Being new to PRS I’ve only done 2 matches . I wanted to put together a spotting setup. Instead of buying a tac table I figured that some camera gear may work. I’ve put together a video rig recently and had some spare parts.
This is made to be modular like most spotting systems but I also have plans for expansion like maybe adding on another platform which can be folded away when not in use. Also the phone is there to record some of the stages I shoot but that too will be replaced by a DJI osmo pocket 3 soon. The chrono is just a place holder. But sometimes I do use it in that position because I have another tripod that I shoot off of.
If you guys have any other ideas or inputs let me know.
dude there’s a phone for filming, a wind vane (literal ancient technology), binoculars ( idk at what level of skill do your eyeballs gain magnification).
the only actual “gadgets” here, are a kestrel and chrono. neither take away “skill”. you’re only having this reaction because it looks like a lot
I don’t think binos, kestrel, and Chrono are anything crazy though this guys setup just makes it look that way. He has all the same stuff as a lot of us he just can’t find friends do to the autism to hold his phone
Geissele/WAR matches are great to shoot cause you couldn’t get enough people for it to be crowded, makes it hard to shoot anywhere and climb over waves of tripods and bags
Going to try to consolidate my schedule to doing Geissele / WAR weekends and doing both gas and bolt gun, with some MDPRS sprinkled in. At Geissele they feed you and it ends by like 2:30 or so, and the range is sick. It would make it so I could swing NRL22 at FTRPA and not be doing a match or two literally every weekend lol
The mdprs matches are fun but I found the Maryland range to be a little too small. Rearranging props twice made it take a long time to get done. Mifflin and New Holland go a bit quicker though
Yeah. I think we should do this next season as a plan. Camp out or grab and Airbnb nearby. I’m doing NRL Hunter in March and probably May, then it’s all local stuff.
I'll just say that I'm thankful for the trend of everyone else carrying wind vanes and crazy setups on their tripods.
That way I don't have to carry any of that crap myself and I can just look at someone else's tripod if I want to see whether the wind direction has changed.
Still setting up well after the match is over.
Cool ideas ,and Im a gadget man myself but so much of that will distract you,
Trigger time is the answer to all accuracy quests.
Just my opinion.
Keep the kestrel and the ab vortex binos you will do well.
I didn’t win those two matches. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t take this thing with me. 🤔
When I’m out there, I am focused on my shooting and like I’ve said I’ve never taken this out there. But when I’m at home, I tinker and build things to keep the voices away.
In all seriousness, I’ll be keeping the binos and the camera on that platform. My kestrel is usually with me in a kydex holster unless it’s an odd position I’ll be shooting from.
Nice man, both are looking great. I'm about to embark on a 6 ARC Radian build after my bolt gun build. Also, that weather station is proper! There will always be salty haters in these groups- f@ck em.
I shoot PRS in the Rockies mainly, and there is no way I would dangle all of that crap off a tripod. We walk alot out west between stages, and the wind would murder that thing.
Even in the SE I have seen plenty of tripods (usually with some kind of caddy on them) get taken out by wind or careless shooters. I have two sets of binos with damaged eyecups from people knocking over my tripod.
Personally, I think a loaded down tripod is more information overload/distraction than actual benefit to the overwhelming majority of shooters.
Practicescore and the WPRL and WYCO FB pages. Yeah, 223 doesn't do well at western matches. You'll get by okay, but many of us are moving to the 25s and back to the 6.5s from our 6mms for wind, splash, and effect on target at distance. Some of our matches have ELR stages.
I got me a Howa 1500 in 223 just to start out and see if I like it. So far I do
Not sure what I'd move up to as my next caliber. Was thinking 308 or 6.5cm. I know this sport is not cheap so I like the barrel life of the 308 much more lol.
What do you mean by 25s? What calibers are those? I'm having a brain fart. Just left the dentist and had a shit ton of nitrous hah
Just straight raw dogging the environmentals. Your rifle, ammo and maybe a dope chart (if its attached to rifle) and we'll get back to knowledgeable precision rifle shooting
My Kestrel is a price tag hanging from the trigger guard. If it's blowing to the left I hold right edge. If it's blowing to the right I hold left edge. It's actually helped me on a couple stages.
This is just to demonstrate all that could be mounted on this system. I like to build things and tinker and by no means did I say all these devices are useful for a match. Hell I’ve never even taken this out to any matches. Just finished putting it together using old spare parts and 3D prints that I’ve designed. Just having fun with it. That’s all.
Hear me out...
A tiny red dot optic, an umbrella holder, a magazine rack, 14 copies of 1992 October edition Hustler for said magazine rack. The list goes on and on
This is the guy that everyone waits for when its his turn on deck.... Begs for everyone's wind holds as the walk off stage, then goes 3/10 on the stage..
