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Is PRS Rimfire Getting Too Easy?

Precision Rifle Series PRS

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In this episode of the PRS podcast, Gregg Stewart joins us to talk about the current state of PRS Rimfire, the road to the National Championship, how regional finales and qualifying points work, and where the series could go from here.

We break down exactly what shooters need to do to qualify for their regional finale, how those results impact the National Championship standings, and how invitations to Nationals will roll out.

Then we get into a bigger conversation: should PRS Rimfire matches be harder?

We talk about the importance of challenging shooters, developing better wind-reading and decision-making skills, and even float the idea of a separate "Punisher Series" built around tougher one-day rimfire matches.

We also cover:

• How to qualify for a PRS Rimfire Regional Finale
• The path to the PRS Rimfire National Championship
• Regional finale points and national standings
• PRS hybrid scoring and whether it belongs in Rimfire
• How National Championship invites will work
• What to expect at K&M for Nationals
• Why harder matches can create better shooters
• The idea for a PRS Rimfire "Punisher Series"
• Upcoming regional championships and shooters to watch
• The Anschutz 1727 rifle giveaway

Whether you're chasing a PRS Rimfire National Championship, shooting your local club matches, or just getting into precision rimfire competition, this episode gives you a look at where the series stands today—and where it could be headed next.

Subscribe for more PRS Rimfire conversations, match breakdowns, championship coverage, and discussions with some of the best shooters in precision rifle competition.

Chapters:
00:00 PRS Rimfire Championship Season Preview
3:30 How to Qualify for PRS Rimfire Nationals
11:59 PRS Rimfire Scoring & Regional Finale Points
28:06 National Championship Invites & K&M Preview
38:02 Are PRS Rimfire Matches Getting Too Easy?
45:24 Regional Championships, Shooters to Watch & Nationals

#PRSRimfire #PrecisionRifle #Rimfire #PRS #PrecisionRifleSeries #22LR

20 Comments

@andykahrs5639 1 month ago

I'm all about a Punisher series, I'm in. I can't agree more, need tougher matches to get better as a shooter.

@roadtoprecision 1 month ago

I'd love to see matches get tougher. I think the winner should always be 90% or lower. Closer to 80-85%. But not necessarily a separate season for it. Just push the MDs towards it. I hear all the time that if new shooters don't shoot at least 50% they won't come back. Not sure if that is true or not. But one thing to agree on is more Rimfire talk on the PRS channel! Gregg is perfect for this.

@TheDarkMajin_ 1 month ago (edited)

@GregStewart, you should make it your goal to attend a few matches in all regions. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of how matches are conducted. However, it might be a lot to learn before you guys start making changes. As our regional director mentioned, they keep making changes and doing things their way because we keep showing up to the matches. It might be the time to take a break until you guys can make PRS great again. 😂

@TheDarkMajin_ 1 month ago (edited)

It would be great if PRS did more to support the shooters at nationals, beyond what the sponsors contribute. He aims to have at least 300 shooters with a match fee of at least $250, which would amount to around $75,000 for the first-place winner to receive a $2,000 check. It’s quite impressive how Greg Stewart is a very smart man. By the way, how do you select the regional directors? Do they receive a salary, or would PRS prefer to have volunteers, which would result in less financial support?

@TNTprecision 1 month ago (edited)

Central region gets any harder no one‘s gonna ever hit targets lol need to keep the top shooters around 95 to 90%, and remember we still need to grow the sport and encourage new shooters to join matches and making it to where they’re only hitting a handful of targets is not the way to do it. I think a national time limit does need to be enforced no more 2 min matches here, 90 seconds here 1.45 there. Pick one and everyone sticks to it.

The scoring system is what’s gonna discourage people from shooting more matches when you go into the finale down 20 to 30 shots it’s gonna have a lot of people thinking what’s the point. I don’t know the solution, but I know there needs to be a fix.

