Equipment statistics in DPS 2021 competitions

In June, we participated in two different series of Dynamic Precision Shooting in Slovakia. Both the International Precision Rifle Federation (IPRF) and the PRS (Precision Rifle Series). Both of these series are quite similar and both are fired from different positions in a short time over Long Range distances. And since I did the last equipment statistic in 2018 I wanted to find out how that equipment changed and what it is used for today.

Here is a list of weapons used in these two similar competitions. It is interesting how many shooters use Tikka rifles - a total of 15. It was not only the Tikka T3 in classic stocks (or exchanged) but especially the model Tikka Tac1 (9 rifles). These weapons are excellent at a given price - that is without debate. And availability, activity of importers and sellers and general PR will also play a role here. The same is true for scopes, bipods and the like. In Europe we are simply strongly tied to what the market has to offer.

The graphs show the absolute number of equipment represented in both competitions together. But it is also divided not only according to competitions (brown is IPRF and green PRS), but also according to the equipment used by the shooters who finished in the top five. This is always a darker shade of a given color...

Factory weapons, modified, or custom builds? In Europe the situation is quite different than in the US and here most shooters use factory rifles (26 shooters) not custom weapons. Custom rifles were 11 together in these two competitions. Custom builds are weapons assembled from various basic components not just a modification of a production rifle. There were even fewer modified production rifles (replacement of one of the basic parts) - only 5. It is interesting that only one factory rifle got into the top five in each of the competitions. But it is also necessary to add that in both cases it was the top products - Victrix and Ritter & Stark rifles...

By basic components I mean the action, barrel and stock. Of course it should be noted that in some cases it is the same weapon in both of these competitions because many shooters shot both competitions…

Caliber - here is a very interesting representation of magnum caliber in the number of 4 pieces. And especially at the IPRF (3 shooters) where the shooting was up to a distance of 900 meters. One even managed to get not only into the top five but also on the podium (third place). But I dare to say that as the shooters improve over time in shooting from positions and wind estimation the magnums will gradually decrease. In the same way one shooter with .308 Winchester managed to place in the top five on the PRS (fifth place). Among the top five was in both cases a shooter with a slightly atypical caliber .270 Winchester (in both cases it is the same rifle and the same shooter). The other 6 shooters in the top five had a 6.5 mm calibers.

Among the top five in both competitions the representation of calibers was as follows:

4x 6,5 Creedmoor

2x 6,5x47

2x .270 Winchester

1x .300 Winchester Magnum

1x .308 Winchester

The length of the barrel is significantly affected by the fact that the vast majority of shooters had the original barrel from the rifle manufacturer where its length is given. In most cases it was 24". But for custom barrels there is an obvious trend in the length of the barrel 26". The shortest were 22" long (it was the same weapon that the shooter uses for hunting)…

The same applies to the barrel manufacturers as to their length. The vast majority were factory - more precisely 26. The custom barrels are again mostly about availability on the market. There were 16 custom barrels.

It is also worth mentioning the fact that among the top five in each competition were placed shooters with custom target barrels. And of course two shooters with factory rifles which I mentioned above - but these weapons are equipped with high-quality target barrels from the manufacturer...

The stocks. Most of them are factory and then of course it is again about availability on the market. However there is a clear trend from classic stocks to chassis (29 chassis, 13 stocks). A larger number of Tikka Tac1 rifles which are already equipped with a quality chassis from the manufacturer play a relatively large role in this.

In the top five of both competitions there was only one shooter who used a classic stock. Others used a chassis.

Availability and price of the riflescopes are again important. Both are quite different compared to the US market. In any case regardless of the individual models the brands were represented as above. But a little closer analysis is quite interesting...

March were all represented by the model 5-40x56 FFP. And in all cases it was shooters from Slovakia. Here you can clearly see the good work of the importer or seller. Meopta riflescopes also had in common that they belonged to one group of shooters from Moravia (where is the factory).

Kahles is becoming more and more common. It is an Austrian manufacturer and has great optics and excellent availability. I think we will see them more and more.

Vortex is still the most used brand. These were models from the lower middle class to the highest. In any case its expansion is given primarily by the price and quality. Vortex's pricing policy for Europe is quite different from the others and I think that plays a significant role.

Nightforce are great scopes but unfortunately their prices are significantly higher than the competition. So I'm curious how they will do in the future...

It is also interesting that the two shooters (of which I know. Maybe there were more) immediately after their first competitions changed their riflescopes because they found them unsuitable for this type of shooting. It was a Swarowski riflescope which is excellent but more suitable for hunting (after all it was a hunting type of riflescope) and then also UTG which is a lowest end riflescope suitable for airsoft (although it survived without damage)...

There was a significant change in the bipods. Not only are the Atlas represented by far the most (15 pieces) but it is also the fact that the vast majority of other bipods are designed for a similar shooting style as the Atlas. In contrast Harris bipods (6 pieces) and maybe one Custom type (I did not examine them in such detail) need a different shooting style. And many shooters are already giving up… JP is a Czech manufacturer of bipods and accessories as well as TST.

The muzzle brakes were used by all but 3 shooters (these 3 fired 6.5 mm calibers). Otherwise the brakes were mostly factory brakes. There have also been enough brakes from Area 419. And of course enough brakes are made to order by a gunsmith or unfortunately they are counterfeits of other brands. This is another echo of the fact that until recently it was very difficult to get quality brakes here...

With regard to all this data I would like to make one more observation:

It is certainly possible that the shooters who placed in the top five would probably be able to do it with other equipment. But on the other hand it is necessary to realize that these shooters are also experienced enough to choose the equipment they consider most appropriate. And since there are really only a few "sponsored shooters" in Europe we can be sure that they paid for the equipment with their money. And that says something...

It is also interesting that two shooters placed in the top five in both competitions.

Overall I would say that the direction in which the equipment of shooters is moving is similar to the trend in the US - but significantly affected by the availability and prices on the market. In addition those Dynamic Precision Shooting competitions are just starting here. Although we have always had many "tactical type" competitions in Europe purely sports disciplines will certainly prevail in the future. Even because of the exaggerated "political correctness" which unfortunately significantly affects all aspects of our lives…