows right I guess you don’t until you try something and see if it works and I started of doing just that,

Never be discouraged; the ups and downs are all integral parts of the journey we embark on. Progressions and failures alike are what refine and improve our abilities. It is essential to feel uncomfortable before you can truly be comfortable, and this principle applies equally to the new skill mindset. The process of adopting, adapting, and learning is crucial, and it has been no different in my experience with my products and the methods I have developed for them. After all, nothing ventured means nothing gained, right? Embracing this truth will fuel your growth and enhance your journey.

The shooting community is something special iv never experienced anything like the comradeship that comes with it, everyones in the same boat and there’s no easy street in getting good or having hits on target the best of the best can lose just as fast as they win shooting a rifle in PRS competition the rifle talks and it takes no prisoner’s, you can off load a hundred rounds and miss but its the hits that count and even though some stages may have multiple same target engagements a hit is a hit and a miss a miss and you’ll never see the opportunity though out the match to make up that point the only thing that’s going to save you is the hope that your competitor has also missed just as much as you have to balance he score sheet back out and you start to hit more targets , if he docent you will be behind the eight ball and you’ll never have the chance to make it up which could land you if doing very well a big fat second place, every hit matters and may it be that you’ve timed out on a stage and missed the opportunity to finish a stage at the end of the day its not going to mater if you have finished a stage because you where supper fast but you haven’t hit any targets you may as well of grabbed a fist full of ammo and literally launched ten meters down range as it will have the same effects not hitting a target, wasting ammo and not accumulating a score,

Shooting PRS takes patients ,skill and the education of a whole bunch of knowledge with understanding ballistics of you ammunitions and  your rifle to reading your scope and understanding what it takes to have a good zero, everything matters, there is no maybes or I think so’s your either on or your not,

Lucas McKinney once said at a Tier One course, “It doesn't matter; it doesn’t matter so much—then suddenly, it matters a lot.” Don’t get caught out being lazy and falling into the mindset of thinking, “She’ll be right, mate.” With Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooting, you’re either on target or you’re not; there are no maybes or second chances. That’s precisely what I absolutely love about it—it’s challengingly hard and unforgiving, but with that high level of difficulty comes an incredible sense of comradeship. Everyone knows the same rules; they’ve endured the trials, faced the challenges, and truly lived through the ups and downs of the sport. They understand what it’s like to struggle, to push through, and they know what you’re going through because they will, without a doubt, experience something similar on their own unique journey. It’s a sport that you can never truly be done with; there’s just too much knowledge to absorb and countless skills to master if you want to stay at the top of your game. You can’t simply take a six-month break and expect to be sharp and competitive again—it just doesn’t work that way. PRS is forever evolving, and so are the dedicated shooters who embrace it!

TO BE CONTINUED,