3 Gun Pros? What's the takeaway?

[Willz]

I feel like I'm asking a taboo question here...

What do the 3 Gun Professionals do when their not attending a match?

Do they have other jobs or do they make enough in endorsements to live and shoot?

Do you pull down enough to shoot everyday and not have to punch a clock?

I watched an interview with a multi-championship winner and he said "Most people shoot matches to have fun and if they win that's great. I get paid to shoot matches and win and if I have fun that's great."

So, you big name shooting squads, what is the extent of your "win".

I'm not trying to corner anyone here or call anyone out.

Do you all get paid to shoot full time?

I ask because just attending a match within a four or five hour drive can be relatively expensive.

Gas or rental car and/or airfare and hotel, food, ammo, etc. All add up and if you attend even a couple of major matches it's no small tab.

How do you do it?

Edited November 11, 2014 by Willz

[Kjdowning18]

I'm not sponsored at all...but there are very few shooters who make a living shooting...most of the top guys all have jobs...whether it's within the gun industry or something else. Not positive but the amu guys ....jerry miculek may be the acceptions..someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they get paid to shoot. I would believe that most of the top guys get entry fees to major matches paid for and most of their guns are given to them and most consumables are probably given to them in powder bullets primers or finished ammo. Some may also get travel expenses. This obviously cuts down on their cost to shoot a major match but they still would need the time off of work to shoot all these matches all year and practice to get to the level they are at.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Kjdowning18

[P.E. Kelley]

All but very few work full time jobs outside of the shooting industry, just like...everyone else.

Pro status is conferred onto a group of top tier shooters who are part of the 3-Gun Nation Pro series.

You shoot on the Pro Series... You now carry the title of Pro.

Edited November 11, 2014 by P.E. Kelley

[kurtm]

Pay, not trying to ruffle any feathers, but doesn't 3-Gun Nation require the Pros to buy the card that makes them Pro,s? It isn't conferred on them, you have to buy it?

As opposed to my old entity P.R.C.A. where you had to be a member of P.R.C.A., but in order to be considered a "Pro" you had to win X amount of $$ in one year, and maintain that level to EARN your Pro card.

[assaulter]

3Gun "Pro" here. I get a few scopes and paid entries into some matches. Most "Pros" have thousands of dollars a year invested in equipment, travel, and most of all training in the form of ammunition and range time, all paid out of their own pockets.

Kurt, my membership was covered by 3Gun Nation the last couple years. I had to pony up for the semi-pro season. We did have to pay a large entry fee at the beginning of the last two seasons, but those were paid back determined on order of finish at the matches, along with decent prize tables that put you well over what you paid in. This year will be different, you have to put up a check as insurance that you will attend the match since they have their tv show on the line depending on your attendance. You get the uncashed check back along with a prize check after the match.

As for how people do it, most of the guys I've seen have professional jobs. I've seen doctors, lawyers, business owners, cops and quite a few folks who are part of the shooting industry. I end up burning most of my vacation time on matches. I would venture to say most of the people at a high level in this sport are pulling in a minimum of 75k a year or have someone who is bankrolling their training. That's not to say you couldn't do well with less.

I was fortunate to win a rifle at every match I shot this year aside from the Pro series. It helps defer the associated costs of traveling to a big match that you mentioned.

I will say this. You don't HAVE to make a lot of money to do well in this sport. All you need is the desire to learn and the commitment to training to make it happen. You don't need the latest and greatest high dollar equipment to get to the top. But when you get there, it comes in nice to squeeze out that extra bit of performance out of your skills/equipment. In fact, two of the best shooters I've had the honor of meeting have already posted in this thread and both of them would smoke almost anyone with a 1911, iron sighted rifle, and a pump shotgun.

[MarkCO]

If you consider the title of "Professional" as conferred in every other discipline, it is typically two-fold.

A professional is a person who meets both of these criteria 1. engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime. 2. Certified, licensed or educated as to be held in regard in a profession.

A profession, as opposed to a trade or craft, is one in which specialized education, training and or skills are required and that have standards of conduct and ethics. In most cases, professions also have a stake in providing for the greater good and interests of society.

With those common use explanations, there are a scant few who can truly be called a "Professional Shooter". ALL of the major professional sports have players unions and codes of conduct, so they likely get by the definitions. All professional race car drivers hold competition licenses that have to be signed off on by pros licensed above their level and sanctioning body officials. I have signed a few of those license applications and they are pretty extensive.

I know the stories of many of those who get called "Pro Shooters" and I am good friends with some. I feel pretty comfortable in saying that the situations are all over the map. With the exception of the AMU, there was a handful that would likely qualify as "Pro" prior to about 2010. In 2015, there may be as many as twenty that could qualify based on the first definition (main source of income) but maybe only half that many based on the second coupled definition.

The "title" of Pro in the shooting sports is more grabbed or given than it is earned. That makes some tasks difficult, like figuring out who can and can not shoot "Pro" and "Am" at different matches who have those distinctions.

