Competitive shooting is one of America’s oldest sports, and it has always served a dual purpose. Some colorful comp shooters are in it purely for the love of the game. But others deliberately use it to hone their shooting skills for hunting and historically for warfare. Lots of shooting disciplines can make you a better killer in the woods – competing in service rifle was one of the best things for my skills as a hunter – and the same is true for modern shooting sports like NRL Hunter and PRS.
I shot my first NRL Hunter match a few years ago and it has changed my approach to shooting situations in the field significantly. While the NRL Hunter belongs to hunting-specific competition, the PRS – the Precision Rifle Series – has been around for a long time. This type of competitive shooting is sometimes overlooked by hunters because the stages, scenario, and equipment are usually different from what you would see in the field. I just shot my first PRS match and after that experience, I can tell you that if you think it won’t do you any good, you are absolutely wrong.
NRL Hunter vs PRS: What’s the difference?
NRL Hunter and PRS are both competitive circuits with seasons, finals and lots of shooters competing for ranks and points. They have many things in common, and also some big differences. Here are some ways in which they are similar:
- The matching structure is similar; Two-day matches often consist of about 20 individual stages in which shooters advance in groups or squads.
- Each stage has a time limit
- Shooters are using precision rifles to shoot steel targets (animals and other figures) at different distances
- All phases have a specific order of engagement that the shooter must follow
- In both series, each stage has specific marked shooting positions that must be used
- ROs can’t tell you where your shots will impact, they just say hits
There are also some big differences in the way NRL Hunter and PRS matches are shot. Let’s take a look at some of them.
nrl hunter
- Time limit of 4 minutes per stage (6 minutes for teams)
- Shooters have to locate, distance and shoot all the targets within the time limit
- Blind stage with fixed targets and positions format – 1 target/4 positions; 4 targets/1 position; 2 goals/2 posts
- Up to 8 shots per stage
- First round effects count for 2 points. If misses, the impact of the second round is worth 1 point, then the shooter moves on.
- Three rifle divisions including Factory, Open Light, and Open Heavy, with a maximum weight limit of 12 pounds for Open Light and 16 pounds for Open Heavy. Allowances for suppressor weight have recently been added.
PRS
- A time limit of 90 seconds to 2 minutes is common, but it depends on the match.
- Shooters are given target descriptions, ranges and locations, as well as precise instructions on shooting positions or locations from which you can shoot.
- Various target and position formats
- Up to 12 shots per stage
- Usually one shot, one point, hit or miss
- Multiple divisions including Open, Tactical, Production, Gas Gun, Suppressor and Sportsman
my first prs match
I came to shoot my first PRS match 2026 Hornady Precision Rifle Challenge, With the same rifle I competed in the NRL Hunter Open Light division last year. It is a sub-13-pound gun, as configured, and is eligible for the Sportsman division. Most people associate PRS with 20- to 30-pound rifles with truck-axle barrels, diving boards, on-board chronograph mounts, and all the other bells and whistles. That’s what most people were shooting with, but I was comfortable with this rifle and wanted to see how well I could run it in – what many shooters would call – a more hectic match. And the Hornady PRC is generally considered one of the toughest PRS matches in the country. I’d be happy if I didn’t embarrass myself.
I had a very bad start. I felt good about my stage plan and how well I was moving between positions, but I was having a hard time really settling down and minimizing the wobble of my crosshairs – which caused me to snatch the trigger several times. However, after a few steps, as the wind picked up, I calmed down. The first day, we encountered some 20 to 30 mph winds, even stronger than that. Even shots at 400 to 600 yards required dramatic wind corrections and stability was difficult to establish in many situations. Still, I struggled through it and walked away satisfied with how the day ended.
On the second day, we had more favorable conditions, which helped everyone, but I was able to get into a rhythm and crack clean shots, wasting little time or movement in establishing solid positions and transitioning between goals. There was still a lot of room for improvement, but I managed to jump 20 places overall, finishing in the middle of the pack and second in my division.
After shooting that match, I’ve changed some of my opinions about how relevant PRS competition is to hunters, and have gained clarity on what it will do for you.
What is PRS great for?
NRL Hunter and PRS both challenge us and are rewarding, but in slightly different ways. Just because the NRL has “Hunter” in its name doesn’t mean the PRS doesn’t also offer attractive benefits for players. Both of them put pressure on the shooter that he would have to do his work according to the clock and under the supervision of the RO. A lot of the anxiety and pressure in the NRL hunter is related to approaching a blind stage and attempting to locate a target, then quickly decide what body position and gear to use to shoot them effectively. In PRS, it’s all about repetition and economy of motion – and you’ll get a lot of repetition.
One complaint I’ve heard from some frustrated new NRL hunter shooters is that finding and setting up targets can be so challenging that they barely get a chance to shoot within the four minutes allotted. In a PRS match, you have a detailed description and time to look at the targets and decide how you want to shoot on the stage before your turn.
The challenge here is that you have very little time and more shots to fire. You may have to attack targets from five different locations, or alternate between two, or in different orders. You will get a chance to do a lot of shooting in a PRS match, and it will give you practice on the fundamentals of shooting, positioning and mental acuity. In preparation for shooting and a PRS match, you will also get valuable reps in shooting and cycling your rifle. Hell, you’ll get more quality shooting reps from a PRS match than most hunters shoot in two years. It will make you faster and deadlier, make you better at establishing stable positions, and you can also take some competitive equipment and techniques with you to the hunt – like a quality shooting bag.
A note on ammunition
One major difference between the two series is that the NRL Hunter has a power factor requirement that prohibits the use of some of the smaller cartridges common to PRS. You can use whatever you want in PRS, except for the Sportsman division, which requires a 6.5 Creedmoor. Many 6mm cartridges are regularly used, but the 25 and 6.5 CM are also frequently used.
The exception to the power factor rule in the NRL Hunter is with factory loaded ammunition. Some factory loads fall below the power factor, but are exempt from the rule – making the power factor the only tie breaker. This may give factory ammo a slight advantage, especially in cartridges like the 25 Creedmoor which are sometimes borderline undercut.
While good factory match ammo is certainly suitable for PRS, you will find most serious competitors using their own reloads. Generally speaking, the goals are becoming smaller on average, with more technical and challenging shooting conditions in PRS than in NRL Hunter. Any advantage a shooter can give himself in this sport is worth it.
final thoughts
Of course NRL Hunter and PRS are both games. And if you enjoy competition, you’re likely to do some things to play the game that don’t directly apply to your hunting. Taking part can be intimidating, but you’ll likely find that there are no friendlier, more helpful people than those who join you at PRS Match. Don’t let jerseys and fancy space rifles stop you from enjoying this sport and improving your skills as a result. We can buy rifles, cartridges and hunt, but improving our skills should be at the top of every hunter’s list.
