Checklist
MUST HAVE:
- Rifle
- Ammo
- Scope
- Ballistics Data
SHOULD HAVE or BORROW:
- Bipod
- Support Bags
- Binos / Rangefinder
- Tripod
KEY ACCESSORIES
- Data Holder
- Kneepads
- Rifle level
- Backpack
This is not a comprehensive discussion of the pros and cons of various gear. This is just laying out the basics of what you NEED to shoot your FIRST match. You need less than you think 🙂 As you get some experience, you will be able to decide what additional gear you will need.
RIFLE
CALIBER – 6mm, 6.5, or .308 caliber ideally. While it is certainly possible to use a .223 / 5.56 rifle, but you will likely struggle to hit furthest targets due to the wind and it’s effects on the lighter rounds. PRC and higher cartridges are possible as well, but the higher recoil of these calibers can make shooting a match more difficult.
TYPE – Bolt action or semi-auto (gas gun). You can certainly shoot a match with a light hunting rifle and many newer shooters start with that. There is an advantage to using a rifle with a heavier barrel and have the ability to add weight to the rifle – it helps balance the rifle and enable better recoil management – and thus seeing impacts of your rounds down range. Seeing impacts is a key advantage in a match to help make adjustments on follow-up shots.
ENTRY LEVEL EXAMPLES
Bergara B-14 Precision Rifle
https://www.turners.com/bergara/bergara-b-14-hmr-6-5-creed-22-barrel-479685
Ruger Precision Rifle
https://www.turners.com/ruger/ruger-precision-rifle-6-5-creedmoor-24-barrel-mlok-trade-660567
HIGHER END EXAMPLE
Masterpiece ArmsÂ
Nightforce Scope
SCOPE
Ideally an optic with turrets that can be dialed for elevation, and subtensions on the reticle that enable you to hold precisely for wind. 18x power or higher is ideal. But I started shooting matches with a 4-12x basic scope that had a very simple reticle. It gave me the experience I needed to select a different scope later.
Reticle is very much a personal preference. Most competitors prefer a christmas tree style because the shooter is able to hold-over elevation and wind if needed (rather than dialing). But with dialing both elevation and wind becoming much more prevalent of late, some competitors are favoring the cleaner view of a simpler reticle.
ENTRY LEVEL QUALITY SCOPE
Vortex Diamondback is functional and inexpensive $449
Vortex Strike Eagle is a perfectly capable scope $799
MIDDLE TIER EXAMPLE
Burris XTR Pro – 5.5-30x56mm 34mm Illum SCR 2 Mil.
HIGHER END EXAMPLE
Nightforce 5-25x ATACR with Mil-XT Reticle $3,109 (This is a highly favored reticle among competitive shooters)
There are even higher end scopes available from Zero Compromise (ZCO) and Tangent Theta.
MIL vs MOA
This seems to be a very emotional topic for many people. But to keep it simple, 95% of competitors favor MIL reticles for good reason. MOA is still very widely used particularly by the hunting community and can certainly work. (There will be a deeper dive on MIL vs MOA)
BALLISTICS
You will need to have your gun zeroed and ballistics figured out / verified to range – ideally at least 600 – 800 yards. You can use a phone app for your ballistics – something like GeoBallistics or Hornady 4DOF. Getting your ballistic calculator highly accurate to your gun and ammo (“trued”) can be a bit of an art and too much for this article. Ideally you can true your calculator, but at a minimum you could shoot your rifle at various ranges out to at least 600 – 800 yards verifying how much elevation it actually took for you to dial into your scope to hit those targets. Write down your data for each yardage – for example 200 – 300 – 500 – 750 yards. And then work with the APP by changing the muzzle velocity so that the elevations it tells you to dial are as close to your actual as possible.
Ideally you are able to get your muzzle velocity to program your ballistics, but it is possible to get your ballistics figured out without having a chronograph per above (that is for another article.) We will save the issue of a bullet’s Ballistic Coefficient (BC) for another time.
