Match description
“The Predator Match”
Dates: January 9-11, 2026
This is a 2-day team hike-and-shoot field match, where teams will engage hidden targets in stunning natural terrain stages along a 3 to 4 mile course. Expect the duration to be about 2-3 hours; and significantly harder than just about any other sniper match.
**Here’s where it gets interesting: You’re afforded the opportunity to adopt a “predatory” mindset against the best sniper teams in the business and bump a team off of a stage should you catch up to them. Likewise, if a team catches you; you’ll be required to immediately pull off of a stage and allow the team who caught you to shoot that stage.
15-30 minutes before your step-off time, you’ll be given stage briefs. All stages will be blind where teams hike (on the clock) to a staging area and then begin the stage. You must detect, range, and engage all targets. Most targets will be placed to conceal them within natural terrain. Teams will be expected to come up with a strategy under tight time constraints with limited information given to them as a means to test hasty mission planning.
This match will test the following: target detection, marksmanship skills, teamwork, communication, and competence under stress.
Both team members need to be prepared to engage targets out to 1300 meters rifle, 700 meters carbine.
This match is not a physical fitness event, but will require teams to traverse hilly, unmanicured terrain with all their gear.
Slots are limited to 35 teams and we expect this event to fill up very quickly just as it has in the past.
Trophies will be awarded to each team member for 1st-3rd place.
STRUCTURE & MATCH FLOW:
Teams will be randomly assigned a T-time, with first team stepping off about 7:30am. Every 10 minutes another team will start on the same trail following a team in front of them. You will traverse the course as a team…there are no squads. Teams should expect to spend about 1.5-3 hours to complete the entire course.
About 170 rifle rounds. Some stages will require a max of 12 rifle rounds to complete per shooter.
Teams will be hiking between shooting areas in variable, hilly terrain. The average distance between shooting areas is 200-500 meters. Unless it’s longer. Deal with it.
Bring whatever food and water you think you may need for the day. There are several nearby stores where food and water can be purchased.
Teams need to be prepared to encounter rapidly changing weather conditions on the course, as well as hazards that can occur on a natural terrain course including but not limited to; stinging insects, snakes and disgruntled shit-talking competitors.
There will be some physical challenges in this match other than hiking. Some stages may require crawling, lifting, and or dragging objects. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most physically demanding, this match will be a 7.63. Possibly 7.95.
gear requirements
Both shooters must utilize military calibers only: 7.62, 6.5CM, .260 rem, 6ARC, 5.56. No gamer bullshit calibers allowed to enable our many Mil/LE teams to have competitive equity.
It is strongly recommended that teams carry 2 tripods for shooting and spotting roles. Or don’t; use your overpriced triple-pull bipod.
Most targets past 500 yards will have hit indicators. Unless they don’t.
Both shooters must carry all their gear needed for the course.
Bring any additional gear needed for practical shooting scenarios.
When encountering adversity and stress, the most successful teams will adopt a “no problem, I’ll roll with this” attitude and focus on the task at hand. Much like other military stress shoots, you may feel like you were kicked in the taint on a particular stage/section. This is intentional; roll with the punches.
Stressors you’re likely to encounter may include, but are not limited to:
Cognitive overload, physical, auditory and misc. distractions
Poor/limited intelligence
Abruptly changing information
Various curveballs you’ll hate at the time, but will enjoy later on
Match format
2-day Match (Jan. 9-11, 2026 Saturday, Sunday) Check in will be on Friday the 9th th from 3-5pm.
2-Man teams; 1 Primary Bolt Gun, 1 Secondary Carbine
Bolt Gun: .308, 6.5CM, .260, 6ARC
Carbine: Can be any of the above calibers along with 5.56.(Must be a semi-auto)
Both Shooters will carry 9mm pistols
Targets will vary from paper, to reactive steel, to fixed steel with indicators.
Minimum recommended round counts, 175 rifle, 200 Carbine, 150 pistol per shooter; it is suggested to bring more carbine and pistol ammo if you suck at shooting.
Local altitude of 600’
Competitors will carry all gear used for the duration of the course of fire.
Movement from stage to stage will be timed.
Additional details including rules will be sent to competitors in advance of the match.
VIP 1-DAY MATCH:
The VIP 1-day individual match is on Friday the 9thth where you'll shoot the same course of fire RO'd by Adam and Matt, and you'll get a backstage pass to all stages along with badass meals.
*To be considered for this opportunity, individuals must commit to ROing teams through the weekend.(See what we did there?) This is a not-so-clever way of soliciting really, really good RO's for the match. You'll be treated like VIP's, eat for free and any subsequent sons that Matt or I have (in any country) will be named after you.
**If you want the best learning opportunity to see some of the best field teams in the nation shoot a clever and fun match, this is your ticket to the best training opportunity money can't buy. We only have 12 open slots for this opportunity, and you should have some experience on glass/ROing other matches.
the facility
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This is one of the most badass natural terrain shooting facilities in the southeast. Steel City Precision is owned and operated by our friend and fellow competitor John Cuckler, a dedicated field shooter whose mission is the development of the field shooting community east of the Mississippi. Located between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, this facility allows for easy airport access, with badass breweries just north of the facility in Birmingham, and college town vibes just to the south in Tuscaloosa. The closest hotel is just a mere 25 minutes from the range. *We have thoroughly vetted a few of the restaurants and breweries and found them to be suitable… If you know what we mean.
With a range fan that can expand to 240 degrees, the field shooter can engage targets from 1,200, 1600, 2,440 and immediately turn around beyond 180 degrees, and shoot out to 1,000 yards. The expansive range fan is perfect for testing wind call accuracy as this is not a “hold left edge” facility. Read that again. This is a rare attribute that we intend to exploit…
Situated within approx. 30,000 acres of timberland, encompassing 660 acres of hills and valleys that stretch over 2 miles in a secluded yet convenient location. The development of the property has carefully been planned to maximize what the natural terrain and vegetation can offer the field precision rifle shooter. Many targets are hidden within the terrain to force shooters to scan by eye, and glass to detect targets and come up with a field expedient firing solution. It is not possible to “game” scenario-based stages at this facility. Vegetation and terrain have been maximized to separate teams and staging areas so scenarios can be “blind.”
For further information on the facility and local amenities please visit: https://www.steelcityprecision.com/