How common is a 22 inch tactical class rule?

[ramairthree]

I want to get into three gun with the son,

but the rules are SO different at various places.

I am finding any optic on a shotgun makes it open.

A LOT of places say 8 plus 1 and 22 inches max for tactical class.

Some say tube extension not longer than three inches past barrel, some say nothing allowed past barrel.

Some say heavy metal is a pump shotgun, others OK with SA.

Some say no optics with HM rifle, some say OK, or split tactical optics vs no optics HM.

I want to upgrade our shotgun to SA from the 500s we are using.

I like the spine thumb safety (which makes a pistol grip a strange choice on a 930 for ergonomics of the safety)

This pretty much makes the 930 MICULEK Model 9-SHOT with 22inch barrel a solid choice for me.

Now, here is another catch.

I do not see them for sale anywhere.

Where are they all?

Thank you for any insight for a newbie.

[lee blackman]

It seems like true USPSA Multi-gun matches are few and far between and spread out or available only in limited areas on a regular or semi-regular basis. The sport is in its toddler years I reckon, the way paintball was back in the late 90's. At least this is my grasp on it. There are more outlaw matches or offshoots with their own specific rule base than I can find official matches.

So here is where I stand. If you plan on competing in official matches, suit up for that and worry about where you stand with the local outlaw matches later. Play with what you have. Or suit up for your local matches. But be adaptable, practice, and expect rule changes over the next few years. As long as you got something that has you in the game, your good. Play, and figure out what you want to change to as you play the game. At least thats my strategy.

As far as the 930 Miculek, simple enough, find a dealer or order it direct. I seriously doubt your going to find one in stock anywhere, and if you do grab it before someone else does.

My first match (and only one so far) I ran with a customized Remington 870 that I already had, which would probably have been more suitable for heavy metal, but because I wanted to run my AR with my Acog and my Glock 34 I went "tac optic." Which I'm glad I did, because it was hard enough hitting those 300 yard plates with 4x optics, and I felt sorry for the guy who showed up with his AK... And since I'm working on a budget, I got lucky enough to run across a used Mossberg 930SPX Blackwater for $500, its what I'm playing with. Though the pistol grip stock isn't exactly what I wanted, and I could use another round in the tube, its better than the 870 I was running. Now if I could just get used to loading it without getting the tip of my thumb stuck in front of the lifter I'll be happy.

[ShootfastRunfaster]

For most of the major outlaw 3 gun matches there are no restrictions on barrel length for any division. The old SOF match did have a few restrictions, but largely they are a thing of the past.

A 22 inch barrel will be fine and will not put you at a disadvantage. A magazine tube that holds 10 or more will be an advantage on most courses of fire. The limitation of 8 or 9 only in the gun before the buzzer applies to just that. At most matches you can load to your liking after the buzzer sounds. Depending on the course of fire this can help you avoid additional reloads as you go along.

I haven't seen a limitation for how long your tube can stick past your barrel. I'm sure that there are some out there, but I see a lot of tubes that extend well past the muzzle.

True HM has always been a big bore pistol (differing capacity rules), a pump 12 GA, and an iron sighted 308 Winchester or bigger rifle fed by 20 rd mags.

There are variations of rules and one of them is heavy optics aka tactical heavy. It follows the same rules as tac optics but requires that your rifle be 308 win or larger and use 20 rd mags. Semi auto 12 GA and and any tac pistol allowed.

Check out 3gunnation.com and look at division rules. Many matches were running these already and 3gun nation followed suit.

As for the JM 930 I cannot help. I know a lot of shooters have jumped on the bandwagon because of the value, but they still take some tweaking to bring out their potential. There is a twenty page plus thread that should give you a lot of answers.

I'm a Benelli M2 man myself, but the Remington Versamax is gathering a big group of followers. You can get the Versamax Tactical now and it comes with a 22 in barrel.

Edited July 16, 2012 by ShootfastRunfaster

[ramairthree]

Thank you.

[ramairthree]

ps- if anyone knows of a quicker way to find an in stock Miculek 22inch 930, please let me know.

Nothing in stock locally or on internet,

I am on the email notify at Buds Guns for now.

Thank you.