Rio Salado: 3-Gun/Long-Gun Matches In March

[StealthyBlagga]

We will be busy with lots of long-gun events this month at Rio Salado:

Tactical .22 Rifle Match: Tuesday March 11th & 25th

Registration opens at 5pm, with first shots shortly thereafter. Location is the Smallbore Range right behind the Activity Center. The rules are simple: it's a straight time match with penalties for misses. Pretty much any .22 rifle is OK - the most popular guns are AR15-clones and Ruger 10/22s. We have two divisions: iron sight and optical sight. Our typical match format is practical run-n-gun style: one "long range" stage out to 100yards, and two shorter range hoser stages (one of them shot twice for 4 stages total). Check out

and this Dillon Blue Press article for a flavor of what we do. This match is more fun than a barrel of monkeys... bring a bulk pack of cheap ammo (if you can find any) and you will leave with a smile a mile wide.

3-Gun (Multi-Gun) Match: Saturday March 15th

Registration runs 7am-8:30am (summer hours), with first shots at 8am. New shooters should come in time to attend the New Shooter Orientation at 8:30am before they shoot. We run this match under IMA rules. To get a feel for what to expect, check out these videos from our previous matches. Our usual format is 3 short-range shotgun and/or rifle stages, plus 1 long-range rifle stage. Bring 150 rounds of rifle ammo, 50 shotgun birdshot (#6 or smaller) and box each of shotgun slugs and buckshot (12ga=00 buck, 20ga=#3 buck). Sometimes we incorporate a few pistol shots into the stages, so a pistol/holster/ammo can be useful, but this is always optional (typically the same targets can be engaged by rifle or shotgun instead).

Red Mountain Action Rifle Match: Sunday March 16th

A relatively new match that is great for folks who are interested in improving their speed and gunhandling skills with a carbine in CQB-type scenarios. This is an early afternoon match, with registration opening at 1pm. The course of fire comprises four run-n-gun rifle-only stages. There will be separate divisions for centerfire rifle (e.g. AR15 etc.), pistol caliber carbine (9mm, .45 etc.) and rimfire carbine. Any iron or optical sights are OK. To see the typical match format, take a few moments to view

from a recent match.

Tactical Shotgun and Pistol Caliber Carbine Match: Thursday March 20th

Registration starts at 4pm, with a new shooter orientation shortly thereafter. The match format is four practical scenario-based stages similar to what you would encounter at a 3-Gun match, except that you only need to bring one gun - you choose either shotgun or pistol caliber carbine. There will be separate divisions for shotgun (Open, Limited and Pump), centerfire carbine (Optic and Iron) and .22 rimfire carbine (Optic and Iron). Any tactical shotgun suitable for 3-gun competition will work well in this match, or you can shoot a pistol caliber carbine (straight walled pistol calibers only please) or even a .22LR rifle. Check out the match rules for more details.

Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun Match: Friday March 28th - Sunday March 30th

This is the first major of the 2014 season. Unfortunately, this match fills up in minutes, so unless you are already in you won't be shooting. However, this is a once-a-year opportunity to watch the best 3-gunners in the World shooting 11 challenging and interesting stages. Spectators are welcome - no fee to come and watch. Just be sure to bring eye and ear protection (including for your kids if you bring them), don't wander past the caution tape on each stage, and please be respectful of the competitors' need to focus as they prepare to shoot. If you like what you see, you can come and participate in our many monthly matches.

A few of you are already following us on Twitter (@RioSalado3Gun). Sign up to stay informed of all the latest match news. Alternatively, send me your email address by IM and I can have you added to our email list.

Coming to your first match can be daunting, but rest assured you are completely welcome no matter your skill level or equipment - just take it easy and concentrate on being safe. If you have any questions, post them here. Anyone who wants me to walk them through their first match, stage by stage, send me an IM and I will be more than happy to do so.

Edited March 2, 2014 by StealthyBlagga

[StealthyBlagga]

Saturday's 3-Gun match will be the last before SMM3G, and we will be testing another new prop. All the stages are going to force you to think carefully about the best way for YOU to solve the shooting problem:

Stage 1: Rifle. Shoot from distance, or run forward and hose the targets.

Stage 2: Shotgun/Pistol. Choose whether to use shotgun (birdshot), pistol or both.

Stage 3: Shotgun/Pistol. Choose whether to use shotgun (birdshot and slugs), pistol or both.

Stage 4: Shotgun/Rifle. Timing will be everything on this stage.

[StealthyBlagga]

3-Gun match results are online: RESULTS. Match video is on YouTube:

Edited March 18, 2014 by StealthyBlagga

[pmt]

Good videos Richard.

In stage 2, what was the point of the 'X' shaped shooting area if you were allowed to travel outside of it? Why not just put 4 boxes down?

Stage 4, the 4 max traps operating at one time doesn't look to friendly.

[StealthyBlagga]

Good videos Richard.

In stage 2, what was the point of the 'X' shaped shooting area if you were allowed to travel outside of it? Why not just put 4 boxes down?

Stage 4, the 4 max traps operating at one time doesn't look to friendly.

On stage 2 the shooter could shoot anywhere in the X, so they had more flexibility in their approach to the stage e.g. to shoot on the move or from varying vantage points etc. We saw a remarkable number of approaches, with wheels falling off left and right

on stage 4 the Max Traps were manageable - I got two and almost onto the third before it got covered. Two of the three had partial heads exposed after activation, which was not too challenging a shot with a rifle at 10 yards (so long as you know your bore offset).

Edited March 18, 2014 by StealthyBlagga