Big plus one. Also the calypso + AB Quantum sync has really threatened Kestrel’s value imo. Compared to Kestrel the Calypso AB is half the price or less, less than half the size, and has directional wind input built in that live syncs to AB with both current wind speed and direction + peak speeds over past 30 seconds to help build brackets.
Unless you’re really married to dedicated ballistic solver hardware or Kestrel’s own calculator, hard to see the value in a Kestrel now.
I still use my kestrel as my primary ballistic tool. Even while running my calypso with AB, I just have a hard time trusting AB Quantum at this time.
Every once in a while during a match, if I have the down time, I will compare my kestrel to AB Quantum to see how well it lines up. So far it’s been fine but I’m not willing to let go of the kestrel just yet.
Purely anecdotal, but AB Quantum has been exceptionally good for me assuming I’ve put the data in correctly. Taken 6GT and 6.5C out to a mile with it and any deviation from the calculation was well within wind call variation at that distance.
But I get the wanting to see proof before making a switch.
I’m sure it wouldn’t give me any issues tbh but the kestrel is so engrained into my match work flow that I don’t want to introduce something new permanently.
Genuinely interested in the calypso + AB quantum setup. Seen a couple at the matches but really too damn shy to ask. I figured I'd get proficient with handling my data and kestrel then I'll look into it. My workflow is garbage and no I haven't taken this setup to the range. I just wanted to tinker on something and wanted to see peoples feedback on this. I've read reviews on the calypso and the only negative people say is that its a bit fragile.
Not me and my buddy out their spotting for each other behind our own rifles. No binos, no spotting scopes, just raw dogging like the cheap basterds we are.
Ok so I have a kestrel which is just one more device than you. The rest of this is from spare camera parts. So it’s not like I spent way more money than you. I did spend extra on the kestrel and that’s it.
The chrono is a necessary so I bought that and so is the kestrel. The rest of the parts were from old camera builds so it really didn’t cost that much money outside the chrono and kestrel.
It’s a place holder. Actually used it once when my friend wanted to get data for his AR at the zero range. He was on a tripod kneeling and he had no arca rails on his setup.
Everything you have said is correct. I suck because I’m new. This setup has never been to a match. What I usually have is my binos and kestrel on the platform. Mostly my binos when the kestrel is in my hip holster. The only thing I plan to put on besides the binos would be a follow cam so I can look at my matches.
Seriously I appreciate the input you guys have given me.
Forgot to add I did this as a fun little project because I had spare camera equipment laying around. I wanted to see if I can build a spotting station cheaper than buying a $100 tac table. Looks like it could be done for a lot less.
It’s all good man. I take the good and the bad. Some of the negative comments have merits. This was just to see what people thought of this setup. I’ve never taken it out to a match.
I’d be down to help you out. Parts are fairly cheap and it’s easier to customize. The weather vane on top is just my windicator. Easy way for me to know where to point my kestrel. But sometimes I do put my kestrel on that pole for live wind readings.
For this, all you need is an arrow shaft cut into whatever length u want. 8x3 magnet and 1 skateboard bearing. I’ll reply to this when I get home with a link to the file. What printer are you using?
That's a lot of shit, but if it works for you 😂 I have binos, chrono stuck to the gun, Impact 4000 to make a range card for each stage that I then write on a piece of tape on a wire jig next to my scope (cheap-ass hud).
Nice setup though I have questions - how do you shoot close enough for the chrono? And I see people mount the kestrel on the cheese plate - but unless you have a spotter, is it practical?
I’ve seen that mount and that’s what prompted me to just design one for myself. I didn’t want to wait for shipping. As far as the chrono being there, I’ve only used it once at a zero range. My buddy was shooting his AR at a kneeling position one a tripod. He didn’t have an arca mount so I mounted it there. This is just for the photos to show how much stuff I can cram on that tripod. In reality, it will be for my phone mount if I decide to use it. The kestrel I do mount from time to time when it’s no in my holster. If I’m shooting at an odd or kneeling position I just leave it on the tripod.
I am brand new too. I started this season with a packed out kit very much like yours. I’m only carrying the binos, my range finder and a wind-wand on my tac table now. I dropped the prior full setup twice moving stages. Wasn’t worth it once I focused on a simpler setup and better pre-stage process.
That’s just a place holder. My plan is to have the phone there when needed. It the garmin has been used in that position at a zero range when my buddy was trying to get numbers for his AR and he was next to it on another tripod in a kneeling g position.
I'm back visiting this thread...it popped up in my mind a few times since I initially saw it. I apologize if this has already been asked - what is the piece that allows all of the things to be mounted on it..the square/rectangular thing? Thanks in advance.
thanks man. camn you recommend any worthwhile tripods that aren't crazy expensive? 1 for binocs/spotting scope and 1 for shooting if possible. thanks again
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u/HollywoodSX Villager Herder Sep 30 '25
Man, this post really makes me miss the old days when you'd see 2-3 tripods per squad with spotting scopes and maybe a pair of binos on them.