Equipment news for precision disciplines, with background on support systems and competition formats. Suitable designs and permitted equipment depend on the activity and its rules.
The new Compact model is aimed at PRS, PRS-22 and NRL shooters, among others. MDT specifies a height range of approximately 117 to 302 mm and a weight of around 567 g for the AP-head version. Its launch in the US, Canada and Europe was announced for 4 September.
In F-Class, shots are scored on targets with scoring rings. The rifle has an optical sight and is supported in accordance with the rules of its class. The course of fire is more standardised than in a PRS competition with changing tasks, so the results of the two sports cannot be compared directly.
Benchrest is shot from a bench using approved rests. Depending on the competition, scoring is based on group size, scoring rings or both. This distinguishes benchrest from F-Class as well as competitions with changing tasks.
6 mm BR Norma, 6 mm Dasher and 6 mm Creedmoor belong to a similar bullet-diameter class, but are different cartridges. They differ in case shape, development history and technical standards, among other things, and are not interchangeable. Each cartridge type also covers different bullets and performance figures.
A precision rifle is intended to deliver consistent results. Its barrel, bolt, receiver, stock and sights must work together. The name alone guarantees neither a particular group size nor a fixed range. Even an expensive or extensively equipped rifle needs to demonstrate its performance under clearly described conditions.
When several shots land close together, they form a small group. That does not necessarily mean the group is where it was intended to be. Imagine closely spaced dots beside the centre of a target: the dots are close together, but the whole group is off centre. A report should describe these two qualities separately.