Precision Rifle Series (PRS)

Upcoming matches

11 events matching this sport’s disciplines. Discipline does not establish league affiliation. Coverage is partial; confirm dates and registration with the organizer.

1. Nov 7, 2026Listed date, not yet confirmed by the organizer
   Tactical Sniper Series DMRColemans Creek, Ellerbe, NC
   NC calendar →
2. Nov 8, 2026Listed date, not yet confirmed by the organizer
   Central Texas Precision Rifle Steel (500 yd) (session 5 of 6)Temple Gun Club, 3924 FM 438 Loop Rd, Temple, TX 76501
   TX calendar →
3. Nov 17, 2026Listed date, not yet confirmed by the organizer
   PR301-3 Day Advanced Precision Rifle CourseColemans Creek, Ellerbe, NC
   NC calendar →
4. Nov 18, 2026Registration closed
   2026 Precision Rifle SymposiumFresno Rifle & Pistol Club, 15687 Auberry Rd, Clovis, CA 93619
   CA calendar →
5. Nov 20, 2026Listed date, not yet confirmed by the organizer
   PRS1 - PRS Match Prep ClinicColemans Creek, Ellerbe, NC
   NC calendar →
6. Nov 21, 2026Listed date, not yet confirmed by the organizer
   PR201 - 2-Day Precision Rifle CourseColemans Creek, Ellerbe, NC
   NC calendar →

How a match works

1. Check in, confirm your registration, receive match materials and your squad assignment, then attend the mandatory safety briefing. PRS describes these as full-day events, with Pro Series matches running across two days. [3] [2]
2. Your squad is the small group you stay with as you rotate through the stages. There is shooting, downtime between stages and time to watch other competitors. [3]
3. At each stage, the Range Officer (RO) gives a brief covering the targets, shooting scenario and time limit. Each stage has its own instructions. [3] [1]
4. The RO asks, “Shooter do you understand the course of fire?” Answer yes or no and resolve questions before starting. “Load and/or make ready” is the preparation command, followed by “Stand by.” Start on the timer beep or the RO’s “Engage,” not on your own. [28] [29]
5. “Impact” means the RO has called a hit. “Miss” or wrong-target calls are optional at the Match Director’s discretion, so do not expect every miss to be called. “Time” ends the stage. At “Unload make weapon safe – insert chamber flag,” remove the magazine, empty the chamber and move the bolt to the rear; let the RO clear you off the line and insert the flag. [28] [29]
6. After shooting, review your stage score with the Range Officer before leaving. Centerfire rules can prevent a later score-change petition if you leave without reviewing or accepting the score. [3] [15]
7. Local centerfire Regional matches have a minimum of 8 stages and 65 rounds, each minimum waivable by the Regional Director. National two-day centerfire matches have a minimum of 15 stages and 150 rounds. These are rulebook minimums, not the ammunition count for every match. [14]
8. The Rimfire rulebook requires 8-12 stages and says matches should have 80 - 120 rounds. It recommends 10 stages and 80-100 rounds for one-day regional matches, and 12 stages and 120 rounds for regional finales. [17]

Where to compete

Use the official calendar to search by location, date and series, then follow a match’s registration link. PRS describes Regional matches as locally held centerfire events and Rimfire matches as local and regional. [4] [2]

• PRS match finder ↗
• Long-range shooting ranges
• PRS and long-range instruction
• Find a shooting range

