Pepper Stonewood Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Sometime around June of 2011 I came across a tv show or article in American Rifleman, I can't remember, that talked about 3-Gun, a competitive sport that puts to use a pistol, rifle and shotgun. This seemed like a whole lot of fun after being a range fly and dabbling in IPSC just a little bit. So, I started researching the sport, media that covered it, the gear used and where I could go to shoot it. After a little over a year, I finally accomplished my first major goal of participating in a 3-Gun match this past weekend in Okeechobee, Florida. I'll go through a little bit of what I learned along the way for anyone else who is where I was at the start. Let me just start by saying 3-Gun is a gear-intensive sport. You can expect to spend about $5,000 to get started from scratch if you don't go overboard. That's not counting ammo which is expensive. Some will say just go do it and run what ya brung, and I could've done this, but I wanted to have the right gear first to make it an enjoyable experience from the start. I'm glad I invested in good gear to begin. My first match was a non-stressful experience and all my gear ran great. Some other beginners like me at the match didn't have the right gear for the game and it was obvious they were frustrated. For pistol, I chose a Glock 34. Aftermarket pistol parts include a Vanek Classic drop in trigger and Warren rear and front fiber sights. My rifle is a Stag Arms 3G. I waited 10 weeks for it to come in after placing an order through my local gun shop (Pantera in Miami). On the rifle, I put a Burris MTAC 1-4x illuminated sight. This gun doesn't need anything else. Ignore the people who say to rip off the muzzle brake. When you're on the move or have support, it doesn't matter. My shotgun is a 24-inch Benelli M2 field with comfort stock. To the shotgun I added a Nordic Components + six-round magazine tube, the NC oversize bolt handle and bolt release button. To carry all this good stuff I use a CR Speed double Velcro belt. Hanging off the belt are four BlackHawk pistol mag holders, a BlackHawk holster for the Glock, two AP Custom 4x4 shotgun shell carriers and one Safariland AR-15 mag pouch. My "training" involved occasional range visits and going to my local USPSA matches as often as possible at Trail Glades range on Sundays. There, I could only use the pistol so after the matches I went next door to the skeet range and shot 3-4 rounds. Big thanks to Ralph for showing me the ropes of skeet. I spent a few weekends at the range with the rifle, but just to sight it in at 100 yards. Beyond that, I didn't have any time behind the rifle in tactical situations. I spent about 10 months doing that routine. Doing some Google searches I found a monthly 3-Gun match at Okeechobee Shooting Sports. The next available match was Oct. 14, and I promptly registered to attend. I got to the range early for my first match to observe how people were prepping their gear. The match briefing was a little overwhelming, but we broke up into squads of five, each with an RO. That made stage briefings more manageable for a newbie. The match was a blast! I made some mistakes that cost me time and fumbled my technique as could be expected, but my gear ran great. I couldn't be happier as a beginner with my firearm selection and accessories. Now, I'm totally hooked and can't wait for the next match in November. Although they're nothing to brag about, you can see videos of my first match on YouTube under the channel name pepperstonewood. Are you where I was a year ago? Do you want to get into 3-Gun? Ask me a question. I'm sure we can learn from each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwaage Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 You got a nice nice gear setup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g929 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Some pic would be nice and im getting my stuff ready too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lablover Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Add me to the club. I need a shotgun (s) my Wife and I went to a local match and we both got hooked. So lucky me, I gotta buy 2 of everything oh darn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhunter Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Cool, I'm on the verge of trying 3Gun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper Stonewood Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 Some pic would be nice and im getting my stuff ready too g929 asked for some photos. Here they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverich Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Nice setup. I have been 3 gunning about a year now and love it. This site is great for advice. My setup is very close but I have a glock 35 and an m1 benelli. I bought a few load2 shotgun caddies and like them so far. Good luck at your next match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g929 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) Hey thanks for the pics nice set up..... So thats for tactical competition??? Edited October 20, 2012 by g929 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper Stonewood Posted October 20, 2012 Author Share Posted October 20, 2012 Hey thanks for the pics nice set up..... So thats for tactical competition??? I don't really know what tactical competition is considered to be, but I'm just starting to use it for 3-Gun, and it worked well. The pistol has served well for IPSC, and I actually use the shotgun for skeet shooting too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rln Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Great choices. How do you like the 4x4 shell caddies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g929 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Yeah thats the problem that I have now I got a 930 and I can only have 6+1 in it cuz state law and I also like the saiga 12 but what im thinking is xdm 5•25 9mm and ar 15 for now wild I get the others.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper Stonewood Posted October 20, 2012 Author Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) Great choices. How do you like the 4x4 shell caddies? So far so good. I've only used them once in a real match and at the house practice loading. They are built very well and appear rugged. The only downside I could see is if you had to go prone to shoot a stage. They would dig into you and make it mighty uncomfortable. However, I don't have a lot of waist real estate so doubling up on rounds in a small space on my belt is handy. Edited October 20, 2012 by Pepper Stonewood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper Stonewood Posted October 20, 2012 Author Share Posted October 20, 2012 Yeah thats the problem that I have now I got a 930 and I can only have 6+1 in it cuz state law and I also like the saiga 12 but what im thinking is xdm 5•25 9mm and ar 15 for now wild I get the others.. My feeling is most people get the Saiga for its shell capacity and quick reloads. Having a mag on it would cut down on time a lot. My wife has a XDM 4.5 in 9mm. I like it, and it works well, but I talked to a gunsmith about aftermarket triggers for it, and he said it was not a drop in install and the labor was nearly as expensive as the