Posted: 11/19/2025 11:55:53 AM EDT
[Last Edit: danpass][Edited]
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The itch has returned, the itch for doing CMP Highpower again (service rifle) and completing my mission for Distinguished and the itch now includes precision rifles events ...... I have my Service Rifle so that is set. I'm sticking with irons .... for now ..... (rules now allow for certain optics) But for other competitions/divisions, which often happen after the CMP course of fire, I'm looking at getting a space gun (is that term still in use?) and have no particular allegiance concerning caliber except for 'other than 223/556'. My current leaning is 6.5 Creedmoor. Factory ammo seems largely available and, I admit, there is also about 10% vanity in that leaning. Creedmoor sounds cool  I sold my reloading setup several years ago, though I have been researching a new compact setup for precision rounds should I desire to get into reloading again. Cost is less of a factor these days so I'm curious if the MPA Vanquish is eligible for at least one division in the various organizations. Also, it is available in left-hand and I'm left eye dominant. I've shot bolt action lefty and righty, both shoulders, and don't recall it being an issue for me to cycle the bolt with either hand but if I'm ordering something I may as well get an ideal setup. Also, what scope? I've seen references to cost caps, so what scope under $2,499 ? The Open classes read as 'anything goes' but I'd like to be eligible to shoot the other divisions as well. Accessories? Shooting bag seems the most common one. A thumb rest? Thanks. - UPDATE 1 - LINK - |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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If you are going to compete seriously. I would buy a rifle that has prefit barrels readily available or build my own. If factory ammo is a must for a while. 6.5 creed probably easy button for availability. Scopes yea get everyone to agree on that one good luck. Choose reticle wisely for what you plan to do is my best advice. Viper pst gen 2 if on a budget If not you can spend all you want to Mark 5 hd Razor gen 3 Zco Kahles |
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Originally Posted By acman145acp: If you are going to compete seriously. I would buy a rifle that has prefit barrels readily available or build my own. If factory ammo is a must for a while. 6.5 creed probably easy button for availability. Scopes yea get everyone to agree on that one good luck. Choose reticle wisely for what you plan to do is my best advice. Viper pst gen 2 if on a budget If not you can spend all you want to Mark 5 hd Razor gen 3 Zco Kahles ok, cool. I don't know much about scopes beyond my damn-much-heavier-than-my-old-Aimpoint-red-dot Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6 on my 3Gun AR lol. Is the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56 worth 4.4 times the Vortex PST Gen 2 5-25x50 ? What is the major determinant? |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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If you are talking CMP competitions…..there are no cost caps. Good luck on your quest to earn the Distinguished Rifleman Badge. If your eyes are still good, iron sights are an option but you will find the vast majority of your competition will be using an optic. |
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Originally Posted By danpass: ok, cool. I don't know much about scopes beyond my damn-much-heavier-than-my-old-Aimpoint-red-dot Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6 on my 3Gun AR lol. Is the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56 worth 4.4 times the Vortex PST Gen 2 5-25x50 ? What is the major determinant? Ok this is where some things are personal preference and very few of us have the exact same eyesight. You can pick up the viper pst 2 ebr 7 mrad for around 800 or less if you shop, the leupold is around 2200 or less. The fast answer is more than likely depending on what you are doing. long answer My brother has a night force nx8 it's better than the pst 2 and i have a bunch of time with the nx8 it's a good scope. To me the leupold has the edge over the the nx8 glass. I've used a gen 3 razor a little, maybe my imagination but it just seemed better than the leupold maybe that's just my eyes... didn't compare them side by side. |
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Hey OP, I don’t think you could find a better source for optics information than This YouTube page. Narrow down what magnification range you want and watch one of his comparison videos. He tries grouping them in low, intermediate, medium, and high power. At the very least just watching some of those will give you an idea of what you’re paying for when it comes to optic performance and features. Then you can narrow down what’s important to you. Good luck! |
