(By Justine Carbone and Ruth Soucie of Midwest Precision Shooting, courtesy of Savage Arms) NRL22 is one of the fastest growing disciplines in competitive shooting. It’s accessible and easy to get started with basic equipment needs. It appeals to a wide variety of shooters at different skill levels. There are matches held across the country with lots of supportive competitors that want to see the sport grow.
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We asked our friends at Midwest Precision Shooting 22 questions on how to get started in NRL22 and what you need to know about this new competitive rimfire shooting discipline.
22 NRL22 QUESTIONS
1. WHAT IS NRL22?
NRL22 stands for the National Rifle League 22LR division. It is a competitive shooting discipline where shooters use precision 22 LR rifles to engage steel targets at a wide range of distances, and in a variety of scenarios and shooting positions.
2. HOW DOES IT WORK?
The league is comprised of two separate series: NRL22 and NRL22X.
NRL22 is a pre-set monthly course of fire with five stages that are published the week prior to the new month. All NRL22 matches across the nation shoot the same 5 stages which never exceed 200 yards and can be set up inside of 100 yards. Participants can download the course of fire for the monthly match in advance of the match.
The NRL22 matches occur every month across the nation. The winners of each class at each match are entered into a monthly drawing that happens every month on the NRL YouTube channel. Each participant who does not win their class at the match is also entered into the “random” drawings for the month so all participants have a chance at winning some great prizes from the amazing sponsors of the NRL22 league.
NRL22X is a national points series with matches all across the country. It is more competitive, and shooters will often travel out of state to shoot matches. In NRL22X matches, the match director will design his or her own stages and the shooters are typically not made aware of the stages in advance of the match. NRL22X series is meant to be the next level of competition for shooters who want to move into a more difficult and competitive environment. The shooter’s two best match scores from the season make up their regular season score. The top 100 of these scores are invited to the Championship match.
The NRL22X series has a preset schedule.
Shooters are able to shoot as many matches as they would like. There is also a leaderboard on the website which takes your best finish from the month to rank you with other competitors across the nation.
At the end of the season, there is a Championship match. The 2023 season Championship will be hosted in North Carolina by Chris Simmons, who also happens to be the 2020 and 2021 series champion. The Championship match is a large, two-day match that follows the NRL22X series format (match director designs the stages and they are not pre-released). Fifty percent of the available spots at the Championship are given to the top ranked NRL22X competitors. The other half of the available spots are reserved for NRL22 monthly match participants and are disseminated through the NRL22 monthly match directors. The most guaranteed way to get an invite to the national Championship is to rank in the top of the NRL22X series. For the last few years, the national Championship had 200 spots available, so the top 100 ranked competitors from the NRL22X series were invited. Then an additional 100 participants from the NRL22 monthly matches were also invited.
3. WHAT ARE THE DIVISIONS?
There are currently 6 divisions. The divisions and breakdown are:
- Open: Anyone not meeting other division requirements. No restrictions on your rifle or scope. This is the most competitive division, and where the majority of the shooters compete.
- Base: Anyone who has a combined rifle and scope MSRP of $1,200 or less and does not modify his or her rifle in a way that conflicts with the other designated rules of Base Class. This division is intended to be the budget-friendly division.
- Air Rifle: Anyone participating with an air rifle.
- Ladies: Any female competitors.
- Young Guns: Any participant between the ages of 8-16, as of the first day of the season. Participants who turn 17 after the first day of the season can still participate throughout the entire season in the Young Gun category.
- Old Gun (OG)/Adaptive: Any participant at the age of 60 or older as of the first day of the season, or those with special needs/considerations.
2023 Rules, Regulations and Divisions
4. WHAT ARE THE STAGES?
Each match is comprised of multiple stages, and each stage is unique. Some of the ways that stages can differ are in their shooting positions, the props that are used, the time allotted, or the target distances, sizes, and engagement order. The point is to test shooters on a variety of skills, such as: creating stable positions, moving between positions, having the correct ballistics for their setup, reading the wind, and mental aspects like time management, problem solving, and memory/focus/awareness, etc.
An example of an average stage would be: the shooter has 120 seconds and 10 rounds to engage the 5 steel targets, at the distances provided in the stage description, from the prone position, from near to far, then again from far to near, with 1 round each.
The stages change month to month but are always released one week or more in advance of the new month.
This is an example of a stage description and course of fire from the September 2022 NRL22 Monthly Match.
5. WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Any rules that are specific to the match you are at will be provided by the Match Director (MD) at the beginning of the match. Some of the big matches, like the Championship and bigger NRL22X matches, have dedicated Range Officers (ROs) to enforce the rules. Smaller matches will usually require the shooters and their squads act as their own ROs.
For each individual stage, the rules for the stage will be written out in a 1-page document called the Stage Description. This will give you all of the needed information, such as the target sizes and distances, the time allowed, round count, stage procedure, scoring structure, and if there are any gear restrictions for the stage.
2023 Rules, Regulations and Divisions
6. HOW IS IT SCORED?
Each shooter is scored as an individual competitor. For each stage, the available points are defined in the Stage Description. Points are usually pretty simple. In general, an impact is worth points, and a miss is worth zero. At the end of the stage, the points are totaled and that score is assigned to the shooter. At the end of the match, all of the stages are added up and the sum is the shooter’s total match score. The shooters are then placed in order, from highest to lowest. The person with the highest score wins!
Monthly matches usually do not have trophies or prizes; however, the Championship match, and most of the NRL22X matches have trophies for the top 3 in each class, as well as a prize table. Some of these prize tables are pretty big! The prizes commonly consist of related shooting gear that is donated by the companies and manufacturers within the industry.
7. HOW DOES A MATCH RUN?
For the NRL22 monthly series, each match starts out with registration/check-in. Many match directors leverage the website Practiscore for registration and scoring on the day of the match. Pre-registration is usually appreciated so the MD can plan appropriately. Check with your local Match Director if you are unsure of the process of registering.
After registration and check-in, there is usually a sight-in period where a 50-yard (and sometimes 100-yard) paper target is available. The vast majority of shooters use a 50-yard zero. It is very important to start the day out with a confirmed zero, so use this time wisely. Also, be sure to follow proper safety procedures outlined in the NRL22 rules, as well as any local range rules. Don’t be afraid to ask the match director for clarification or direction prior to engaging in sight-in.
After sight-in is completed, the official safety brief will take place. The match director(s) will cover how to safely participate in the match at that particular range, some common issues that should be avoided during the match and will answer any questions.
Once the safety brief is over, the match director may or may not do a walkthrough of the stages at the match. At this time, you can ask any clarifications about the stages and what will or will not be allowed. Often, but not always, there are “bonus stages” designed by your match director in addition to the official NRL22 stages for the month. These scores will count for the local match but will not be part of the score submission to the NRL22 for the official course of fire. It is possible to win the overall match but not be the NRL22 match winner. If an official walk-through is not completed, clarification should be made of any questions you have at the beginning of each stage and prior to the start of your time on that stage.
Shooters are then broken down into small groups, called squads. The squads head to their starting stages and get ready. When the “Range is Hot” command is given, the shooting begins. Shooters take turns shooting the stage they’re on until the entire squad has finished. They then move on to the next stage and repeat the process. Once all of the squads have completed all of the stages, the scores will be tallied, and winners announced. Help with cleanup is usually appreciated by the match director(s) so be sure to check with them on how you can best be of help!
For the NRL22X series, registration in advance is usually mandatory. You can register for matches on the NRL22 official site. Check-in is sometimes the day prior and usually on the morning of the match. The individual match itinerary is often included in the match description and/or emailed out to shooters in advance of the match. Shooters should also expect to have sight-in and a safety brief for NRL22X matches. The primary difference between your experience at an NRL22 monthly and an NRL22X match is the course of fire and that most NRL22X matches will have dedicated Range Officers (ROs). At each stage, the ROs will read you the stage description and provide clarification if questions arise. Their job is to ensure that the shooters are being safe, and that the stage rules are enforced consistently for all competitors. The ROs will also often be the ones to spot impacts and keep score. The NRL22X matches are also longer in length, usually between 10-12 stages. Round counts can be higher and stage time limits may vary.
8. WHAT IS PROVIDED FOR SHOOTERS ON MATCH DAY?
The accommodations provided for shooters vary between matches. Some clubs are just starting out and might not have the same amenities as other clubs. It never hurts to bring along a shooting mat in case one isn’t available to you. Often times, match directors will supply water for you on the day of the match. But it’s always a good idea to bring your own water and snacks to ensure you have what you need to sustain you for a full day of shooting. Feel free to reach out to your match director in advance if you have any questions about what will/won’t be provided.
