• Please consider adding your "Event" to the Calendar located on our Home page!

PRS Rimfire vs NRL22

Just some observations about the differences between NRL22 and PRS rimfire as it relates to air guns. I know we have some non-US people in this sub-forum, so know that this is very US-centric. Also, know that I am by no means an expert about anything, these are just things that I have observed and pondered on. There are smarter and/or more active competitors around here that hopefully can add their observations and opinions.


NRL22 is air rifle friendly. They have a dedicated Air Rifle division. The air rifle winner of each monthly match is eligible for the monthly prize drawing. Shooting in the air rifle division let's you accrue points towards a National Championship invitation.

From an equipment stand point, NRL22 is great for air rifles. They allow slugs up to .35 caliber and up to 85 grains. The standard props are suitable for most typical air rifles with a front tank, the main exception being the middle rungs on the pyramid and shooting through the back of the folding chair like the February COF.

And the 100 yard format for the monthly COF as well as the typical 10-12 round count per stage makes this shootable with a variety of air rifles. But for the NRL22 X matches, you would want to have some high BC slugs ready to go for 300+ yard stages.



PRS rimfire is not really air rifle friendly. While they do have an Air Gun division, they do not give any slots to the regional or national finales. (they also don't have slots for semi-auto division). The top 80 Open division shooters and the top 15 Production division shooters get slots to Regionals. The top 30 Open and top 3 Production get a slot to Nationals. So if you wanted to get a slot to Nationals in PRS, you would need to compete in Open division and win a bunch of matches.

For equipment, they are more restrictive. Slugs or pellets in .22 and .25, weight limit of 49 grains. .30 is pellets only, 50 grain limit.

The courses for PRS Rimfire have some difficulties for air rifles as well. First is the ranges, which are typically 350+ yards. Secondly, of the 5 PRS rimfire matches I've shot this year so far, 3 matches at 2 different locations had barricades on some stages that were not shootable if you have a gun with a front bottle. The issue typically is a culvert or PRS barricade with a 5 inch high slot that you have to shoot through. You could squeeze the gun into the slot but couldn't see through the scope.

I've also heard from a well respected air gun shooter (not me, obviously) that some match directors for PRS rimfire matches are opposed to air rifles at their matches. They seem to be under the mistaken impression that the air rifle slugs will destroy their targets.

If you want to compete at precision rifle shooting with an airgun, there are some things you will need, common to NRL22 and PRS-R. You will need a gun that is accurate to 100 yards, that has a balance point 3 to 4 inches forward of the action, that uses at least 10 round magazines (12 is better (exactly 20% better)), and can shoot at least 15 shots before needing to be filled.

If you want to compete in NRL22 X matches or the NRL22 National Championship, you will need to stretch out to 300+ yards. So now we are looking at slugs, make sure your magazines can handle slugs.

If you want to compete in PRS rimfire matches, you need everything listed for NRL22 X matches, but remember that the slugs can only be .22 or .25, and no more than 49 grains. You will also want a slim fore end to squeeze into some barricades. And your scope choice will be important, since you will be shooting lower velocities than the rimfire shooters so there will be more drop for the far targets. And if you want to be competitive at a high level, you will be competing against high end rimfire guns shot by very good shooters. No, production class isn't an option for air guns. The only gun that would meet the price requirement for Production class would be something like an Avenge-X. No offense, but an Avenge-X is not going to compete against a decent CZ-457 at 300 yards.

So why shoot an air rifle for precision rifle matches? Well, the main reason is because air rifles are fun. And they can be much more "neighbor friendly" for more practice options. But the biggest factor is probably the ammo. Some of the slugs coming out now have much better BCs than 22lr bullets. And the price is very good as well. ATP Kings are going for $25 for 110 slugs. That's the same price as lower-mid tier 22lr ammo. The good 22lr ammo is at least $47 per 100. And with 22lr, you have to ammo test, and then lot test once you find the ammo your gun likes. All of the power is in the ammo, so if you want to shoot faster or slower you have to change to a different ammo and go back to the whole lot testing thing. With air guns, you can tune the gun to the ammo instead of the other way around.

