300: Division Equipment Updates for 3-Gun

What this episode covers

Three hundred episodes is a big milestone so I thought we’d do something different than we normally do so here is our first ever (I think) solo episode of The 3-Gun Show! Before we get down to business here I want to remind you about the 3GunShow Pro Shop. That is where you can find your 3GS t-shirts, coffee mugs and baseball caps plus Vortex Optics and we’re adding new products all the time. Coming up in November is the 10th anniversary of the first time that I shot 3-Gun and I’ve been taking stock of where we are at as a sport. Over the next few months you’ll hear my thoughts on the need for a sanctioning body or a union of matches, possibly a series. Lower barriers to entry for matches, a tiered system of match levels, ie not everything can be a major, and the possibility or opportunity to bring new games under the multigun banner including 2-gun rifle & pistol matches. Plus I have ideas for a production or factory-style division modeled after USPSA & NRL’s rule sets. But we will start today with the 3-Gun equipment divisions. This one has been in several conversations I’ve had with industry professionals, MD’s and top shooters and yesterday on the way back from the Jeff Kirkwold Memorial match I brought up this topic to my buddy Forest Lathrop and we beat it to death for at least two hours. So a lot of these ideas are mine but a lot of them have come from the community at large and then Forest and I finalized them yesterday. I am going to run down Limited, Tac-Ops and Open divisions and outline how we can bring more people to matches while once again making 3-Gun the cutting edge of shooting technology development. LimitedTac-OpsOpenShotgunConfigurationTube fed, 12gaTube Fed, 12gaUnlimitedCapacity8 round tube (2.75”), 9 total12 round tube (2.75”), 13 totalUnlimitedOptical/Electronic SightsNoNoUnlimitedComps/PortingNoNoUnlimitedPort Load Shell HolderYes, One ShellYes, One ShellUnlimitedLoading DevicesNoneNoneUnlimitedRifleConfigurationSemi-Auto, min .223/5.56Semi-Auto, min .223/5.56Semi-Auto, min .223/5.56CapacityDouble stack box mag, 30 round maxDouble stack box mag, 45 round maxUnlimitedCoupled MagsNoYesYesPrimary SightsOne, non-magnifiedOne, magnified ok, variable okUnlimitedSecondary SightsNoIrons, okUnlimitedCompensatorYes, max 1” x 3”Yes, max 1” x 3”UnlimitedBipods & BagsNoNoYesPistolConfigurationSemi-Auto, min 9x19mmSemi-Auto, min 9x19mmSemi-Auto, min 9x19mmCapacity141.25mm max length mags141.25mm max length magsUnlimitedSightsIronOptical/Electronic Okay, Slide mounted between rear of slide and ejection portUnlimitedComps/PortingNoNoneUnlimited So there you go, that’s what the future of 3-Gun divisions could look like. As with everything on the 3-Gun Show podcast, this is all about the community here so I want to hear what you have to say. Leave a comment below with your thoughts and opinions. What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What else do you think could encourage growth in the sport? I’m serious when I say that I want to hear from you. Once again I want to thank you for listening to The 3-Gun Show podcast. I’m going to keep doing the podcast for as long a...