Improving rifle skills through competition

[rdp123]

Hi all,
I read through this interesting thread this weekend about how much and in what ways NRL develops hunting skill. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/nrl-realism.387057/

After missing an easy shot this year for lack of an obvious rest, I've gone on a deep dive to improve my shooting skill. The next step I've been looking at is competition. It seems like hunting with a rifle demands three basic skill sets: fundamentals/positional shooting, shooting at longer distance in broken terrain and accounting for wind, and shooting under pressure/rapid string shooting for follow ups (aka "action" shooting).

NRL seems fun, but we don't have much near me and what I had in mind anyways was more like the regular club shoots I used to do with my bow before injuring my shoulder. I was looking at silhouette and high-power rifle because that's what's available nearby. These both seem to emphasize fundamentals/positional shooting. Have folks found that shooting silhouette or HPR build skill similarly to shooting club matches for archery? I haven't seen these types of matches discussed ok Rokslide as much as PRS or NRL.

In the action realm, there's 3-gun, but that appears cost-prohibitive for me. We have lots of USPSA though. Do the folks who’ve competed in USPSA find that developing skill at action shooting with a pistol transfers to hunting with a rifle, or are the two disciplines just too different? Have people found solid development through more traditional matches in silhouette and HPR? Are there competitive shooting matches that I'm not mentioning that people value highly for developing marksmanship? Thanks as always for any insight.

 

[Lawnboi]

Where are you located.

Trigger control is imo the hardest with a pistol. If you can master a solid press on a pistol trigger under pressure you should do just fine with a rifle. USPSA is fun and if it’s close it’s worth a try.

No experience with anything besides uspsa, nrl and prs for me

 

[rdp123]

Thanks! I hadn't thought about the benefit for mastering trigger press. I'm in central Texas.

 

[Lawnboi]

Texas has more nrl than any other state this year.

I know there’s a lot of prs down there as well, if you have applicable equipment.

Most places that host 2 day matches will run one day club style matches, that’s about all I shoot.

Best bet is to find prs/nrl clubs in the area on social media, likely the easiest way to learn about matches.

Any competition adds pressure. Anyone who aspires to be a good shooter owes it to themselves to shoot under someone else’s rules.

 

[rdp123]

Thanks! Gonna dig deeper into the schedule

 

[skipper907]

I would suggest finding local club PRS matches to shot. it's probably could be the most helpful. You are building and breaking positions in a short time constraint. NRl is good but you can get more shooting out of prs. NRL you can end up spending lots of time finding target and not much time getting to engage them.

 

[Ibex]

Just saw a new range in wortham the other day. Looks like they are hosting prs and nrl hunter matches. Freestone shooting complex I think.

 

[TSnave]

I'm a High Power shooter. I think most any form of competition will aid your marksmanship skill set. Figure out what's close to you that you enjoy and go for it.

 

[rayporter]

any competition will help you control the trigger. hence trigger time helps a lot. bonus if a timer is involved.

 

[rdp123]

Thanks everyone for the insights! Wortham sounds cool and they’re doing an NRL soon looks like, but I have a time conflict. Gonna start with silhouette and high power nearby looks like

 

[Dos XX]

Shoot a .223 or a .308 in Highpower and you will learn trigger control, breath control, and a lot about wind.

What you won't learn or practice is shooting in positions other than prone, unless you are going to shoot XTC.

 

[TaperPin]

Have people found solid development through more traditional matches in silhouette and HPR?

Some of the greatest shooters of our time have gone through a silhouette phase. It’s the least steady position with the fewest shooting aids - it will work out your trigger control and build a lot of confidence. The cool thing about the learning curve is watching the score climb right away. Literally every week you’ll be a little better at first. Don’t overlook small bore - same mechanics and an excuse to buy an accurate 22 if you don’t have one. Another cool thing is the score holds up well over the years - I can shoot a match today and directly compare it to scores from years ago - the targets are the same and the distances are the same.

It’s also fun to follow long and somewhat of a spectator sport. 40 shots isn’t going to break the bank.

 

[juju]

Shooting under pressure absolutely improves your accuracy on targets and ability to keep your equipment running. Some of the keys of successful target competition are directly in opposition to game shooting.

Shooting game is different. You have to shoot more game to become a better game shot. Predators, hogs, and small game will make you a better shot on ungulates.

 

[FLS]

I’ve payed in all the shooting games, none are inexpensive, especially if you practice enough to be competitive. Having to think and perform under pressure will make you a much better hunter. USPSA Production is about as cheap as it gets. I shoot a lot of DMR matches. It’s long range 2 gun. Carbine/ rifle out to about 800 and pistol out to 75-100. It’s about the least expensive “precision”game because it’s based around 223 and 9mm. The ones I shoot have a 223/ 308 bolt gun division if you don’t want to shoot a AR. Run and gun events are getting more popular too. Kind of a CrossFit/ two gun hybrid.

 

[hereinaz]

Texas has more nrl than any other state this year.

I know there’s a lot of prs down there as well, if you have applicable equipment.

Most places that host 2 day matches will run one day club style matches, that’s about all I shoot.

Best bet is to find prs/nrl clubs in the area on social media, likely the easiest way to learn about matches.

Any competition adds pressure. Anyone who aspires to be a good shooter owes it to themselves to shoot under someone else’s rules

I learned more with many local 1 day PRS matches than I did with a couple 2 day matches. So, two 1 day matches are better than one 2 day match. It can be easier to plan them once a month on a Saturday. It typically costs less overall.

That said, NRL Hunter is still fun and engaging. The NRL Hunter is “more realistic” but getting to watch other competitors at PRS/NRL/NRL22 and to BS with them facilitates learning.

Building positions and going through the shooting act 70-90 times in one day has a way to quickly show how I sucked…