What is NRL22?
NRL22 Matches are shooting competitions that will test your rifle, scope, ammunition, marksmanship, and ability to think outside the box to solve problems as you build positions on various barricades and obstacles using gear such as bipods, rear bags and front bags to engage targets from 30 – 100 yards. Monthly matches are divided up into 5 NRL22 stages and 2 club bonus stages, where you will engage steel targets from different supported and unsupported positions as well as managing various barricades for support. The 2 monthly bonus stages may stretch out to 300 yards. Target sizes are designed to be challenging and are usually in the 2 to 2.5 MOA size range. For example: 2 to 2.5” at 100 yards and 4 to 5” at 200 yards, etc. Target distances for the published monthly NRL22 Course of Fire is known to shooters ahead of time and can be downloaded from the NRL22 documents part of their website. You should know your DOPE out to 115 Yards to be successful in the monthly NRL22 stages and out to 300 yards to be successful in the bonus stages.
Matches are focused on skills development and casual competition in a relaxed atmosphere. Each month is a different course of fire. If you are not familiar with NRL22, it is a great way to experience precision rifle shooting with cheaper ammunition. Skills learned can be directly applied in the field to make you a better and more accurate hunter as well as help you to build a more stable position in your hunting environment. The monthly course of fire for the 5 NRL22 stages is the same for all the clubs in the nation.
You will be placed on a Squad with an assigned Squad Leader who will ensure each stage is briefed and there is general order throughout the match – each squad ROs themselves so there are expectations to help with safety, score keeping, running the timer and spotting and calling hits on steel for the shooter on the line when you’re not shooting.
You don’t have to be a member of NRL22 organization to shoot. We encourage shooters to become members so they can have the opportunity to see their national standing, take part in monthly prize drawing by NRL22 organization and have the ability to qualify for NRL22 Nationals, which take place each year in various US locations.
Matches are typically held on Saturdays, year-round. Set-up starts around 7:00 am is completed around 8:00 am. You can sight in your rifle and check zero at a 50-yard target. There will be a safety brief at 8:45 am and shooting will start at 9:00 am. You should be done shooting around noon. Each stage will consist of 10-12 rounds and is timed at 120 seconds.
For 2024 our match dates are January 27 (100 yard range), February 24 (300 yard range), March 23 (100 yard range), April 27 (300 yard range), May 25 (100 yard range), June 22 (300 yard range), July 27 (100 yard range), August 24 (300 yard range), September 28 (100 yard range), October 26 (300 yard range), November 23 (100 yard range), December 28 (300 yard range).
Bolt action rifles are the most common firearm of choice, but Semi-automatic platform rifles are welcome. Bolt action rifles and semi-automatic rifles will be scored the same. Tube magazines are not allowed. Only 22LR and Air Rifles are allowed (no .22MAG). CZ, Ruger, Rim X and Vudoo rifles are all popular choices.
A first focal plane scope with a Christmas tree style reticle in Mils (Milliradians) or Moa (Minute of Angle) would be the best choice so you can hold over with the reticle instead of dialing the elevation turret for each target. It’s much faster to hold over rather than dial elevation as the stages are only 2 minutes. With a second focal plane scope the sub tensions are only accurate at max magnification, which is not ideal. With a first focal plane scope the sub tensions are accurate at any magnification range. Something in the 3 x 15 to 6 x 36 magnification range is common. The Vortex Strike Eagle 3x18x44, Vortex Strike Eagle 5x25x56, Vortex Gen3 6x36x56 or anything similar would all be good choices.
A good bi-pod, Harris and Atlas are popular, is necessary for the prone positions. A rear bag will give you the best stability when shooting off a bipod. A front bag will help you to build a stable position when shooting off props. Armageddon Gear has many support bag options. Their Gamechanger, Schmedium Gamechanger and Pint Size Gamechanger bags are all popular choices.
Most people are shooting 40 grain lead round nose ammo with velocities that are subsonic, for greater accuracy as they don’t go through the transonic zone. Typical muzzle velocities are in the 1075 to 1100 feet per second range. S&K Standard Plus, S&K Rifle Match, S&K Long Range Match and Lapua Center X are all popular choices for the best accuracy along with low extreme spread and standard deviation. Shooting a 22 long rifle at 300 yards is equivalent in vertical and wind hold to shooting a .308 at 1100 yards, so finding ammo that your rifle likes is very important. You will also need a ballistic solver so you can calculate the DOPE for that day and the ambient conditions. The Shooter App and the Applied Ballistics App are both popular choices. An arm band or dope card that mounts to your rifle are both good options to know your dope when shooting a stage.
In Summary, shooters should bring a scoped rifle, bipod, ammo and good DOPE or a Ballistic Solver. Shooters can also use support bags and slings, which are recommended but are not required. If you need to borrow any gear it will be freely available from any shooter who is not on the line shooting. Certain stages may limit the use of support bags and props. You will need chamber Flags / Ear / Eye protection, appropriate clothing/footwear for gravel and outdoor range. Matches are typically around 100 rounds – with the extra stages and confirming zero before the match. You must compete in all stages with the same rifle.
Are there different Divisions?
Yes, we run 5 Divisions: Open, Base, Ladies, Old Guns, and Young Guns.
Link to rules for each division is https://nrl22.org/about/rules
Match Fees: $25 – Non-Chillicothe Sportsman’s Club Member, $20 CSC Member.
Scores from the NRL22 published COF will be submitted to NRL22 within 5 days after the match for national ranking. CSC NRL22 keeps their own season standing for all the stages and matches shot throughout the year for end of season awards.
I would like more information…
NRL 22 Monthly Course of Fire - https://nrl22.org/downloads
NRL22 Rules - https://nrl22.org/about/rules
NRL22 FAQ - https://nrl22.org/faq
How can I contact the match director with any questions?
Noel Baer
309-424-6767