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Probably can't go wrong with 6.5CM. I have a couple of Grendels that are most awesome to shoot. Built everything from the ground up. One has Proof CF 18". One has Proof SS 20". The SS is a bit more accurate but the CF isn't a slouch ether. I think also the 6mm ARC is the new hotness option. Scopes Asking why 25X on the top end magnification? I have PST 3-15 on both Grendels and they have always been spot on and more than fit any application I had for them. I also have the Leopold MV 5-25X on a 6.5-284 that reaches way out there. Leopold is much lighter than it's Vortex 25X counterpart. I really like the glass on the Leopold. Seems the Leopold MV 3-18X would be a better option (in my opinion only) Lighter still and more than ample magnification. Reticles: I dial up so I really don't care for or need a busy reticle. I have busy reticles on all three scopes but if I had the option I would just have the MIL-DOT. Just my thoughts. |
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The post 'https://www.ar15.com/forums/precision-rifles/Thinking-about-a-PRS-rifle-What-should-I-look-at-or-stay-away-from-/17-13805/?#i177058' thread has a nice graphic showing the majority use 18x. So 16-20x maximum magnification seems like a reasonable top end to search against. |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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You want to go Distinguished, but you are using Irons and already shopping for other rifles? Are you only going to shoot leg matches with the SR and other matches with your match rifle? My recommendation would be to focus on going distinguished, by shooting your service rifle. Recommendation No. 2, would be to dump the iron sights and get an optic. |
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I would not recommend it. That being said, I just got a stripped flat top for about $125. Scope and mount could set you back a modest amount, or a large amount. You can shoot with irons if you want, and if you practice you can be competitive in EIC matches. That being said, you are behind the power curve. Focusing exclusively on shooting the service rifle, will make your path much shorter. |
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I have 4 points (if they don't expire) and I've been first and second leather and whatnot but I still force my position on the 600. Most of my dropped points are in the prone. You'd think that shooting lefty, all slung up, would mean a ton of practice with getting back in position and improving that but ......  |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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If you are a lefty, I would build a lefty upper. They are a little more expensive but makes shooting so much easier. You will be able to load from the shoulder and you won't be breathing in all that gas. Actually that's the perfect excuse to move to a flat top with an optic IMO. |
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Originally Posted By danpass: I KNEW someone would say that edit: the WOA lefty uppers are backordered. One of my sons is a lefty and we had a another jr. shooter this summer that was a lefty. I was lucky that I could find parts this spring to put together one. I did have to order from two places (Stag & PSA). Just a cursory google search shows everyone out. I put all mine together, but you really can't go wrong with a WOA upper. One of the local guys just buys uppers and shoots AR-TAC with 77TMKs. He had a 200-20Xs two or three years ago. Nothing fancy, just their standard WOA barrel. He usually shoots cleans at 600 with big X counts. |
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I’m lefty and legged out back in 09 before optics were a thing. I’d recommend sticking with a right hand rifle, and just get whatever optic the AMU or USMC teams are using. I’m not even sure what the optic rules are but something to keep in mind is you don’t need great glass to see the target. What does matter is being able to see mirage. Moving the focus/parallax knob on the spotter back and forth constantly to see mirage at different distances was super important for my wind calls. IF it’s possible to do that with an optic on the rifle, it would be helpful. As a lefty, I was always taking a shot, rolling out of position, and looking through the spotter for 45 seconds watching mirage and flags until they scored the target then rolling back into position. Tbh, in a way it is a disadvantage, but in another way, I prob built my prone position 19 more times than all the right handers and all that extra practice makes you pretty good at it. But if I could just lay there and look at mirage and flags and see the shot marker through the optic on the gun, that would be a lot easier. But if the optic doesn’t have a side focus parallax, I’d still roll over and look through the spotter. Idk how people are doing it today but that’s my thought. Also, for a match rifle, find a used left hand tubb2k Eta kinda miss the smell of sweat and leather and burnt varget |
