3-Gun Nation Magazine Issue #1

7/23/2019 3-Gun Nation Magazine Issue #1

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AFETY GEAR ESSENTIALS 3 BEGINNER MISCONCEPTIONSSTAG ARMS 3G BREAKDOWN ROCKCASTLE SHOOT

EXCLUSIVE

TRAININGRIFLE

PISTOL

SHOTGUN

STRATEGY

+

+

+

+

GREG JORDANTEAM FNH USA

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY

+

M A GREAT SHOOTER

WHAT CAN I DOTO ATTRACTSPONSORS?

PRO, CLU& DIVISION

UPDATE

XCLUSIVE

AS VEGAS PREVIEW:

UMBLE ON THE RANGE

@

DOMINATION

THE ROCK


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JERRYMICULEKIn 2011, Jerry Miculekcame up short in aseason-long, three-way battle for thedivision title betweenhimself, Mike Voigt andeventual champion ClintUpchurch. This season,however, was a verydierent story.

JESSETISCHAUSERStag Arms JesseTischauser declared way

back at the beginning ofthe 2012 campaign thathe was going to win the3GN Heavy Metal OpticsDivision Championship.Then after a solid season,with one importanthead-to-head match-up,along with a little help,Tischauser did just that.

page48

page8

KUANWATSONIn his rst year of widely

participating in national Outlaw3-Gun circuit, DSG Arms KuanWatson was simply dominatingin 3GNs Heavy Metal Division,going a perfect four-for-four inDivision matches to run awaywith the 2012 3GN Heavy MetalChampionship.

page36

CLUBDIVISIONIn May 2012, the 3GNClub Series debuted asa pilot program at selectclubs across the country.In total, 396 shootersfrom seven local clubscompeted and loggedscores in the 3GN ClubSeries Pilot Program.

page72

LADYDIVISIONFour ladies will step underthe lights and face o for the

title of 3-Gun Nation LadiesChampion, with the winnertaking home $5,000 fromHornady, during the 3GNChampionship in Las Vegas.

page63

JAMESCASANOVABy any denition, 2011

was a breakout seasonfor James Casanova.One of many competitorsjumping into Tactical Iron,which had a rejuvenatedpopularity following theadoption of 1X optics asallowed equipment atmajor matches, Casanovaimmediately challengedveteran shooters Kurt Millerand Kelly Neal.

page18

CODYLEEPERAs good as the eld of

competitors has proven

to be, in two years, nojunior has been as goodas Cody Leeper. After abreakout season last year,Leeper went on to defeatJake Denno and JD Wilcoxto win the inaugural 3GNJunior ChampionshipShoot-O.

page62

SEMI-PRODIVISIONTwo competitors steamrolled their way thro

campaign, taking the nal weekend for the in the 3GN Semi-Pro Shoot-O to be claime

p

AMATUERDIVISIONIn a race that came down to the seasons n

Minnesotas Chris Cazin ran down the eld a

junior Jake Denno to take the 2012 3-Gun NDivision, winning $5,000 from Hornady.

p


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The Stag Arms 3G

is designed to be

accurate, fast and

dependable. Just

optics and ammo

its competition re

What else could ypossibly want in a

pag

page30

From high-end 2011 to utilitarian polymer-

framed striker-red guns, there are several

pistols suitable for todays 3-Gun game.

Hidden within the pictur

rolling Kentucky hills, ju

eyeshot of Interstate 65,

shooters paradise.

pagepage96

ere is enough to worry about in any 3-Gun

tch, so why complicate things with multiple

mo products? My philosophy is nd one

d and use it for everything.

page52

011, AR15.com held the largest 3-Gun

mpetition ever with the AR15.com

ckcastle Pro-Am 3-Gun Championship at

Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City,


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roper t will help you get the most

erformance from your shotgun.

page 54

many, the hardest step to getting involved

new shooting discipline is the rst step,

m here to give you a hand and show you

t how easy and aordable it can be.

page 74

3-Gun competitions are often little m

than controlled mayhem. Heres how

to control the factors you can, prior

shooting a match.

pagAs the sun rst begins to light

the tree line, eating away the

pre-dawn darkness over the

range, an Army of boots are

already marching through

the area - carrying supplies,

repairing targets, setting the

stage.

page88


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Editorial: [email protected]

Advertising: [email protected]

Production: [email protected]

National 3-Gun Association

424 Ridgehill Drive

Lexington, South Carolina 29073

United States of America

Executive Editor:

Chad Adams

Executive Producer:

Pete Brown

NRA Board Member:

Joseph P. Debergalis, Jr.