actual trigger. In fact, he did his best to talk me out of it. On the glock, it's as easy as knocking out a few pins, tugging the old trigger out, and dropping in a new one - no gunsmith needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Interesting read. Getting to competent is difficult. I suspect you will understand the need for a compensator as you start to go faster. However, I always believe that there are a bunch of ways to do things and you may not need one. What is this Florida law about 6+1 that you are talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper Stonewood Posted October 20, 2012 Author Share Posted October 20, 2012 Interesting read. Getting to competent is difficult. I suspect you will understand the need for a compensator as you start to go faster. However, I always believe that there are a bunch of ways to do things and you may not need one. What is this Florida law about 6+1 that you are talking about? Thanks. The compensator is definitely important for keeping the rifle level for follow up shots. There are some people on these forums saying the stock comp that comes on the Stag 3G is no good. The biggest complaint is it over comps and pushes the barrel down and off center. My argument is that unless you're shooting offhand at long distances it's not too severe to worry about. I'm sure I'll experiment with others along the way. The Effin-A comp looks pretty cool and might be my next step up eventually. No laws in Florida about (non-hunting) shotgun cap as far as I know. User g929 said a law in his state existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g929 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Interesting read. Getting to competent is difficult. I suspect you will understand the need for a compensator as you start to go faster. However, I always believe that there are a bunch of ways to do things and you may not need one. What is this Florida law about 6+1 that you are talking about? Thanks. The compensator is definitely important for keeping the rifle level for follow up shots. There are some people on these forums saying the stock comp that comes on the Stag 3G is no good. The biggest complaint is it over comps and pushes the barrel down and off center. My argument is that unless you're shooting offhand at long distances it's not too severe to worry about. I'm sure I'll experiment with others along the way. The Effin-A comp looks pretty cool and might be my next step up eventually. No laws in Florida about (non-hunting) shotgun cap as far as I know. User g929 said a law in his state existed. yeah nj sucks thair is a member hear call jesse teshauser hi is sponser by stag I bet he can tell you anything bout the stag shot him a pm he is a great guy to talk to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g929 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Interesting read. Getting to competent is difficult. I suspect you will understand the need for a compensator as you start to go faster. However, I always believe that there are a bunch of ways to do things and you may not need one. What is this Florida law about 6+1 that you are talking about? Thanks. The compensator is definitely important for keeping the rifle level for follow up shots. There are some people on these forums saying the stock comp that comes on the Stag 3G is no good. The biggest complaint is it over comps and pushes the barrel down and off center. My argument is that unless you're shooting offhand at long distances it's not too severe to worry about. I'm sure I'll experiment with others along the way. The Effin-A comp looks pretty cool and might be my next step up eventually. No laws in Florida about (non-hunting) shotgun cap as far as I know. User g929 said a law in his state existed. yeah nj sucs....... thair is a member hear call jesse teshauser hi is sponser by stag I bet he can tell you anything bout the stag shot him a pm he is a great guy to talk to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rln Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Great choices. How do you like the 4x4 shell caddies? So far so good. I've only used them once in a real match and at the house practice loading. They are built very well and appear rugged. The only downside I could see is if you had to go prone to shoot a stage. They would dig into you and make it mighty uncomfortable. However, I don't have a lot of waist real estate so doubling up on rounds in a small space on my belt is handy. Any issues with getting a good grip on the back row of shells? It seems like I would fumble with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhill Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Ive been doing custom work on ARs and shotguns for a few years now at Triangle Shooting Sports but just now getting back into 3 gun shooting. I personally run a AR i threw together myself, a 26" versamax shotgun with our tactical package and a 5.25 XDM .40 Im looking forward to my first major match next april. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCH Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Add me to the club. I need a shotgun (s) my Wife and I went to a local match and we both got hooked. So lucky me, I gotta buy 2 of everything oh darn. Just buy your wife a duplicate pistol holster and you guys can run all the same gear during the match. My first match I had to shoot a buddies 2011 so he loaned me his spare holster. I had everything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCH Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Might look into another shell caddy. I've seen some shotgun stages where 16 rounds on your belt were not enough. Especially if you fumbled a few while loading and they fell to the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemantj Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Glad to see another shooting coming out to Okeechobee! Ask around for TJ next time! It would be nice to meet another Enos member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Now pack that M2 up and send it to Mike at Accurate Iron and have him do his full race pkg on it and you'll be humming for sure ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atvman400 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Good hearing a positive story. I got into 3-gun about a year and a half ago and am hooked. Can't get to enough matches. Really sucks that the winters are so cold here in Wisconsin. Thing I have learned that makes you the quickest, when starting off, is to know how to operate your tools(firarms) without thinking, whether it be clearing a jam or reloading. Just my $.02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLOW11 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I like your setup. I'm in a similar boat. I'm trying to get everything together for 3 gun competition. I already have everything but a good pistol for 3 gun. Trying to decide on that now. I want to shoot in the tactical class and I'm not sure if my 1911's with their relatively low mag capacity will be a hindrance. So I'm looking for a sti 2011 of some kind. I completely agree with your methodology of getting your equipment sorted out beforehand. It is one less thing to have to worry about during the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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