In conclusion, NRL22 is currently better suited for air rifle competitors. Unfortunately, it's quite a drive to find NRL22 matches in some parts of the US, so PRS Rimfire is the only viable option for some of us. Hopefully PRS will update their air rifle rules to more accurately reflect the realty of shooting air rifles versus rimfire rifles.
 
Hopefully.

I feel like PRS intentionally makes it impossible for airguns to have a slot at the nationals to save space for the top rimfire shooters. They also probably feel that airguns are a joke in comparison, and have such low attendance, that they aren't worried about it.

It'd be interesting if someone would test the "destroying target" theory to see if it has merit or not. The steel targets definitely won't get dimpled but could possibly bend with heavier airgun projectiles going fast. However aren't high velocity 22rf - "1250 fps/140 fpe" allowed in either PRS and NRL?

I do know that the Altaros 60gr 25 cal slugs at 99 fpe will slam down a UFT target very hard, hard enough my friend who I was squaded with was laughing at this particular observation, but I seriously doubt any damage has occurred to them.

The better steel's used are AR500 which should be tough enough I'd think, maybe not??
Seems that after years of use the steel meant for closer distances, say 50Y or less, would need to be, bent back, repaired, or replaced, I don't know???

I'd like to see how well the very topmost placing 22rf shooters in these sports would do with the best tactical style airguns using those higher BC slugs?!
 
I agree with what you are saying. The match directors don't know or understand air rifles and aren't exposed to them, so it's an uphill battle of education.

I wouldn't put too much effort into testing the toughness of targets. We are shooting the same or slightly less power levels as rimfire, I think this is just one backwards match director that saw a youtube video of someone hunting pigs from a helicopter with an air rifle. I've never seen rimfire ammo checked at a match to see if someone was shooting something too hot or minimags or something, so I don't understand the weird restrictions on air rifle ammo.
 
Hopefully.

I feel like PRS intentionally makes it impossible for airguns to have a slot at the nationals to save space for the top rimfire shooters. They also probably feel that airguns are a joke in comparison, and have such low attendance, that they aren't worried about it.

It'd be interesting if someone would test the "destroying target" theory to see if it has merit or not. The steel targets definitely won't get dimpled but could possibly bend with heavier airgun projectiles going fast. However aren't high velocity 22rf - "1250 fps/140 fpe" allowed in either PRS and NRL?

I do know that the Altaros 60gr 25 cal slugs at 99 fpe will slam down a UFT target very hard, hard enough my friend who I was squaded with was laughing at this particular observation, but I seriously doubt any damage has occurred to them.

The better steel's used are AR500 which should be tough enough I'd think, maybe not??
Seems that after years of use the steel meant for closer distances, say 50Y or less, would need to be, bent back, repaired, or replaced, I don't know???

I'd like to see how well the very topmost placing 22rf shooters in these sports would do with the best tactical style airguns using those higher BC slugs?!
I have shot 45 caliber airguns at AR500 targets at 50 yards. It sends the target spinning, but no real damage. If they are worries about damaging targets they need better targets!
 
  • Like
Reactions: steve123
I have shot 45 caliber airguns at AR500 targets at 50 yards. It sends the target spinning, but no real damage. If they are worries about damaging targets they need better targets!

I have shot 45 caliber airguns at AR500 targets at 50 yards. It sends the target spinning, but no real damage. If they are worries about damaging targets they need better targets!
I have to agree with better targets.
    • In the PRS Rimfire Series, shooters primarily use rimfire cartridges. These cartridges are smaller in caliber compared to centerfire cartridges commonly used in other precision rifle competitions.
    • The specific rimfire calibers allowed can vary, but popular choices include .22 LR (Long Rifle) and .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire). These calibers offer excellent accuracy and are well-suited for precision shooting at shorter distances.
    • Shooters often customize their rifles with high-quality barrels, stocks, and optics to maximize accuracy within the rimfire constraints.
  1. Foot-Pounds of Energy (FPE):
    • FPE refers to the energy delivered by a projectile upon impact. It’s an important consideration for ethical and effective hunting or target shooting.
    • Rimfire cartridges typically have lower muzzle energy compared to centerfire cartridges. For example:
      • A typical .22 LR cartridge generates around 100-150 foot-pounds of energy (FPE) depending on the load.
      • A .17 HMR cartridge delivers approximately 250-300 FPE.
 
