That is Half 4 of the highlight on Austin Orgain, the winningest precision rifle shooter of the previous 5-7 years. Austin Orgain is a two-time Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) champion and has the very best complete amassed PRS factors over the previous 7 years. The PRS is the foremost league of aggressive long-range taking pictures. Austin was the PRS General Season Champion in each 2020 and 2021. He was the 2017 Nationwide Rifle League (NRL) Season Champion and gained the 2020 AG Cup. Frankly, in the event you needed to title one man that has constantly dominated precision rifle taking pictures over the previous 5-7 years – that’s Austin Orgain. (Study extra about Austin)
The earlier article lined how Austin Orgain checks and trues his ballistics, and in addition how he calculates and writes down his dope card at a match. On this article, we’ll take a look at each single merchandise Austin carries with him at a pro-level match and share when and the way he makes use of completely different gadgets. This consists of issues like what taking pictures luggage he makes use of on completely different levels, what he makes use of for ranging & recognizing, how he decides what levels to make use of a rear tripod on, and WHY. So, let’s dive in!
First, I’ll simply present you a photograph of every part he carries laid out and itemize what every merchandise is, after which we’ll take them one after the other and share why he thinks every factor is value him carrying on his again over a mile or extra whereas he’s at a giant, national-level, two-day rifle competitors.
- Armageddon Gear Tripod Caddy
- Really Right Stuff Versa Tripod TVC-33 MK2 SOAR Series 3 Tripod with RRS BH-55 Ballhead
- Gray Ops CNC AMP Elite Arca Multi-Plate + WieBad Mini Plate Bag
- Armageddon Gear Waxed Canvas OG Game Changer with Poly Fill
- WieBad Wax Canvas (WC) Mini Fortune Cookie with heavy sand fill
- Kydex Journal Holster with Tek-Lok clip (just like SAP mag carrier) + AI AICS 10-Spherical Journal with 2-Spherical Extension
- Kydex Journal Holster with Tek-Lok clip (just like SAP mag carrier) + AI AICS 10-Spherical Journal
- MDT AICS Journal + Magazine Extension
- Wiebad Rifle Caddie
- Customized JTAC Precision Rifle Coaching Leather-based Match E-book Cowl with clipboard inside
- Champion Vanquish Pro Elite Electronic Hearing Muffs
- Swarovski EL Range 10×42 Rangefinding Binoculars
- Clean Dope Playing cards
- Under Armour QB Wrist Coach
- Rite In The Rain 3” x 5” Weatherproof Spiral Notebook
- Chamber Brush (initially included with Glock pistol)
- Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics
- Orange Flagging Tape for Wind
- Silicone Bulb Air Blower/Duster
- Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes
- Chamois Drying Towel
- Microfiber Towel
- Sharpie Retractable Ultra-Fine Tip Permanent Markers + Pen
- Chamber Flag (just like SAP chamber plug)
- SAE Hex Key Set
- Lens Cleaning Pen
- Harley Davidson Motorcycle Goggles
Taking pictures Baggage
Austin Orgain carries 2 main taking pictures luggage at a match, together with a plate/bag combo for area of interest conditions.
Rear Bag: Armageddon Gear Waxed Canvas OG Game Changer with Poly Fill. Austin makes use of an OG dimension Recreation Changer, which is the bigger/authentic dimension, as his rear bag when he’s susceptible or in a modified susceptible place. Austin: “I’ve realized that I favor a bit larger bag within the rear once I’m susceptible. I just like the Recreation Changer as a result of you will get it fairly flat in the event you don’t want a lot rear bag, or you’ll be able to flip it up on its finish if it is advisable to take up a variety of area. So it’s a really versatile rear bag.”
