Types of Rifle Competition: A Shooter’s Guide
Competitive rifle shooting comes in many forms, from precision long-range challenges to classic service rifle matches. Each discipline has its own rules, equipment, and style—but they all share the same focus on accuracy, consistency, and skill. Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular rifle competitions you’ll find across the U.S. and around the world.
PRS & NRL (Rimfire and Centerfire)
Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL) are fast-growing shooting sports. Competitors move through stages with targets at varying distances, often under time pressure.
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Centerfire PRS/NRL: Long-range precision shooting, typically from 300 to 1,200 yards.
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NRL22 Rimfire: Uses .22LR rifles out to 100–300 yards, making it affordable and accessible.
Extreme Long Range (ELR)
Extreme Long Range (ELR) competition takes precision rifle shooting to distances once thought impossible. While most long-range matches top out at 1,000 yards, ELR events stretch to 1,500 yards, one mile (1,760 yards), and often beyond 2,000 yards.
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Rifles: Custom-built, heavy rifles chambered in large-caliber cartridges such as .375 CheyTac, .416 Barrett, or other specialized wildcats.
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Targets: Oversized steel plates, often 36 inches or larger, placed at extreme distances.
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Challenge: Wind calls are everything — even a 1 mph shift can move a bullet feet off target at a mile. Shooters rely on ballistic computers, high-magnification optics, and meticulous handloads.
ELR is about pushing both shooter skill and equipment to the edge. Hearing steel ring at two miles is considered one of the ultimate achievements in the shooting sports.
F-Class & F-TR
F-Class is long-range prone shooting at paper bullseye targets, usually from 600 to 1,000 yards.
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F-Open: Any caliber under .35, with rests or bipods.
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F-TR (Target Rifle): Limited to .308 or .223 with a bipod and sling.
These matches are about pure precision and tight groups at extreme range.
Service Rifle & Match Highpower
Service Rifle matches use AR-15s or M1A rifles configured to military-style specs. Match Rifle Highpower allows more custom competition rifles. Shooters fire from multiple positions (standing, sitting, prone) at 200, 300, and 600 yards.
CMP Games
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Games celebrate historic military rifles like the M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, and M1 Carbine. These matches are about marksmanship and history, with simple courses of fire at shorter distances.
ISSF Smallbore & Air Rifle
The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) oversees Olympic-style shooting.
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Smallbore (.22LR): 50 meters, fired from prone, standing, and kneeling.
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Air Rifle: 10 meters, extremely precise, with athletes aiming for tiny decimal-scored bullseyes.
Long Gong
Rimfire Long Gong is a 300-yard challenge with .22LR rifles, hitting 8", 6", and 4" steel gongs for points. Centerfire versions stretch to 1,000 yards and beyond. It’s about ringing steel at distance with skill and consistency.
Rimfire & Centerfire Benchrest
Benchrest competition is all about ultimate accuracy. Rifles are fired from rests on benches, with the goal of printing the smallest possible group on paper. Rimfire matches are shot at 50–100 yards, while centerfire matches extend much farther.
Silhouette
In rifle silhouette, shooters knock down steel animal-shaped targets (chickens, pigs, turkeys, rams) at varying distances. Matches exist for both rimfire and centerfire rifles, testing precision and timing.
Air Rifle Field Target
In field target, air rifles are used outdoors to hit reactive targets at different distances, often between 10 and 55 yards. Shooters must account for wind, elevation, and small target zones.
CMP Sporter Air Rifle
CMP Sporter Air Rifle is designed as an affordable entry-level competition. Athletes use .177 caliber air rifles with minimal modifications at 10 meters. It’s popular in junior programs and schools, providing a great foundation in marksmanship.
CMP Rimfire Sporter
The goal is simple: test your marksmanship fundamentals in standing, sitting, and prone positions — just like in highpower Service Rifle — but with rimfire rifles that almost anyone can afford.
Get Involved in Rifle Competition
Whether you’re drawn to the precision of benchrest, the fast-paced stages of PRS, or the history of CMP Games, there’s a rifle discipline for everyone. These matches not only sharpen your marksmanship skills but also connect you with a community of shooters who share the same passion.
Creedmoor Sports carries the rifles, optics, ammo, rests, and gear you’ll need to get started in any of these competitions. Explore our lineup and take your shooting to the next level.
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Discipline |
Distance |
Rifle Type |
Target |
Style / Notes |
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300–1,200 yards |
Precision bolt or semi-auto rifles |
Steel plates at varying ranges |
Timed, positional shooting |
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25–300 yards |
.22LR rifles |
Small steel plates / gongs |
Affordable, scaled PRS format |
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1,500-2,500+ yards |
Custom heavy rifles, large calibers |
Steel plates (36" at 1 mile and beyond) |
Focus on extreme distance, wind reading critical |
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600–1,000 yards |
Custom precision rifles |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Prone, extreme precision |
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200–600 yards |
AR-15 / M1A (mil-spec configs) |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Standing, sitting, prone |
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200–600 yards |
Match-configured rifles |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Similar to service rifle, more equipment flexibility |
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100–200 yards |
Historic military rifles (Garand, Springfield, Carbine) |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Focus on tradition and history |
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50 meters |
.22LR precision rifles |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Olympic 3-position (prone, standing, kneeling) |
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10 meters |
.177 caliber precision air rifles |
Paper or or E-targets |
Olympic precision shooting |
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300 yards |
.22LR rifles |
Steel gongs (8", 6", 4") |
Hit-to-score format |
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Benchrest Rimfire |
50–100 yards |
.22LR rifles |
Paper targets (smallest groups) |
Pure accuracy sport |
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Benchrest Centerfire |
100–1,000 yards |
Precision centerfire rifles |
Paper targets (smallest groups) |
Ultimate precision |
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Silhouette |
40–500 meters (rimfire/CF) |
Rimfire & centerfire rifles |
Steel animals (chickens, pigs, turkeys, rams) |
Knockdown reactive targets |
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10–55 yards |
.177 / .22 air rifles |
Reactive targets w/ “kill zones” |
Outdoor, wind and elevation matter |
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10 meters |
.177 sporter air rifles |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Entry-level, affordable, popular in junior programs |
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25-50 yards |
.22LR rifles |
Paper bullseye or E-targets |
Entry-level, affordable |