@jkelly295 1 month ago

Great content. I think the matches in the Southeast are fair in difficulty. Looking forward to Regionals and hopefully Nationals at Finger, TN. I love the Rimfire division.

@travis.holder 1 month ago

Punisher series sounds awesome. Also, more 2 day matches! These 2 day USPRA qualifiers have been a blast.

@GoochiShoots 1 month ago

Greg is not in the minority. There is a large group of rimfire shooters that want to shoot harder matches.

@sgdwoody 1 month ago

First I want to say thank you for covering PRS Rimfire. I’m an MD in the northwest, we struggle with getting shooters at our matches. We have to balance difficulty and the shooters that are showing up. In a lot a way Rimfire is the stepping stone to centerfire. If we make it to extreme 30% of our shooters just won’t show up. That’s tough if we are only getting 15 shooters. The qualifiers are where we can really turn up the heat. Just like all MDs, we are trying to put on a challenging and fulfilling match for our shooters.

It would be great to have resources to learn how to a better job, other than just shooting other people’s matches.

That’s my 2 cents. I like the punisher idea too.

@williamkaliden28 1 month ago

I shoot in the New England Rimfire and Centerfire region. I personally prefer PRS!
Unfortunately we seem to be losing a bunch of shooters to 22NRL. Not sure why. I like showing up and getting a matchbook and making a stage game plan.
Some of the guys like watching the 22NRL COF on YouTube and practicing all of the stages in their basement. 🤷🏻‍♂️. Guys like the classifications that they earn like a game from 22NRL.
Hopefully we can attract more rimfire PRS shooters in New England.

@jonbibb4208 1 month ago

The Sw region matches are not easy in my opinion. Every now and then there might be a slightly easier one. But overall very competitive and mental challenging

@Tomr-jr3hl 1 month ago

I didn’t know stone cold Steve Austin did prs 😮

@clintinge2704 1 month ago

I’m all for a punisher series! Anything Rimfire… wish we could get more 2 day matches for Rimfire besides the finale. Other than that…I’m just here for the ride!

@maker_greg 1 month ago

My club in the SF bay area is in the process of getting ready to host prs rimfire matches for the 2027 season in the sw region. We've been hosting NRL22 but just had our first prs rimfire test match on August 1st. Our winner got 74.44% so I think we're probably gonna have to make our targets slightly bigger but otherwise I think everyone had fun and we proved we can host a good match. Really looking forward to helping grow the norcal rimfire community.

@adammorgan7166 1 month ago

@GregStewart How are you going to call for harder matches while limiting distance and mandating target sizes? While ALSO suspending ranges who put on hard matches and point out the hypocrisy? You remind me of Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever.

@chadray1753 1 month ago

More of a pro series/punisher would be great. Having it a separate series would be a nice thing. Your regional matches would be the farm league for the punisher/pro series

@dstroud5800 1 month ago

K&M is such a pristine facility….I am curious how they will handle getting all the rimfire brass picked up and still keep the flow going. Hope to be there if I make the cut!

@C_Doucet 1 month ago

Bring hybrid scoring to rimfire please!

@shawnanderson286 1 month ago

I haven't had a chance to shoot a PRS Rimfire match yet. I agree thank you for covering the Rimfire side also, Centerfire, Prsuit and Rimfire should all have time on the show. The rimfire matches I have shot in my opinion need to take the support side shooting out of the matches, it unsafe, unethical shot especially as you get older. Also, the 1/4" target is questionable unless it's at 35 yards or so. It's easy at 50 yards if you have an upper end gun but if not the gun simply not acuate enough, Separator stage? The Rimfire matches I've shot are slowly moving to where the PRS Pro Series is now, solid props and not a head game. If the Rimfire matches can run like the PRO Series you will be fine, I hope it grows.

@TNTprecision 1 month ago

I get what Greg was saying about placement didn’t change but the score difference does. Top 10 should be competitively close for the finale not a snowballs chance in hell lol. Hybrid scoring would work great I feel, also rimfire have just as much skin in the game as centerfire does minus the cost of bullets.