Why it matters: PRS has evolved from weekend fun shoots to a sport where guys are dropping serious coin and vacation days to stay competitive—and the skill gap between casual and serious is widening fast.

I've watched this transformation firsthand since the early days. What started as a handful of matches for long-range nerds has turned into a global competition scene that'll humble even seasoned shooters.

The big picture: We're talking about 13,000+ competitors in 2024, spread across over 400 matches worldwide. That's not a niche hobby anymore—that's a legitimate shooting sport.

From 12 Matches to Global Domination

Back in 2014, you could shoot every PRS match if you had the time and gas money—all 12 of them. Now? Good luck keeping up with 400+ matches across three series.

The Pro Series is where reputations get made and egos get crushed. Two days, 200+ rounds, targets from 300 to 1,000 yards. Over 2,000 shooters tried their luck in 2024, with matches now running from Europe to your local state.

The Regional Series brought PRS to the masses in 2017—one-day events that don't require a second mortgage. Nearly 7,000 shooters competed in 2024 because not everyone can afford to chase the Pro circuit.

The Rimfire Series might be the smartest addition yet. Same challenges, .22 LR costs, shorter distances. Over 4,000 shooters figured out they could practice PRS skills without selling plasma for match ammo.

Competition Level Reaches New Heights

Between the lines: That guy who used to clean house at your local matches? He's probably getting smoked by teenagers with fresh glass and unlimited practice time.

A top-10 finish from 2015 wouldn't crack the top-50 today. The margins prove it—60% of 2024 Pro Series matches were decided by two points or less. Seven ended in ties after two full days of shooting.

Top-10 shooter Nathan Toungate puts it bluntly: "If you take 6-12 months off, it's unlikely you'll ever come back to the same level you left." That's not hyperbole—that's the new reality.

Tougher Standards, Better Shooters

Match directors aren't making it easier. The PRS Skills Stage that used to separate the wheat from the chaff? Now it's:

• 25% more shots in the same 90 seconds
• Two targets instead of one
• Targets 20-40% smaller than the originals

Elite shooters are cleaning these stages with time left over. The bar keeps rising because the shooters keep getting better.

By the numbers: Making the top 150 for the PRS Finale required 268 points in 2024. That same score would've put you in the top 50 in 2017, top 20 in 2014.

The Price of Excellence

What this means for you: If you're serious about competing at the top level, plan on 13+ matches annually. That's travel, lodging, match fees, and enough ammo to make your credit card company nervous.

Top-20 finishers averaged over 13 professional-level matches in 2024—regular season events, PRS Finale, AG Cup, potentially IPRF World Championship. There are no shortcuts to world-class precision rifle performance, and your wallet will remind you of that fact.

The bottom line: PRS growth reflects what's happening across precision shooting—equipment's better, training methods have evolved, and the competitive standard keeps climbing. Regional and Rimfire series offer accessible entry points, but staying competitive at the top requires the kind of commitment that makes your spouse question your priorities.

With international expansion just getting started in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, we might be looking at the tip of the iceberg. The sport that started as a few guys with rifles and rangefinders has turned into something that could give traditional shooting sports a run for their money.

Read the original article in The Handbook | By BGC Staff

Join the Discussion

With PRS matches getting so tight at the pro level, are you more interested in chasing competition now than you were a few years ago, or does the skill gap make it feel less approachable?