I have to agree with better targets.
    • In the PRS Rimfire Series, shooters primarily use rimfire cartridges. These cartridges are smaller in caliber compared to centerfire cartridges commonly used in other precision rifle competitions.
    • The specific rimfire calibers allowed can vary, but popular choices include .22 LR (Long Rifle) and .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire). These calibers offer excellent accuracy and are well-suited for precision shooting at shorter distances.
    • Shooters often customize their rifles with high-quality barrels, stocks, and optics to maximize accuracy within the rimfire constraints.
  1. Foot-Pounds of Energy (FPE):
    • FPE refers to the energy delivered by a projectile upon impact. It’s an important consideration for ethical and effective hunting or target shooting.
    • Rimfire cartridges typically have lower muzzle energy compared to centerfire cartridges. For example:
      • A typical .22 LR cartridge generates around 100-150 foot-pounds of energy (FPE) depending on the load.
      • A .17 HMR cartridge delivers approximately 250-300 FPE.
Not sure where you got this information, but .17HMR is definitely not allowed for PRS rimfire or NRL-22 matches.

And we don't need to keep focusing on the target thing, we know that air guns shooting at 70-100 FPE are not going to hurt a steel target any more than .22lr. The reason I brought it up was to show the ignorance of some match directors about air rifles.
 
Not sure where you got this information, but .17HMR is definitely not allowed for PRS rimfire or NRL-22 matches.

And we don't need to keep focusing on the target thing, we know that air guns shooting at 70-100 FPE are not going to hurt a steel target any more than .22lr. The reason I brought it up was to show the ignorance of some match directors about air rifles.
https://www.precisionrimfire.net/rules22-1124.htm, Not all PSR have the same rules.
 
I have shot prs rimfire a lot with 10/22, bergara, vudoos, cz and rim x guns and 100% agree that the PRS series doesn't care about air rifles one bit. Scott explained perfectly. I have dabbled with air rifles in prs and you are at a disadvantage from "time starts now". So I will not shoot prs series with air rifle. I have never been to a nrl22 match because none around me. Hopefully more will become available here in OK and I will do air rifle. If air rifle is your passion I would support NRL22 100%.
 
This is going to ruffle some feathers here...

But I dont think Air Rifles belong in PRS events. I think its ok to have something that is strictly made for rimfire precision competition at longer ranges. Air doesnt need to be involved in everything. Really you should be happy they allow Air at their matches at all. And they dont allow Air to take up finalists spots because they are not competitive with modern rimfire rigs, and Air is not the scope of the event anyway. Nobody went out and designed a match to keep out the Air guys. They started PRS to have something that was more accessible and cheaper to shoot when compared to the centerfire comps across the US. Air wasnt even on the radar back then, and honestly I dont know that it ever will be. Lapua Midas/CenterX (and similar) is common and has a rough G1 BC of 0.172. Not many Air slugs can come close, on top of the physical rifle limitations posed with the PRS style matches. Variety is the spice of life and there are plenty of Air matches to compete in. Its ok the Rimfire boys want their own event. Youd be crying in your cereal if they insisted on competing in every Air event in the country. I have a very well tuned FX slugger that I have had lots of fun with at extended ranges, but a precision 22lr it will never be.

And so far as targets go there are a handful of common factors when limiting equipment. AR500 steel is great, but very very expensive when compared to the mild steel used for rimfire matches across the country. There is also the fabrication and maintenance costs when using a steel like AR500. You cant just call your uncle up to bring over his tiny Lincoln mig welder to repair a cracked base for example. And most of these events are small time ranges with very limited budgets so mild steel is going to be at almost every event. They often literally have to resort to calling up a friend to weld repair on the cheap.

Mild steel both bends easier and swiss cheeses easier. Holes from velocity and bent targets from too much retained energy. When you dont put a limit on Air slugs, they get really heavy and retain a lot of energy. Hence the match directors concern for targets, and restrictions on slug parameters. All the competition 22lr ammo is basically the same so they know the targets wont be damaged. I have attended many many matches over the years, and have been involved in the repairing of steel targets. So I can tell you from experience the cost and time can be incredible. It can also permanently shut down a match location, Ive seen it happen more than once.

