I’ve had these photos in my phone for a week now, and they’ve been a digging reminder that, despite best laid plans, I failed to remind myself to take any photos during the match which they represent. So often, I hear folks talk about Precision Rifle Series competition as being gear-centric or gear heavy, and in some ways, it’s a fair claim. If a person attends a match, they’ll see all manners of different gear deployed by various shooters, however, individually, most shooters don’t use much gear. In preparation for the last regular season match of the 2021 Midwest Region season, I did this pack dump to share here what gear I find worthwhile to carry with me. Many new shooters, myself included when I started, carry match packs which are far too large, loaded down with far too much gear.
This first picture captures everything I load into my truck for a one-day Regional PRS match – other than breakfast. Pictured here are my rifle, a Magnetospeed V3 chronograph, my match pack, 100 rounds of ammunition (for this particular 80 round match), an Armageddon Gear Pint Sized Game Changer shooting bag, and my spotting tripod with Swarovski SLC 15x56mm binos. Mounted on my tripod, I keep a dump pouch for empty brass, a rock hammock for holding my data book and shooting bag between stages, and my Kestrel. My ammo box and shooting bag are packed inside my match pack, and for long travel matches, I’ll load my rifle into a Pelican case.
Within my match pack are a few things which are touched every stage, and a lot of things which rarely see use, but are important enough to be carried. Not pictured is my Fix-it Sticks kit with adjustable torque stick and bits, which unfortunately was on an out of state trip with my wife when I set up this photo. Within that kit, however, I only carry the bits and torque limiters which fit some component of MY rifles, or common other rifles/mounts/optics.
Also not pictured is my iPhone, which took the photo, which I commonly use for my ballistic calculator, StrelokPro app.
Top Row, L-->R:
- Leatherman MUT Multitool (Sees more use fixing random range props than rifles)
- Cheap Compact cleaning kit handle w/ rods, brush, patches, and jag, to swab chamber if needed
- Allen Key set for optics adjustment
- R700 bolt disassembly tool
- Bushnell Elite Tactical scope tool for slipping turrets
- Batteries for Kestrel, RifleKuhl, and Earmuffs
- Lens Pen
- Contact drops/saline solution
- Earplugs
- Magnetospeed RifleKuhl to cool barrel between stages if overheating (typically on 6th-7th stage of a day)
Second Row:
- Football Wrist Coach with blank Stage cards (I don’t use this 99% of the time, but carry it in case)
- Two Kydex data billboards which Velcro to my rifle (one with masking tape, one with paper slips)
- Magic marker
- Two AW mags, one with SAP kydex belt pouch, and one MDT 12rnd magazine
Bottom Row:
- Data book with pen, paper, and match course of fire booklet
- Sig Kilo 2200 laser rangefinder to confirm target distances listed in matchbook
- Kestrel 5700 Sportsman wind and weather meter and ballistic calculator
- Area419 Barricade stop (which I ONLY use when obstacle portholes are too short for use with a bag)
- Advil
- Chapstick
- Electronic earpro (I did start using Bluetooth Walkers Silencer earbuds this season, and like them a lot)
Also not pictured – I keep a Dewey coated steel cleaning rod in my truck at all times, and have for years, and at many matches, it has been needed by other shooters to punch out a cartridge which failed to extract. I also keep a small bottle of lube in my truck, only because I’ve had the mess of bottles of lube leak in my match pack, and have had cans of lube spray explode in my truck – but at least if I have it nearby, I’m not totally out if something goes wrong.
Sure seems like a lot when I type it out, but in reality, it’s all small stuff with high utility, or stuff I use directly on every stage. I do also often hang a Wiebad pump pillow on the side of my pack, to kneel or sit on between stages or during lunch, but it adds bulk I don’t always need.
Unfortunately, I did completely fail to take photos the next day during the match – for which I really have no excuse, as we were squad 1 out of 5, on an 8 stage match, and we all took our merry time… so I had plenty of time, but was simply distracted with other things. I opened the match with a bad stage, dropping 6 points before I figured out I had 0.2mils extra elevation on my zero which I didn’t need, and then shot about 85% for the rest of the day, landing me at 80.8% for the match. Great weather and relatively low, but switching winds and a TON of mirage made the match challenging enough to be fun, but friendly enough to STAY fun. I was on squad with a bunch of great guys I shoot with often, so it made for a great day of shooting. Since I had only shot 2 other qualifying one day matches earlier this season, this filled my 3rd score for Regional standings, jumping me about 10 places in the rankings to secure me in the Regional Finals next weekend.