The landscape of competitive precision rifle shooting is evolving, with several top-ranked Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooters now achieving success without handloading their match ammunition. While custom reloading has long been considered essential for peak performance, a recent review of what the pros use reveals a shift, highlighting specific factory ammunition providers trusted by competitors, even out to 1,000+ yards.
Among the notable providers, Clay’s Cartridge Company supports four shooters in the top 50, including #4 Clay Blackketter, #27 Dave Preston, #39 Jimmy Moore, and #48 Tate Streater. Owned by Clay Blackketter, a 2019 PRS Season Champion and perennial top-5 finisher, the company supplies ammunition for cartridges such as 6mm BR, 6mm Dasher, and 25x47 Lapua. Shooters using Clay's Cartridge Company ammo reported an impressive average 10-shot standard deviation (SD) of 4.0 fps. Average 5-shot group sizes were reported between 0.1 MOA and 0.4 MOA, averaging 0.3 MOA. The company offers standard loads for common PRS cartridges and a custom service, including load development with a customer's rifle.
Phalanx Arms also has four shooters in the top 200, notably #19 Matt Caruso, who currently ranks 4th in the 2025 season standings. Phalanx Arms is led by pro shooter Mike Burdis, who has achieved podium finishes in national-level PRS and NRL Hunter matches. Competitors utilizing Phalanx Arms ammunition in 6mm Dasher, 6mm BRA, 6mm GT, and 7mm SAW reported SDs ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 fps, with average 5-shot group sizes of 0.3-0.4 MOA. Observers have noted these SDs are typically in the sub-5 fps range.
Trace Ammunition is another provider chosen by top competitors, including #40 Justin Domaguin among two shooters in the top 200. Ammar Bazzaz, a PRS Professional and currently tied for first in the 2025 Gas Gun Division standings, owns and operates Trace. A 6mm Dasher user reported an average 10-shot SD of 4 fps and average 5-shot groups of 0.3 MOA. Chris Garcia, the top shooter in the 2024 Gas Gun Division, used Trace 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition, reporting an SD of 7 fps and 0.5 MOA group sizes—performance noted as "extremely good for a semi-auto." Trace also provides a reloading service for specified cartridges where customers can send their brass.
Eagle Eye Ammunition supports prominent figures like #92 Garrett Preece and Morgun King. Morgun King, a recognized top-tier competitor with PRS season ranks including 3rd in 2023, 4th in 2022, and 2nd in 2021, uses Eagle Eye 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition loaded with either the Berger 156 EOL or Berger 153.5 LRHT bullet.
The reported muzzle velocity consistency, with many top shooters achieving average SDs well into single digits, underscores the quality of factory match ammunition available today. These figures approach the overall average of 5.6 fps reported by the wider group of 200 top-ranked PRS competitors, demonstrating that meticulously crafted factory loads can deliver world-class performance.
