The long-standing notion that competitive long-range precision rifle shooting demands meticulously handloaded ammunition for peak performance is being challenged at the highest levels of the PRS. A recent deep dive into the gear and methods of the top 200-ranked shooters, as reported by precisionrifleblog.com, reveals that a significant number of competitors, including several in the top 25 overall, are running factory-loaded match ammo.
This shift underscores the advancements in factory ammunition consistency. For those pursuing single-digit standard deviations (SD) — the benchmark for serious match ammunition, typically defined as under 10 fps — the top factory offerings are now delivering. The average SD reported by the top 200 handloaders in the PRS sits at 5.6 fps, a figure closely mirrored, and in some cases surpassed, by commercial providers.
**Clay's Cartridge Company**, owned by 2019 PRS Season Champion Clay Blackketter, fields four top-50 pros, including Blackketter himself (#4), Dave Preston (#27), Jimmy Moore (#39), and Tate Streater (#48). These shooters are leveraging Clay's loads in cartridges like 6mm BR, 6mm Dasher, and 25x47 Lapua, reporting an average 10-shot SD of an exceptional 4.0 fps and average 5-shot groups of 0.3 MOA. Beyond standard loads, Clay's offers a custom service, developing rifle-specific ammunition by working directly with a customer's firearm.
**Phalanx Arms**, operated by pro shooter Mike Burdis, supports four top-200 competitors, notably #19 Matt Caruso, currently ranked 4th in the 2025 season standings. Shooters employing Phalanx Arms ammunition in 6mm Dasher, 6mm BRA, 6mm GT, and 7mm SAW cartridges have reported SDs between 2.5 and 4.5 fps, with average 5-shot groups of 0.3-0.4 MOA, confirmed by external velocity tracking.
**Trace Ammunition**, under the guidance of PRS Professional Ammar Bazzaz, is utilized by two top-200 shooters, including #40 Justin Domaguin. Trace's 6mm Dasher bolt-gun loads show an average 10-shot SD of 4 fps and 0.3 MOA groups. Impressively, Chris Garcia, the 2024 Gas Gun Division champion, achieved a 7 fps SD and 0.5 MOA groups with Trace's 6.5 Creedmoor in his semi-auto platform — stellar consistency for a gas gun. Trace also provides a reloading service for customer-supplied brass in popular cartridges and a comprehensive custom load development program.
Finally, **Eagle Eye Ammunition** is trusted by two top-200 competitors, including the highly decorated Morgun King (#192 in 2024, but a perennial top-5 finisher previously). King and Garrett Preece (#92) rely on Eagle Eye's 6.5 Creedmoor loads, optimized with Berger 156 EOL or Berger 153.5 LRHT projectiles.
This data, first reported by precisionrifleblog.com, definitively illustrates that while handloading remains prevalent, the current generation of factory precision ammunition provides the consistency and accuracy required to compete and win at the pinnacle of PRS and NRL disciplines.
