Last updated May 2026 · By Nick Hall, NRL22 and PRS competitor
NRL22 is a precision rimfire competition that brings the positional, time-pressured challenge of long-range PRS shooting to a 22 LR rifle at short range, usually inside 100 to 200 yards. It’s the cheapest, most accessible way into precision rifle, with affordable ammo, a base class for budget rifles under 1,500 dollars, and the same five stages shot nationwide each month. You don’t need new gear to start: a scoped 22 rifle, ammo, and a rifle case will get you on the line.
NRL22 is the on-ramp to precision rifle shooting, and it’s one of the smartest places any new shooter can start. It takes everything that makes PRS great, positional shooting, time pressure, varied targets and stages, and shrinks it down to a 22 LR rifle at distances most ranges can host. The result is a game that teaches the exact skills of long-range shooting for a tiny fraction of the cost, since rimfire ammo is cheap and you’re not burning out a centerfire barrel. This guide explains what NRL22 is, the rules, and how to start. For the rifles, see my best PRS rifles and the rimfire crossover picks in my best Steel Challenge guns roundup.
What Is NRL22?
NRL22 stands for the National Rifle League 22 LR, a competitive discipline where shooters use precision 22 rifles to engage steel targets from a variety of positions and scenarios under a time limit. It applies the core concepts of the Precision Rifle Series, positional shooting off barricades and props, a par time on each stage, and varied target distances, but at rimfire ranges. Most matches do not go beyond 200 yards, and many run inside 100 yards, which means far more ranges can host it than can host a centerfire PRS match.
That accessibility is the whole point. NRL22 was built to teach precision shooting without the cost and travel of centerfire competition. The skills transfer directly, so a season of NRL22 makes you a meaningfully better PRS shooter, and many people shoot both. To understand the centerfire parent sport, read my guide on what PRS is.
How an NRL22 Match Works
NRL22 uses a clever pre-set format that keeps every match in the country on the same page. The national organization publishes a course of fire of five stages the week before each month, and every NRL22 club shoots those same five stages all month. That means you can compare your scores against shooters nationwide on identical stages, and you can even practice the published stages before your match.
Each stage puts you in different positions, shooting off a barricade, a tank trap, a rooftop prop, or improvised supports, with a par time to get your hits on small steel targets. The stages never exceed 200 yards, and a club can set them up inside 100 yards if space is tight. It’s a deliberate, thinking shooter is game where reading your position and breaking a stable shot under the clock matters far more than raw speed.
NRL22 Classes and Rules
NRL22 keeps the rules simple and the classes welcoming, which is a big part of why it has grown so fast.
- Any 22 LR rifle with a removable magazine. The rifle must be chambered in 22 Long Rifle and feed from a detachable magazine. That’s the core equipment requirement.
- The Base class is the budget on-ramp. Base class caps your combined rifle and scope MSRP at 1,500 dollars and limits modifications, which levels the field for newer shooters and keeps the buy-in low. There are several higher classes for more serious or custom setups.
- Five stages, monthly, nationwide. The same published five stages are shot at every club that month, scored on hits within a par time.
- Targets inside 200 yards. Stages never exceed 200 yards and can be set inside 100, so the rimfire round is plenty and the range demands are modest.
The Base class is genuinely affordable. A capable rifle and scope under the 1,500-dollar combined cap will compete, and many shooters start with gear they already own. The class system means you’re not forced to spend with the custom-rifle crowd before you know you love the sport.
Why NRL22 Is the Best Way Into Precision Rifle
If you want to learn long-range shooting, don’t start with an expensive centerfire build. Start with NRL22, for several reasons. The ammo is a fraction of the cost of centerfire match ammo, so you can practice the positional skills relentlessly without flinching at the bill. The short ranges mean you can shoot at far more local ranges and even practice in places a 1,000-yard centerfire match could never go. And the wind, while gentler than centerfire, still teaches you to read it, because a 22 bullet is slow and drifts noticeably.
Most importantly, the skills are the same. Building a stable position off a barricade, managing a par time, calling your shots, and reading conditions all transfer directly to PRS. A shooter who spends a season in NRL22 arrives at their first centerfire match already knowing how to shoot positions, which is the hardest part to learn. It’s not a watered-down version of precision rifle; it’s the same game made affordable.
What You Need to Start NRL22
The barrier to entry is genuinely low, and you may already own most of what you need.