Your first match

1. Choose a series. For local centerfire competition, start with the Regional Series recommended by PRS. Choose Rimfire for .22 LR and lower recoil, or Pro for a two-day national-level event. [2]
2. Find the match listing. Use the PRS match calendar and filter by location, date or series. Read the location, schedule, registration link and additional details for the event you choose. [4]
3. Register through that match’s link. Follow the registration link in the listing. PRS advises registering early because matches can fill quickly; its FAQ points full-match entrants to a waitlist. Membership is not required for a first entry. [4] [6]
4. Check the equipment division. Read the applicable centerfire or Rimfire rulebook. Centerfire Production and Rimfire Production have different price limits. PRS directs uncertain centerfire Production entrants to obtain written approval rather than relying on a universal approved-rifle list. [8] [18] [9]
5. Review the match information and pack. Review the match details, plan any necessary travel and pack the equipment listed below. Bring the published match round count plus the 20 to 40 additional rounds recommended by PRS. [4] [5] [6]
6. Check in and learn the stage flow. Attend the mandatory safety briefing and join your assigned squad. PRS welcomes entrants without competition experience, and you can attend alone. Ask about anything unclear before the stage starts; the Range Officer gives the stage brief. [3] [4]

Never fired a gun at a range? Start with your first range visit.

What to bring

Bring eye and hearing protection to your first match, even where a league only recommends it. Check the host’s requirements before you arrive.

Division-eligible rifleRequired

PRS lists a safe, reliable rifle as essential. Match the rifle to the centerfire or Rimfire division rules before entering. [5] [8] [18]

AmmunitionRequired

PRS lists ammunition as essential. Its FAQ recommends the match round count plus 20 to 40 additional rounds; use the match’s published count, not only the rulebook minimum. Rimfire Open and Production require commercially available standard velocity .22LR. [5] [6] [18]

OpticRequired

The PRS new competitor guide lists an optic with a solid zero among its required essentials. Production has separate optic-price limits for centerfire and a combined rifle-and-optic MSRP cap for Rimfire. [5] [8] [18]

Hearing protectionRequired

The new competitor guide identifies ear protection as required on the range. [5]

Chamber flag / empty chamber indicatorRequired

Both rulebooks require an empty chamber indicator fully inserted into the chamber, not merely the opening behind it. Keep it in place until the RO’s “Load and make ready” command. [15] [30] [31]

Eye protectionRequired

Bring eye protection: West Bend Barton Sportsman’s Club requires Eyes/Ears for its Rimfire matches. The PRS newcomer guide’s essential-equipment list names ear protection; check the specific match’s requirements for eye protection. [24] [5]

Bipod and rear bagOptional

PRS describes these as optional supports used for stability in many shooting positions. [5]

Data card or ballistics appOptional

Listed as optional by PRS for tracking elevation and wind information. [5]

RangefinderOptional

PRS lists it as useful for practice and some match formats, not a universal first-match requirement. [5]

Weather meterOptional

PRS lists a Kestrel or weather meter as optional for environmental data. [5]

TripodOptional

PRS lists it as optional for spotting or certain stage setups. [5]

What it costs

2026 U.S. Pro membership

$110/ year for adults; $55 / year for juniors. [20]

2026 U.S. Regional membership

$60 / year for adults; $35 / year for juniors. [20]

2026 U.S. Rimfire membership

$55 / year for adults; $25 / year for juniors. [20]

2026 adult combinations

Pro + Regional: $155 / year. Regional + Rimfire: $105 / year. Pro + Regional + Rimfire: $195 / year. [20]

An actual Rimfire entry-fee example

West Bend Barton Sportsman’s Club publishes a $30 match cost for its PRS Rimfire program with a 2026 schedule. Juniors / Young Guns (under 18) shoot free and must be accompanied by an adult. This is that club’s price, not a PRS-wide fee. [24]

Renewal and score timing

Membership covers the purchased season and does not renew automatically. For 2026, the initial grace period ended February 15th; after it, membership purchased within 7 days of a match lets that match’s points count. Waiting longer leaves the match associated with the account but excludes its points from standings. [20]

How scoring works

In centerfire and Rimfire matches, one impact on a target earns one point. The rules prohibit half points, double points, extra values for harder targets, bonus points and point deductions. Those match points are distinct from the normalized PRS points used for season standings. [12] [19] [13]

