Lying in the prone position can be an uncomfortable experience, especially if you have debris, rocks and any other kind of dirt and grime you may find lying around. This is why choosing the best shooting mat is as important and the rifle itself.
If you’re uncomfortable, lying at a funny angle or just otherwise disturbed from your most accurate shooting position, it won’t matter how great your gun or gun sight is, you won’t be shooting at your best.
In today’s article, we will review the 6 best shooting mats on the market to help you make an informed decision before you buy.
What to look for when buying a shooting mat
With so many options, we know how tough it can be to make a decision when it comes to buying a shooting mat. So, we’ve narrowed down the field to the best 6 for you.
Before you dive right in, be sure to check out what key attributes you should look for when it comes to a reliable and robust night sight.
Materials & Protection
Shooting mats take a good deal of abuse, and we usually have them for a number of years. So it’s important to get one that is both built to last and offers a good degree of protection from the ground.
Depending on the state you live in and the season, the ground may be wet, it could have snowed or there could be dew on the grass. Either way, you want a mat that will offer protection from water on the ground.
The other key feature when it comes to the materials used is that as a minimum you have a mat with special non-slip sections for the elbows and knees. This will help to maintain you shooting position, as those cheaper mats without this can be very slippery and you can find yourself off of the mat thanks to either the progressive recoil or when on a slight incline.
Dual-Purpose
Some mats are in fact dual purpose, in that they act as both a rifle case and a shooting mat. This is great if you’re looking to save money and carry one less item when hunting or practicing.
As an example, take a look at the NcStar Rifle Case & Shooting Mat (number 6 below). This roll up mat can also carry your rifle and as a number of other features which makes this a true dual purpose mat.
Padding
Probably one of the most important elements to consider, and one of the main reasons anyone buys a mat is the padding it provides. Having your elbows digging into the ground for hours on end of no one’s idea of fun, so ensure you have padding in the elbow areas.
Some mats also have additional padding for the knees and some have it throughout. If you go for one of these options, be aware that this will make the mat heavier and a little bulkier, which is you don’t plan on carrying the mat any great distance shouldn’t pose a problem.
Top 6 Shooting Mats For The Money
1. MidwayUSA Packable Shooting Mat
The Midway USA mat comes with a few handy features to make your shoot that little bit more comfortable. First up it comes with elbow pads as standard, which help to both steady your position and easy the pressure felt on the elbows when in the prone position for an extended period.
There are also several heavy duty grommets that allow you to use tent stakes to keep the mat flat, which is great in mind and rain and will help to keep the top of the mat clean and dry.
Features & Tech Specs
- 6-grommets
- 0.15″ thick elbow padding
- Non-Slip material
- Suitable for tactical shooting
Our Thoughts
For the price, the Midway USA shooting mat is a great contender for out best shooting mat for the money. it has some really great reviews from its users and the packable dimensions make this mat extremely easy to carry and throw in with the rest of your gear.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
2. VISM by NcStar Roll Up Shooting Mat
This is the first of 2 mats to be reviewed from the NcStar range. The VISM is a heavy duty roll-up shooting mat that features additional anti-slip material for both the knees and elbows, which help to maintain your shooting position.
There is also slightly thicker elbow padding than the Midway model featured above, at 0.3″ thick. Combine this with its compact size, adjustable carry strap and handle and the waterproof material used, and you have a very robust mat that will take a great deal of abuse for many years.
Features & Tech Specs
- Packed size: 19.5 w x 8.5 H
- Water & Chemical Proof
- Anti-slip elbow and knee sections
- 0.30″ elbow padding
Our Thoughts
We like the VISM by NcStar for it’s attention to detail and subtle features that make a day’s shooting much more comfortable. It’s highly portable and rolls down to a respectable 19 x 8.5 inches and comes in 4 different color options: Black, Digital Camo, Tan and Woodland Camo.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
3. MidwayUSA Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat
Another entry from Midway who have their fair share of fans when it comes to their value for money products. This time we have the Pro Series Competiton mat, which as you can guess by the name, brings with it a little more to the table than the budget-friendly version we reviewed earlier.
With 5 color options and a design that is legal for small-bore and high-power competitions, this shooting mat is top of its category for those of you looking for a competition ready mat.
Features & Tech Specs
- Grommets for staking down
- Comes with carrying handle and shoulder strap
- Competition legal
- Weight: 6.2 pounds
Our Thoughts
First up, this is a high-quality mat and is used by competition shooters all across the country and for good reason. Not only is this one of our most highly-rated shooting mats, it is also only a fraction of the price above the standard mats, which makes this mat a no-brainer when it comes to choosing the best one for you.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
4. Voodoo Tactical Roll Up Shooter’s Mat
The Voodoo Tactical is slightly different to the mats already featured, primarily thanks to its unique shape and design. When unrolled, this is a T-shaped mat that fits the shooter’s body perfectly, along with saving both space and weight.
Many of the other mats have additional material that is typically wasted since the body never comes into contact with it. Voodoo have recognized this flaw and released this mat to challenge the market and they’ve grown quite an awesome reputation because of it.
Features & Tech Specs
- Weapon accessory pouches
- Roll-Up design
- Unique T-shape
- Designed by a sniper
Our Thoughts
Since this mat was designed by a sniper, we figured he knew a thing or two about it, and after comparing this mat to many others in its field, it’s clear to see why this made our top 6. You can roll this mat up to a fraction of the size of other mats and also clip this onto your pack with the male buckles that come as standard.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
5. Boyt Harness Bob Allen Tactical Shooting Mat
The Bob Allen Tactical Shooting Mat by Boyt Harness rolls up into a neat and compact bundle that can be carried easily via its strap and carry handle. It also contains CCF or closed cell foam, which adds an additional layer of protection between you and the ground.
The other material is both water resistant and has a non-slip surface to help with recoil and also when shooting from a slight incline/decline position be it on a hill or at the range.
Features & Tech Specs
- CFF padding
- Waterproof
- Heavy duty zippers
- Nylon PU-costed carry strap and webbing
Our Thoughts
Whilst only available in tan, this is one of the more comfortable shooting mats we’ve seen on the market. The anti-slip surface to very durable and it certainly provides ample protection from the cold/hard ground.
Price wise, this is in the middle of the pack but exceeds when it comes to durability and a mat that will last you for many years.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
6. VISM by NcStar Rifle Case and Shooting Mat Combo
Finally, we come to our last entry in this top 6, the NcStar VISM Combo rifle case and shooting mat. As I mentioned at that start of the article, this mat really caught my attention as I am a huge fan of dual-purpose gear and when you can get a carry case that also provides a nice stable shooting platform I am all for it.
Features & Tech Specs
- Made from Heavy Duty PVC
- Unfolded: 66″ x 35′
- Padded panels
- Cleaning rod compartment
Our Thoughts
Despite this being at the top of the range when it comes to price, I feel that this is probably the best ‘value for money’ shooting mat you can get. So you’re paying $10-$20 more to get this mat, however, you are also getting a carry case, which is you were to buy separately would cost you much more than that.
then there is the carrying aspect. I’d much rather carry a single item than having two items which equal more weight and stuff to think above and pack away at the end of the day. My opinion is to go for the VISM combo mat, you won’t regret it.
Click to check the current price & availability on Amazon
