Which precision rifle fits your discipline? A straight-talk guide to PRS Rimfire, benchrest, PRS, and long range, with in-stock picks for each.
The main difference between centerfire and rimfire is the priming system: the part that ignites the powder.
A centerfire cartridge has four main components:
The primer’s position gives centerfire ammunition its name. Every component must be appropriate for the particular cartridge and firearm.
Rimfire ammunition contains a case, priming compound, powder, and a bullet, but no separate primer.
Caliber alone does not determine whether ammunition is rimfire or centerfire. The priming system does.
| Rimfire | Centerfire | |
|---|---|---|
| Ignition | Priming compound inside the case’s hollow rim | Separate primer seated in the center of the case base |
| Ammunition | Factory only; not designed to be reloaded | Factory or handloaded to suit the rifle |
| Typical match distance | 25 – 300 yards | 100 yards to 1 mile+ |
| Cost per round (match ammo) | Cents to well under $1 | About $1.50 – $3+ (factory match) |
| Recoil & noise | Very low, easy all-day shooting | Moderate; brakes and suppressors help |
| Barrel life | Tens of thousands of rounds | A few thousand rounds (depends on cartridge) |
| Range requirements | Works at most local ranges | Needs longer ranges for full potential |
| Wind reading | Very wind-sensitive, a great teacher | Critical at distance |
| Best for | Learning, training volume, benchrest scoring | Distance, PRS/NRL, ELR, group benchrest |
Costs and distances are typical ranges and vary by ammunition, match format, and venue.
Both centerfire and rimfire rifles can be sensitive to ammunition. The difference is how much control the shooter has over it.
Many centerfire competitors handload their ammunition, giving them control over component selection and consistency.
Developing ammunition that performs well in a particular rifle takes experience, careful testing, and detailed records.
Conventional rimfire ammunition is not designed to be reloaded, so competitors depend on factory ammunition.
They test different brands, product lines, and manufacturing lots to find what performs best in their particular rifle. How .22LR lot testing works →
Even two rifles from the same manufacturer can perform differently with the same ammunition. Barrel characteristics, vibration, ammunition consistency, and other factors all affect results. Finding the right rifle-and-ammunition combination is a major part of precision rimfire shooting. That’s why our rimfire rifles are built with tuners.
Centerfire competition includes several disciplines. Some emphasize hits on targets at varying distances, while others measure group size or score on paper. Depending on the discipline, distances range from a few hundred yards to well beyond 1,000 yards.
Precision rimfire benchrest demands exceptionally small margins of error. Fractions of a sixteenth of an inch can separate a winning score from the rest of the field.
What each discipline demands from a rifle, and which in-stock Cybex rifles are built for it.
Positional precision on a rimfire budget
Timed, positional stages shot from barricades, props, and unconventional positions at steel targets. It is the same skill set as centerfire PRS, at a fraction of the cost per round, and it is one of the fastest-growing ways to get into precision shooting.
Best for: New precision shooters, and centerfire PRS shooters who want affordable training.
In Stock · Ships Now Scope not Included in price of gun RX 03-1 Zermatt Rim-X · Benchmark barrel
In Stock · Ships Now RX 03-2 Zermatt Rim-X · CRB barrel
Every X-ring counts
Score-based matches (such as ARA and IR 50/50) shot from a rest at small scoring rings. Wind reading and absolute mechanical consistency decide matches, often by a single X.
Best for: Shooters chasing perfect scores and the tightest groups a .22 can produce.
In Stock · Ships Now Scope not Included in price of gun BR 07-2 PQP (Dan Killough) Trident · MullerWorks barrel
In Stock · Ships Now Scope not Included in price of gun BR 05-1 PQP (Dan Killough) 2500X · MullerWorks barrel
In Stock · Ships Now Scope not Included in price of gun BR 04-2 PQP (Dan Killough) Trident · MullerWorks barrel
Real distance, real wind
The centerfire version of positional precision: multi-stage matches with steel targets at real distance. Ballistics, wind calls, and speed under pressure are all tested.