9. ARE THERE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED SHOOTERS?
Disabled shooters should sign up in the OG/Adaptive class and discuss their limitations with their match director prior to the match to work out any accommodations necessary for their participation.
10. WHAT IS THE BASIC GEAR LIST I NEED TO GET STARTED?
In all honesty, before buying any gear, we highly recommend going to a local monthly match and either watching or using a loaner rifle. Many MDs have loaner equipment for this exact reason – it greatly lowers the barrier of entry for new shooters to come and shoot their first match. Simply reach out to your local MD and/or ask your local community if anyone has a loaner rifle available.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the position to buy yourself the gear to compete, here is what you’ll need:
- An accurate rifle in 22LR: Most people find that a bolt action is best for the sport. Bolt guns are generally more reliable, and more accurate. And since this sport is generally not scored based on your time, the faster speed of a semi-auto goes unwarranted. As far as the accuracy/precision of your rifle, as long as you are shooting within 2 MOA or so (1-inch groups at 50 yards) that should be good enough to compete.
- Magazines: You’ll need at least 2 ten-round mags. It’s not uncommon for stages to require a mag change. So have an extra, or two!
- Riflescope: We highly recommend scopes that have the following features: hold-over type reticles in the first focal plane, target turrets that are intended for doing lots of dialing, turrets and reticle in milliradians (mils or MRAD for short), and adjustable parallax that goes down to 25 yds.
- Bipod: Your bipod should have a cant or swivel feature and be adjustable for height.
- Support Bag (or two): The purpose of a support bag(s) is to be used for rear support when shooting from the prone position, as well as for front support when shooting from a prop, such as the rung of a ladder.
- Ammo: We recommend match-grade target ammo. These tend to be subsonic, in nature, but they don’t have to be. Whatever shoots the best in your rifle is what you should be using. This might take some trial and error, but most shooters have luck with similar brands of ammo. A side note about match ammo, since it’s subsonic, it’s really quiet! This is one of the great things about this sport, we can go shoot precision rifle matches and not get hearing damage!
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Speaking of hearing damage, it is a good idea to have hearing protection with you, just in case things get loud. And safety glasses are always recommended.
- Ballistic Solver or a D.O.P.E. chart: At the match, each target distance is going to be provided to you. You are going to need a way to solve for the bullet drop at each distance. The most common type of solver is a ballistics app on your phone. There are several common apps being used. Just ask a fellow shooter what they recommend.
Feel free to check the NRL22 website for current rules and gear restrictions at the time of you reading this.
11. WHAT SPECIAL GEAR DO I NEED TO HAVE ON MY PERSON DURING THE MATCH?
The equipment listed above will get you out and shooting matches. But if you want to take it to the next level, there is a ton of specialized gear that can help your game. Here are some of the more-specialized pieces of gear that a lot of precision rifle competitors use:
- Riflescope bubble level
- Canted scope base
- DOPE card holder
- ARCA rail and ARCA plate
- Large rear support bag
- Shooting mat
- Rangefinder
- Tripod-mounted spotting scope or binoculars
- Kestrel hand-held weather meter
- Cleaning supplies for your gun
- Gummy bears
12. I HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET, CAN I STILL SHOOT NRL22?
Yes! The Base class is intended for limited budgets. You can get out shooting competitively for under $1,000 for the rifle and optic. Add maybe $300 more for things like scope mount and rings, a bipod, support bag, and ammo, and then you’re off to the races!
13. WHY SHOULD I SHOOT NRL22?
The community. Hands down, this is the best group of people we have ever shot with. Everyone is so willing to help out new shooters, share their gear, and lend a hand when needed. Also, NRL22 is one of the most beginner-friendly shooting sports currently available. Matches exist all across the country with many opportunities to learn from other competitors. And the match fees for monthly matches are very affordable.
Another reason you should shoot NRL22 is because it is really fun! Compared to centerfire precision rifle, rimfire has a lot of fun benefits. You don’t have to hand load your ammo – so it’s cheaper as well as more time-efficient. The barrels don’t get hot, so you can easily put half or a full brick of ammo down range in a single practice session. The barrels last tens of thousands of rounds so you don’t have the rebarreling expense every year. The matches are quiet, so not only do you have less risk for hearing damage, but the environment is just easier to talk with other shooters in. Also, because 22 bullets have far less kinetic energy than centerfire bullets, and therefore geared towards shorter-range shooting, rimfire competition is more scalable. Matches can be held on smaller ranges, which opens them up to the possibility of locations that are closer to the city. Also, since 22 has lower energy, targets can be designed with more creativity, to do dynamic things with less risk of target breakage. Lastly, with the low recoil and quiet report, young and new shooters can be less intimidated.
