The Internet, Myth Vs Reality… What You Need and What You Don’t

Joe Walls Match Rifle

Many of you reading this blog may be in the same place I was about a year ago. Maybe you are a new shooter? Maybe you are an experienced shooter but new to the Precision Rifle Series, similar competitions, or just intrigued by the idea? You might have the idea that you need to upgrade your gear to compete? Now, let me say that nothing will make you a great shooter other than practice, and a LOT of it. But, if you are thinking you need to upgrade, you probably do. Whether it be a different optic, chambering, trigger, barrel, or all of the above in a completely new build, how do you decide on all the component pieces and separate all the internet nonsense designed to drain your bank account with no real results vs getting gear that will actually perform for you. (It’s still going to put a dent in the bank account, no way around that one)

Let’s face it. Most of us still get a large dose of our day to day education from a combination of Google searches and social media. And of course, everything you read on the internet is true. Hardly. And I suppose the same could hold true with this blog post. After all, this is the internet. The difference is that we all compete and currently shoot in matches.

The best way to figure out what you might need is to attend a match, IMHO a PRS sanctioned match. Look at what the top level guys are using. Maybe look at what the Jersey’ed shooters are using for components, and look at the non-jersey’ed shooters who are still finishing at the top. The reason? Not withstanding sponshorships, promotions, and other paid endorsements, these guys are all extremely competitive and the scores tend to be so close that they will do just about anything, use any piece of gear that they think might result in one less dropped shot. From choice of caliber, bullet, barrel contour, chassis, stock, optic, trigger, and any peripheral gear, it has been tried, trued, and tested in the field. If it doesn’t work, they won’t use it.

When entering the world of the “Custom Rifle Build” the amount of component pieces and how they all fit together can be a little daunting. There is a reason why we stock the parts we do at OTM. All of our tactical stocks are inletted for a Heavy Palma Barrel and Surgeon DBM. We stock Bartlein, Krieger, and Hawk Hill Customs barrels, Timney, Jewell, and Bix N Andy triggers. We also stock Surgeon, Defiance, GA, and Kelbly’s actions. The list can go on, but there is a reason why we do. This stuff works and works well. Not to say that other manufacturers are putting out bad products; many have great products on the market. However, you can save yourself time and money by resting assured that the parts we stock work together. The time you save searching endlessly for components can be better used to get your build started and get on the gun, instead of reading about it on you favorite shooting forum.

The picture at the top is an example of what might be competitive at a match. The rifle was used in a 2nd place finish at the 2016 PRS finale. BAT machine Action, Hawk Hill Heavy Palma 6.5 barrel chambered in 6.5X47 Lapua. Optic is a Nightforce ATACR with an H59 reticle. Trigger is a Bix N Andy and the muzzle device is an APA Gen 2 Little Bastard, all sitting in a J Allen Chassis. Brass used was Lapua. Bullets were Berger 140gr Hybrids.

This is certainly not the only combo that will work, but one of many that we can spec out with parts currently in stock here at OTM. Nothing against social media, I like watching cute animal videos myself. s far as spec’ing the perfect match rifle for you? Leave your Google search for ‘best caliber for PRS’ alone and just give us a call. We’ve done the homework for you!

Josh