• Regional centerfire and Pro divisions other than Open use: shooter’s score ÷ division winner’s score × 100, rounded to 3 decimal places. The rulebook example is 89 impacts against the winner’s 105: 84.762 PRS points. Rimfire also normalizes by division, with an exception: an overall match winner from Production, Airgun or Semi-Auto receives 100 points in both Open and their own division; the next Open shooter’s points are based on that overall winner’s score. [13] [19] [26]
• Pro Open and the Lady, Junior, Senior, Mil/LE and Suppressor categories use hybrid points: an average of impact percentage and a score based on finishing place. The rulebook’s example is 165 impacts against 182 and 9th among 155 shooters: 90.659 impact points, 94.805 placement points and 92.732 hybrid points. [13]
• Centerfire regular-season points are the sum of your three best match scores. Finale qualification requires three scores including at least one PRS Qualifier; if you compete in multiple divisions, you need a qualifier in each division you want to qualify in. The Pro Series Finale counts for 40% of the season total. [13] [22]
• The Regional Series page says the centerfire Regional Finale is 60% of the season total. Updated §9.2 in the centerfire rulebook’s Pro Finale section still says the finale counts for 40% “in all Series and Divisions.” The sources do not reconcile that broader wording. Confirm the Regional weighting with PRS before calculating a championship total. [23] [33]
• Rimfire regular-season points also use your three best match scores, including a qualifier for a Regional Finale invitation. The Rimfire Regional Finale is worth 25% of the season total going into the National Championship. National invitations are based on standings after the regional finales. [19]
• Every two-day centerfire major has a PRS Skills Stage for tie breaking: tied shooters are compared by its score, then time. It is not required at ordinary Regional one-day matches but is required at Regional championship finales. Every Rimfire match has a timed tie-breaker stage designated by the Match Director. [12] [19]
• Rimfire club standings track all participating shooters. Current Rimfire membership is needed for regional series standings and eligibility for Regional and National Rimfire Finales. [19] [26]

Divisions and classes

Centerfire Open

The flexible bolt-gun division. The rulebook limits caliber to .30 and velocity to 3,200 fps, with +/- 32 fps for environmental factors and equipment discrepancies. Regional Directors may approve case-by-case changes to national caliber, speed and weight restrictions. [8] [9] [21]

Centerfire Production

A publicly available rifle in its original manufacturer’s configuration, with manufacturer eligibility requirements. Rifle price must not exceed $3,000 USD and optic price $2,500 USD as listed on the company’s website. Discontinued rifles meeting the limits before discontinuation remain eligible; qualifying rifles purchased before a later price rise can remain eligible with purchase-date documentation submitted to PRS. Shooters already competing with Production rifles under the old rules may continue under the grandfathering clause. Production shoots the same course as Open. Check the complete rules and obtain written PRS approval if uncertain. [9] [8]

Centerfire Tactical

Restricted to .308 Winchester and 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington. The .223/5.56 limit is 77 grains and 3,000 fps (+/- 30 fps); .308/7.62 is 178 grains and 2,800 fps (+/- 28 fps), with the tolerances for environmental factors and equipment discrepancies. Modified wildcats such as .223 Ackley Improved are not permitted. [8]

Centerfire Gas Gun

For large- or small-frame semi-automatic precision rifles. The caliber and velocity limits are .30 and 3,200 fps. [8]

Centerfire Sportsman

For 6.5 Creedmoor only, at no more than 3,200 fps. Factory, custom and factory-modified rifles are allowed. The 13 pounds, 0 ounces limit includes rifle, optic, muzzle device, bipod, empty magazine and detachable accessories. Suppressor Only matches allow an additional 12 oz, for 13lbs and 12oz; the weighed setup includes the suppressor cover and accessories, and the suppressor must retain its factory configuration. You must compete in the weighed configuration or lighter, using the competition magazine for weigh-in; a front plate or plate bag cannot be added. [10]

Rimfire Open

For .22 Long Rifle using commercially available standard velocity .22LR ammunition. This is a separate Rimfire division, not centerfire Open. [18]

