The Precision Rifle Series (PRS) Skills Stage underwent a significant update in early 2024, introducing three new standard stage options and effectively resetting performance expectations for competitors. Prior to these changes, a single, well-established PRS Barricade stage offered a clear benchmark for what constituted a "good" time. Francis Colon previously achieved a reported fastest clean run of 25.92 seconds on the old format, which involved 8 shots from 4 positions on a 10-inch target.
With the slate now wiped clean, match directors can select from three new standardized skills stage options. Each of these new stages requires 10 shots from 5 positions. Option #1, featuring a big/small target setup, has emerged as the most frequently chosen among match directors. The introduction of these varied options initially left competitors without clear context for what constituted a competitive time.
To address this, an analysis of stage data from four major PRS pro matches, each involving over 175 shooters, was conducted. This analysis established new benchmark times across clean runs and one-miss runs, providing clarity on performance tiers for the updated stages. For example, a competitor achieving a clean run on Option #1 in under 60 seconds is now considered solidly within the top 25% of pro shooters. Elite performance on this same stage is defined by clean runs under 45 seconds.
These benchmarks highlight the impressive speed and precision required at the highest levels of the sport. Ben Gossett recently demonstrated this prowess with a 37-second clean run at K&M, a performance captured on video by Austin Buschman. Such runs exemplify the extreme efficiency in movement, target transition, and bolt manipulation characteristic of top-tier competitors.
The PRS Skills Stage is more than just another sequence of engagements; it often acts as a critical tiebreaker in 2-day major competitions. Should two shooters tie on overall target count after firing over 200 rounds, the competitor with the fastest time on the skills stage will secure the higher placement. This scenario is far from rare, with seven PRS pro matches last season seeing their winners decided by skills stage times.
Further motivating competitors is a substantial prize: Nightforce donates an ATACR 7-35x56 scope, retailing for approximately $3,600, to the shooter with the fastest clean run on the skills stage at every PRS pro match. This award is independent of the overall match prize table, providing a significant incentive to push for speed without sacrificing precision.
Despite the format changes, the fundamental principles of efficient shooting remain crucial. Francis Colon's insights on technique, while recorded before the stage revision, are still considered highly applicable for mastering the updated 10-shot, 5-position challenges. Competitors are continuously striving to lower these times, understanding that every second counts when a match, or a top-tier optic, is on the line.
