Miles to Matches

Chad and Francis have created a number of "inventions" or new ways of solving common problems. This episode is all about how to approach challenges that you encounter and how the pair created the products they've helped design or manufacturer. From the MDT CrushIt timer to the Armageddon Gear Tripod Caddy to the 5x5 Grip to the MDT Dampers and more, the hosts walk through the back story on the products they've designed to be more effective in matches.

2024 Vortex Vengeance is complete and the hosts recap some important items they learned during the match. From staying mentally engaged to simplifying their approach to wind calls to the importance of staying on the rifle through the shot, this episode hits the highlights for the weekend.

This episode, Chad and Francis cover all things front support, including bipods. But not all bipods are the the same and no bipod is PERFECT for all scenarios. They duo deep dive on the mechanics of what your rifle experiences during recoil on a bipod and how it can be optimized for precision. Construction tolerances, materials and design can all have a direct impact on your shots down range.

This week, Chad and Francis discuss when experimenting is the correct approach to advance your skills. Sometimes the easiest path forward is to follow those that blazed the original trail. However, there is a fundamental difference between "Learning" and "Exploring". In the learning phase of new skills, working within known boundaries helps set a baseline for successful outcomes. In the exploring phase, it can be beneficial to approach challenges from a different angle to see if results can be improved.

Our sport has continuously evolved to find new levels of precision and accuracy. From bullet design to chassis to optics, virtual no area of precision rifle shooting is the same as it was even 10-15 years ago. However, bag fill is one of the most important areas of our sport that SpexLite is making major advances in material science to increase precision and minimize weight. We talk with David Schabel to understand how they are advancing the sport with new materials optimized for different applications! Spex-Lite and BoxToBench Precision have created a discount code for the listeners! Use code "Matches" to receive a 10% discount on all orders including shipping costs!

Traveling to matches is part of the experience. However, sometimes choosing your method of travel - either driving or flying - is not straight forward. This week, Chad and Francis discuss how to make the most of your trip and considerations regarding when to drive vs fly. Along with common tips and tricks to get your gear to match safely, this is a great episode for those wanting to plan their next cross country match!

Chad and Francis hit the road for one last trip with Betty, the tactical minivan! Barrels have life span. How do you identify and solve challenges with groups, SDs or ES. Listen in to hear how they diagnose changes in requirement that cause problems.

VPRC 2024 is in the bag! Chad and Francis debrief on the ride back from the stellar Virginia range VPRC. The match was a great mix of learning moments and success when it comes to dealing with switching winds (angle and velocity).

P$P

Francis and Chad pick up where they left off the last episode, finishing the GREAT DEBATE: Mils vs MOA vs IPHY. While this may seem like a trivial or mundane topic, it hits some solid points on how they "think" in terms of units as often as possible. Learning the units of measure for angles vs horizontal equivalents is critical to your journey in precision rifle. You WILL be a more effective competitor and hunter by mastering the "language" of long range shooting!

Besides discussing the number of speed traps, Chad and Francis have a solid discussion around one of the most common topics in precision shooting: statistical significance. Rather than delving into a college level stats course, they talk about statistics in practical terms. Rather than working on statistical significance, they prefer to start with practical significance. Being able to identify a difference is not the same as being able to DO something about it.

Frostbite 2024: Chad and Francis recap what they learned at one of the coldest matches of the season. Dealing with switching wind directions, angle changes, cold weather gear and more.

Thank you! We've made it to our 101st episode! Chad and Francis recap their journey across the podcast and cover some ways they've seen match directors create awesome experiences. With that, they walk through ways shooters can build towards success even when something goes wrong at a match.

Our 100th episode! This week Chad and Francis discuss the ideal of creating "Exponential Incremental Improvements". Finding ways to define your areas of improvement, setting a prioritized plan and building focus around that specific plan. The phrase "Where there is a will, there is a way" guides the core of our discussion in the centennial episode of Miles to Matches!

This is one of our FAVORITE episodes that we've ever recorded! We walk back through the equipment that gave us pivotal improvements throughout our careers in PRS. From Maverick and Goose in Top Gun to scopes to rear bags to the venerable 17 HMR, the some of the most innocuous purchases gave us the opportunity to advance our learning curve. This nostalgic episode is funny, memorable and epitomizes why we love the sport of precision rifle shooting!

Trust is complicated: it's required to perform at a very high level but can also lead to disaster if not placed and verified properly. From equipment to techniques, the source and testing methods you employ can help you gain points by avoiding problems. Tune in to find some critical pointers on finding the best way to "trust but verify".

Chad and Francis walk through their current brass prep methods. Some cool tips and tricks come out of this one to help with your SDs and keep your process consistent start to finish, with the goal of producing the best consistency possible for PRS-style competion.

Chad and Francis discuss practice routines and how they translate to a better understanding of your rifle and system. From short range practice to paper drills to rifle setup, the duo walk through ways practice and evaluate your performance for better precision and consistency.

What is your plan during the "Off Season"? Chad and Francis walk through there plans and process for the short 1-2 month period between each season. From equipment to training to goals to match schedule, they cover the details that matter most to set yourself up for a successful season.

Is there such a thing as "driving the rifle"? And if so, should you do it? This phrase is said frequently by Francis, but Chad has a different view on the topic. The pair walk through what they each think on the subject and try to set some baselines around this interesting topic that will help you create better clarity on interacting with your rifle system.