{"id":8208,"date":"2021-08-03T18:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T18:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=8208"},"modified":"2024-05-07T17:19:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T17:19:55","slug":"nrl22-competition-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/nrl22-competition-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL22 Competition Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most fun action sports out there is the National Rifle League .22 competition or NRL22. The National Rifle League is an organization dedicated to the growth and education of long-range precision shooting. Whether this sounds fun to you or you want to dip your toe in the water before shooting Precision Rifle Series (PRS), NRL22 is a unique style of competition that is fun for all ages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Competing: NRL22 Competition<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"a

NRL22 matches are a great place to start if you want to get into long-range precision shooting.<\/p><\/div>\n

NRL22 matches can be run at any 100-yard range so members can participate in local competitions to qualify for regional and national championships. This drastically lowers the barrier to entry that a lot of ranges have for hosting Precision Rifle Series competitions. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since the majority of ranges across America do not have 1000 yards to shoot across, NRL22 can be a way to find out if you enjoy shooting precision competitions before traveling to shoot competitions at a range that does have long-range distances available.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is great about NRL22 is their organization provides a <\/span>Steel Target Dimension Guide<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>Standard Barricade List<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>Monthly Course of Fire<\/span><\/a>, and everything you need to promote and run a competition. Compared to other competitions where match directors have to create and build stages, NRL22 does all of the work for you, besides the physical match setup.<\/span><\/p>\n

NRL22 Rules<\/b><\/h3>\n

No matter what shooting competition you decide to compete in, it is your responsibility to read the rule book before going to a competition. The <\/span>NRL22 Rules and Regulations<\/span><\/a> document is a great place to start before heading to a match.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most obvious rules is that all rifles must be chambered in <\/span>.22 Long Rifle<\/span><\/a>. Magnum and like rimfire cartridges are not allowed. It is required that whatever rifle you choose has a removable magazine rather than a fixed, tubular magazine since it\u2019s harder to make safe. Suppressors can also be used in these competitions. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you plan to compete in Precision Rifle Series in the future, it\u2019s a great idea to use a magnified rifle scope. I recommend one with externally adjustable turrets and reticles designed to assist in holdover and measurement so the transition is easier. However, any scope, iron, or electronic sights may be used in NRL22.<\/span><\/p>\n

Something unique about NRL22 is that competitors may compete in Air Rifle, Young Guns, OG\/Adaptive, or Ladies class with an air rifle (while meeting the other requirements for the class they plan to compete in).<\/span><\/p>\n

Competition Class Divisions<\/b><\/h4>\n

Similar to Precision Rifle Series, NRL22 designed its classes to make it easy for newer shooters to compete without breaking the bank while also leveling the playing field. There are six classes, beginning with the base class which is budget-friendly and a great place to start. NRL22 classes include:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. Base<\/li>\n
    2. Open<\/li>\n
    3. Air Rifle<\/li>\n
    4. Ladies<\/li>\n
    5. Young Guns (8-16)<\/li>\n
    6. Old Guns\/Adaptive<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n


      \nAny rifle system that comes in under a combined MSRP of $1,500 shall be eligible to compete in the Base class. This combined MSRP price is for the rifle and scope only. It excludes scope rings and bases, bipods, suppressors, data cardholders, magazines, spare magazine holders, auto bolt releases, aftermarket triggers, and extended magazine releases. Adjustments are also allowed in this division as well as adding rails of any type.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Open-class shooters have no restrictions on the rifle. If any shooter goes over the MSRP amount of $1,500, they get bumped into open class.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Air Rifle class is for air gunners. If the shooter chooses to use domed pellets the Air Rifle must be a .30\u00a0 caliber or lower. If the shooter chooses to use slugs, the Air Rifle must be a .25 caliber or lower and the slugs must weigh 45 grains or less. Projectiles must be mass-produced.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The Ladies’ class is for women shooters.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Age Specific Classes<\/h4>\n

      A Young Gun is defined as any shooter between ages 8-16. A parent or guardian must be present with the shooter. The Young Gun competitor must be able to operate their firearm safely without any hands-on assistance. Verbal coaching is allowed and encouraged for Young Guns.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The OG\/Adaptive class is available to any shooter older than 60 years old or any shooter that has special needs\/considerations. The Match Director will determine the special needs and hold a meeting with all of the OG\/Adaptive participants to discuss the course of fire and all agree on any changes\/scaling to accommodate the OG\/Adaptive class. An example would be utilizing a bench instead of shooting prone.<\/span><\/p>\n

      What About Equipment?<\/b><\/h2>\n
      \"The

      NRL22 matches use a variety of standard barricades including tires, ladders, and tank traps.<\/p><\/div>\n

      You can use any equipment in NRL22 unless a specific course of fire rules out using an item specifically. The only exception is tripods are never allowed. The sharing of equipment is allowed as well as slings to assist in unsupported positional shooting.<\/span><\/p>\n

      One of the best parts about shooting NRL22 is being able to use a variety of sizes, shapes, and weights when it comes to support bags. When you attend a local competition, ask fellow competitors if you can try their bags to see what you like and don\u2019t like. It\u2019s a good idea to grow your collection of bags so you can cater to specific courses of fire. When using a bipod on stages, you may consider buying a bipod that adjusts for height.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Choosing An NRL22 Rifle<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Similar to how the world of PRS works, an NRL22 rifle is best when it\u2019s a built gun vs. factory-bought. Remember too, you need to choose to compete in base class or open class, which will also help you choose your gun and scope according to the rules. I recommend building a chassis rifle. Specifically, one that is heavy, very similar to PRS as you want the rifle to rest well on props and barricades. In NRL22, you don\u2019t have to worry about recoil management, but you do want a gun that balances well and that you can attach items to.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Building A Bolt-Action<\/h4>\n

      If you want to build your own bolt action gun, for example, it\u2019s a simple and fun process. You need to pick out an action, barrel, trigger, and chassis. Some companies that make chassis for the sport include Modular Driven Technologies or MDT, which is what I use, XLR chassis, if you\u2019re into more wooden looks, WOOX makes a beautiful chassis. You also have Magpul, Manners, Boyds, and more. When it comes to barrels, you have options like Vudoo or Bartlein. Trigger options are endless from Triggertech to Timney triggers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      I invested in the MDT chassis you see here, and I actually purchased my barrel, action, and trigger from a friend of mine. While the barrel is a little short in terms of aesthetics, it works perfectly for me and was even a lot tested by Vudoo Gunworks with the Lapua ammunition that I prefer to run.<\/span><\/p>\n

      That being said, There are stock rifles that work well for this sport. H<\/span>ere’s a short list of stock rifles to get started with if you\u2019re not ready to build your own. Consider the following (with appropriate divisions listed):<\/strong><\/p>\n