David Hineline on the NFOA FB group asked why adjustable turrets are required. Given that it was Facebook, I gave a brief response to the effect that I don't like setting people up for failure. It was short worded, and I do feel this is a valid question (my inbox has been blowing up with questions about the match, as most people have never heard of PRS) and I feel it deserves a better answer.
Wonder why you specify Scope must have adjustment capability, not everyone shoots target turrets.
The nature of the precision rifle competition is being able to hit (consistently) MOA targets from the prone from 100 to ~1000 or more, and hit (consistently) 1-3 MOA targets from much-less-than-ideal improvised positions from 100-~600 or more. All under field conditions, all with the same rifle, ammo, and optic. Adjustable turrets is a common requirement at PRS and PRS styled matches.
Now I assume that David is referring to either ACOG type optics or closed turret hunting glass. With the exception of a very small percentage of well practiced, skilled, and talented shooters, the above tasks will prove nearly impossible with these optics.
ACOGS and other similar optics are, for all intents and purposes (assuming the rifle/ammo is capable), at best, only truly effective against a full size IPSC out to 600, under ideal conditions from the prone. That is, at its best, a 2-3 MOA capability given a fairly skilled marksman, at 2/3 the max range of the match. Now add field conditions (i.e. 15-20mph winds), improvised positions, and a time constraint.
Without the ability to dial, you will find yourself holding for both windage and elevation, and you will run out of the latter very quickly, unless you are using a "poor man's horus" or a real horus (and I am not aware of any closed dial scope with a horus reticle, although it may exist). Holding is not an ideal method of correction, with the exception of wind, and only because wind is generally a changing effect. For elevation, it is not something we
want to do, it is something we
have to do... in a pinch. Double holdover is going to significantly decrease a shooters accuracy to the point of.. well.. good luck hitting much in this match, save for minor second shot corrections.
Now, I realize that there are world class shooters out there, whom these statements do not apply. If someone *really* wants to enter and shoot the match with closed turrets, I'm not going to turn them away.
This type of match is new to this area, and I would like everyone to have a good experience. So they come back next year, go to other matches of this type, and this style/type of shooting increases in popularity. I am working very hard and very carefully to ensure that the match will be challenging to the seasoned shooters, while still fun and educational for the new shooters (no one should go home with a score sheet full of zeros). This is a delicate balance to maintain, and I cannot maintain it while trying to account for those who want to bring unfit equipment. They would more than likely go home with zeros, tell their friends that PRS is stupid and I'm a jackass.
That is what I meant by not setting people up for failure. I don't want anyone to go home with a sheet full of zeros. If there is enough interest, I would consider holding a similar match for the "designated marksman" crowd. Larger targets, shorter max range, some close range stuff integrated, semi-autos only, max of 308, and maybe a limit on glass magnification or something. Not this year though, maybe next.