I spent a lot of years in college to get my education, then years working under licensed engineers to be able to apply to take the Professional Engineers exam. I had to have references specifically endorsing my education and work product, essentially putting those people's reputations on the line to vouch for me. I also had to take two 8 hour exams with passing rates of 60% and 22% before I could pay the state for a license to be able to tell anyone I am an "Engineer". Without that license, subject to review, continuing education and revocation if I screw up, I can not legally call myself an engineer. Even if I happened to win $50K at a shoot-off (granted the chances are slim) I still would not consider myself a "Professional Shooter".

For the vast majority of the people who shoot on the 3GN ProTour, or who win majors, shooting is not their profession, but their pastime. Granted, some are extremely good at their pastimes. But, you take most of the top shooters and give them the support afforded by the AMU, they will improve their skillset.

[Chuck Anderson]

Pay, not trying to ruffle any feathers, but doesn't 3-Gun Nation require the Pros to buy the card that makes them Pro,s? It isn't conferred on them, you have to buy it?

As opposed to my old entity P.R.C.A. where you had to be a member of P.R.C.A., but in order to be considered a "Pro" you had to win X amount of $$ in one year, and maintain that level to EARN your Pro card.

Actually this changed this year. There's a $1500.00 fee to shoot the Pro Series, but as long as you show up on match day they don't cash the check and give it back to you. The Pro matches are free this year, from a match fee perspective.

[dcloudy777]

Outside of the AMU, and maybe some other countries' equivalents, I doubt there's more than a few dozen people across all the competitive disciplines that are actually shooting matches as their full-time "paying the bills" job.

[dkynoch]

I am fairly new to 3 gun myself. My dad shot a lot of 3 gun in the 90's. I have shot f-class for the past 5 years in NRA long range, so I have been around shooting most my life. From what I have seen so far the way 3 gun nation is qualifying shooters as "pro" is the possibly the best I have seen in the shooting sports. To become a pro you have to qualify by shooting, and to keep your staus you have to qualify by shooting. There is no question the guys on the pro series are some of the best in the sport because they got there by skill. There are several paths to get to the pro qualifier match that don't cost a lot of money like the club series, so a guy that has the skills but maybe not the funds can get there and if he has what it takes be in the top 16 at the qualifier and be on the pro series.

From what I understand the guys on the pro series still have to stay at the top based solely on skill or they have to re qualify.

[zimm33]

Jessie Tischauser recently shared his 2014 season costs and winnings broken out by match. He had something like $18k in costs and mentioned his sponsorships aren't much more than that and all the vacation time he had to take off work. His winnings and prize values were right around that same amount so a nice chunk of change but not a liveable wage in itself.

I think a lot of the pros end up working in the industry or run their own business so don't have to worry about vacation time.

[Flatland Shooter]

His winnings and prize values were right around that same amount so a nice chunk of change but not a liveable wage in itself.

I think a lot of the pros end up working in the industry or run their own business so don't have to worry about vacation time.

Maybe 3GN needs to start a seniors only Pro match.

Typically we got the money to compete.

Retirees have 365 vacation days each year.

And with a little creative camera work, we can look really good running a stage.

Count me in.

[orangeman711]

How about Super Senior? I'm all for it. I have lots of free time, can afford it , and the viewers won't miss anything during the commercial since I don't move that fast.

[Flatland Shooter]

How about Super Senior? I'm all for it. I have lots of free time, can afford it , and the viewers won't miss anything during the commercial since I don't move that fast.

That makes two of us. We can get Geritol as a sponsor.

Go Team Geritol.

[Jadeslade]

I think assaulter is pretty much right about the amount of money you need. I think there are as many professional full time shooters as there are professional water skiers, Alpine skiers, drag racers, and mountain climbers. Not a whole lot. There are a bunch of professional bowlers, who make a lot of money, are on ESPN and sell lots of stuff. Go figure. I think the jury is still out on professional 3 gun shooters being able to sell stuff. I hope they can, because I am enjoying the smorgasbord of matches I am able to pick and choose from this year. All due to increased interest and a couple different groups trying to up the exposure. Ten years ago there were a few big matches and some random local/regional matches. Hard to find out about and harder to get into, because it was word of mouth and all that. I think that what is needed more than anything for a new shooter to get in is a place to practice-your own range and targets. That is really the demarcation between good and great shooters. The AMU are paid to shoot and I expect them to win every match. Its a surprise when they don't. That's the pressure. The flip side of that is that we all know a few shooters who could easily be on the 3GN Pro Tour, who are not, because of lifestyle or job commitments.

Flatland and orangeman-I think you would make a whole lot more money with Team Viagra.

[kurtm]

A pair of hardened 3-gunners.

[Flatland Shooter]

A pair of hardened 3-gunners.

For up to 4 hours. After that consult a doctor.

[orangeman711]

Don't need either one!