Competitive shooting represents the pinnacle of marksmanship skill, where precision meets performance under pressure. This demanding sport transforms casual range time into structured skill development that pushes shooters to their absolute limits. Understanding the various disciplines of competitive shooting can help you find the perfect match for your interests and abilities, from precision long-range competitions to dynamic action shooting events.

What Makes Competitive Shooting Special?

Competitive shooting transforms casual range time into structured skill development. Unlike recreational shooting, competitive shooting events provide standardized courses of fire, consistent scoring systems, and the opportunity to measure your abilities against other dedicated marksmen. This structured approach allows shooters to identify weaknesses, track improvement, and push their skills to new levels.

The precision required in competitive shooting demands equipment that can deliver consistent, repeatable accuracy. This is where the foundation of competitive shooting begins – with a properly chambered barrel using precision tooling, like the kind crafted by Manson Reamers. As the country’s premier supplier of chamber reamers, headspace gauges, and cutting tools, Manson Reamers has built a reputation for delivering the consistent results that professional competitors depend on. Championship-level performance starts with championship-level equipment preparation, and that’s exactly what Manson Reamers provides to shooters who demand nothing but the best. Below we explore a few of the Precision Rifle disciplines that Pros who trust Manson compete in, but to give you a broad overview here’s a chart for comparison.

🎯 Precision Rifle Disciplines Comparison Chart

Discipline	Shooting Position	Typical Distance	Gear/Caliber	Key Features
PRS                    (Precision Rifle Series)	Various (positional, barricades)	100–1,500+ yards	Bolt & Gas Guns, 6mm/6.5mm common	Time-based, stage-based, real-world scenarios
National Rifle League (NRL Centerfire / NRL22 / NRL22X)	Positional, Rimfire	25–1,200+ yards	Centerfire or .22 LR	Community-driven, beginner-friendly (NRL22)
F-Class                  (F-Open / F-TR)	Prone, supported	600–1,000 yards	.223, .308 (TR) / Any ≤.35 (Open)	Precision-focused, strict rules, slow-fire
Benchrest	Bench, supported	100–1,000 yards	Highly customized	Ultra-small group shooting, equipment-heavy
ELR                     (Extreme Long Range)	Prone or bench	1,500–3,000+ yards	Custom wildcats (.375/.416, etc.)	High-tech, ultra-long distance, spotting challenge               Popular Events: King of 2 Miles, King of 1 Mile, Spearpoint, FCSA, Applied Ballistics ELR Events
Tactical Field Matches	Mixed/Field Positions	Unknown / 100–1,500+ yds	Bolt guns, Laser rangefinders	Team-based, rugged terrain, realism & movement      Examples: Competition Dynamics, Vortex Team Sniper Challenge
PRS Rimfire / NRL22	Positional / Barricades	25–300 yards	.22 LR	Budget-friendly, low-recoil alternative to centerfire PRS, great for training

 

A Few Competitive Shooting Disciplines

Precision Rifle Series (PRS)

The Precision Rifle Series has revolutionized long-range competitive shooting by combining precision marksmanship with dynamic field positions. PRS competitors engage targets at distances ranging from 300 to over 1,200 yards using various shooting positions and time constraints.

Chad Heckler, a successful PRS competitive shooter and owner of 5X5 Precision, has dominated this discipline with 25 national top 10 finishes including 3 Pro series wins, 2 season bullets, and 1 World Championship title. Heckler’s success in PRS competitive shooting demonstrates the importance of precision equipment, noting that “Manson Reamers have never let me down. Their attention to detail and passion for precision have enabled me to have a very successful career in the shooting sports.”

 

F-Class Competitive Shooting 

F-Class represents pure precision shooting, where competitors fire from prone positions using bipods and rear bags. This competitive shooting discipline emphasizes absolute accuracy over speed, with matches typically conducted at ranges from 300 to 1,000 yards. 

Divisions included in this class:

• F-Open: Any caliber up to .35, with front and rear rests
• F-TR (Target Rifle): .223 or .308 only, using a bipod

Ken Thiessen exemplifies excellence in F-Class competitive shooting, having represented Canada on the F-Open team at the 2017 F-Class World Championships, where they achieved a silver medal. Thiessen’s expertise in both Precision Rifle and F-Class competitive shooting led him to establish Accuracy Development Solutions, where he builds championship-level rifle systems.

Palma and Long-Range Competitive Shooting

Palma competitive shooting represents one of the most traditional forms of precision shooting, typically conducted at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. This discipline requires exceptional wind reading skills and consistent shooting technique.

Ray Gross has achieved remarkable success in Palma competitive shooting, representing the USA on four Palma teams and earning a Silver medal as a shooter on the 2003 U.S. Palma Team. His extensive experience includes coaching winning teams and leading the US FTR team to the World Championship in 2017.

King of the Mountain Events (Extreme Long-Range or ELR)

The ultimate test in competitive shooting extends beyond traditional ranges into extreme long-range territory. These events challenge shooters to make hits at distances that seemed impossible just decades ago.

