5 Best Shooting Mats [2023]

If you’ve spent a lot of time prone shooting, as I have, you’re familiar with the ground’s capacity to be unpleasant owing to filth, muck, or water. Without a mat to protect you from the dirt and wetness when you lay down to shoot, you’ll be dusty or soggy and muddy right away. This is where a shooting mat comes in handy.

A shooting mat is a ground pad designed to provide some level of comfort while shooting, as well as protecting you from the elements. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all perform the same basic function. In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best shooting mats on the market today.

Best Shooting Mats

• Crosstac Precision Range Shooting Mat
• US Peacekeeper Shooting Mat
• Voodoo Tactical Shooters Mat
• MidwayUSA Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat
• Padded Magic Carpet Mat

Best Shooting Mats

1. Crosstac Precision Range Shooting Mat		Bipod rail Panel design 1000-Denier cordura, water resistant	Check Price
2. US Peacekeeper P20300 Tactical Shooting Mat		Water-resistant 1000 denier nylon Fully padded, high density cell foam Folded ammo pouch, gusseted pocket	Check Amazon
3. Voodoo Tactical Roll Up Shooter’s Mat		Imported Designed for the field High durability and reliability Integrates with your other equipment	Check Amazon
4. Midwayusa Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat		Sturdy corner grommets Elbow and knee pads Legal for High Power/CMP rifle matches Legal for Smallbore competition	Check Price
5. Padded Magic Carpet Mat		Constructed Heavy Duty PVC Minimalist Shooter’s Mat. Heavy Duty Light Weight Elastic bands for easy Transportation	Check Price

Reviews of the Best Shooting Mats

There are a lot of different shooting mats on the market, so it can be tough to choose the right one. To help you out to find the best shooting mat, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 favorite shooting mats which we’re about to review and also included their pros and cons.

Crosstac Precision Range Shooting Mat Review

All we can say is, “if it works for the SEALs, it works for us!” Coming in at the highest price point on our list, this is the cadillac of shooting mats and in my opinion it is worth every penny! For me, this is the best shooting mat.

The cushion and the durability of this mat surpasses other shooting mats. If you’re 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 folding design allows you to carry your rifle in it.

For an individual review on this shooting mat check out the Crosstac Precision Range Shooting Mat Review.

Crosstac Precision Range Shooting Mat Pros and Cons

US Peacekeeper P20300 Tactical Shooting Mat Review

If you’re looking for a mat that you want to carry from place to place, this mat might not be for you as this baby is super thick and quite big. But for comfort and durability this is a great option.

It is 72″ 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, shoulder strap, log book pocket, and even a ballistic cheat sheet window.

Staying in the same place for a while as you nail down your groupings, this padded shooting mat will allow you to do that in style.

Overall, I love the US Peacekeeper P20300 Tactical Shooting Mat, it is a great option for those looking for a versatile and sturdy shooting mat. It comfortable in a variety of environments and conditions, and is sure to provide years of service.

For an individual review on this mat, be sure to check out the US Peacekeeper Shooting Mat Review.

US Peacekeeper Shooting Mat Pros and Cons

Voodoo Tactical Roll Up Shooter’s Mat Review

Lightweight is the key to this mat. This baby will roll up and roll out in seconds which is really nice.

I do feel that there could have been a little more padding, however it works, and if you’re tight on space this is a great option and has served me well.

It has pockets and sections designed for ammo and gear, and ‘wings’ to give you a little more room for your elbows. Because it’s light, I can strap it to my rifle case which makes a great addition to my shooting gear.

Here’s a tip for rolling-up this mat: fold it in half before rolling it up so that the clean top-side of the mat stays clean! This way when you move positions and relay your mat, you have a clean surface to lay on without any prep.

For another review on this shooting mat check out the Voodoo Tactical Shooting Mat Review.

Voodoo Tactical Roll Up Shooter’s Mat Pros and Cons

MIDWAYUSA Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat Review

The MidwayUSA mat is such a great mat! I like this mat as it is a great shooting mat for tactical and long range shooters. This Midway mat is durable, and is designed to provide a stable shooting platform.

I find it easy to clean and maintain. It’s a great choice for competition shooters who want a reliable shooting mat that will last.

I really like how the MidwayUSA Competition shooting mat provides just enough padding to make it comfortable. It also is super portable with a great shoulder strap, and has a ton of pouches for ammo and whatever else you need stored.

