Shooting

Competing and doing well in 3-gun competitions has a lot to do with personal preference of gear and guns. Mind you, training is pertinent, but figuring out what works best for you is subjective. I prefer not having to think about much when I shoot except “See target, see sight on target, pull trigger.”

Most 3-gun competitors use either a 50 yard or 100 yard zero for their rifle. Through trial and quite a bit of error, I have learned that using a 50 yard zero works best for me. I utilize this zero for all matches, whether only short range targets are present or a mixture of both long and short range.

Using a 50 yard zero simplifies my thought process when shooting most distances encountered at 3-gun matches. At most major matches, long rang targets will not go further than 325 yards. The bullet trajectory of most 55 and 77 grain .223 or 5.56 has the same point of impact at 50 yards and 200 yards. This means at 50 yards and 200 yards, I would hold center of the target and would make the hit. During a match, if there are rifle targets at 50, 100, 200, and 300 yards, my thought process is: “50 yards- hold center, 100 yards- hold low, 200 yards- hold center, 300 yards- hold high.” By streamlining my thought process for the rifle portion, I can focus on other aspects of the stage that require more attention to detail.

With a 100 yard zero, targets out to 200 yards can easily be hit. When I used a 100 yard zero, I would hold center on targets out to 100 yards and then start to hold high on further targets. What I did not like about the 100 yard zero is that with no magnification and just a red dot optic, I had to put too much space between the top of the target and the bottom of the dot when shooting past 250 yards. When your hold over a target requires a lot of space, it is easy to lose track of the expected point of impact.

To get an accurate 50/200 yard zero, I zero my rifle at 50 yards first. Then verify the 200 yard point of impact, and I adjust as needed to until my hits are dead center at 200 yards. As a new 3-gun competitor, I have been able to dodge a lot of penalties on long range steel by having a simple approach to my rifle game.

Originally written for:  GunUp the Magazine, in April 2014

Understanding that the shotgun can make or break your 3-gun game is paramount. If you do not learn to work with your shotgun, it will become your weakest link. When I first started competing, I saw a distinct divide between those who accepted the challenges of the shotgun and adapted accordingly and those who did not.

Competitors tend to focus on how to improve their pistol and rifle. While it is important to improve those firearms, it is also equally important to pay attention to the third gun for 3-gun. There are not many competition shotguns that are ready for a match straight out of the box. To be match-ready, the shotgun should be modified for easy reloading and have a higher capacity magazine tube.

There are several companies that sell extended magazine tubes; most competitors utilize a tube that will hold 10 to 13 shells. I prefer a 10 round magazine tube because I like to tailor my load plan to even numbers. The magazine tube spring will get worn from repetitive reloads that happen during matches and practice; keep a spare spring on hand. But if you are in a pinch and do not have an extra, you can stretch out your old spring until you replace it. You should be able to load the tube to maximum capacity without resistance, if it is too difficult to get that last shell in, you can cut the spring down. To test if the spring is worn and needs replacing, load the tube, turn the gun upside down, press the action release and pay close attention to the speed that the shell is released onto the lifter. Then clear the shell from the lifter and ensure the chamber is empty. Continue checking the speed each shell is released from the magazine tube. If you notice that the last shell seems to be released slower or is more sluggish than the first shell, you should consider replacing the spring before your next match.

Modifying the shotgun loading port is relative to how you reload the shotgun. I load two shells at a time with my right hand, which is my strong hand. I had the loading port modified so that, when flipped upside down, the right side of the loading port has more material cut away and is smoothed out. Doing this enables me to load quickly and easily. The way the loading port is widened for a shotgun can be compared to putting an extended magwell on your pistol, both modifications serve the same purpose: quicker, fumble-free reloads. For the way that I reload, there is no reason to modify the lifter.

