Hi all, I have been shooting 3 Gun for a few years now and my friends are getting into it too, so I wrote this for them but would like to put it here. Just a sampling of what I have learned since I started shooting in the sport, being a newbie, watching others advance, and watching myself advance. If you're a seasoned 3 gunner then lots of this will probably ring true and if you're a new shooter hopefully some of this will help you.
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Much of 3 Gun is speed shooting reasonably large targets at reasonably close range and it's not hard. Pistol skills are a huge advantage so if you have a decent background in USPSA or IDPA then you could probably walk on and place in the middle of the pack at a 3 Gun club match as-is right now but how to maximize your performance? Where to focus your time & money? How to do this smart?
This isn't to sell you on gear or training, but to sell you on ideas. After you decide what division you're going to shoot, realize that you've got lots to learn so show up to have fun, push yourself, and do just that ---> learn. For most people this is where you're going to struggle up front and what you can do to improve match performance.
1) Missing and makeup shots. Strive for higher accuracy and first round hits. Zero each gun on paper and see what your tightest benchrest groups are to establish an accuracy baseline. Benchrest shooting should be under the best of conditions so try for 2" pistol groups @ 25 yards, 3" slug groups @ 50 yards, and 1 MOA rifle from solid benchrested positions.
2) Rifle ballistics & wind. Chrono the actual velocity on rifle rounds to discover the real trajectory you're shooting and use a ballistic calculator to identify the drop (holdover), then go shoot to verify that information. Understand wind conditions and associated hold offs for the distances you're shooting and know what that's going to look like in your scope.
3) Shotgun, chokes & loads. How far can you knock down steel targets with light loads and with what chokes? Pattern the load you'll be using in your gun and understand its size and location at various distances, then verify those results by shooting steel at those distances so you KNOW what will make steel fall and how sloppy your sight pictures can be.
4) Dynamic shooting positions. Train conventional and unconventional positions on and off barricades, and freestyle standing unsupported long range accuracy - especially with the rifle. The VTAC 9 hole drill can be used for each gun with appropriate targets and distances, and will help to show the positions and sight pictures needed to get hits.
5) Reloading the shotgun. Buy caddies that will allow you to Quad Load, open your shotgun's loading port as much as you can, and practice loading your shotgun until you're actually good at it. This is a main gripe of new 3 gunners who don't practice but its an easy part of the sport to get good at, and its stupid to be losing to someone when it has nothing to do with the actual shooting.
If you make it a point to hit these 5 training areas then 3 Gun is going to come quickly for you. Train on minimally sized targets at maximum distances, use accurized guns with competitive gear, and actually get out to practice these things on your own. Get off the couch! If you don't like your performance then either change your gear or adapt your training to overcome. Hope to see you out there.
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