Rimfire Production

For 2026, rifle and optic together must not exceed a combined MSRP of $1820 USD. For currently produced equipment, MSRP is set as of September 1, 2025: later reductions are valid, but later increases do not change the controlling MSRP for the season. The shooter must document both MSRPs. The factory-configuration rules also apply. Discontinued models need documented MSRP, purchase date and written PRS Rimfire Director approval, subject to 2% compounding interest MSRP calculation from purchase; approval can be rescinded. Production shoots the same course as Open. [18] [25]

Rimfire Semi-Auto

For semi-automatic precision .22 rimfire rifles, with no price restriction. [18]

Rimfire Airgun

For compressed-air rifles with no price restriction. Mass-produced .22 and .25 pellets or slugs may weigh at most 49 grains; .30 is limited to mass-produced pellets at most 50 grains, with no slugs. Airguns must follow the same projectile-speed restrictions as other Rimfire divisions. Tethered tanks are not allowed. [40]

Classification

A division groups rifle setups; a class groups prior performance. Pro classes use the previous season’s pre-finale series score: Professional, first 20%; Semi-Professional, next 25%; Marksman, next 25%; Amateur, remaining shooters (about 30%). Three Pro scores are needed for calculation. Without a previous year-end series score, a shooter is unclassed (UNC), not automatically Amateur. Classes are recalculated yearly, but shooters retain their highest earned class. The centerfire book makes Regional implementation conditional on a region reaching 400–500 shooters. Rimfire has its own classification system, conditional on each region reaching 200–300 paid members. Its brackets are the same percentages, using Rimfire rather than Pro scores. [21] [11] [34]

Safety rules

• PRS places safety above scoring. Its centerfire and Rimfire rulebooks make safety everyone’s responsibility and allow anyone who observes an unsafe act to call a cease fire. Read the complete safety standards and attend the match briefing; this page is not a substitute for either. [15] [17] [3]
• A cold range means firearms stay unloaded until it is your turn to shoot. Outside an active stage, keep the magazine out and a chamber indicator fully inserted. The Match Director is the authority for match rules, safety and enforcement. [15] [31]
• Keep the muzzle within 60 degrees either side of the direction of fire: the 120-degree rule. Move between shooting positions with the bolt open and chamber empty. A semi-automatic exception requires the Match Director’s approval; if allowed to move with a loaded rifle, put it on safe and audibly say “Safe” before moving. [30] [31]
• A first 120-degree violation disqualifies you from that stage; a second disqualifies you from the match. Flagging—pointing the muzzle at something you do not wish to destroy—gets a warning for the first offense and match disqualification for the second. The Match Director may impose a more severe penalty when warranted. [30] [31] [38] [39]
• Violating the cold-range rule means immediate match disqualification. Missing the chamber indicator earns a warning, then match disqualification for a second offense. Accidental or negligent discharges normally mean immediate match disqualification; the rulebooks provide a Match Director-discretion exception for a proven broken or defective part, which must be presented for inspection immediately, before leaving the stage. [30] [31] [38] [39]
• For bolt-action movement with a chambered round or closed bolt, the first offense stops you: clear the chamber and return to the last shooting position while the timer keeps running. The second offense disqualifies you from the stage; the third removes you from the match. These consequences are not a substitute for moving with an open bolt and empty chamber. [30] [31] [38] [39]
• At “Cease Fire,” stop firing and make the firearm safe. Do the same at “Time,” when the stage time expires. Anyone observing an unsafe act may call a cease fire; do not wait for a scoring decision. [28] [29] [15] [17]

Match levels and major events

• Regional Series: one-day centerfire matches held locally, with regional standings and a Regional Finale. PRS describes this path as more accessible for time, travel and cost. [2] [23]
• Pro Series: national-level two-day centerfire matches in the U.S. and Canada. PRS describes roughly 50 two-day matches in its circuit, culminating in the Pro Series Finale. [2] [22]
• Rimfire Series: local and regional .22 LR matches, Regional Finales and a National Rimfire Finale. The same style of positional stages is used at lower recoil. [2] [19]
• PRS also oversees international precision rifle competition. The U.S. centerfire and Rimfire competitions discussed here have separate rulebooks with different equipment and scoring rules. [1] [7] [17]

