Getting Started in 3-Gun

Tucker 1371 · August 5, 2015, 10:02 PM

There's a club nearby that hosts 3GN matches and I'd like to get started. I'd like to get started competing, mostly just for added training but winning would be cool too.

One thing I'm a little nervous about is the plethora of rules, it seems like it'd be really easy to screw up and get DQ'd for being a safety violator.

How welcoming are they to rookies and how well do they typically go over rules and procedures before a match? How often to people get DQ'd?

gunrunner1 · August 30, 2015, 08:22 AM

I guess it would depend on the club. The one I belong to runs a 3-gun match every month. We don't go by any particular rules, as long as you are safe in your gun handling, you are okay. If you look up the Big Piney Sportsman's Club on Facebook, you can look at some videos we posted of some of our matches and you can get a feel for what they are like.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-P...72605702756470

kraigwy · September 1, 2015, 06:46 AM

I don't know of any club who shoots 3-gun or any other combination that doesn't have a safety briefing prior to the start of a match.

You have 4 basic safety rules, that will cover all the safety rules you need.

Main thing, during the briefing, if you have a question, ASK.

Tell the people running the match that you are new. They want new shooters, they will work with you and make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Remember the 4 basic safety rules, that will mean you wont commit the safety violations you have by keeping your finger off the trigger while moving (or anytime when not actually firing, don't sweep your or anyone else's body, and obey the 180 degree rule.

Don't push for speed right away. Concentrate on safety and technique. Speed will come.

Again, if you have a question ask. They want you back, they want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience which will cause you to bring your shootings to the next match.

Don't go buy a bunch of crap until you shoot a while and figure out your goals.

Jim Watson · September 1, 2015, 08:42 AM

Depending on club policy, a new shooter might get a 10 min "safety briefing" or a full day of serious instruction. More likely the former.

Find out if your club goes by 3GN or other sanctioning body rules or if they just made stuff up. Either way, you need to know and abide by them.

The main safety rule found in three gun and not seen in single gun shooting or general training is what to do with each gun as you finish with it. Most places have "dump boxes" for you to put a used gun in as you transition to the next piece. There are rules on what condition it should be in when you abandon it. Empty for sure, probably with the action open, but you should know before you shoot.

Are you a proficient competitive pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooter to start with?
If not, it is going to be tough learning three guns all at the same time.

Crunchy Frog · September 1, 2015, 08:32 PM

Be aware that there is not one set of rules that every club follows. My home club, which held its third-ever Three Gun match last weekend, follows the Three Gun Nation Rules.

I've been a cowboy action shooter since early 2010 but I'm a Three Gun beginner. The Three Gunners I have met have been pretty friendly folks but there is an assumption that people who show up for matches have made an effort to understand the rules, the rules governing safe gun handling particularly. Not that you will be given a written exam when you show up but I would recommend downloading the rules and reading through them.

There are some YouTube videos and podcasts out there that you could peruse as well.

August 5, 2015, 10:02 PM	#1
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	Getting Started in 3-Gun There's a club nearby that hosts 3GN matches and I'd like to get started. I'd like to get started competing, mostly just for added training but winning would be cool too. One thing I'm a little nervous about is the plethora of rules, it seems like it'd be really easy to screw up and get DQ'd for being a safety violator. How welcoming are they to rookies and how well do they typically go over rules and procedures before a match? How often to people get DQ'd? __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

September 1, 2015, 06:46 AM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I don't know of any club who shoots 3-gun or any other combination that doesn't have a safety briefing prior to the start of a match. You have 4 basic safety rules, that will cover all the safety rules you need. Main thing, during the briefing, if you have a question, ASK. Tell the people running the match that you are new. They want new shooters, they will work with you and make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Remember the 4 basic safety rules, that will mean you wont commit the safety violations you have by keeping your finger off the trigger while moving (or anytime when not actually firing, don't sweep your or anyone else's body, and obey the 180 degree rule. Don't push for speed right away. Concentrate on safety and technique. Speed will come. Again, if you have a question ask. They want you back, they want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience which will cause you to bring your shootings to the next match. Don't go buy a bunch of crap until you shoot a while and figure out your goals. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

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August 30, 2015, 08:22 AM	#2
gunrunner1 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 111	I guess it would depend on the club. The one I belong to runs a 3-gun match every month. We don't go by any particular rules, as long as you are safe in your gun handling, you are okay. If you look up the Big Piney Sportsman's Club on Facebook, you can look at some videos we posted of some of our matches and you can get a feel for what they are like. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-P...72605702756470

September 1, 2015, 08:42 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	Depending on club policy, a new shooter might get a 10 min "safety briefing" or a full day of serious instruction. More likely the former. Find out if your club goes by 3GN or other sanctioning body rules or if they just made stuff up. Either way, you need to know and abide by them. The main safety rule found in three gun and not seen in single gun shooting or general training is what to do with each gun as you finish with it. Most places have "dump boxes" for you to put a used gun in as you transition to the next piece. There are rules on what condition it should be in when you abandon it. Empty for sure, probably with the action open, but you should know before you shoot. Are you a proficient competitive pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooter to start with? If not, it is going to be tough learning three guns all at the same time.

September 1, 2015, 08:32 PM	#5
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	Be aware that there is not one set of rules that every club follows. My home club, which held its third-ever Three Gun match last weekend, follows the Three Gun Nation Rules. I've been a cowboy action shooter since early 2010 but I'm a Three Gun beginner. The Three Gunners I have met have been pretty friendly folks but there is an assumption that people who show up for matches have made an effort to understand the rules, the rules governing safe gun handling particularly. Not that you will be given a written exam when you show up but I would recommend downloading the rules and reading through them. There are some YouTube videos and podcasts out there that you could peruse as well.