Auckland Pistol Club

IPSC   3GUN

 

One of the most exciting shooting sports in the country right now is the action-packed multi-gun competition commonly known as "3Gun."

 

The reason for the name is pretty obvious - competitors use three different firearms during the competition:

• a modern sporting rifle (MSR), that is, a rifle built on an AR-platform;

• a shotgun; and

• a handgun.

 

Matches generally involve courses where the shooter must move through different stages and engage targets in a variety of different positions, each stage requiring the use of a specific firearm.

 

The targets might include clay pigeons, cardboard targets and steel targets of varying sizes. Distances of the targets might vary from 1 yard to 500 yards or anything in between.

 

The shooter who hits the most targets -- and avoids certain "no shoot" ones -- in the least amount of time is the winner.

 

In New Zealand 3Gun matches are run to the IPSC "Grand Tournament" rules and guidelines for the three component matches - rifle, shotgun and handgun. 

 

 

Equipment

 

• Rifles
  Most serious competitors choose MSRs in .223 caliber with fairly short barrels in the 18- to 20-inch range and 30-round magazines, although any semi-auto that will handle larger magazines is normally permitted.

• Shotguns
  Any reliable autoloading or pump-action shotgun will work. For serious competition, it should have an extended magazine tube, a good set of sights and interchangeable chokes. Both shotshells and slugs are used in most 3-Gun matches.

• Handgun
  Most shooters use 9mm semi-autos, but the .38 Super and .40 S&W are also popular in some divisions.

• Accessories
  Each shooter needs a holster for the pistol and some sort of belt/pouch system to carry extra magazines and ammo.