Why do you want poly fill in your rear bag as an alternative of sand? Austin: “I don’t like sand fill for a rear bag. I just like the poly fill that has the little plastic beads in it for a rear bag. I really feel like each time I’m making an attempt to make use of a rear bag with sand as I attempt to squeeze it so it takes up extra space, the sand at all times seems like it’s making an attempt to fall out on me. A sand bag within the rear simply doesn’t make me really feel tremendous regular. With a poly bead rear bag, once you squeeze it, every part appears to remain there the place you need it to, and also you would not have to maintain squeezing a bit extra to maintain your rifle the place you need it.”
Positional Bag: WieBad Wax Canvas (WC) Mini Fortune Cookie with heavy sand fill. Austin makes use of this bag below his rifle’s fore-end when taking pictures off barricades, rocks, or different improvised taking pictures positions the place you’ll be able to’t use a rear bag. Austin: “I exploit the WieBad mini fortune cookie with sand fill for any sort of positional taking pictures. I actually like sand in a positional bag, however I’ve additionally been taking part in round with Wiebad’s new edge fill, which they got here out with pretty lately. The sting fill is meant to be just like sand however helps in moist situations. Typically, when a bag with sand in it will get moist or waterlogged, it will get actually laborious and doesn’t work very effectively to shoot off of. Think about a sand citadel that’s packed actually tight and virtually turns right into a brick. The sting fill is meant to be higher within the water, however to this point, I nonetheless just like the sand fill higher if I’m going to be in dry situations. I really feel just like the rifle sinks into the bag a bit higher, and the bag varieties to it a bit bit higher.”
Specialty Plate Bag: Gray Ops CNC AMP Elite Arca Multi-Plate + WieBad Mini Plate Bag. Austin additionally carries a 3rd bag that straps onto a plate that may be hooked up to the arca rail on his rifle. The plate he has is the unique mannequin that Grey Ops CNC first got here out with, and at the moment, they name it the Grey Ops Amp Elite Multi-Plate – as a result of it may be utilized in a number of methods.
Listed here are a couple of different makes use of for the Grey Ops Multi-Plate, which helps perceive its title:
Austin mentioned the way in which that he makes use of this plate/bag combo probably the most isn’t on his rifle and even whereas he’s taking pictures a stage. It’s when it’s mounted on to his tripod, and he rests his binos on high of the bag and makes use of it just like a positional bag to regular his binos to search out targets, watch wind downrange, and spot impacts for different shooters. Some folks wish to clamp their binos right into a tripod, however resting them on high of a bag could make transitioning between targets quicker and should take out extra of the micro-vibrations from the tripod and assist the optic be extra regular.
However, Austin does often use his plate/bag combo throughout a stage by attaching it to the arca rail on the fore-end of his rifle and utilizing it as a entrance relaxation in locations the place getting a bipod regular on a barricade could be difficult or inconceivable. Nonetheless, that doesn’t occur typically throughout most two-day matches, so it’s a reasonably area of interest situation. I snapped the picture beneath on the 2022 Impression Basis PRS match, and you’ll see Austin is supporting the entrance of the rifle with this plate/bag combo on the aspect of the truck mattress. You may also see that he nonetheless has his Harris bipod hooked up and deployed simply behind the plate/bag. On this stage, you needed to shoot a couple of pictures off the aspect of the truck mattress, and then you definately needed to transition to on high of the cab to have interaction further targets that had been means additional and extra in entrance of the truck. For pictures off the aspect of the truck mattress, Austin used the plate/bag combo in entrance and a rear bag on high of a tripod to help the butt. When he transitioned to the highest of the cab, he used his bipod because the entrance relaxation and the identical rear bag however merely in a modified susceptible place with the rear bag instantly on the truck’s cab. Whereas it is a area of interest situation, I’d guess I see round 1 stage on common throughout a two-day match which you can method like this. With observe, it could work very effectively, and it’s a method these professional shooters can decide up 1-2 factors extra on a stage.
It looks as if the Gray Ops Mini Plate PRO is extra well-liked at rifle matches, so why do you like the AMP Elite Multi-Plate mannequin over that one? Austin: “I’ll be sincere: I couldn’t inform you what mannequin I had. It’s not essentially that I favor the one I exploit. It’s what I’ve! I bought one fairly rapidly after they launched that authentic mannequin, and it nonetheless works effectively for me.”