Learning which choke to use and when is an oversight many competitors unfortunately often make. The most useful knowledge I learned that helped improve my shotgun game was at an all-shotgun match. I had a crash course in chokes, and the importance of patterning a shotgun. The chokes I use are: diffuser, improved cylinder, and modified. When I patterned my shotgun, I tested the limits of all the chokes. For measuring the distance, I used my own paces instead of standard yards. When I’m unsure if my choke of choice will work during a stage, I walk the distance from the target and know immediately if I’ll make the hit. The other important part of patterning a shotgun is to know how different brands of ammunition perform. Use paper targets to pattern your shotgun, you will be able to see the shot spread. Slugs hits are one of my biggest areas of weakness. I steadily improved my slug hits once I accepted the fact that my improved cylinder and modified chokes cause a different point of impact and that there is a large difference between ammunition brands. I have three brands of slugs and they each have a unique point of impact, I need to be cognizant of that fact when loading my shotgun. One upgrade on my “to-list” is to get a rear sight for the shotgun, this will also help make those far slug hits.

You can only be as strong as the weakest link in your game. For many 3-gun competitors, the shotgun is a continuous struggle. Anyone can excel once they understand several crucial aspects of the shotgun as they relate to 3-gun success.

Photo credit: Becky Yackley

Originally written for:  GunUp the Magazine

It’s fun to compete, but it’s icing on the cake when awesome prizes are involved. Match Directors work incessantly to ensure the prize tables awe competitors. The prize table is actually not about the prize table or even about the match; it’s all about you. Now that you know the prize table is all about you, let’s talk about what that really means.

I have seen prize tables where the actions of others made me think “Wow… this is madness, these people have no manners…someone please put order to this mess!” Match results are read in order by finish; prizes are supposed to be picked in the same order. The appropriate action by the competitor is to fall in line after their name is called and pick up their prize. It is also not okay to prevent other shooters from selecting an item by hovering over several different prizes cause you cannot make up your mind. At the end of the day, even the prizes are just items that can be bought and are not worth others getting a bad opinion of you if a prize table situation gets sticky.

Sponsors shine at the awards ceremony and prize table. There is more to match sponsorship than just putting guns, gear, and gift certificates on the table. Sponsors are able to gain exposure while actively showing support for shooting sports. This does not immediately translate into revenue for those sponsors. To show your appreciation, send the sponsor a quick letter or email. It is important to let the match sponsors know that they’ve made a good choice by sponsoring the event.

Most competitors do not shoot matches with the expectation of walking away with an amazing prize. No matter what you walk away with, do it with grace by thinking of the sponsors and your fellow competitors. When is comes to prize tables, the etiquette is simple: take your turn, be kind, and say thank you.

Originally written for: GunUp the Magazine

Getting into the sport of 3-gun can be overwhelming. The question I hear most often is “What gear do I need to get started?” When selecting 3-gun gear, decide what purpose it will it actually serve.

My bottom line when choosing gear is function, followed by cost. As long as my belt stays in place, my holster retains the pistol, my magazine pouches hold the magazines, and my shotgun shell caddies firmly hold the shells: my gear functions as intended. Spending money on top-of-the-line gear will not make anyone a better 3-gun shooter.

As a new shooter, I cannot justify spending hard-earned money on fancy 3-gun accessories. For example, a belt can cost anywhere between 30 and 250 dollars. Practice makes progress, and that price difference between the low-end and high-end belts can instead be used to buy much-needed practice ammunition. I learned that valuable lesson after spending money on items I did not need, and they did not make me a better shooter. Currently, I am back to the first inner/outer belt combination I started out with and the cheapest magazine pouches I have purchased to date. All that extra, unnecessary gear is now collecting dust in my garage.

At the bare minimum, a new 3-gun shooter needs: a belt that stays in place and can hold two pistol magazine pouches, one rifle magazine pouch, and a pistol holster. There are several different shotgun shell caddy options. If you are just starting out, get on track with the upward curve of fast shotgun reloading, which is the load-two or quad-load methods. There are several different companies who manufacture shotgun caddies for the load-two and quad-load technique. From day one, I have been using caddies manufactured by Carbon Arms and my shotgun reloads have been consistently fast. In regard to cost, caddies designed for the load-two and quad-load methods are not the least expensive option, but they do serve the higher purpose of cutting time on your reloads. In that case, it is absolutely worth the extra cost.

Photo credit: Becky Yackley

The best way to figure out what equipment to buy is to watch what other, more experienced competitors are using. Several of the top-level competitors are using some of the least expensive gear, and it works perfectly for them. On the other hand, there are competitors who have the newest gear on the market and swear by it. When purchasing gear for 3-gun, start slow and start cheap, you will quickly find out what works best for you.

Originally written for: GunUp the Magazine