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Update 1: ORDERED: Rifle: MPA Vanquish, 25 Creedmoor , black, left hand, red custom paint (on various portions), MPA DN5 muzzle brake in red. This is a multi-month wait. Optic: Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25 with PR2 reticle. PENDING: Scope Mount: Leaning toward the AREA 419 Tactical One-Piece mount, 32mm height, 0MOA cant. I may mount the scope on my 14.5pinweldedto16.1 AR lol and shoot some local PRS matches in the Gas-Gun Division . That should give me a feel for the process, reveal what equipment I need, what equipment I want. - |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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Originally Posted By taliv: what are you going to do with this tripod? I envision majority usage being spotting/tac table but also for those few times that I mount a rifle to it, or bag with rifle on top, it would be helpful to have a stable tripod. this is on the very short list: https://www.amazon.com/Leofoto-LS-324CUS-Sections-Lightweight-Available/dp/B0CQMJ2HR5 Attached File |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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I guess what I mean is, your tripod use has nothing to do with the cmp style shooting right? Because if it does you prob want a specialized scope stand for cmp that allows you to use it prone as well as standing. If you want a prs style tripod that will also be used as a shooting support then you’ll want one of the fancy carbon fiber ones that are knock offs of really right stuff. |
| For the scope, be sure to get a Mil-mil reticle-turrets. With Mils/mrad (as opposed to MOA), you can do speed drop with creedmoor . Top end zoom should be about twice your max distance anticipated, so 20X for 1000 yds. Anything above 6X, get FFP over SFP. |
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Originally Posted By danpass: I envision majority usage being spotting/tac table but also for those few times that I mount a rifle to it, or bag with rifle on top, it would be helpful to have a stable tripod. this is on the very short list: https://www.amazon.com/Leofoto-LS-324CUS-Sections-Lightweight-Available/dp/B0CQMJ2HR5 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/80868/Leofoto_LS-324CX_jpg-3732751.JPG Leofoto makes the best tripod for the $ imho. A few years ago I picked up the sa-364c with Ma-30 head and it’s incredible. Think I paid $280 on eBay from the seller desmond_photographic. I run a lswild plate/bag on it 95% of the time. |
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Originally Posted By danpass: Update 1: ORDERED: Rifle: MPA Vanquish, 25 Creedmoor , black, left hand, red custom paint (on various portions), MPA DN5 muzzle brake in red. This is a multi-month wait. Optic: Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25 with PR2 reticle. - Any particular reason that you went with 25creed vs the other offerings with cheaper or more readily available ammo? |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Any particular reason that you went with 25creed vs the other offerings with cheaper or more readily available ammo? Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Originally Posted By danpass: Update 1: ORDERED: Rifle: MPA Vanquish, 25 Creedmoor , black, left hand, red custom paint (on various portions), MPA DN5 muzzle brake in red. This is a multi-month wait. Optic: Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25 with PR2 reticle. - Any particular reason that you went with 25creed vs the other offerings with cheaper or more readily available ammo? It kept coming up as the “goldilocks” cartridge, the sweet spot between 6 Dasher and 6.5 Creedmoor. I see 25C as the future in PRS. Sure, it’s a risk on my part, but Hornady having released a factory Match round sealed the deal. Bucks the wind slightly better than 6D, slightly less recoil than 6.5C, but something else I noticed in videos that very few notice/mention …. it’s easier for a spotter to spot hits compared to 6 Dasher. I suppose the most important part would be that “Quarter Bore Creedmoor” sounds awesome. (kidding lol, though it does sound cool) - |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
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UPDATE She’s here  Attached File edit: did a short video as well  Picking up my first PRS rifle, an MPA Vanquish in 25 Creedmoor! |
www.danpassaro.com
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN
"we don't carry for the odds, we carry for the stakes" 03RN