For a tripod, Austin runs the Really Right Stuff Versa Tripod TVC-33 MK2 SOAR Series 3 Tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead. That could be a tripod with 3 leg sections, so it’s comparatively compact when collapsed at 25.4” (excluding the ballhead). Which means Austin’s tripod is a complete foot shorter when collapsed than the 38.2” collapsed size of the RRS TVC-22i MK2 Tripod, which can be extremely popular amongst precision rifle opponents.
Austin mentioned throughout a match, he primarily makes use of the tripod for recognizing when watching different shooters, however he does often apply it to the clock throughout a stage to assist him get regular off sure props when taking pictures. When he makes use of it to help a rifle, that’s virtually at all times for some sort of rear help and never essentially locked instantly into the rifle by an arca rail.
Do you assume you employ a tripod as a rear help kind of typically than different professional shooters? Austin: “I’d guess I exploit a rear tripod possibly a contact extra typically than most professional shooters. Nevertheless it actually will depend on the match. If it’s a match the place shooters aren’t required to deploy the tripod on the clock and I’m taking pictures off a prop that has any wobble to it, then I virtually at all times use a tripod as a rear help. However, if all the barricades and props at a match are strong and never very wobbly, like at Ok&M, the place they’re virtually all concreted in, then I in all probability gained’t use a tripod on any of the levels. In some matches, the match director requires shooters to begin a stage with a tripod totally collapsed, after which the shooter has to deploy it after their time begins. That may clearly eat up a few of your time on a stage. So if a match requires you to utterly deploy a tripod on the clock and it has 90-second par occasions on the levels, then it actually comes all the way down to a danger administration determination. Would you get extra factors utilizing the tripod to get actually steady and danger timing out, or wouldn’t it be higher to go and not using a tripod and have extra time to interrupt pictures? In that situation, I’d see if I may run the tripod in a low place so I didn’t must waste time extending the legs and shoot a low place for the primary 2-3 pictures so I may actually watch my influence and get my wind name. It’s a lot more durable to identify your pictures on a wobbly prop as a result of the prop strikes as your rifle recoils, and it’s laborious to get better and see something. So in that type of situation, I weigh my choices.”
Austin additionally runs an Armageddon Gear Tripod Caddy on his tripod, which was designed by PRS professional shooter that will help you maintain your match necessities organized (i.e., Kestrel, pens, matchbook, magazines, and so forth.). There may be even a handy fold-down workspace that gives a inflexible floor the place you’ll be able to write down your dope as you calculate ballistics earlier than a stage.
For locating targets, checking distances, and recognizing pictures for different shooters at a match, Austin carries the Swarovski EL Range 10×42 Rangefinding Binoculars.
Austin: “I like having my rangefinder and optics for recognizing multi functional package deal, so I at all times have it collectively. The binos I carry are 10x, however I’d actually favor to identify with 12-15x binos – however no person makes an excellent rangefinder in binos with that increased magnification. We’d like a rangefinder with low beam divergence so we will exactly vary long-range targets.” (Study what beam divergence imply and why it issues.)
Austin: “I’ve tried and tried and tried to persuade guys at Swarovski and Leica to make a 15x bino with their high-end rangefinder in them, that are each nice rangefinders – however they don’t assume they’d promote. However, I’m pondering, ‘Dude, you simply don’t know. This could be huge.’ I feel they’d promote. We now have 7,000 PRS members now, and it’s not such as you wouldn’t promote any to hunters. The 10x would nonetheless be extra well-liked with hunters, however I guess you’d promote some 15x to a few of them, too. So, what do the economics must be for them to develop this? If I mentioned you’d promote 1,500 of them, it looks as if they’d flip round and do it proper now. They have already got all the know-how. They simply must develop one thing just like the Swarovski SLC 15×56 with the rangefinder in it. With the manufacturing course of they use, it doesn’t look like that may be an enormous problem, and I feel they’d promote WAY MORE than they wanted to make the economics work. However I can not discuss them into doing it.”
