MDS Episode #0122 - How A PRS Champion Trains for Elite Rifle Competition w/ Corson Piper

In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Pacific Northwest shooter, craftsman, and all-around salt-of-the-earth human Corson Piper for an honest conversation on performance, pressure, and finding purpose behind the rifle.

The episode opens with a comparison between skydiving and shooting—two crafts where experience compounds quickly when the reps are tight, the focus is sharp, and feedback is immediate. Corson breaks down how the curve steepens when you’re doing eight jumps a day or shooting hundreds of rounds over a few days, and how momentum accelerates mastery.

From there, they get into Corson’s roots: growing up on commercial fishing boats in Homer, Alaska, working on oil rigs by the time he turned 18, and eventually racing motorcycles before immersing himself in the competitive precision rifle world. His blue-collar background and high-stakes life experience shine through in every lesson—whether it’s knowing how to manage fatigue, making fast wind calls, or being brutally honest about your mistakes.

Topics Covered:

How to train like a competitor, not just a shooter

The dangers of practicing only what you’re good at

Why stress inoculation matters—and how to build it

How Corson shot over 12,000 rounds in one season and what he learned

Mental stamina: how to stay in the zone for a 2-minute stage without burning out all day

Why wind calls are less about speed and more about margin and memory

The evolution of PRS and NRL Hunter and how each shape the modern marksman

Ego vs. execution: showing up underprepared and owning your outcomes

The therapeutic side of recoil, focus, and full presence in the shot

Why positional shooting is undervalued and how Corson uses a set of dice to randomize practice

You’ll also hear stories of helmet-smashing motorcycle crashes, broken fingers before big matches, and what it means to shoot for joy—not just trophies. Corson is proof that resilience, repetition, and showing up with intention matter more than any hack or gear upgrade.

Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just getting started, there’s something in this episode that will hit home. From mindset to mechanics, gear to growth, this one covers it all.

Explore more:

Modern Day Rifleman Network (Free community): www.moderndayrifleman.com

Modern Day Rifleman Advantage (Membership): Access hours of exclusive video training, dry fire drills, and our content archive

Modern Day Sniper Pro (For professional snipers): Mission-relevant training, sniper-specific Q&A sessions, and career support

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