Thread: SPARC 22LR Series - Barren Earth

Note: I'm not the organiser, just a competitor.

Round eleven of the 2025 SPARC 22 series head back to the hills of Ahititi for Barren Earth.
Classes are the standard Marksman and Rifleman, specific class rules can be found on the SPARC website.
Event cost is $70 per competitor.
SPARC have loaner rifles available if you want to try the sport out. If you are wanting to know more about the loaner rifles than just message the SPARC page.
Message the SPARC or TLRS page to book your spot.

I'll be there. Be my first SPARC shoot since Cold Sparc, so looking forward to it

I hear the course of fire may incorporate a few stages inspired by the recent 2025 IPRF PR22 World Championships in the UK.
Should be interesting.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

I hear the course of fire may incorporate a few stages inspired by the recent 2025 IPRF PR22 World Championships in the UK.
Should be interesting.

I think that was for the finale.

Barren earth is meant to be a field style match.

I wonder why there isn't many people shooting semi autos in those .22lr matches?

I personally use Kriss DMK22C in Section 22 match and I don't find myself having too many disadvanges compare to bolt guns in terms of accuracy.

Originally Posted by eamars

I wonder why there isn't many people shooting semi autos in those .22lr matches?

I personally use Kriss DMK22C in Section 22 match and I don't find myself having too many disadvanges compare to bolt guns in terms of accuracy.

Depends on which class and the event.
Lots of semis in Marksman class. With 8 class wins to semis to only 2 wins for bolt guns.
Rifleman class is 9 wins to bolt guns and only 1 for a semi.

I've run a semi the last 2 events (Marksman class) and am leaning towards it for remainder of season.

I run a semi in Rifleman class. In my experience, most of the stages are set up for heavy bolt guns (KYL racks, limited round counts/no miss stages), and I've found the semi just doesn't have the pinpoint accuracy of the bolt.

Trigger weight of a bolt also has a big advantage - best I can get my Kriss down to reliably is 2.5-3lbs, wheres the top bolt guys are running 1lb and under.

Still more fun running the semi though.

Originally Posted by singularity

I run a semi in Rifleman class. In my experience, most of the stages are set up for heavy bolt guns (KYL racks, limited round counts/no miss stages), and I've found the semi just doesn't have the pinpoint accuracy of the bolt.

Trigger weight of a bolt also has a big advantage - best I can get my Kriss down to reliably is 2.5-3lbs, wheres the top bolt guys are running 1lb and under.

Still more fun running the semi though.

I'm running Triggertech Diamond single stage and dialed at 1.5lb pull weight. However this trigger needs the 3rd party harden firing pin so the firing pin won't break in 2x dry fires.

The Ozzies coming over for the SPARC finale will be using supplied semis and wanting some unlimited ammo stages for excessive expenditure of ammo.

Originally Posted by eamars

I wonder why there isn't many people shooting semi autos in those .22lr matches?

I personally use Kriss DMK22C in Section 22 match and I don't find myself having too many disadvanges compare to bolt guns in terms of accuracy.

This last year has had targets shrink in size dramatically, a bit gun with batch tested ammo has basically been a requirement if you want to be in the running for a podium in rifleman/open class.

I think next season things will revert back a bit, and stupid levels of accuracy won't be required.

An accurate semi definitely can be competitive, and hopefully next season more so, but if you have limited round counts then a semi doesn't offer much advantage.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

This last year has had targets shrink in size dramatically, a bit gun with batch tested ammo has basically been a requirement if you want to be in the running for a podium in rifleman/open class.

I think next season things will revert back a bit, and stupid levels of accuracy won't be required.

An accurate semi definitely can be competitive, and hopefully next season more so, but if you have limited round counts then a semi doesn't offer much advantage.

Do you guys find shooting with semi is faster than the bolt guns in general? I.e,. in a stage where an average shooter can barely finish the stage, the semi can do much faster?

Originally Posted by eamars

I wonder why there isn't many people shooting semi autos in those .22lr matches?

I personally use Kriss DMK22C in Section 22 match and I don't find myself having too many disadvantages compared to bolt guns in terms of accuracy.