It is a little too big for my taste however, if that is not a big deal, then this padded shooting mat is another solid choice and will provide a comfortable shooting position.

For our MidwayUSA Shooting Mat review, you’ll find it HERE.

MIDWAYUSA Shooting Mat Pros and Cons

Padded Magic Carpet by Eberlestock Review

If you’re looking for a minimalist, light-weight shooting mat, the Magic Carpet by Eberlestock is a great choice. Eberlestock is a company that knows how to make quality tactical gear and stands behind their products.

As mentioned, the Magic Carpet shooting mat is light-weight and rolls up into a small package which is great to hang off the side of your range bag or rifle case and won’t weigh you down when you’re on the move.

This might not be the best shooting mat, but this mat made my list because it really is another top-of-the-line tactical shooting mat to have. It’s made from durable materials and is padded for comfort. It’s very well made and very comfortable to shoot on. I would highly recommend this mat to any serious shooter.

It’s not the most padded shooting mat that you can get, but as this comes in as one of the cheaper options on my list, it’s hard to pass up.

For an individual review on this shooting mat, check it out HERE.

Magic Carpet Shooting Mat Pros and Cons

Shooting Mats – Buyers Guide

If you’re shooting long-range or generally shooting in the prone position, you’re going to want a shooting mat. Spending a bit of time at the range in the prone position won’t be fun if you’re dealing with rocks sticking into you or dust blowing up in your face, a shooting mat will help make your day a little more comfortable and it’s a great addition to your shooting accessories.

Below I will be going into some considerations when looking for a shooting mat starting with the times you might want one, and then looking more into the features.

Long Range Shooting – If you’re into long-range shooting, you know that you’re going to want to be comfortable. Wether you’re in a shooting competition, or you’re just at the range to confirm your dope, you’re going to want something that’s padded and generally a little larger than a mat that you’d take hunting. I like a mat that is a little wider and have some comfortable padding. I also don’t need to roll this up super small as it’s generally just going from the truck to the ground, so for me, I’m not looking for a mat that’s super light-weight or space saving as this style of shooting for me is about comfort.

Hunting – As an experienced hunter, you know the importance of being able to shoot accurately and quickly. You also know that one of the keys to success is having the right gear, all that time prepping will pay off when you take down that elk that you’ve been stalking. If you’re new to hunting, now you know that the key to success is having the right gear. A light-weight, waterproof option that will roll into a small package that you can hang off your pack is a great addition to your next trip.

Zeroing Your Scope – Generally you’re probably not spending a lot of time setting up your scope and zeroing it in. Yes, it’s an important step which you should take a little bit of time on, but it’s not going to be hours. But having a simple, light-weight mat that you can setup on the ground will get you out of the dirt and dust. I love my shooting mat for this – I can take my time, get all my mounting tools out and setup my little ‘work space’ well without losing anything in the dirt, there’s nothing worse that misplacing your allen keys in the dirt or grass or getting dust over everything.

Shooting Mat – Features

Materials – Consider the materials used in a good shooting mat. The best tactical shooting mats are made from durable materials that can withstand repeated use and abuse. If you’re going to use it for extended periods of time when long range shooting, or if you’re planning on taking a mat hunting, a mat that’s more resistant to water will be another great consideration – you don’t want water soaking through the mat over time or a moisture soaked mate growing mold in your hunting gear.

Size – Consider the size of the mat. You want a mat that is large enough to provide a stable platform but not so large that it gets in the way or is difficult to transport. A good idea is to lay down in the prone shooting position on the floor at home with your firearm comfortably in-front of you, and take note of where your elbows sit, this will give you an idea of the width you require, as well as noting where your legs goto for length. As a guide, I’m measuring from my bipod on my rifle to mid-way down my shin to get a rough estimate of length. This is not a science, it’s just a guide to estimate your body’s footprint so you get something that will support you and be comfortable, if you’re a tall person is ok if your feet are a little more off the mat.

Features – Consider the features that are offered. Some tactical shooting mats come with features like built-in ammo pouches, gun rests. These can be helpful, but they are not essential. The other features that I look for is a mat that has extra padding for comfortable shooting, storage pocket for my dope book and a shoulder strap and handles for easy a transport. I also like to get an adjustable strap that I can then tether the mat to my rifle case.

Shooting From A Mat

Now that we’ve had an overview of the shooting mats listed above and what to look for when buying a shooting mat, let us look into shooting from a mat. In this video below from MarkandSam Afterwork has great insight and general considerations in using your shooting mat effectively.