dbrown
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What is the bare minimum to start doing 3 gun?
What is the bare minimum to start doing 3 gun?
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firesky101
Member
A pistol, A shotgun, and a rifle
. Just kidding, I am curious as to what the experienced members recommend as a beginning setup as well (# of magazines, quantity of ammo, accessories, etc.)
. Just kidding, I am curious as to what the experienced members recommend as a beginning setup as well (# of magazines, quantity of ammo, accessories, etc.)
mgmorden
Member
I'm curious on this too. The nearest 3-gun match to me is only ran on the 5th Saturday of the month (so only a few times per year) and even that is a 3 hour drive, so I haven't tried it yet, but I'm tempted.
I've got my USPSA Production rig (S&W M&P 9L) and an AR15 which I think are fine. The shotgun is the issue. My shotguns are all utilitarian. Mostly just for duck hunting. As a result I have a Remington 870 and a Stoeger semi-auto - both with 28" barrels and camo dipped. Not sure if I'd get funny looks toting those out or not
.
I've got my USPSA Production rig (S&W M&P 9L) and an AR15 which I think are fine. The shotgun is the issue. My shotguns are all utilitarian. Mostly just for duck hunting. As a result I have a Remington 870 and a Stoeger semi-auto - both with 28" barrels and camo dipped. Not sure if I'd get funny looks toting those out or not
.Jim Watson
Member
Well, not the first time, anyhow.
And if you like it well enough to tool up for it, shorter barrels and longer magazines are readily available for the Remington.
And if you like it well enough to tool up for it, shorter barrels and longer magazines are readily available for the Remington.
NWcityguy2
Member
If you are lacking a rifle or shotgun show up with some factory ammo in .223 Remington and 12 gauge. Talk to the TD before the match and odds are very high he can help you find someone who will share their gun with you. Showing up for set up only increases your odds.
chrome_austex
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rifle, pistol, shotgun
pistol holster
3 pistol mags (but check your local listings, you may need 4)
2 30-round rifle mags
Some sort of shotgun ammo storage solution for ~30 rounds, split between side saddle and belt mounted storage.
Ear and eye protection
Pockets may work for AR and Pistol mags when starting out, but they work miserably for shotgun shells. Ideally I'd have 3 pistol mags and 1 rifle mag on the belt. 4x4 shotshell caddies are a good start, but it seems like shotshell staging/storage is evolving as we speak from grab-and-load-4 to 2-shells-inline loading and storage.
pistol holster
3 pistol mags (but check your local listings, you may need 4)
2 30-round rifle mags
Some sort of shotgun ammo storage solution for ~30 rounds, split between side saddle and belt mounted storage.
Ear and eye protection
Pockets may work for AR and Pistol mags when starting out, but they work miserably for shotgun shells. Ideally I'd have 3 pistol mags and 1 rifle mag on the belt. 4x4 shotshell caddies are a good start, but it seems like shotshell staging/storage is evolving as we speak from grab-and-load-4 to 2-shells-inline loading and storage.
David E
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You won't need 30 shotshells on your belt if it's a GOOD 3-gun match.
Run your Production rig, stick a 30 rd AR mag in the back pocket and get some shotshell holders, say, 3 maybe 4, of the Choate 6 rd ones.
I'd add an extended mag tube in the 870, too.
Run your Production rig, stick a 30 rd AR mag in the back pocket and get some shotshell holders, say, 3 maybe 4, of the Choate 6 rd ones.
I'd add an extended mag tube in the 870, too.
chrome_austex
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Lol, agreed.
Sheepdog1968
Member
What pistol, shotgun, and rifle would you most like to learn how to use better and that you might someday defend your life with? That's how I approach these things. Everything will work. Some is better suited to gaming. All of it will be very fun.
firesky101
Member
Hey sheepdog since you are from here. Can I run my m1carbine or mini with standard cap prebans or will they make me use 10's?