Major events

PRS Pro Series Finale ↗

The centerfire Pro season championship is worth 40% of the season total. Updated 2026 invitations use the top 150 qualified Open shooters, excluding other top divisional shooters represented there. Tactical, Production, Gas Gun and Sportsman each have a top-10 pathway requiring at least 280 divisional points. A qualifier in the relevant division or category is required. Separate category, classification, Regional and other invitation pathways also exist; use the full rulebook rather than assuming these divisional cutoffs are the complete invitation list. [22] [33]

PRS Regional Finales ↗

The centerfire Regional season ends with a Regional Finale. Qualification requires three match scores including a qualifier. The official Regional Series page provides matches and standings; PRS’s published finale weighting conflicts with the linked rulebook, as noted in the scoring section. [23] [13]

PRS National Rimfire Finale ↗

The Rimfire season leads through Regional Finales to a National Championship. The rulebook bases national invitations on regional standings after finale scores are added. The September 7, 2026 announcement described multiple invitation pathways and a September 22 final round for paid members, only if the match had not filled. That date has passed; it is not a promise of current entry. Follow the official event links for details. [19] [27]

2026 Southwest Regional Finale ↗

The official PRS calendar lists October 9–10, 2026 in Kingman, Arizona. Follow the event’s own registration link for its current schedule and entry details. [35]

West Bend Barton 2026 Rimfire matches ↗

The club’s remaining published 2026 dates are October 31 and December 13. Check-in and the zero range run from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m.; the mandatory briefing is at 8:45 a.m. and shooting starts at 9:00 a.m. Missing that briefing makes you ineligible to participate. Check the host listing before making plans. [36]

Common questions

Glossary

PRS

Precision Rifle Series: the long-range rifle sport and the organization providing its competition structure and rankings. [1]

Stage

One shooting scenario in a match, with its own instructions, targets and time limit. [3]

Course of fire (COF)

The shooting course described in the match book; individual match directors design it around their terrain, props and challenges. [1] [15]

Squad

The small group of shooters that stays together and rotates through stages. [3]

Range Officer (RO)

The stage official who gives the brief and records the shooter’s score. [3]

Match Director (MD)

The authority for match rules, safety and enforcement. [15]

Impact

A hit on a target, worth one match point. [12] [19]

PRS points

Normalized match performance used for season standings; the formula depends on the series and division. [13] [19]

Division

An equipment grouping, such as centerfire Tactical or Rimfire Production. [21] [8] [18]

Category

An additional competitor grouping. PRS lists Lady, Junior, Senior, Military/Law Enforcement, Suppressor and International for centerfire; Rimfire category eligibility differs. [21] [18]

Classification

A performance grouping such as Pro, Semi-Pro, Marksman or Amateur, distinct from the equipment division. Pro and Rimfire use their own season scores. Unclassed (UNC) means no previous year-end series score. [11] [34]

Qualifier

A designated match needed for finale qualification. Centerfire and Rimfire qualification rules require at least one qualifier among three match scores. [13] [19]

Finale

A season-ending championship. The Pro Series, centerfire Regional Series and Rimfire pathway have their own finales. [2] [22] [23] [19]

MSRP

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, the cost basis used for the Rimfire Production rifle-and-optic cap. [18]

ECI

Empty Chamber Indicator: a chamber flag or equivalent indicator fully inserted into the chamber. Both rulebooks require it outside active shooting. [15] [31]

Cold range

A range where firearms stay unloaded until it is the competitor’s turn to shoot. [15]

120-degree rule

The muzzle may not point more than 60 degrees either side of the direction of fire. [30] [31]

DQ

Disqualification. A stage DQ removes you from that stage; a match DQ removes you from the competition. [38] [39]

Watch and read

• PRS new competitor guide and official video lessons ↗Page · Precision Rifle Series
• Precision Rifle Series official YouTube channel ↗Video · Precision Rifle Series
• 2026 Rimfire National Championship invitation announcement ↗Page · Precision Rifle Series

Related sports

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• NRA High Power Rifle
• CMP matches
• Olympic shooting
• Compare every league

Sources

Facts checked October 4, 2026 against the sources below. Each bracketed number on the page links to its source.