To the optics firms studying this, here’s what we want:
- 15x magnification binoculars with high-quality glass
- Good rangefinder with low beam divergence (possibly <= 0.6 mils x 0.6 mils)
- A mil-based reticle offset to the aspect of the sector of view so we will measure targets or give corrections
Somebody will finally make that product, and possibly this publish will encourage somebody to do it. I’m with Austin – I feel it’ll shock them how profitable of a product will probably be for them. I feel the Excessive Lengthy Vary guys would even be one other market occupied with that product.
Do you vary each goal at a match? Austin: “I don’t vary each goal. If I watch 5 guys shoot a stage earlier than me, and so they’re hitting the middle of a goal, I’m not going to vary it. However, I’ll vary targets in a couple of eventualities:
- If I believe there is likely to be a difficulty with the vary that’s within the matchbook. Let’s say that I’ve been watching one other competitor shoot, and I do know their information is sweet, and so they’ve been hitting targets, but when they go over or below a goal, I’d double-check the vary on it. If I see two guys miss over or below a goal, I’ll completely verify the gap.
- If it’s the primary stage of the day, and not one of the targets have been shot but.
- If I wasn’t capable of watch anybody else shoot the stage, and it’s getting near my flip to go.”
To calculate his ballistics throughout a rifle match, Austin makes use of a mix of the 4DOF Calculator in Hornady’s free Ballistic app alongside a Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Station. Austin mentioned he solely makes use of the Kestrel to measure the wind at his place and collect all the atmospheric information that he feeds by way of Bluetooth into the Hornady Ballistic app on his iPhone. Then, he makes use of the Hornady app to calculate his elevation and wind holds for every goal on a stage as a result of he says, “The Hornady app makes it tremendous fast and straightforward to get the information I want.”
I printed a ton of particulars within the final article on how Austin makes use of these and the way he checks his ballistics and trues his velocity and bullet drag so his ballistic calculator strains up together with his precise impacts within the area. It additionally covers precisely how he writes down his changes for elevation and wind for a PRS stage and the way he makes use of it whereas he’s on the clock. I gained’t rehash that stuff right here, but it surely’s value testing!
As talked about within the article targeted on his rifle setup, Austin primarily makes use of a Harris S-BRM 6-9” Bipod with RRS Harris Bipod Adapter & RRS Arca Mount. That’s what he makes use of on most levels throughout a contest. However, he carries an MDT Ckyepod Double-Pull bipod in his pack that he pulls out in sure conditions.
Austin: “There are particular matches the place you’ve gotten a variety of terrain that it’s important to take care of, and at that time, I run an MDT CKYE-POD bipod. Particularly, I like to hold a Ckypod Double-Pull bipod as a result of it’s tremendous versatile. Any time you’ll be able to work out a technique to get the rifle on a bipod and a rear bag is sweet, and infrequently, that Ckyepod Double-Pull will enable you to do this. Any time you might be taking pictures down a variety of slopping grade, or it’s important to shoot up a steep hill or one thing like that, you simply have a variety of adjustability with that Double-Pull. It’s only a good device to have in your bag.”
Try the article about Austin’s rifle setup for extra particulars on Austin’s view of bipods, what ft he runs, and what he likes about every bipod.
Ear Safety
Austin: “So I’ve some custom-molded, in-ear plugs, however for some cause, my ears appear to get super-waxy each time I exploit these. So I don’t really feel like I can put on them for lengthy intervals of time. So more often than not, I’m carrying the Champion Vanquish Pro Elite Electronic Ear Muffs, that are their higher-end ear professional with the softer ear cups and Bluetooth functionality.”
Optics Cleansing Equipment
If you happen to can’t see clearly out of your optic, your match is over. Professional shooters are attempting laborious to see each bullet influence to allow them to fine-tune their wind name and place the following shot even nearer to the middle of the plate. Austin carries a couple of issues to scrub his optics lenses.