NWcityguy2
Member
I've never shot a 3-gun that enforced a 10 round limit but I shoot in states where the hi cap mags flow like fine wine. If your mags are legal (with the law) show up with them and if they say 10 round limit, only load 10 in.
Sheepdog1968
Member
Best to ask at specific one you will shoot at. Using mags limited to ten rounds will let you practice reloading more often. I personally don't bring out my preban magazines that often in CA.
David E
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There's something that hadn't occurred to me: pre-ban full capacity (hi-cap in some circles) magazines in some states have significantly more value than in other (free) states.
Loss or theft becomes a serious concern, since replacement is either pricey and/or very difficult.
Further, it becomes known that you still possess 'em in a state that might seek further legislation concerning mere ownership of them.
If I lived in one of those states, I wouldn't download a 30 rd mag to ten, I'd run true 10 rd mags.
Sheepdog1968
Member
That's certainly true David E. Let me add a story that will also shed further light on the topic.
There is a local range I have been going to for literally 20+ years. Last few years I've been going there about 6 times a year. It's fairly strict about safety which I like and I have never ever had an issue there. Within the last year I brought my 30-30 lever action there to confirm zero on the scope. I'm a very polite middle age man with no tatoos or piercings. I was at the 100 yard range shooting and one of the range safety officers came up to talk to me. Not unusual as when I bring the lever action I get many nice compliments as most folks are shooting ARs. The RSO asked how long the barrel was and I mentioned it was 16.75" long (expecting it to lead into a conversation about how handy it is for length when hunting). She said that it was below the legal limit of 18.5". You and I both know that's not true. However, I am now in an difficult situation because she doesn't have her facts straight. I explained to her politely (too softly & I likely get asked to leave which would annoy be because I was looking forward to shooting it; too hard and the cops likely get called) that she was mistaking shotgun barrel and rifle barrel lenghts. She asked if I bought in CA and I said yes. I thought that was that. Turns out she radioed the front office to ask and they told her the legal limit was 16.5". This isn't quite true (real number is 16.0") but I was longer than her understanding of the legal limit. I now carry a copy of the CA laws in my case so I at least point to something if it ever comes up again at a range.
My point is, if my lever action, which was 100% legal (OAL was fine as well) and looks very family friendly can cause me grief, I don't want to bring magazines which hold over 10 rounds out as they are much more confusing on the legalities in CA. I do in fact legally own them but I just see potential headaces in the making.
There is a local range I have been going to for literally 20+ years. Last few years I've been going there about 6 times a year. It's fairly strict about safety which I like and I have never ever had an issue there. Within the last year I brought my 30-30 lever action there to confirm zero on the scope. I'm a very polite middle age man with no tatoos or piercings. I was at the 100 yard range shooting and one of the range safety officers came up to talk to me. Not unusual as when I bring the lever action I get many nice compliments as most folks are shooting ARs. The RSO asked how long the barrel was and I mentioned it was 16.75" long (expecting it to lead into a conversation about how handy it is for length when hunting). She said that it was below the legal limit of 18.5". You and I both know that's not true. However, I am now in an difficult situation because she doesn't have her facts straight. I explained to her politely (too softly & I likely get asked to leave which would annoy be because I was looking forward to shooting it; too hard and the cops likely get called) that she was mistaking shotgun barrel and rifle barrel lenghts. She asked if I bought in CA and I said yes. I thought that was that. Turns out she radioed the front office to ask and they told her the legal limit was 16.5". This isn't quite true (real number is 16.0") but I was longer than her understanding of the legal limit. I now carry a copy of the CA laws in my case so I at least point to something if it ever comes up again at a range.
My point is, if my lever action, which was 100% legal (OAL was fine as well) and looks very family friendly can cause me grief, I don't want to bring magazines which hold over 10 rounds out as they are much more confusing on the legalities in CA. I do in fact legally own them but I just see potential headaces in the making.
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