Reply With QuoteWhat are the rules?
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PRS (Precision Rifle Shooting/Series) is a huge and growing discipline in the US. It is also shot in the UK using fullbore rifles (mainly 6mm and 6.5 calibres) and also a very fast growing PR22 (.22 LR) group as well. There were something like 50 PR22 matches in the UK last year. The PR22 World Championships are being held in the UK this year during August at the West Midlands Shooting Ground https://wmsg.co.uk near Market Drayton and about 17 miles northwest of Weston Park. The UK is entering a full team.
About 18 months ago a pilot PRS Air Rifle Match was run at a shooting club near Crewe and, despite inclement Dec weather, most people who were there enjoyed it and many have been asking for another match.
The distributors of AGT rifles in the UK, Edgar Brothers, is organising another opportunity to shoot air rifles in a PRS match. AGT Classic Air Rifle PRS Competition 24th May 2025 in the ground I’ve mentioned above ie West Midland Shooting Ground. This ground is absolutely superb in every way, with its own restaurant and ample parking space. I’ve shot 3 PR22 matches there myself.
The cost of the match is £50 and that includes breakfast and lunch and the opportunity to win from a £6,000 prize table. All required kit will be available for people to borrow if needed eg sand bags (see them being used in the below video), needed to rest your rifle on obstacles for stability.
A video relating to the day - https://youtu.be/ArUBNwn_x7g?si=Li2PJvrzOizA5tcb
Here’s the ‘official’ description of the competition from the organisers and more details, and the entry ‘form’, in the link below
https://www.edgarbrothers.com/brands...24th-may-2025/
The competition is an air rifle PRS style competition, comprised of 8 stages, being scored on hits within a given time per stage. The event will combine PRS with a sporting clay shoot's familiar and relaxed feel.
The objective is for it to be relaxed and fun with a competitive element. AGT air rifles will be available at each stage for those without air rifles; however, it is recommended that you bring your own air rifle and equipment. Closer to the event, information will be provided to shooters explaining exactly what they need to bring. All air rifles are to be sub 12 ft/lb energy with the selected pellet/slug used, and down to the end user not to exceed that. Every air rifle will be chronographed and "checked in" during a relaxed and open zeroing session at the beginning of the day (coloured zip tie to designate a pass).
Held at West Midland Shooting ground, Market Drayton, TF9 3LH, the stages will consist of a varying number of targets, an exciting variety of props, and dynamic positions to shoot from. The shooter starts on the ‘beep’, with bolts back, muzzles up, and moves forward to engage a set sequence of steel targets as per the course of fire. Most stages are 2 minutes long; however, a few may be shorter.
They generally consist of 8-12 shots per stage. Times are recorded via a shot timer, and scores are logged on a tablet/phone running practiscore/ultimate ballistics apps. Squads move around together in a guided group. Squads will be between 6 and 12 shooters, depending on entries. Each stage will have a range officer to help explain all the details, and spotters will be provided on each stage as well. The highest hits completed across the eight stages will win the competition.
Do make sure you know your ‘drops’ ie the trajectory of your pellets as ranges to the targets will be variable and no two targets will be at the same distances (unless on the same target holder)!
On the day, shooters who wish to be coached and helped during stages will be able to select "training/targets only". Shooters entering this will have a pass to show at stages, and their score will not count towards the competition.
Total trophy awards are as follows:
1st place AGT Classic Champion (highest score using an AGT)
Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd. (4th and 5th place to be included if entries exceed 40 participants.)
Ladies 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Juniors 1st, 2nd and 3rd (16-21 years old)
Colts 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Seniors 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Breakfast and lunch will be included.
PRS is a hugely exciting sport. I don’t know of any other discipline that combines/requires so many ‘skills’ but the main ones being speed and precision. But at this match, the timings are generous.
The reason I’m posting this is that I’d love to see ‘PRS Air’ take off in the UK. Full bore is somewhat limited by the relatively small number of suitable ranges, and a two day match is £195 entry fee, never mind the cost of 200 fullbore ammo! PR22 is much more accessible but ‘PR Air’ could be shot almost anywhere and I hope there's enough interest and entries to encourage others to set up these matches. PRS shooters are amazingly helpful to new shooters. If you haven't shot this kind of match before, this day will be ideal for you.
I believe that there are spaces still available for the 24th May and there will be some experienced PRS shooters present on the day, if anyone has any questions or just want to chat about PRS fullbore or PR22. And a huge prize table!
Last edited by BigDuncs; Yesterday at 01:07 PM.
Registered User
What are the rules?
Moderator
All will be explained at the match brief and I don't know specifically for this match but -Originally Posted by SteveH
Standard PRS rules as per PRS22/centrefire matches so each stage has a set course of fire to follow, stage times will be 2 minutes, and the most hits across the day wins. PRS is very unrestrictive, so unless the course of fire says otherwise you can use whatever kit you wish.
But generally -
Rifles bagged covered unless being used.
Chamber flag/strimmer filament or whatever to show the chamber is clear.
Magazine is not loaded into the rifle until instructed to do so, just after the chamber flag is removed and given to the stage RO.
