The Precision Rifle Series confirmed earlier this year the establishment of its dedicated Gas Gun Series for the 2017 season, a move widely interpreted by many long-standing competitors as the first sign of the apocalypse, or at least the complete degradation of barrel harmonics. Organizers state the new division, accommodating semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-10 platform chambered in popular calibers like 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, aims to broaden participation. However, sources close to numerous bolt-action purists report widespread panic buying of ear protection rated for industrial machinery and a significant increase in stress-induced handload errors.
Initial reports from early test matches suggest that the rhythmic *ka-chunk* of a dozen gas systems cycling simultaneously has irrevocably shattered the Zen-like focus once synonymous with the firing line. One anonymous shooter, known only by his custom Bighorn Origin action and an unhealthy devotion to 6 Dasher, lamented, "My DOPE card is now just a series of angry scribbles. How can one find their velocity node with that incessant mechanical cacophony?" Match directors are already grappling with unprecedented rates of 'unexplained' malfunctions, believed to be psychological rather than mechanical, often manifesting as competitors simply staring blankly at their TargetCam feed for several minutes before packing up.
The integration of gas guns also introduces entirely new logistical challenges. The average consumption of match-grade ammunition in the new series has forced some component suppliers to declare a state of emergency, diverting all 140-grain Hybrid bullets to AR platforms. Furthermore, the inherent joy of rapid fire has seen many stages, previously designed for judicious single-shot precision, devolve into a chaotic 'spray and pray' festival. While the PRS maintains this division is a natural evolution, observers warn the next logical step will be full-auto stages, followed by laser tag, and eventually, the complete collapse of society.