1. [1]
   What PRS isprecisionrifleseries.com
2. [2]
   New competitor guide: choosing a seriesprecisionrifleseries.com
3. [3]
   New competitor guide: stages and match dayprecisionrifleseries.com
4. [4]
   New competitor guide: finding a match and membershipprecisionrifleseries.com
5. [5]
   New competitor guide: required and optional equipmentprecisionrifleseries.com
6. [6]
   PRS FAQs: equipment, ammunition and participationprecisionrifleseries.com
7. [7]
   2026 PRS Rules & Standard Operating Procedures: editions3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
8. [8]
   2026 centerfire rules: Open, Tactical, Production and Gas Guns3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
9. [9]
   2026 centerfire rules: Production eligibility and Regional variationss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
10. [10]
    2026 centerfire rules: Sportsman divisions3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
11. [11]
    2026 centerfire rules: categories and classifications3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
12. [12]
    2026 centerfire rules: match points and tie breakerss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
13. [13]
    2026 centerfire rules: PRS points and season standingss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
14. [14]
    2026 centerfire rules: stage and round minimumss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
15. [15]
    2026 centerfire rules: safety authority and score reviews3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
16. [16]
    2026 centerfire rules: coaching on the clocks3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
17. [17]
    2026 PRS Rimfire Rules & Standard Operating Procedures: edition and match formats3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
18. [18]
    2026 rimfire rules: divisions and Production MSRPs3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
19. [19]
    2026 rimfire rules: scoring, season points and finaless3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
20. [20]
    2026 U.S. PRS memberships and renewal termsimpactscoring.net
21. [21]
    New competitor guide: divisions, categories and classesprecisionrifleseries.com
22. [22]
    PRS Pro Series: matches and championshipprecisionrifleseries.com
23. [23]
    PRS Regional Series: season format and conflicting finale weightprecisionrifleseries.com
24. [24]
    West Bend Barton Sportsman’s Club: PRS Rimfire entry feewbbsc.com
25. [25]
    2026 rimfire rules: factory configuration and discontinued modelss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
26. [26]
    2026 rimfire rules: division winners and membership trackings3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
27. [27]
    2026 Rimfire National Championship invites and squadding informationprecisionrifleseries.com
28. [28]
    2026 centerfire rules: Range Officer commandss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
29. [29]
    2026 Rimfire rules: Range Officer commandss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
30. [30]
    2026 centerfire rules: muzzle control, movement and safety penaltiess3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
31. [31]
    2026 Rimfire rules: chamber indicators, movement and safety penaltiess3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
32. [32]
    2026 Rimfire rules: category eligibility and junior coachings3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
33. [33]
    2026 centerfire rules: updated Pro Finale invitation processs3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
34. [34]
    2026 Rimfire rules: conditional classification implementations3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
35. [35]
    2026 Southwest Regional Finale: official calendar listingprecisionrifleseries.com
36. [36]
    West Bend Barton Sportsman’s Club: remaining 2026 Rimfire dateswbbsc.com
37. [37]
    2026 centerfire rules: Mil/LE, Lady, International and Suppressor eligibilitys3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
38. [38]
    2026 centerfire rules: safety warnings and disqualificationss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
39. [39]
    2026 Rimfire rules: safety warnings and disqualificationss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
40. [40]
    2026 Rimfire rules: Airgun projectile restrictionss3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com

Inclusion is not an endorsement. Send a source or correction.