2025 KRG Extreme ELR Match: Gear Trends and Insights from the Line

The 2025 Kinetic Research Group (KRG) Extreme ELR Match delivered another year of incredible long-range shooting, showcasing not only the skill of the competitors but also the gear driving their performance. With input from shooters across the field, the KRG ELR Gear Survey offered a unique behind-the-scenes look at what top-tier competitors are using—and trusting—at extreme distances.

Dominant Calibers & Handloads Rule

Unsurprisingly, the 300 Norma Magnum (25%) and 300 PRC (14%) led the way in cartridge popularity, with a broad mix of other ELR-capable rounds filling out the roster. A staggering 95% of competitors used handloads, highlighting the custom-tuned nature of ELR shooting where consistency and precision are paramount.

Brass & Projectiles: Lapua and Berger Lead the Pack

Lapua brass (55%) was by far the top choice, reinforcing its gold-standard reputation for consistency and quality. Berger bullets (61%) were the overwhelming favorite in the projectile category, with Hornady a distant second. These results reflect the ELR community’s emphasis on components that deliver proven ballistic performance.

Optics and Mounts: Precision Glass and Rock-Solid Mounting

Nightforce (33%) optics topped the charts, followed by Vortex, ZCO, and Leupold. Nearly every competitor (96%) used first focal plane (FFP) scopes, and MIL-based reticles dominated (85%), consistent with modern precision rifle preferences.

Mounting-wise, Spuhr was the most popular mount brand (31%), with a strong majority (64%) opting for one-piece mounts over traditional rings.

Rifle Platforms: Custom Builds Reign

While 57% of shooters ran full custom rifles, Accuracy International stood out as the most-used factory rifle brand (15%), leading over Barrett, Cadex, and others. The most popular triggers included TriggerTech (48%), and Bartlein barrels (31%) were the clear front-runner among barrel manufacturers.

Suppression, Support Gear & Accessories

Recoil management was nearly evenly split, with 56% using brakes and 44% running suppressors. Thunder Beast (TBAC) led the suppressor category, while APA dominated in brakes.

For support gear, the Ckye-Pod/MDT bipod (37%) was the most-used, and Armageddon Gear (52%) was the clear favorite in the shooting bag category.

Spotting & Rangefinding: Eyes on the Target

The majority of shooters (75%) used binoculars for spotting, with Vortex (26%) and Sig Sauer (18%) leading in optics. For rangefinding, Sig Sauer (30%) again took the top spot, followed by Vortex and Vectronix.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 KRG Extreme ELR Match highlighted the continual evolution of long-range shooting gear. From top-tier custom rifles to elite optics and refined handloads, the gear choices show a clear emphasis on precision, consistency, and reliability. For shooters and manufacturers alike, the gear survey serves as a roadmap to what’s working in the real world—at the most extreme distances.

Want to compete at this level? Start with proven gear—and put in the work. The targets won’t hit themselves.