Miles to Matches

Chad and Francis discuss "change". We have an innate desire for stability and consistency in our daily lives which can lead to stagnation or dissatisfaction. The value in choosing the correct time to change aspects of your equipment and practice routines cannot be overlooked. Most of us will struggle with how often we should explore new gear, whether its too frequently or too infrequently. The tra...

Chad and Francis cover their experiences with the rifle setup process. Is it a once and done routine or does it evolve with the shooter? Their setups have slowly changed over time as they have experimented with refining their technique. From the critical areas to the overlooked aspects, they cover the bases on what you should be examining to get the most out of your system.

Chad and Francis cover a major reason for missing small targets, the "switchy" wind and why should IGNORE wind calls you hear from other shooters coming off the line. A canted scope will simply add error that you cannot afford and many shooters (including us) have been caught off guard by a slight miss caused by such an easy fix. Listen in on how to eliminate this source of error in your shots.

Your hosts Chad and Francis discuss movers! This seemingly difficult target is actually quite easy to master but there are a few tricks to help you stay on target. In certain matches, mover stages can be a make or break your score and learning to overcome the stress of a mover can boost your confidence and placement at matches or even on a hunt!

2 of 2 - Francis and Chad review their performance at the 2022 AG Cup and talk with Ben "Mr. Clean" Gossett, the 2022 AG Cup Champion! AWESOME discussion on the value of staying focused to overcome challenges during the hardest match of the year. Congratulations to Ben and all the competitors that battled for the Belt!

1 of 2 - The drive down to the AG Cup and discussion about our strategy for this season and some recap of the 2021 AG Cup that ultimately led to Chad becoming the AG Cup Champion! Fun stories and good chatting about why YOU should consider shooting the AG Cup series.

In this episode, Chad and Francis deep-dive into the most complicated (and important) piece of equipment on a rifle: the scope. What attributes make a good scope vs a great scope? How should you choose your optic? Is it worth spending more money on a better optic? All of these questions and many more are covered in this week's episode of Miles To Matches! Enjoy!

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon interview the PRS Match Director of the Year, Ken Wheeler.  This episode is one the MOST IMPORTANT we will ever make!  We discuss match design, stage design, property maintenance, safety concerns and so much more.  You will learn the tasks that happen behind the scenes to develop a facility, and, importantly, the skills that...

In this episode, your hosts Chad and Francis pickup where they left off with Erik Cortina from EP33. The fact that our community doesn't even agree if the term is spelled "flier" or "flyer" says just about all we need to know we need to know about these bastards! They create a feeling of uncertainty that is extremely difficult to shake and, worse, they can mislead shooters into making unnecessary...

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk to the 2022 Pro series Golden Bullet winner Austin Buschman about his performance at the finale and his incredible year.  Austin is no stranger to the show and the guys kick off the episode with a quote from Austin's speech at the awards ceremony.  Enjoy!

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk about the 2022 Pro series finale and the way down the K&M as well as on the way home from the match.  They both have a lot to say about the match, the series, and the level of competition this year!  Tune in and hear the good, the bad, and some things to focus on before heading to the AG cup in a few weeks.

In this episode of Miles to Matches, Chad and Francis discuss a question asked by a friend and listener: "If you could start over again, what would you do differently?"  What would have propelled them further faster? From gear choices to malfunctions that cost matches, from rifle cleaning to pushing barrels too fast, from cost-benefit analysis of equipment changes and so much more, your hosts shar...

In this episode, Chad and Francis discuss the most common mistakes they witness by novice and pro shooters at matches across the country and how you can avoid them! Everyone at any skill level will benefit from the discussion in this episode. These seemingly small errors in process, concentration, preparation and execution can destroy your chances at hitting your goals or finding your next level....

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon take an unsolicited call from Erik Cortina,  He has listened to their episodes and discussion on rifle cleaning and wants to share his perspective on the topic.  What do you think he will say?  Tune in and find out...

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk about Chad's recent trip to Colorado to hunt for the one of the largest game animals in North America: the Elk!  Along with discussing what it takes to prepare for his hunt, the duo discuss parallels between hunting and competition, managing stress and practicing pushing your boundaries for improved success in matches and hunts!  

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk about the most important match of the year: The GAP Grind.  It is the single largest match of the year, with over 400 competitors, however, the format of the match is what makes it special.  This amazing event pairs a Pro shooter with a novice or new shooter to help them learn how to shoot PRS and grow the sport we love. &nb...

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon take on a few of the common and persistent questions...  Hey Chad, "How do you trim and point your bullets???"  Hey Francis, "What is your barrel break in process???"  Listen and find out...

In this episode, your hosts Francis Colon and Chad Heckler continue their discussion on wind reading, wind calls and some of the tricks they've learned to become better at centering their shots on target.  The art of "reading the wind" can be difficult for even the most experienced shooters, however, learning  the "science" of wind dynamics will improve your ability to manage corrections on the cl...

In this episode, your hosts Francis Colon and Chad Heckler have a random discussion that is started with some quotes from Rodney Norman...  If you don't know who Rodney is, then you will after this episode.  Is being a expert wind reader going to ensure that you end up at the top on match day?  Maybe....maybe not.

In this Episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk about work/family/hobby balance and their thoughts on managing it all.  They also discuss Chad's recent transition to making 5X5 Precision his new full time job in order to continue to do what he loves and still be able to focus on being more present for his family.

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon have push into the topic of communication, data cards and putting plans into action.  Have you ever read a match book and thought "this looks so EASY!" only to have your dreams crushed into oblivion? Or the opposite situation: thought a stage would be the most difficult you've ever shot, but easily aced it and had an overwhelming feel...

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon have an organic discussion about work ethic and motivation to be continuously climbing your way to the top of any situation in life.

EP23 - What Do You Want to Know?  In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon revisit topics discussed in previous episodes by answer listener questions.  Our listeners (YOU) have reached out with a TON of questions following episodes aired over the last several month and we wanted to discuss the bulk of them in a single go.    Topics covered include barrel cleaning updates, reloadi...

In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon review some of the more interesting takeaways from the 2022 Barrel Maker Classic in Wisconsin.  They discuss managing the stress of bad outcomes, creative stage strategies to minimize errors and maximize points, using stages prior to plan for future stages, and more.  Along with some interesting off-road excursions in the Tactica...

How do you decide between a chassis and a stock? Do you run the latest and greatest or "old faithful"? Choosing the platform that is best for your shooting style is not always easy, but it can lead to solid performance gains and increased confidence. In this episode, your hosts Chad Heckler and Francis Colon talk about their ergonomic interface with the rifle.  Having a rifle that is comfortable,...