PHONE APPS – there are many, but I recommend GeoBallistics.
https://geoballistics.com/ – in the APP stores for both Apple and Android
Hornady 4DOF is also a popular APP.
https://www.hornady.com/4dofapp
KESTRELÂ LINK
(Rangefinders with ballistics)
BIPOD
A bipod is often used on at least one or two stages. The basic Harris, Atlas, or Warne bipod is sufficient, but can limit your ability to get enough height on the bipod. If you are using these bipods it would be ideal to have the higher versions and/or buy the leg extensions. A bipod that connects to a picatinny or arca rail is best for adjustability.
BIPODS from basic to high-end
SUPPORT BAGS
There are a ton of options for front and rear support bags. But honestly there are a few that are the most versatile and stable bags used by competitors. The ideal bag is able to be used as both a front or rear support depending on the stage, and conforms easily to barricades to make a great shooting platform as a front support. For this reason, ideal match support bags are usually sand filled. Plastic bead or light fill is great for hunting applications, but less ideal for match shooting – although certainly usable. An ideal bag is capable of adjusting the amount of fill in the bag, or changing the fill type.
Wiebad is a common entry level bag $75
https://www.turners.com/wiebad/wiebad-mini-drc-fortune-cookie-multicam-1854186
Armageddon Gear Shmedium – This is one of the most common competitor bags, very versatile and conforms well to many uses.
https://armageddongear.com/product/shmedium-mid-size-game-changer-shooting-bag/
Affordable Bags – Amazon self fill bag $25 – you can certainly find some affordable support bags and fill them yourself with sand, poly beads, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FV7CBLT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
BINOS & RANGEFINDER
You will need something to find and view targets, so at least a pair of binoculars. You do not need a rangefinder for your first match. It’s helpful, but you can get by without one. Usually the ranges are in the match course of fire descriptions. BUT those ranges are not always perfect, so most regular match shooters will have a rangefinder. Feel free to ask any seasoned competitor for verified ranges.Â
You’ll want to be able to place your binos on something to find and observe targets. Most people mount them on their tripod or at a minimum put a bag on top of their tripod and the binos on the bag. Â
TRIPOD
You do not need a tripod for your first match, but even an inexpensive one is useful for observing the targets with binos. You can share a bipod with a friend. IF there is a stage that requires tripod use, most competitors are happy to share one with you. If you have to shoot off the tripod, you will be able to do it either by clipping into the tripod (which is why an arca rail or picatinny rail on the rifle is useful) or you can place a bag on the tripod and shoot off that. Â
Again, it’s a first match – you are not expected to have every piece of gear and be proficient in every shooting technique. People are not judgemental about that and usually more than happy to help.
BACKPACK
Just about any mid-size pack will suffice to carry around your gear, bag, water, etc. Some very cost effective first backpacks are:
Big-5 Attack Pack – $80 – sometimes on sale for $50. I used this backpack for a long time and still would. I just carry less gear now and have gone to a smaller pack.
Eberlestock has a ton of packs – below are some of the popular ones at matches:
Eberlestock bag with rifle caddy
Nobody uses the rifle carry part of the pack, but it is handy for stuffing things like rain gear in the slot.
5.11 – this is my go to pack now that I have consolidated gear a bit. The compartments are enough to carry all my gear, and yet tight enough my gear doesn’t all fall to the bottom of the pack. $145 on sale
https://www.511tactical.com/all-hazards-prime-backpack.html
KEY ACCESSORIES
Target Data system – you will need a way to write down your target elevation, wind hold, and even target order information for quick reference while shooting. The two main systems are either a wrist board or a data card on the rifle. Â
Wrist coach – ideally get one that accepts 3×5 index cards easily.
Champro Adult Quarterback Playbook Triple BlackÂ
Rifle mounted data example
UUC X-Ring RDS Tactical Gear Shooting Range Accessories Shooting Range Card