Chamois Drying Towel & Microfiber Towel: These are to maintain his gear clear and dry. The chamois will maintain fairly a little bit of water and maintain drying, and he mentioned he may use the microfiber towel to wipe down his motion and bolt on the finish of the day.
Lens Cleaning Pen: It is a helpful device utilized by photographers. It has a comfortable retractable brush on one aspect to comb away gentle mud and filth and a pure chamois tip on the opposite to take away fingerprints and smudges. You’ll discover plenty of producers that model these, however usually, it at all times has the title “Lens Pen” someplace in it.
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes: These are wipes with a bit alcohol on them, so you’ll be able to wipe lenses clear with out leaving streaks or residue, and so they’re assured to not scratch lenses.
Silicone Bulb Air Blower/Duster: Austin mentioned he’s discovered that utilizing this “puffer” to blow air on a lens with a purpose to take away mud and even get rain drops off your scope lens can typically work higher than making an attempt to wipe off your lenses. If it’s raining, that is in all probability the device he’s going to make use of most to maintain water off his scope lens earlier than a stage. Austin: “It actually works higher than something.”
Instruments & Spare Elements in His Pack
Listed here are all of the instruments Austin carries in his pack:
Chamber Brush: Austin makes use of this to scrub his chamber if the match is basically dusty. He mentioned this nylon brush with the wire-looped deal with that he carries was initially included with Glock 34 MOS pistol that he purchased. Austin: “What you are able to do with that’s in the event you ever get a case-head separation and a part of a case will get caught in your chamber, you’ll be able to really push that nylon brush into the chamber and pull that case out. I’ve by no means had that drawback personally, however I’ve used it to assist out guys who had points with that. And you may as well use it to scrub out your chamber if it will get actually dirty or soiled, but it surely’s extra of an emergency device.” (Learn about case-head separation.)
Do you usually clear your chamber throughout a match? Austin: “Not usually throughout a match. If it’s a very, actually soiled/dusty match, often I’d clear it out with that chamber brush, however often it’s between day 1 and a couple of that I’ll use it to scrub out the chamber. If it was soiled throughout day 1, I’m not going to scrub my barrel between days, however I’ll in all probability clear out my chamber. And once I clear it between days, I don’t use that brush. I usually run a patch on high of a bore mop and run it up in my chamber to scrub it out. I don’t put any solvent or something on the patch. I’ll run it dry, or I generally I’d put a bit little bit of lighter fluid on it to get any oil out, however for probably the most half, it’s only a dry patch to get the mud and stuff out of the chamber.”
SAE Hex Key Set: Austin carries an SAE hex key set (aka Allen wrenches).
While you journey to a match, do you carry a backup rifle or any spare rifle components? Austin: “I virtually at all times have an additional set off and a hanger. Typically, I carry an additional bolt if I give it some thought. Realistically, if in case you have a set off and a bolt, there isn’t a lot else that may go incorrect with a rifle – aside from possibly a scope. When I’m flying, I don’t take an additional scope as a result of I don’t need the additional weight. Typically, in the event you did have a scope go down, there may be often another person there who might need a scope that you may use in a pinch. Aside from these issues, there isn’t rather a lot you’ll be able to break on a rifle anyway. So I largely simply carry a bolt and a set off.”
So that you don’t carry a backup rifle with you to a match? Austin: “If we drive someplace just like the AG Cup or the PRS finale, I’ll take a backup rifle. However realistically, no less than for me, if I had a rifle go down and it price me a complete stage, then I’m in all probability not going to achieve useable PRS factors from that match anyway. Not that I’d give up the match, but when I needed to borrow another person’s gun, it wouldn’t be the top of the world. However, on the AG Cup or the PRS finale, if I really feel like my rifle isn’t taking pictures proper throughout the sight-end day earlier than the match begins, I’ll change over to my backup rifle. In reality, once I gained the AG Cup in 2020, I switched to my backup rifle on the sight-in day and gained it with my backup rifle. They each shoot the identical ammo, so I may take one batch of ammo for each rifles. It’s simply so laborious to fly with two rifles due to the load. I often virtually have 2 rifles able to go, so if we drive, I’ll take them – however not if it’s a match that I must fly to.”
