The Idaho Practical Precision Tactical Rifle Club evolved from the desire to provide precision rifle matches and develop a group interested in improving their marksmanship and competitive skills. In the March of 2011, the inaugural match was held at the Parma Rod and Gun Club on a blustery morning with a total of 3 eager shooters. In the time since, the quality of the matches, the cohesion of the group and number of shooters has grown as well as the ability of those participants. In 2013, we had 40 different shooters participate in our matches traveling from as far as California, Washington and Utah.
We regularly provide educational clinics to the public to help them improve by providing participants with constructive experiences and information. Assisting with proper equipment set-up and technique is also part of the clinics. Equipment selection, set-up, and understanding are often significant hurdles to early success for beginners, so we often try to provide sound advice on how to avoid such pitfalls. All skill levels can learn from our clinics because we draw from the collective experience and knowledge of our group.
Practical Precision rifle shooting as a discipline tests the ability of marksmen to hit targets in an array of different field scenarios and situations. In all cases, this ability is tested under time constrains so preparation and adaptive skills to the demands of the situation are key to success. Developing skills in this discipline makes one very familiar with their equipment. This has all kinds of applications including hunting, target shooting, tactical competitions, and plinking. Some stages have greater time pressure than others, which tests a shooters ability to perform at different speeds depending on the demands of the situation. From vast number of targets the shooter will have engagement opportunities which will vary in size and shape plus can be as close as 10 yards but as far as 1000. Multiple target engagements at different distances and movement by the shooter are common in stages. While firing from a bi-pod position is a necessary skill, it is only part of the skill set needed to excel.
The equipment used in the discipline is very dependent on the likes and dislikes of the shooter. The piece of equipment with the greatest demands put on it is the riflescope. Scopes and the shooter’s knowledge of their scope get put to the ultimate test. Most of the rifles used are bolt-actions that are a compromise between being heavy enough to be accurate during 10 round strings of fire, but light enough to be maneuverable. Due to the use of steel targets a muzzle velocity limit of 3100 fps and a maximum caliber limit of .323.or 8mm is enforced. Some of the more popular calibers are .308 Winchester, 6 & 6.5x47mm Lapua, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6XC, and the .223 Remington propelling its heaviest bullets.
The IPPTR group participates in different types of events & locations. The primary location is the Parma Rod & Gun Club where we have several props including barricades, vehicles, roof top and tower structures. We also hold practices and mock matches in different locations to work on different skills, develop more shooting data, and evaluate equipment. Some members of the group participate in other matches in the general area including other Precision Rifle matches and the Parma Rod and Gun Club LRTR matches.
We encourage anyone with interest in precision rifle shooting to get involved. The clinics & informal practices are great ways to prepare for the matches.
We encourage anyone with interest in precision rifle shooting to get involved. The clinics & informal practices are great ways to prepare for the matches.