If you’ve spent much time shooting a rifle in the prone, like me, you’ll know that the ground can sometimes be uncomfortable because of dirt, mud, or water. This means that once you lay down to shoot, you quickly become part of what you’re laying on or in.
An easy solution to this is to use a shooting mat!
Shooting mats help give me some padding (especially helpful as I get older) and they definitely help me keep my gear clean and dry.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the biggest and thickest shooting mat is the best – I am still going to have to carry it with me. So, if you’re looking for a mat for the shooting range, go ahead and get a big and thick one, you’ll already be carrying a bunch of other gear anyway and you might as well be comfortable.
As a side note, if I plan on carrying a mat with me out in the field, I always want to go with something thinner/lighter.
Also, don’t forget to have an extra shooting mat for a friend if you plan on taking someone with you to the range.
WHAT ARE THE 5 BEST SHOOTING MATS?
Best Shooting Mats
NAME OF FIREARM
CROSSTAC PRECISION RANGE SHOOTING MAT
- Bipod rail
- Panel design
- 1000-Denier cordura, water resistant
Durability
A
Reliability
B+
Extras
A
Value
A+
FINAL GRADE : A
CROSSTAC PRECISION RANGE SHOOTING MAT BACKGROUND
All we can say is, “if it works for the SEALs, it works for us!” This is the cadillac of shooting mats and in our opinion it is worth every penny!
The cushion and the durability of this mat surpasses other shooting mats. If your only looking for a quick ‘slap’ mat and you won’t use it very often…get something different. But, if your planning on being prone for any amount of time, this Crosstac Precision Shooting mat will take GOOD care of you!
Also, the oflding design allows you to carry your rifle in it.
CROSSTAC PRECISION RANGE SPECS
CROSSTAC PRECISION RANGE SHOOTING MAT PROS AND CONS
- Excellent Padding
- Built in Bipod Rail
- High Durability
- On the pricier-end of mats
US PEACEKEEPER P20300 TACTICAL SHOOTING MAT
- Water-resistant 1000 denier nylon
- Fully padded, high density cell foam
- Folded ammo pouch, gusseted pocket
Durability
A
Reliability
B+
Extras
A+
Value
A+
FINAL GRADE : A
US PEACEKEEPER P20300 TACTICAL SHOOTING MAT BACKGROUND
This baby is super thick, so unless you’re a Princess you won’t feel the pea under your mat.
It is 18.5″ in length and 36″ in width; so you don’t to worry about your elbows hanging off this mat. And, it has great features like a non-slip area for your elbows, pockets for your ammo, log book, and even a ballistic cheat sheet window.
This mat is a little big if your needing to carry it around, however it is very comfortable and will take great care of you and your gun.
US PEACEKEEPR MAT SPECS
US PEACEKEEPER TACTICAL SHOOTING MAT PROS AND CONS
- Ballistic Cheat Sheet window
- Fully Padded
- Non slip ebow areas
- Bulky
VOODOO TACTICAL ROLL UP SHOOTER’S MAT
- Imported
- Designed for the field
- High durability and reliability
- Integrates with your other equipment
Durability
A
Reliability
B+
Value
A+
Extras
B+
FINAL GRADE : A
VOODOO TACTICAL ROLL UP SHOOTER’S MAT BACKGROUND
Lightweight is the key to this mat. This baby will roll up and roll out in a second, which is really nice.
We do think there could have been a little more padding, however it works, if your tight on space. It also has nice pockets and sections designed for ammo and gear.
Here’s a tip for roll-up mats: fold them in half before rolling them up so that the clean top-side of the mat stays clean!
VOODOO TACTICAL SHOOTER’S MAT SPECS
VOODOO TACTICAL ROLL UP SHOOTER’S MAT PROS AND CONS
- Lightweight
- Non-Slip Surface
- Easily portable
- A bit narrow
- Rough on elbows
MIDWAYUSA Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat
- Imported
- Designed for the field
- High durability and reliability
- Integrates with your other equipment
Durability
A-
Reliability
B+
Value
A
Extras
A+
FINAL GRADE : A
MIDWAYUSA PRO SERIES COMPETITION SHOOTING MAT BACKGROUND
The MidwayUSA mat is such a great mat!
We really like how this mat provides just enough padding to make it comfortable. It also is super portable with a ton of pouches for ammo and whatever else you need stored.
It is a little too big for our taste however, if that is not a big deal, then this mat is another solid choice.
MIDWAYUSA PRO SERIES SPECS
MIDWAYUSA PRO SERIES PROS AND CONS
- Equipped with Elbow and Knee Pads
- Water Resistant Bottom
- Great for Range
- Too bulky
PADDED MAGIC CARPET BY EBERLESTOCK
- Constructed Heavy Duty PVC
- Minimalist Shooter’s Mat.
- Heavy Duty Lightweight
- Elastic bands for easy Transportation
Durability
A
Reliability
B
Value
A+
Extras
B-
FINAL GRADE :B+
PADDED MAGIC CARPET BY EBERLESTOCK BACKGROUND
If you’re looking for a minimalist shooting mat, the Magic Carpet by eberlestock is a great choice.
The Magic Carpet shooting mat rolls up into a small package and comes in a padded (this one) and an unpaded version for an even smaller and lighter package.
Also, Eberlestock is a company that knows how to make quality gear and stands behind their products.
PADDED MAGIC CARPET SPECS
MAGIC CARPET SHOOTING MAT PROS AND CONS
- Compact and easy to transport
- A bit thin compared to other mats
WHY GET A SHOOTING MAT?
One of my favorite movies is “Shooter”! I know, it’s a little far-fetched, but the beginning was amazing.
In the movie you see Mark Whalberg holding a Barrett M82 (in a re-make we hope they upgrade to a Barrett MRAD) waiting patiently for the right targets. It’s only a matter of time, but eventually he starts to pick off his targets one by one. I know you’re probably NOT a sniper, but imagine being in a spot for not just an hour, but maybe days!
Growing up in a military family, my dad would take me to watch military snipers shoot at the range. What I remember was, as they laid on the ground, they were on shooting mats. Some of them even carried a mat in combat. Truth is, those that are serious and want to hit their targets need every advantage.
No matter how good of a shooter you are, you’ll perform better when you’re comfortable and dry. And, if you want to teach someone to shoot long range, they’ll learn better when they’re not distracted by their comfort.
Here is a Good Lesson Video on Shooting Mats we thought you would enjoy.