Best for: Competitors ready to step up from rimfire, or anyone who wants to shoot steel at distance.
In Stock · Ships Now KB 10-2 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Lothar Walther barrel
In Stock · Ships Now KB 10-1 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Lothar Walther barrel
In Stock · Ships Now KB 07-2 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Krieger barrel
The pursuit of the one-hole group
Group and score benchrest is the most accuracy-focused discipline in shooting. The 6mm PPC has long been the standard in short-range group benchrest, and every component exists to remove variables.
Best for: Accuracy purists who measure success in thousandths of an inch.
In Stock · Ships Now Scope not Included in price of gun KB 05-1 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Preferred (machining by Kelbey’s to match Prometheus Action) barrel
Pushing past the horizon
Long-range shooting stretches the limits of ballistics, optics, and wind reading. A heavy-barreled 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent, manageable entry point. True ELR (well beyond a mile) usually moves to larger magnum cartridges, so call us if that is your goal.
Best for: Shooters who want to see how far they can push it.
In Stock · Ships Now KB 10-2 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Lothar Walther barrel
In Stock · Ships Now KB 10-1 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Lothar Walther barrel
In Stock · Ships Now KB 07-2 Kelbey’s Prometheus · Krieger barrel
Both disciplines require specialized equipment. Here’s how our complete rifle packages fit each stage.
New to the sport and want to try it before making a substantial investment.
Start with our guides and talk to us. A rimfire rifle is often the most affordable way in.
Talk to Us →Some experience and ready to improve, but want guidance on what equipment to buy and why.
Ready for the next step? Our complete packages take the guesswork out of component selection.
See Complete Packages →Having success in matches and recognize that better equipment could make you more competitive.
This is who we build for: proven components, assembled and test-fired, in stock now.
Shop Ready to Ship →Know exactly what you want. Many build their own or invest $10,000–$15,000 and wait a year or more for a particular gunsmith.
Want that level of rifle without the wait? Ask what we have ready now.
Contact the Builder →I started in centerfire shooting, and most of my rifle-building experience comes from that world. Today I’m expanding into precision rimfire benchrest shooting and competition.
Both disciplines demand specialized equipment, and many shooters don’t have the time, experience, or resources to assemble a competitive custom rifle themselves, especially as they move into more demanding competition. So I decided to put that experience to work in complete rifle packages: proven components, assembled, test-fired, and ready to compete.
It comes down to how the cartridge is primed. Centerfire ammunition uses a separate primer seated in the center of the case base. Rimfire ammunition holds its priming compound inside the hollow rim of the case, and the firing pin strikes the rim to ignite it. Caliber alone does not determine which type a cartridge is.
Conventional rimfire ammunition is not designed to be reloaded. That is why precision rimfire shooters test different brands, product lines, and manufacturing lots of factory ammunition to find what their rifle shoots best.
Most new precision shooters progress fastest on rimfire. Low recoil, cheap ammunition, and close-range matches mean more trigger time and faster skill-building. Many top centerfire competitors still train on rimfire.
Yes. Rimfire benchrest and PRS Rimfire are serious disciplines with national-level competition. A precision-built .22 with a match barrel, a quality action, and a tuner can hold the tiny scoring rings used in ARA and IR 50/50 benchrest.
A tuner is an adjustable weight on the muzzle that changes barrel harmonics. Setting it for your ammunition lot can noticeably tighten groups and reduce vertical dispersion, which is why our benchrest rimfire rifles include one.
A heavy-barreled 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent, manageable entry into long-range and 1,000-yard+ shooting. True ELR (well beyond a mile) usually moves to larger magnum cartridges. Call us and we can talk through your goals.
Yes. Every rifle is professionally assembled, test-fired with match-grade ammunition, and cleaned. Rifles shipping with scopes are zeroed at 50 yards (rimfire) or 100 yards (centerfire). Each ships to your FFL dealer.
Pick what you shoot and we’ll email you when a matching rifle is ready to ship. Still deciding? Call (419) 740-0456 and talk it through with us.
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