There’s really three main discussions, the first is scoring system, the second is match layout/stage design, the third is the equipment that the match drives. They are all interconnected, but somewhat separate.
The reason that most matches have turned into barricade and tripod benchrest matches is because shooters didn’t want to work. Shooters didn’t like matches were the winner was only getting 50-60% of the available points, they wanted matches were most shooters get a majority of points, which means that the gap between scores is small. People HATE offhand stages, or stages where they can not use any artificial support- they removed those. People also HATE timing out, so they made par times ridiculous- which allows stupid setups to be used. So matches started tailoring the events to be a game, where people feel good about themselves; it also makes it easy on match directors and stage designers- remove novelty and it is much easier to design stages.
The scoring also drive it to be that way, as Ross stated, you don’t even need to be able to call wind- get it from other competitors, or because you are free recoiling a 30lb rifle that barely vibrates- just watch the trace of the first shot and extrapolate from there.
This resulted in matches where you step up, throw the game changer bag down, lay the rifle on it, shoot. And once stages become that, what you really need is an F-Class rifle. And that’s what it has become to a large part- a 6mm, supported F-Class Match at varying distances. Then the “sponsored” shooters really hit. Everyone and their brother with a jersey that looks like a prostitution billboard. And because they are “sponsored”, they really need to win- which is where you get to Frank at SH discussions on their behavior. Even at local matches it happens.
All this is to say- that what once were “sniper” matches, has turned into a standing, kneeling, prone F-Class match using purpose built, wholly unpractical rifles and equipment. AND that’s ok. There’s nothing wrong with a true game- PRS is golf with rifles. The issue is that it is driving things in the practical/hunting world by osmosis, and that is an issue. Almost every new piece of gear is PRS derived- scopes with reticles that are invisible at low power and that have no ruggedness to them. Metal chassis for everything, because no one holds a rifle in the cold. Rifles built around shooting off of tripods, because most game stands around for two minutes while you set that up, etc. etc. There are lots of people that talk about the issues with PRS/NRL and NRL Hunter was an effort to help some, and may have a little bit, however all the break off matches and clubs, etc. are PRS shooters, reinventing PRS.
Most of that could be fixed with three things-
1). Time plus scoring- your score is the time is takes to hit all targets.
2). Stages designed where the majority of shots are not prone, and the positions are awkward and uncomfortable.
3). Every piece of gear used for a stage must start in your body and be stowed- no preset tripods or bags.
4) Realistic weight divisions- light rifles aren’t 12lbs.
Lots of interesting stuff in this thread, but the tenmile vs Mark5hd wasn’t one of them