14. HOW DO I JOIN A CLUB FIRST IN ORDER TO SHOOT AT A MATCH?
There is no need to join most clubs prior to shooting an NRL22 match, they are almost always open to the public. Just reach out to your local match director for details!
15. HOW MANY MATCHES CAN I SHOOT PER YEAR?
You can shoot as many matches as you would like and there are no restrictions regarding where or when you participate. You can attend matches in any geographical location you’d like!
16. I LOVE NRL22 AND WANT TO ORGANIZE MY OWN CLUB – HOW DO I DO THIS?
Potential match directors should reach out to another match director in their area OR to the NRL22 organization to learn more about how to get started. The organization and/or other MDs will be happy to help give pointers on approaching the club and answering any questions/concerns they have about NRL22 and hosting matches. Once you have a location, you will register your club on NRL22.org
Facebook is one location that a lot of people use to communicate and advertise events. We highly recommend new match directors get an account if they do not have one already. There is also an official NRL22 MD Facebook group for current NRL22 match directors. Here you can ask questions and find the latest updates from the NRL22 organization.
17. I WANT TO WORK AT A MATCH – WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
NRL22X matches usually have designated ROs and many other volunteer opportunities. This is an amazing way to learn about the sport, get involved in the community, and meet some great people. To RO an NRL22X match, reach out to the match director for the match you are interested in volunteering for.
18. CAN I COME TO A MATCH AND WATCH FOR FUN?
Absolutely! Most clubs love to have spectators stop out during matches. Just reach out to your local match director to confirm spectators are welcome and to get more specifics about the match.
19. MY CHILD WANTS TO SHOOT, HOW CAN I GET THEM INVOLVED?
Children ages 8 and up are welcome to participate in NRL22 sanctioned matches, but many younger children have benefitted from going along to watch parents and/or siblings participate in NRL22 matches. Safety is always paramount at NRL22 events, and parents or coaches are allowed to assist younger shooters manage through stages where it may be more difficult for them to manipulate their rifle safely. Coaching on the clock is also allowed for newer and younger shooters at most monthly NRL22 events. If you have any specific questions about what is allowed, always check with your local MD!
20. CAN I MAKE THIS MY PROFESSION?
At the time of this writing, there are technically no professional shooters in the NRL22 league. Aside from shooters who work for a company within the industry, who’s employers cover their match expenses, there just isn’t enough prize money at the matches to make a living on. With that said, there are many opportunities for sponsorship. Brands will sometimes provide gear, jerseys, or funding to cover expenses for their sponsored shooters.
Then there’s always the option to work for a company within the industry. This can be a synergistic way to bridge the gap between your company and the shooting sports. Also, if you are feeling entrepreneurial, there’s an infinite range of possibilities for you to start a business related to the field. Whichever way you decide to go, the sport is still young, so there’s plenty of room for you if you would like to help grow the sport!
21. WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME TO TRAIN FOR NRL22?
Home dry fire training is a common practice for NRL22 competitors who want to hone their skills. Always follow the guidance of your rifle manufacturer to determine if it is safe to dry fire your specific model of rifle. There are dry fire systems like the DFAT from DST Precision that can help aid your at-home dry fire practice sessions, as they allow your scope to focus on a much shorter distance. They also include practice targets you can hang on the wall and utilize as precise aiming points. The primary focus of at-home training is to develop muscle memory with your equipment, increase your stability on barricades, and reinforce good fundamentals and shooting practices. ALWAYS make sure your rifle is unloaded before starting. Safety is paramount.
22. HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR DIFFERENT MATCH BARRICADES/PROPS AT HOME?
Our favorite method to train at home for a variety of barricade/prop heights is to leverage a ladder. Most households own a 6 or 8-foot ladder, and they are a great way to simulate the array of prop heights that you can expect to see in a match. The 12-inch ladder rung spacing does a good job of separating your shooting positions into categories, for example, high standing, low standing, high kneeling, low kneeling, etc. Once you develop the mechanics for building stable positions on the lower 4 or 5 rungs of the ladder (depending on your height) you will have the basic skills needed to be successful on the props featured in a match.
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