Count your blessing boys, there is a match out there for all your different toys.
 
  • Like
Reactions: woogie_man and Dog
Thanks for weighing in with your opinion. It's fine if you don't want to shoot air rifles for PRS matches, but it's irritating that you want to tell me what to shoot at PRS matches. Your opinion seems to be shared by the people that make the PRS rules since they are making the rules very unfavorable to air guns. For example, there is a slug that has a higher BC than most 22lr and it weighs 49.5 grains for the .25. Guess what the slug weight limit is for PRS. It's 49 grains.
I know about the origins of PRS rimfire and NRL-22. I know that accounting for air rifles was not on anyone's mind back then. I just wish that PRS was as willing as NRL to embrace us air weirdos.

As far as target damage from air rifles, that's nonsense. You have 30 guys at a match shooting 40 grain bullets at 1070 fps (102 fpe) but the one guy shooting 49 grain slugs at 930 fps (94 fpe) is tearing up the targets? EFT targets are shot with 100 fpe air rifles under 100 yards constantly and we aren't seeing a bunch of target damage, and they are not AR500 steel. There is already a limit on air rifle slugs, the barrels. You can't shoot the slugs accurately as fast as 22lr, most people are shooting them in the low to mid 900 fps range. And the PRS doesn't put a limit on 22lr, they just say "Standard velocity only" but they don't define what that is. I've never seen ammunition checked at a match but I've seen plenty of "hot" ammo being used, so they clearly only care about the air rifle ammunition.

Most of the PRS matches I attend have 20-40 shooters paying $50 each. I really don't want to hear those match directors crying about having to replace a couple of targets every now and then, and I certainly don't want them blaming the one air rifle shooter that comes out twice a year. (You can buy the entire NRL-22 target package in AR500 for $420, or the price of 15 boxes of Center-X). The guy putting on casual matches in his back pasture is free to limit equipment based on his targets or the proximity of his neighbors, but for regional and national matches I would like it if the PRS air rifle rules could more closely match the NRL-22 air gun rules.

There are plenty of things I don't like about the NRL-22 organization. I would much rather spend my time and money supporting PRS, but they sure are making it difficult to do that with an air rifle. So I'll keep hosting and attending NLR-22 matches and hope that the PRS sees air rifles as an opportunity for growth instead of something that they don't want to be involved with.
 
Im sorry but its clear to me you just simply dont understand everything involved. You are trying to over simplify something that has a lot of moving parts, and a lot of costs. If it bothers you so much maybe you can start your own internationally recognized PAS matches. That way you can tell all the rimfire boys they arent invited, or place ammo restrictions on them. Im curious do you also get upset that the trap or skeet comps dont allow air rifles either? This whole situation reminds me a lot about certain groups of people insisting they be allowed to compete in womens sports. Its ok for a group to have an exclusive competitive event. You can start your own if you want.

And as far as targets go, even the 22lr ammo has restrictions to prevent target damage. It has been that way for several decades. I think you need to revisit the principles of fps, fpe, bc, and retained energy if you dont understand how that can be an issue with slugs. I dont want to be argumentative, but I have a difficult time being told my first hand experience is all wrong/lies by someone that has not done.
 
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. And just so you know, I am currently hosting precision rifle matches and I encourage rimfire shooters as well as air rifle shooters to attend. I'm not interested in turning people away from shooting, I want more shooters and I want our national governing bodies to encourage more shooters. As a match director, I know what targets cost and what it costs to build props, and the hassle of having to fix targets in the middle of a shoot.

I wasn't trying to call you a liar, I guess we just have different experiences in regards to how targets get damaged. In my experience, targets have been getting damaged for decades but air rifles have only been in use at PRS events for two or three years. Also in my experience, in the last few years of shooting at high powered air gun matches, the targets are holding up much better than similar targets at rimfire matches. So you can see how I connected the dots of my experience.

To be fair, you did come in pretty hot about how we shouldn't be shooting air rifles for PRS in a section of an air rifle forum that is dedicated to shooting air rifles for PRS.