Different Pack Objects
2 Kydex AICS Journal Holsters with Tek-Lok clip: Austin carries 2 of those on his belt at a match. He purchased them when he first began taking pictures matches in 2015 and couldn’t keep in mind the precise model. They give the impression of being similar to the Short Action Precision mag carrier. (Word: Austin carries completely different magazines relying on if he’s utilizing a 6 Dasher or 25 GT. To be taught extra about what magazines he makes use of in numerous eventualities, see this earlier article.)
Wiebad Rifle Caddie: This product is designed to wrap round your rifle to maintain the weather off your scope, motion, and set off.
Customized JTAC Precision Rifle Coaching Leather-based Match E-book Cowl: It is a {custom} leather-based cowl with a clipboard inside that’s the good dimension for a match ebook. Austin mentioned another person ordered these for him, and he thought they had been made by somebody regionally in western Oklahoma however couldn’t keep in mind who it was.
Under Armour QB Wrist Coach & Clean Dope Playing cards: That is the system Austin makes use of to jot down down his elevation and wind changes earlier than a stage after which reference these whereas he’s on the clock.
Sharpie Retractable Ultra-Fine Tip Permanent Markers + Pen: For writing down his dope card earlier than a stage.
Rite In The Rain 3” x 5” Weatherproof Spiral Notebook: If you happen to’ve ever shot a match within the rain, you understand how powerful it may be to maintain your stuff dry and have one thing to jot down on. This pocket book is designed to work within the rain.
Chamber Flag: The chamber flag Austin carries is just like the Short Action Precision chamber plug however is branded Hornady.
Orange Flagging Tape for Wind: I requested Austin if he tied this to his tripod, however he mentioned he really ties it to the lanyard gap on his Kestrel after which can extra simply decide the precise wind path.
Harley Davidson Motorcycle Goggles: Austin: “These are literally Harley Davidson motorbike goggles that I purchased on the Harley Davidson retailer in Amarillo as we had been headed to a match in New Mexico, again when there was one placed on round Albuquerque. That wonderful mud would blow round so dangerous there. I exploit these for these sorts of matches the place the wind blows actually laborious. It sucks each time you might be taking pictures into the wind, and also you get filth blowing in your face. It could actually make it actually laborious to identify your pictures and even get better for the following shot in the event you get filth blow in your eyes. So I’ll put these on and shoot in them in actually dusty matches.”
Austin makes use of the Eberlestock FAC Track backpack and mentioned he has a few small pouches hooked up with molle to the skin to assist him maintain issues organized.
If Austin is flying or must throw his rifle behind a pickup, he mentioned he’d use this Pelican case. He has the froth cutouts inside for:
- His rifle with a Harris bipod hooked up
- A few magazines
- Tripod
- Double-pull Ckyepod
- Cleansing rod + chamber mop
Austin mentioned if he’s simply placing his rifle within the again seat of his pickup, he often will simply put it into the Armageddon Gear soft case he bought as a present on the AG Cup match two years in the past.
Different Articles From Austin Orgain’s Shooter Highlight
That is a part of a sequence that’s taking a deep dive with 6 of probably the most dominant precision rifle opponents on this planet over the previous a number of years. I’m calling it “What The Professionals Use: High Shooter Spotlights.” We’ll be taught what gear they run and why they really feel these issues give them the perfect probability of profitable. Additionally they share plenty of taking pictures suggestions and techniques alongside the way in which! (View which 6 shooters and what all will likely be lined.)
You additionally is likely to be occupied with testing the shooter highlight I lately printed on Austin Buschman.
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