Paul Phillips and his Team Global Precision Group have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in extreme long-range competitive shooting, making impacts at 3.4 and 4 miles. Team GPG holds the unique distinction of being the only team globally to have won both King of 1 Mile (2022) with a 1st and 2nd place finish, and King of 2 Miles (2019) with a 1st, 3rd and 4th place finish.

Phillips’ success in competitive shooting stems from over 30 years of experience combined with precision equipment. He emphasizes that “World Class precision starts with a World Class reamer. For the last 15 years, I have been using Manson reamers and it has greatly helped Team USA, TEAM Sinclair and TEAM GPG set lots of records and help me be ranked #1 in the World.”

Dynamic Competitive Shooting Sports

Practical Shooting Competitions

USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) and IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) represent the dynamic side of competitive shooting. These disciplines emphasize speed, accuracy, and movement, creating challenging scenarios that test a shooter’s ability to perform under time pressure.

Multi-Gun Competitive Shooting

Three-gun competitions combine rifle, pistol, and shotgun stages within single courses of fire. This competitive shooting format tests versatility and equipment transitions while maintaining accuracy standards across multiple firearm platforms. 

Some of these events include:

• 3-Gun Nation (3GN):(ceased operations in 2020) 

• • USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals: Across the U.S.
  • Multi-Gun Nationals (NRA or Outlaw): Across the U.S.

• Texas 3-Gun Championship: Texas, various clubs

• Rocky Mountain 3-Gun: Raton, New Mexico

• Vortex Shooter’s Source 3-Gun Championship: Texas

• Surefire World Multi-Gun Championship: California/Nevada region

• Tarheel 3-Gun: North Carolina

• Generation III Gun: Missouri (encourages youth participation)

• Zombies in the Heartland – Hornady 3-Gun Match: Nebraska

The Foundation of Competitive Shooting Success

Precision Chambering and Equipment

Successful competitive shooting demands equipment that can deliver consistent performance. The chamber is where the cartridge meets the barrel, and precision chambering directly impacts accuracy potential.

Professional competitive shooters understand that championship performance begins with the most precise tooling. Chamber reamers have to cut perfect chambers that headspace correctly and maintain consistent dimensions. This level of precision requires tooling manufactured to only the highest standards.

Building Championship Rifles

As Ken Thiessen explains, “Every build is assembled with the utmost care and precision, using carefully selected components that have been proven to work in the industry. Manson Precision Reamers fit this requirement, as they have always produced nothing short of perfect tooling required to meet these standards.”

The attention to detail required in competitive shooting extends from the shooter to the equipment builder. Each component must work together to deliver the consistency demanded by competitive shooting disciplines.

Getting Started in Competitive Shooting

Choose Your Discipline

Different competitive shooting disciplines appeal to different interests and skill sets. Precision rifle competitive shooting suits those who enjoy technical challenges and long-range accuracy, while practical shooting appeals to those who prefer dynamic movement and time pressure.

Equipment Considerations

While it’s tempting to focus on rifles and accessories, remember that competitive shooting success starts with the right equipment. Building a new rifle or improving an existing one requires ensuring proper chambering with quality tooling to provide the foundation for competitive success.

Training and Practice

Competitive shooting demands dedicated practice and continuous improvement. Regular dry fire practice, live fire training, and match participation all contribute to skill development. Learning from experienced competitors like the professionals who trust Manson Precision Reamers can accelerate your progress.

The Evolution of Competitive Shooting

Competitive shooting continues evolving with new disciplines, equipment innovations, and participation growth. From traditional precision shooting to modern dynamic competitions, the sport offers opportunities for shooters of all backgrounds and interests. Success in competitive shooting requires dedication, proper equipment, dedicated practice and continuous learning. 

As Ray Gross notes, “When I have a project to build, I will only use Manson tools because it takes the best to build the best.” This philosophy applies throughout competitive shooting – achieving excellence requires excellent tools, dedication, and the willingness to continuously improve your skills.

Building Your Competitive Shooting Journey

Competitive shooting offers numerous pathways for marksmen ready to test their abilities. Precision rifle competition provides technical challenges and long-range accuracy development, while dynamic practical shooting offers fast-paced action and movement skills. Extreme long-range challenges push the boundaries of what’s possible with modern equipment and techniques.

The skills you develop through competitive shooting will affect every aspect of your shooting experience. The precision required, the mental discipline developed, and the technical knowledge gained all contribute to making you a more complete marksman.

Most importantly, competitive shooting connects you with a community of dedicated shooters who share your passion. The professionals featured here – Phillips, Heckler, Thiessen, and Gross – all began their journeys as newcomers to competitive shooting and grew into world-class competitors through dedication and proper equipment.

For personalized assistance or inquiries, feel free to contact us.

Precision starts at the muzzle. Trust Manson Reamers for unmatched quality and performance.