- A scoped 22 LR rifle with a removable magazine. A Ruger 10/22, CZ 457, Tikka T1x, or Bergara BMR all work well. A bolt action is most common, but a magazine-fed semi-auto is fine for Base class.
- A first-focal-plane scope if possible. The same scope features that matter in PRS help here, though a quality second-focal-plane scope works in Base class while you learn.
- Quality match ammo. Consistent rimfire matters for hitting small steel. Popular match loads include Lapua, SK, and Eley 40-grain rounds. Test what your rifle groups best.
- A rear bag and a bipod. A small positional bag and a bipod help you build stable positions on the props.
- A rifle case and eye and ear protection. The basics to transport your gear and stay safe.
Sign up on the NRL22 website, find a match near you, read the published stages, and get to the range early for the safety briefing. The community is famously welcoming, with shooters of every level happy to lend a bag or a wind call. For rimfire rifles that excel here, the CZ 457 and Tikka T1x in my best Steel Challenge guns roundup are top picks, and the scopes are in my best PRS scopes guide.
The Bottom Line
NRL22 is the smartest, cheapest way into precision rifle shooting, taking the positional, time-pressured challenge of PRS and shrinking it to an affordable 22 LR game inside 200 yards. The Base class keeps the buy-in low, the same five stages run nationwide each month, and the skills transfer straight to centerfire PRS. You do not need to spend a fortune or even buy new gear: a scoped 22, some match ammo, and a willingness to learn will get you on the line. Start here, and centerfire precision will feel far less daunting when you’re ready. New to all of this? Start with my complete guide to competition shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NRL22?
NRL22 stands for the National Rifle League 22 LR. It's a precision rimfire competition that brings the positional, time-pressured challenge of long-range PRS shooting to a 22 LR rifle at short range, usually inside 100 to 200 yards. It applies PRS concepts like positional shooting and par times at a fraction of the cost, which makes it the most accessible way into precision rifle.
How do you get started in NRL22?
Sign up on the NRL22 website, find a match in your area, read the published five stages, and get to the range early for the safety briefing. You don't need new gear to begin: a scoped 22 LR rifle with a removable magazine, some quality match ammo, and a rifle case will get you on the line. The Base class keeps the buy-in low and the community is welcoming to newcomers.
What rifle do you need for NRL22?
You need a 22 LR rifle with a removable magazine. A Ruger 10/22, CZ 457, Tikka T1x or Bergara BMR all work well, with bolt actions most common but magazine-fed semi-autos allowed in Base class. The Base class caps the combined rifle and scope MSRP at 1,500 dollars, so a capable setup does not have to be expensive, and many shooters start with gear they already own.
How far do you shoot in NRL22?
NRL22 matches never exceed 200 yards, and many are set up inside 100 yards if a range is tight on space. That short distance is the whole point: it lets far more local ranges host the sport and keeps the rimfire round entirely capable. Despite the modest range, the small steel targets and positional stages make it genuinely challenging and a true test of precision fundamentals.
What is the NRL22 Base class?
Base class is the budget, beginner-friendly division of NRL22. It caps your combined rifle and scope MSRP at 1,500 dollars and limits modifications, which levels the playing field and keeps the cost of entry low. It's where most new shooters start, and there are several higher classes for more serious or custom setups once you're ready to step up.
Is NRL22 good for beginners?
Yes, NRL22 is one of the best entry points into precision shooting. The ammo is cheap, the ranges are short enough for most local clubs, the Base class keeps gear costs low, and the same skills transfer directly to centerfire PRS. The community is famously welcoming, with experienced shooters happy to teach. A season of NRL22 makes your first centerfire match far less daunting.
What is the difference between NRL22 and PRS?
PRS is centerfire long-range competition shot out past a thousand yards with expensive rifles and ammo, while NRL22 applies the same positional, time-pressured format to a 22 LR rifle inside 200 yards. NRL22 is far cheaper and more accessible, but it teaches the same fundamentals of building positions, managing par times and reading conditions. Many shooters use NRL22 to train cheaply for PRS.
What ammo is best for NRL22?
Quality match-grade 22 LR ammo is best, since consistent rimfire is what lets you hit small steel at distance. Popular choices include Lapua Long Range, SK Match and Eley Match in 40-grain. Rimfire rifles are picky, so the most important step is testing a few brands and lots in your rifle to find the one it groups tightest with, then buying that load in quantity.
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