Last weekend I was able to take part in my first ever major 3 gun match; The AR15.com Pro Am at Rockcastle Shooting center in Park City, KY. The match was a three day event with a pro and amateur class and stages set up for each. We had sponsored the match the year before, but all of my buddies were surprised that we hadn't actually signed up to shoot. That was when I decided I will be shooting in this one!
A lot of people are intimidated by a match with so much size and press. As I said, this was my first major match with only two previous local matches to see how things worked and get those first match jitters out of my system. If there is one thing I have learned in my short time shooting 3 gun, it is that most people are glad to have you there and are willing to give tips and help new guys like myself. It was like a weekend hunting with your buddies shooting on the amateur side. The mood was light and everyone was there to shoot and have a good time. There were over 500 shooters at this match, which made for a lot of ammo downrange!
After shooting 7 challenging stages, I learned a few important lessons about three gun:
1. Don't be afraid to try it. There are tons of first timers at every match. There are local matches at shooting clubs across the country that hold matches every month. My local club charged $20 for non-members to shoot, so it won't break the bank(unless you count skyrocketing ammo costs).
2. Shotgun reloading is what separates the men from the boys. Pick a technique and practice practice practice! I use the load two method. Check it out online. There are tons of YouTube videos about every method out there.
3. As much as I love 3 Gun Nation, most major matches are not set up the same way as you see on TV. Those matches are set up for speed and movement, which is awesome on TV, but a bit intimidating for a new shooter. Most matches have shots out to 200-300 yds and timeouts of 100 seconds. You don't have to shoot like a pro to participate in 3 gun! Trust me, I'm FAR from a pro and still had a blast.
4. Don't wait until the last minute to buy your shotgun shells or other gear. I had some new ammo I hadn't tried before I picked up on the way to the shoot. It didn't go so well. Semi-auto shotguns can be finicky. Make sure you've tested all of your gear and ammo BEFORE you go shoot. It will save you an embarrassing situation or two at the match!
5. If you don't have all the gear you need to participate in a match, find a buddy that has what you don't and share. I've shared my kit with a couple different people in the three matches I've shot. I recommend you line it all up before you go so you have some time to practice with it. Using new equipment at a match is just like using new ammo. It can be embarrassing!
6. Last, always set a goal for yourself. My goals as a new shooter are pretty easy: don't get DQ'd and don't come in last. Getting DQ'd is generally a lack of safety and that's never a good thing when guns are involved. Learn procedures for switching gear if you are sharing and make sure your gear is secure. Dropping a loaded firearm will send you home immediately! My last goal is to have fun. I'm not out there to make money, simply to learn and hone my own shooting skills, and maybe sell some Ace or DoubleStar stuff in the process ;-).
Hopefully this will serve as an open invitation for all of you to participate in a match, either local or major at some point in the future. Don't be afraid to get out there and put some rounds downrange. There is always going to be someone better than you there and someone who could use a little help. You don't have to have the newest gear or the most expensive guns, just bring what you've got and have a blast! If you have questions, feel free to send them to me at nick@jtdistributing.com.
Keep your mags full and your trigger finger loose.
-Nick