CHRIS ANDERSEN

Chris Andersen, a lifelong shooter and sportsman,

competing professionally since 2010. Andersen, a

Series competitor with several top major match n

multiple divisions, is also a USPSA Pistol Grand M

Publisher

Production

This Issues Featured Authors

2280 Satellite Boulevard, B-1

Duluth, Georgia 30097

United States of America

(678) 644 - 2175

www.aegisatlanta.com

Creative Director:

James P. Mason

JANSEN JONES

Jansen Jones is a founding member of The Noveske

Shooting Team and is a current competitor on the 3GN

Pro Series Tour. Shooting professionally since 2009, Jones

practices law for an AV rated rm in Atlanta.

PATRICK KELLEY

As a competitor, instructor, writer and photographeE. Kelleys passion for the shooting sports runs dee

won his rst match in the 1980s he continues to w

eld and in promoting 3-Gun.

SCOTT McGREGOR

Scott McGregor works as an independent advertising sales

representative and sponsored shooter for FMG Publications.

Scott shoots USPSA, IDPA, and is ranked 38th in the 3GN

Pro Series.

BRUCE PIATT

Bruce Piatt is a career Police Ocer with the heart

of a full time shooter. He is a seasoned World Cham

competitor with over 30 years of competitive shoot

experience in multiiple disciplines.

BRYCE M. TOWSLEY

Bryce Towsley is an award-winning writer and photographer

whose work covers a wide diversity of subjects,

including hunting and rearms. Towsley is on of the most

accomplished gun writers of his era and actively competes in

3-gun competitions nationwide.

CONTACT 3-GUN NATION MAGAZINE

CONTRIBUTION


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n 2010, 3-Gun Nation began as the rstTV show to exclusively cover the sportof 3-gun. 3GN hit the airwaves, with theargest cash payouts the sport had everseen, and the competition was electric.Today, 3-Gun Nation is something more,ncluding a Pro Tour, national point races,and club-level competition. Its a websiteo follow the Pros, a Facebook page toollow the sport. Or simply a logo on

your shirt that says a little bit about whoyou are. Its a lifestyle brand. Its truly a3-Gun Nation.

As such, 2013 marks the activation of theNational 3-Gun Association, our parentcompany, and with it the 3-Gun NationClub Series. The rst organizationalbody solely devoted to the proliferationof 3-gun, the Club Series will mark thedebut of both a classier system and anational point series for local-level 3-gun.Become a member of the N3GA, join the

3-Gun Nation, and getout at compete at anyand every level!

Along the way were committed tointroducing more great benets to ourmembers, starting with this magazine,yet another rst for the sport. Our maidenissue is chock full of stories on gear andgadgets, tips and technique, along withthe top players in the game. Veterancompetitors such as Patrick Kelley, BrucePiatt, Jansen Jones, Chris Andersen haveall penned stories, along with veteranoutdoor writer Bryce Towsley. Written byshooters, for shooters, is our mantra.

My partner, Pete Brown, and I startedthis madness three years ago, and itsgrown beyond our wildest expectations.Today 3GN oversees 11 nationalcompetition point races, a TV show setto air on four dierent networks in 2013,a website steadily garnering a followingnumbering in the tens of thousands,two social media pages and more. The3-Gun Nation Championship promisesto again be one of the top draws duringSHOT Show. And now this digitalmagazine is the rst in what we hopewill be a growing slate of benets for ourmembers.

All of us at 3GN truly hope you enjoy thisrst issue of The Mag. So put on youreyes and ears, cause stus about to y,and we can promise its gonna get loud

Shooter Ready

-Semper,

ChadAdams

from the editor

Chad


8/108

Miculek Wins 3GN Open Division

With four major wins at 3GN partnermatches this season, Jerry Miculekcruised to win his rst 3GN Open DivisionChampionship and $5,000 from Hornady.

And that might just spell trouble for theeld at the 2013 3GN Championship in

Las Vegas.

In 2011, Miculek came up short in aseason-long, three-way battle for thedivision title between himself, Mike Voigtand eventual champion Clint Upchurch.This season, however, was a verydierent story. Upchurch and Voigt bothcut back on major matches outside ofthe 3GN Pro Series, and after a lukewarmstart to 2012, Miculek eventuallydominated the rest of the eld.

