i don't compete in 3gun competition because...

Would take all weekend or close to all weekend

I can't find any near me. Most matches are at least 3-4 hours drive and might require an overnight stay before and/or after.

I'd like to try it out a few times though, just afraid I might get hooked.

-Albert

gamey how?

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Well, you had to have a White Oak upper and an ACOG, and a Benelli to be competitive.

I use to have all the goodies required for 3 gun matches, There use to be 1-3 monthly matches around here and now there is only 1 semi local match about 3 times a year not enough to keep me interested, so I sold all of my tactical wanna be stuff and have purchased black powder and idpa stuff.

You don’t have to waist money on equipment to be competitive. I’ve won 6 of our last 8 3 gun matches using an AR I have less than $1000 in and a $350 used (but fast) shotgun. You can go bucks up in SASS too a pair of colts will run you around $3000 and a slicked up ’92 will set you back a few green backs as well.
Look at it this way, I could give Tiger Woods my mom’s old golf clubs and he’d still do better than most.

If you are out there to win, its gonna cost you.

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I'm just saying that all other things being equal, it took about 6 months at our local group before there was a direct correlation between finish place, and check book size. And that is never good for continued growth of any sport.

i'd love to have a chance to try it. Even though I'm poor, i think i'd do ok. Of course if they held them in my area, there would be some actual SeALs and the like around. I still think it'd be fun.

I have no excuse...I have all the equipment, plenty of ammo, I've just never done it.

New 3 Guns in NC

For anybody interested, there will be 3 Gun match at Crosse Creek Rifle and Pistol Club tomorrow (Sunday, 7 Sep) and one at Wagram, NC next Saturday, 13 Sep. The info for the one tomorrow is as follows:
There's a new 3-Gun match in town. Kevin Cates (SRNC) and Rick Smith (Crosse Creek) have worked very hard to put on what we hope will be a new regular monthly 3-Gun match. Your attendance will determine whether this is a one-time match, or a recurring monthly event! Where: Crosse Creek Rifle and Pistol Club 3229 Blossom Road, Fayetteville, NC (SEE WEB SITE FOR DIRECTIONS) www.crossecreekrifleandpistolclub.com When: Sunday September 7, 2008 @ 11 am Registration starts at 10 am, Shooters Brief at 10:45 What: Four Stages of 3Gun fun! Classes: Open, Tactical Optics, Tactical Irons, Heavy Metal Match Fee: $25.00 Cash payouts based on number of competitors in each class. Contact: Rick Smith, [[email protected]], (910) 494-0209.
This has become a recurring event, as the club voted to hold a 3 Gun Match every month at least for the next year.

The Wagram Match is the inaugural match and participation will determine whether it continues. The directions for it can be found at the following website:
http://www.carolinacowboys.us/CrossCreek/directions.pdf
Other info: Sign up at 0830. Start shooting at 0900. 4 Stages that will involve paper targets, steel, bowling pins, and clay pigeons. Minimum round counts of 39 Pistol, 24 Shotgun (shot ONLY), and 63 Rifle. The match fee will either be $15 or $20, I don't remember what was finally decided after all the discussion. Any questions that I can answer, or if you need to borrow a gun, let me know.
Joe

I do compete, I suck and still enjoy it a ton. I usually come in last or just above last. Lack of practice, gun issues, gear issues, lack of time, blah blah

But if you truly want to get better at shooting and see how and when your gear fails you need to run a 3G match! (Yes your gear will fail! My "flawless" pistol and shotty started hickuping at the last match.) So if you think your a pretty good shot, or your gear is perfect, go to a 3G match and watch it all fall apart.

As for gear: run what you brung! If you are good with it it will show and you will place well. If you shoot poorly you will see that too. I have shot a match with a Mossy 500, an SKS and an 8 round DAO gun. Of course I buggered a few slugs and could not find POI on the SKS as the poper was at 50 yards. Still was fun as heck!

And guess what: the top shooters will bugger up too, even with top $ gear.

I'm just saying that all other things being equal, it took about 6 months at our local group before there was a direct correlation between finish place, and check book size.

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This is true of every sport, everywhere, always. All else being equal, the more money you can spend on a game, the better you will do in it. Fact of life.

Personally, I deal with it by working a lot of overtime.

- Chris

I would really like to, but I dont have the cash to get all of the equipment. No AR, and my shotgun is a really really old pump. Also, I really dont think I am a good enough shot. If anyone has any free gear for me, I would be happy get started.

