First NRL Hunter match

Just finished shooting my first NRL Hunter match this past weekend and man it was a good time. I've got a few gear changes to make like adding a dbm to my rifle (single feeding a top feed rifle sucks) and a longer bipod, but otherwise I felt like I was as prepared as I could have been for my first time.
Hopefully I can travel to a couple more matches this year so I don't have to wait a whole year to do this again.

keclark said:

Just finished shooting my first NRL Hunter match this past weekend and man it was a good time. I've got a few gear changes to make like adding a dbm to my rifle (single feeding a top feed rifle sucks) and a longer bipod, but otherwise I felt like I was as prepared as I could have been for my first time.
Hopefully I can travel to a couple more matches this year so I don't have to wait a whole year to do this again.

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We'll be at 4 matches this year. Our Pro brake line is the official muzzle brake of NRL hunter. I have all the fancy gear and still suck. Fun matches though.

Ken

livetohunt said:

We'll be at 4 matches this year. Our Pro brake line is the official muzzle brake of NRL hunter. I have all the fancy gear and still suck. Fun matches though.

Ken

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I've got a TiPro4 on my recent 7 prc build, I see why it's the official brake of NRL, it works great
Which matches will you guys be at this year?

Also Ken

I have not shot any official PRS or NRL hunter matches yet, but I can say that having a DBM even just for my local long range competitions makes a big difference.

What bipod were you running and which bipod are you thinking about switching to?

Oregon Madras match
Idaho NF match
Belt MT match
Cody WY gunwerks match

I run the triple pull and its awesome for NRL hunter. I don't use it for PRS. I need to get a double pull lite for hunting.

Ken

I will be attending the Idaho and Oregon match this year

MtnMann said:

I have not shot any official PRS or NRL hunter matches yet, but I can say that having a DBM even just for my local long range competitions makes a big difference.

What bipod were you running and which bipod are you thinking about switching to?

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Yeah not having a dbm was a huge time killer. It's a must have for NRL imo.

I was using the Atlas CAL but it was too short for all the stages but two. I ended up shooting off my tripod either sitting or kneeling for a majority of the match, which can be very stable, but it takes time to build up.

Based on how many people I saw using them, the MDT Ckye pod triple pull is the unofficial official bipod of NRL Hunter. I've got my sights set on one of them

look at my prs Multi target mode on my Eagle Ballisitc app for NRL

keclark said:

Yeah not having a dbm was a huge time killer. It's a must have for NRL imo.

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I'm an exception I guess, I really prefer a top loader. They tend to feed and function so much more smoothly and more reliably.

I gave up on PRS when the round counts for individual stages began to get so high, and the allowed times so short as to make it not just difficult, but impossible to even get all the shots off with a top loader, despite starting with a full mag, 5 rounds in the loops on my stock pack, plus more in a cartridge carrier on my belt.

I was a little disappointed, as NRL had alleged to be different, something a regular hunter guy (or gal ) could go shoot with a normal rifle and minimal equipment, but it seems to have just become a slightly different equipment race than PRS so, meh... not my thing.

But good for you, and anyone who is at least out there getting good practice in.

marc357 said:

I'm an exception I guess, I really prefer a top loader. They tend to feed and function so much more smoothly and more reliably.

I gave up on PRS when the round counts for individual stages began to get so high, and the allowed times so short as to make it not just difficult, but impossible to even get all the shots off with a top loader, despite starting with a full mag, 5 rounds in the loops on my stock pack, plus more in a cartridge carrier on my belt.

I was a little disappointed, as NRL had alleged to be different, something a regular hunter guy (or gal ) could go shoot with a normal rifle and minimal equipment, but it seems to have just become a slightly different equipment race than PRS so, meh... not my thing.

But good for you, and anyone who is at least out there getting good practice in.

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Check out the ultimate hunter competitions. They have stricter gear requirements to try to keep it hunter friendly.

marc357 said:

I'm an exception I guess, I really prefer a top loader. They tend to feed and function so much more smoothly and more reliably.

I gave up on PRS when the round counts for individual stages began to get so high, and the allowed times so short as to make it not just difficult, but impossible to even get all the shots off with a top loader, despite starting with a full mag, 5 rounds in the loops on my stock pack, plus more in a cartridge carrier on my belt.

I was a little disappointed, as NRL had alleged to be different, something a regular hunter guy (or gal ) could go shoot with a normal rifle and minimal equipment, but it seems to have just become a slightly different equipment race than PRS so, meh... not my thing.

But good for you, and anyone who is at least out there getting good practice in.

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You can absolutely use a standard top feed setup for NRLH, you'll just be at the same disadvantage that you're making the conscious choice to have.

There are plenty of DBM setups that feed smooth and reliable. If you stick to quality components, a proper setup and good mags you'll have good results. If you cheap out with a $50 bottom metal that doesn't have the right pillar height and then feed it from crap mags on top of that then you're definitely going to have problems.

I also don't remember low round counts at any PRS matches. I started shooting them from the beginning of the series and shot field matches before it existed and for the most part the average was 10 per stage and that still applies. There are some that run 12-14 but 10 is the norm and always has been. Even most of the sniper/field style matches I've shot have been around 10 rounds per stage.

To me you sound like you're just looking for confirmation bias for your decision to stick to a BDL or blind box setup and are lying to yourself in the process to further justify it.

Good AICS mag systems are the ****.

Just my $.02.

I've had more DBM systems feed easier compared to BDL. And if you are good you only need 4 shots per stage for NRLH.

dirtytough said:

I've had more DBM systems feed easier compared to BDL. And if you are good you only need 4 shots per stage for NRLH.

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Agreed. I've had a bunch of BDL 700's and model 7's in 223 and they all had feeding issues. Kimber Montana 223 was spotty also. The only mag fed 223 bolt gun I've had issues with were Tikkas, not as unreliable as the BDL's but they would have problems once a mag in average. I've never had a 700 platform feeding out of AI pattern mags have any trouble. Most of the time it's buttery smooth. Every AI I've owned and Seekins has been the same way too along with the custom actions.