3 Gun Shots As Training!

[GS Rider]

I know that I have posted this before but I think that it deserves repeating. 3 Gun matches are a great form of practice and for me take me to a higher level than I get by training on my own or with buddies. I know that there are some guys who compete with guns that they wouldn't carry for work or social unrest. But most guys who compete and use it as a form of training just use there everyday guns and that is where the benefit comes in to play. If you compete like you plan on using your gear for social work then you really get an idea about what works. You should be able to just grab your gear and go with out thinking about it. Your gear should work without preps and if you find yourself falling victim to the elements like cold,heat ,glare or dehydration then that would also need to be delt with when you bug out. I love to look at this 3 gun stuff as free training. I would recommend that everyone try to shoot 3 gun as often as possible to see how you stack up against other shooters, how your gear works,what gear others are using that might work for you and to shoot under some form of stress. I don't see any draw backs to this type of competition so please feel free to let me know what you think good or bad.

[Ryder]

3 Gun matches are an excellent place to train and hone your skills, even if you are a professional and carry a firearm on a daily basis.

On one match that I went to, I talked a good friend of mine into coming. Hes been a LEO for most of his working carrer so you would expect him to do well at a 3 gun shoot.

On set that we shot started with you sitting down at a table. You had your rifle on the table, unloaded with a magazine next to it. Your pistol was in the ready with an extra mag laid out.

On the timer, you were to take your pistol and shoot a clay that was hung from the center of a silhouette target at about 25 yards. Once that was broken, then you loaded you rifle and shot the rest of the targets.

My buddy was using a .45ACP Kimber and he missed with his first 8 rounds and had to reload the pistol. The adrenaline was pumping so hard, his hands were shaking and it slightly slowed his reload. But he took his time, visibly breathed and got the clay on the first round of the fresh mag.

Now here is a LEO veteran of close to 15 years and he placed overall in the bottom 3rd. Most law enforcement agencies don't have their officers train this way often because of budgets. My friend now regularly attends the local 3 gun matches.

And yes...I smoked his butt ;)

[GS Rider]

First I like to stay away from my friends butts but what ever works for you. Second is a lot of guys only shoot when they re-qualify every 6 months. And while the repetition of qualifying can cause muscle memory it won't work if the shooter or range master treat it like a match event. So when I qualify I have all of my mags loaded with 10 rounds each(course rules) and then start from the holster. every 10 shots the target gets moved back 7yrd,12yrd and then 21yrds. I like to do my mag changes without looking and I tand to lower my weapon and scan left and right. As you can see this is not enough shooting to improve ones skill just enough to show that we have a basic skill. But when you think that the average collector do you really think that he does any real training? Even many survival minded people seem to shy away from organized training or competition. Even a good friend of mine who talks about the inevitable coming collapse of society will only punch holes on paper at a private range by himself and sees no need for more formal training. Good training is never available when you need it so start now.

[witchdoctor]

I have been shooting 3-gun for about 3 years now. I have used it as training since I discovered the local matches. I use my real gear and actual bug out weapons. Most guys have high-speed gear and specialized weapons, they look at me and are like... ok....