Gear Review: Prater Precision’s Sniper Data Board.
Precision rifle shooting is one of the fastest growing segments of shooting sports. When it first became of interest to the recreational shooter and hunter all of the expertise was in the military. Civilians copied the guns, equipment, and techniques used by military marksmen. As the sport began to grow the sponsored/professional shooters accelerated and innovated at a rate that took them to the top of the food chain. As a result the military found the roles reversed and began going to civilian run schools to really learn and refine the technical skills. Millions of dollars have been poured into technological advancements to increase the capabilities of these men and their equipment in the toughest shooting environments in the world. Sometimes though it is failure that births necessity, the mother of invention. During 2014 in Jalalabad a missed shot opportunity, due to short time and looking down at an armband for data, led to the eventual founding of Prater Precision and the Sniper Data Board which is a game changer for snipers, competitive shooters, and long range hunters alike.
I started shooting competitively in 2011 and that is where I really started learning to streamline my shooting equipment; shooting against the clock is good for that. My partner and I used quarterback style play-maker armbands (like those made by Nike/UnderArmour/etc and sold in sporting goods stores) to have quick access to our hold overs and other shooting solutions that we wrote on slips of paper. These armbands are far and away the most popular solution to carrying ballistic data you will see in rifle matches like the Precison Rifle Series, Designated Marksman Matches, and various other practical rifle matches. You can get a black athletic version reasonably cheap or you can buy one at twice the cost in MultiCam, Coyote Brown, Ranger Green, etc. because it is “tactical”. The problem with them is you have to wear them and because of that you might not have it on your arm when you need it (or under a coat since they won’t stretch infinitely). They are hot so you can sweat through them and onto your data card, they rotate, and more importantly you cannot see them easily without breaking your shooting position (not such a big deal prone or from a shooting bench but is huge from alternate shooting positions). Enter Prater Precision.
I first saw the prototype Sniper Data Board in the summer of 2015 when I was working as a range officer for a Precision Rifle Series Match sponsored by Accuracy International and hosted by Woody’s Hunting and Rifle Club in New Hill, North Carolina. I saw a guy shooting a rifle on my stage who had his data on a fold out, clip on contraption, and he was able to transition and shoot targets really fast. I thought it was brilliant but a Google search when I got home revealed nothing. Later that fall I was proofing a match for some friends when Chad pulls out his gun and it all came back to me. This was the guy with the thing.
That is when I got my first real look at the Sniper Data Board. At the time it was the only one in existence and Chad was in the process of refining the prototype while using his money to patent and protect the product. Since then Prater Precision has come into existence, the design finalized, and the product released at another match I worked two weeks ago. I saw quite a few guys shooting them that day and Prater Precison gave away a pair at the end of the match to two shooters at random. I bought three: one for me and two for friends who wanted them.
Below is the Sniper Data Board which is, according to the Prater Precison:
PRECISION MACHINED FROM 6061 AIRCRAFT-GRADE ALUMINUM AND PROTECTED BY MIL-SPEC TYPE III ANODIZING, THE SNIPER DATA BOARD IS A COLLAPSIBLE LIGHTWEIGHT SOLUTION FOR YOUR MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS. MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ALL BERRY COMPLIANT MATERIALS.
Each kit comes professionally packaged with the rail mount, the multi-position data board, the weatherproof storage pocket sewn with hook tape, and a strip of adhesive pile tape (commonly known in concert as Velcro). Like any good product a shooter buys it also comes with a Prater Precision decal because I stick them all over my reloading bench and gun cases.
Once you determine exactly how you wish to orient your data board you secure your screws with Blue Lock-Tite (I used Vibra-Tite) and apply the adhesive pile tape so you can secure your weather proof data card pocket. You could apply the pile over the entire board but I chose to leave them exposed in case I chose to rotate my board’s orientation at any point.
Once you are all set you just clamp it onto your scope rail (or spotting scope rail) and adjust the vertical screw to your desired tension on the board’s pivot point so that you can easily collapse it for carry but it won’t pivot under recoil. Below is a point of view picture from my match rifle confirming zero and a quick data confirmation on the 500yds range at Woody’s prior to the RO match this past Friday morning.
My overall assessment is this is a well made and durable product that adds almost no weight to your rifle but adds speed to your ability to make accurate shots with no extraneous movement on your part regardless if you are a hunter, competitive shooter, or MIL/LEO. It is one less thing to forget or look for under stress and excitement because it is right where you need it, when you need, every single time. You can get yours through the Prater Precision website, Facebook, or by e-mailing [email protected]