For the SPARC Series it is a bit match and class dependent.
For Rifleman Class (i.e. open class) with the more precision orientated matches with smaller targets and limited round counts for stages, the heavier bolt guns come into their own. But then the "Run N Gun", "Dark SPARC", and "Speed vs Precision" matches are excellent for semi-autos (not required, but they are an advantage) with higher round count stages (e.g. up to unlimited round counts) and bigger targets.
For Marksman class (the old hunter class) the stage design (i.e. target size and round counts) is such that a semi-auto is competitive all the time.

A portion of the 2024 SPARC Series Rifleman class was orientated towards providing a basis for competitors qualifying for the 2025 IPRF Rimfire World Championships. So far in the 2025 SPARC Series the Rifleman class has almost entirely been built towards the team that went to the Worlds. I expect that to tone down a little for the remainder of the 2025 Season and in a small way for the 2026 Season - noted that we expect the 2026 Season will be qualifying competitors for the IPRF World Championships again (in Rifleman class).

Originally Posted by Beetroot

This last year has had targets shrink in size dramatically, a bolt gun with batch tested ammo has basically been a requirement if you want to be in the running for a podium in rifleman/open class.

The top end of Rifleman/open class in the SPARC Series is crazy competitive... consistent targeted practice, a solid rifle / scope / ammunition setup, and a no screw ups is required to podium at most matches it seems!
Even Marksman class this year is pretty competitive at the top end. There is a bunch of people going into the Finale on maximum season points (or very close to it).

I am looking forward to Barren Earth and Speed vs Precision. I am still toying with the idea of shooting my Ruger 10/22 at Barren Earth in Rifleman class - just for a bit of fun.

Originally Posted by eamars

Do you guys find shooting with semi is faster than the bolt guns in general? I.e,. in a stage where an average shooter can barely finish the stage, the semi can do much faster?

Only where there are multiple targets engaged from a single position - then absolutely the semi offers a speed advantage.
Where you have to transition between targets (either panning or by moving on the barricade) then the semi-auto doesn't offer much advantage at all - more so if the stage rules require only one shot at a target (e.g. shoot to move stages or stages with no spare shots).

Originally Posted by Gillie

For the SPARC Series it is a bit match and class dependent.
For Rifleman Class (i.e. open class) with the more precision orientated matches with smaller targets and limited round counts for stages, the heavier bolt guns come into their own. But then the "Run N Gun", "Dark SPARC", and "Speed vs Precision" matches are excellent for semi-autos (not required, but they are an advantage) with higher round count stages (e.g. up to unlimited round counts) and bigger targets.
For Marksman class (the old hunter class) the stage design (i.e. target size and round counts) is such that a semi-auto is competitive all the time.

A portion of the 2024 SPARC Series Rifleman class was orientated towards providing a basis for competitors qualifying for the 2025 IPRF Rimfire World Championships. So far in the 2025 SPARC Series the Rifleman class has almost entirely been built towards the team that went to the Worlds. I expect that to tone down a little for the remainder of the 2025 Season and in a small way for the 2026 Season - noted that we expect the 2026 Season will be qualifying competitors for the IPRF World Championships again (in Rifleman class).



The top end of Rifleman/open class in the SPARC Series is crazy competitive... consistent targeted practice, a solid rifle / scope / ammunition setup, and a no screw ups is required to podium at most matches it seems!
Even Marksman class this year is pretty competitive at the top end. There is a bunch of people going into the Finale on maximum season points (or very close to it).

I am looking forward to Barren Earth and Speed vs Precision. I am still toying with the idea of shooting my Ruger 10/22 at Barren Earth in Rifleman class - just for a bit of fun.

Do you have any indication of the most common blot guns? Is it dominated by tikka t1x, or cz, or is it more custom set ups?

Tikka T1x and CZ457s are popular for good reason. Tippman and ruger are popular in the semi autos.

A lot more "off the shelf" rifles in Marksman class.

Rifleman class has a lot of standard rifle actions but the rifles have been customised - after markey chassis, triggers and barrels, etc. Only a relative few full custom rigs e.g. Vudoo, RimX, etc.