Bolt is not operated ie forward and closed until you can see the target through the scope. (Commonly called 'skyloading', that is if you close the bolt without seeing the target through the scope.)
You understand the stage instructions ie shoot this and then that and move to there etc etc. (dead easy and if in doubt, just ask. Seriously, not difficult at all and the RO will help if in difficulty)
Rifle at all times held in accordance with the brief. Usually pointing skywards or down range and always within the range template, Again, will be explained in detail at the match.
One point per hit on the target and the spotters will shout 'impact' when they see it through binos or telescope. Always at least one person 'on glass' watching for impacts. If you miss or shoot the wrong target, nothing is called, but at this match, I'd guess that someone would say wrong target if you get out of sequence.
Do you have any specific question re rules?
Registered User
Target sizes and distances, I've not seen that anywhere. The format isn't explained very well, it's a new-ish sport aimed at a new audience (airgun shooters) with no explanation of what they are actually shooting at.
I saw the shoots at Crewe, it was very interesting and if they stuck with it until the warmer months I probably would have gone to a few but I also remember them saying the max target range would be 100 yards. On a breezy day that's just not going to happen with a sub 12 gun.
Moderator
The normal course design is to adjust the target size and distance to the wind conditions and stability of the shooting positions. For example, if you're shooting from a rock or a beam of some sort, the target will either be bigger than for a prone stage or closer or both. The targets will be designed that most people can hit them. If it's windy, even in a wooded area, the targets will then be brought closer. They normally don't publish the match book / course of fire to a few days before the match so they can take into account the weather forecast for the day and hence the size and distance of targets.
They want people to have fun and hit stuff. It takes a lot of time and energy and cost to organise a PRS shoot ie having 8 different stages all being different and with different targets. Some of the ones I shoot both in centrefire and rimfire, have 20 stages over a weekend. And that takes a lot of organising.
I do hope you'll give this a go. If it is successful ie plenty of people give it a go (and I'd be pretty confident that most shooters will thoroughly enjoy it) and want to do this again, then more people will organise this kind of shoot for air rifles.
Registered User
I like the sound of this, I used to shoot practical pistol way back. Is it one shot per target or multiple shots within the time given and how do you range find?
Registered User
So by the look of the video, only for magazine guns i.e. PCPs due to the time per stage and imposed timing system for tie breaks.
Moderator
It’s a really fun format!
It can be one shot per target, or multiple shots per target, full stage information is provided and you don’t have to shoot until you are fully comfortable with what the course of fire is.
All ranges will be provided, but general procedure is check and verify if you so wish.
If you like practical pistol, you’ll love this format of shooting!
Moderator
Yes that is correct, you could always give it a go for break barrels but it would be difficult to do so. Would recommend using the range guns available if you don’t have a magazine fed PCP. AGT are providing a rifle per stage for people to use if they so wish.
I shot in the PR22 World Championships in Italy 2 years ago and in my squad was a big South African dude. He used a single shot Anschutz throughout the competition, much to the amazement and admiration of everyone around, but it's not to be recommended. And he did quite well!
The timings are generous at this AGT match though....
Moderator
In my experience of shooting PRS for 4 years, people are extraordinarily helpful, everywhere.
Please don't feel concerned at giving it a go as the ROs and any PRS shooters around (although almost all the regulars will be shooting a 2 day PR22 match at Paintmine Woods, Lancashire that weekend), will go out of their way to help any newcomers.
'On the day, shooters who wish to be coached and helped during stages will be able to select "training/targets only.' I guess that would include helping with wind calls eg you're just off the right edge or 1 target left or just hold the right edge etc etc
The organisers will want people to hit the targets and everyone loves to see the smiles on the faces of newcomers when they have a good stage.
Registered User
Thanks for your reply. Yes I really used to enjoy practical pistol and police pistol before the ban so this looks right up my street. My HW100 with its 14 shot mag would be my best choice of rifle for this, I just need to decide whether to leave the big Nikko on it and dial in the range distance which would be slow but accurate or put my Optisan CP on it and use hold over, quick but less accurate. What would you recommend?
Moderator
From the organiser....
'Your HW100 would be an ideal choice of rifle. Whether to hold or dial your elevations is one of the most common "strategy" decisions within PRS for the exact reasons you suggest.
There should be plenty of time, but if you are new to PRS, the additional time saved by holding would be very helpful, and would lead to less "faffing" with your dialling so to speak.
Dialling your elevations would allow you to not worry about keeping your magnification fixed though, which would be an advantage towards dialling, (if there's a significant distance between 2 targets).'
If you're holding, it might be best to use a scope with subtensions on the vertical reticle. Or, you could choose to aim at the top of the second target if that's the elevation needed, or shoot an estimated target height higher. Or dial! I use a combination of both. If time is tight, and the difference between the two targets is an 'easy' number like 1 mil or 1.5 mils, then I'd probably hold. MOA scopes would work as well. Almost all PRS shooters use mils but for this match, it won't matter.
PS I'm not the organiser nor have I anything to do with planning this match. Just someone enthusiastic about PRS and wanting to grow the sport. I'm also helping to introduce a load of university folk to PRS next weekend!
Last edited by BigDuncs; Today at 11:41 AM.
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