As for the .22 idea ... my local club's land owner just recently banned "loud" guns from two of the three ranges we use. So, some monthes they have pistol/shotgun stages on them, but other months they've had pistol caliber and .22 conversions run. Had some running suppressors on their rigs too! AWESOME!

I have a moderate $$$ tied into my gear. I used to place well, but lately have slipped .. but that's mostly due to a lack of practice on my part.

As there are no widely accepted rules, some gear may do better in some circles than others. But here's what I'd recommend for decent setup:

A 40 cal doublestack. Hard to beat a G22 here for price. Could add a magwell and extensions to your mags and likely remain "legal" in most matches ... might pick up a 30 round mag for the times they are allowed. This will hit steel a little harder and keep you out of minor scoring that some matches would put you in.
Base gun $500 (or less)
You'll need holster and mag holders and then you can add whatever else floats your boat.

Rem 1100/1187. Shoots softer than a pump.
~700 but you can find these very cheap used at times.
You really need to extend the mag tube, and you'll need to add ways to hold shells ... often on gun, but many prefer belt mounted caddies.
Lastly rifle.
I'd suggest grabbing an AR with a flat top, armalites 1 piece scope mount and a simmons prodiamond turkey scope for an inexpensive way to play. Free float the bbl ... and drop a JP trigger in if you can afford it!
Base rifle ~800 (but you can spend MUCH less if you try ...).
Scope and mount = 200 (or less, those scopes were clearance at CDNN sometime back for $50!).
Better add 75 for some decent mags and belt holders.

Say $700 on pistol, $800 on shotgun and $1075 for rifle.

That sounds like a ton (heck, it is a ton) but I was salivating over a nice $2600 competition AR just yesterday.

but if you buy used and catch good bargains I think total outlay to play could shrink from 2600 down to 1800.

But shooting whatever pistol you own, a pump shotgun and an iron sighted AR could get you much lower ... and still is quite a bit of fun!

I do compete, I suck and still enjoy it a ton.

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I won't repeat your name, but you're my kind of shooter!

Tell my kids all the time that you don't have to be good at it to enjoy it, and everybody sucks when they begin. It's nice have room to go UP.

I voted too much equipment, but I probably should have voted other.

I have most of the equipment, but I don't have a lot of time due to my commitment to IDPA shooting. I think the one local 3 gun match day in my area would clash with my favorite IDPA match day, and I am not willing to give that up for something that will cost more.

It sure looks like fun, though!

where would a person find out if there are any matches in their AO? I have been thinking about it for awhile now. Got all the equipment, just haven't found a match yet, or the nerve to try it yet.

Honestly, I don't like the idea of shooting .22 pistols and rifles for score in 3gun, for reasons that I cannot fully articulate.

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Admit it. Getting to John Woo a brace of .22 SW revolvers this year at RM3G was fun.

Try to deny it...

Honestly, I don't like the idea of shooting .22 pistols and rifles for score in 3gun, for reasons that I cannot fully articulate.

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Try running a Google search. Short of that, if you shoot IPSC/IDPA type stuff already, start asking around at your local matches. Someone is bound to know if there's anything nearby.

I do the 3 gun every chance I get.

I answered "requires too much equipment."

Frankly, I don't care to shoot shotguns much. I enjoy a round of trap or skeet every now and then, but 3-gun is too much for me.

What I'd really like to see is more 2-gun matches. 1 rifle/carbine and a sidearm. Run it like IDPA or USPSA and I'm in.

None of the above.

I have tried it out a few years ago and loved it. I need to look into it again.

"...I do compete, I suck and still enjoy it a ton..." That is the true measure of a sportsman. Personally, I congratulate and sing praises to 686+. Shooting any match just because it's fun is laudable. And I thought it was just me. Thanks 686+. Ever shoot pins?
Pistrobro, assuming you're a club member somewhere and the facilities allow it, do it yourself. Put together a course of fire and go nuts. Competetive shooting isn't always about the prizes offered. Sometimes just having fun will do. Call it a practice if you need to, but I'd bet guys like 686+ will show up just because it's fun.
"...you need an AR-15..." No, you don't. Any rifle will do nicely. An old pump gun will do, as will any firearm. Three gun shoots are about playing with what you have.
Nobody says you have to shoot all of a 3 gun match.
"...don't like the idea of shooting .22 pistols and rifles for score in 3 gun..." Think bottle caps or other wee targets with a .22 pistol with iron sights. Real shooters don't use anything else anyway.