In a race that went to a tie-break onthe seasons nal weekend last year,Miculeks 2012 campaign was moredecisive. Miculeks 300 division pointsbested Tony Holmes (289.89), JamesDarst (266.27), Craig Outzen (248.25) andwife, Kay Miculek (229.08).

Miculek also nished 10th in the 3GNPro Series, a Tactical Optics-only eld,proving the legendary Open shooter can

still run with the very best in the game,and in a less familiar division. A top 10Pro Series nish, combined with an Opendivision title, prove Miculek is ring on allcylinders this season.

Im shooting better than I ever have,Miculek said. Im starting to get thefeel for the tempo it takes to run a goodmatch. Its a pretty good feeling.

But as good as he nished, the seasstarted relatively slow by Jerry Miculstandards. Miculek opened the seaswith a pair of third place nishes atSuperstition Mountain Mystery 3-GuMidwest 3-Gun Championship. How

by June Miculek was rolling, picking his rst 3GN Division win of the year Northwest MultiGun, where he cruiseto victory by more than 10 percentagpoints.

Another win followed at JP RockyMountain 3-Gun in August, then Micwas strong with another big win atOzark 3-Gun Championship in

September. Thenafter dropping a match

to Daniel Horner in Texas,Miculek rebounded with animpressive performance at BlueRidge Mountain 3-Gun to close theseason with a dominating win.

(Blue Ridge) was probably one ofmy best 3-gun performances Ive eveperformed in my life, Miculek said. shot consistently good on every stag

Written by Chad Adams


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m shootingbetter than

ever have.


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I was able to dial in and not have a hiccup on any stage.And all the guns ran 100 percent, which is a beautifulthing. I havent had any gun trouble in some time, so itskind of nice to be able to just sit back and ride.

While it would be easy for one to imagine Miculek doingmost of his damage in bay-style matches, where he can

just get on the gas for an entire matchand lets be clear,

few, if anyone in practical shooting, have a faster triggernger than Miculekwins at Rocky Mountain and BlueRidge prove the veteran can still take on the tough eldcourses. Blue Ridge in particular, where Miculek was sostrong, was extremely demanding this year with vigorousmovement and a very high round count.

That was what the challenge there was really, Miculeksaid. There were so many targets on every stage. Onthat natural terrain, you really have to pay attention to thetargets on every walk through.

Miculek credited part of his renewed focus at Blue Ridgeto the challenging IPSC Shotgun Championship he andother Americans had competed in recently. With limitedwalk throughs prior to shooting stages, issues with ammoand a completely unique match presentation, Miculek feltmore dialed in than ever following the international event.

(The IPSC Championship) is a hostile environment,Miculek said. Its strictly a memory game.

Yet getting through challenging match conditions leftMiculek sharper than ever before heading into Blue Ridge,

where he nished the 3-gun season strong in route to a3GN Open Division Championship and $5K from Hornady.

Its a good thing, Miculek said. Im really appreciativeto the sponsors coming on board and doing this. Im justhappy to be here. Im happy to nish up strong. Its agood feeling.

If that wasnt enough, Miculek is also coming o whathe felt was one of his nest metallic sight shootingperformances in recent history at the USPSA Nationals,giving one of the most successful shoot-o competitors

in history even more condence heading into the 3GNChampionship Shoot-O in Las Vegas.

Jerry will be joined in Las Vegas by wife, Kay, anddaughter, Lena, who qualied for the 3GN Lady Shoot-O,which means there could potentially be a whole bunch ofMiculeks standing in the winners circle. So you can betthere will be a bunch of Shoot-O practice in the nearfuture down on Shootout Lane.


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Written by

Dave Dolbee


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The SCAR is a piston-driven rie built specicallyfor U.S. Special Operations command. The SCAR isa wonderful platform that has been proven throughextensive trials. In the hands of FN team members,it has proven to be a winner as well, said Chad Ad-ams vice president of 3-Gun Nation.

Adams continued, One of the great things ing sponsor equipment for the nals is that the playing eldat least to some degree. Iaway any technical advantage a shooters ement may provide. It creates a drag race, shstage. What you are seeing is who can run oup those guns and perform on demand.

A 3-Gun Nation Shoot-O oers every bit of thatanticipated excitement, but it adds a twist to upthe ante. When a competitor makes it to the nalround, the switch is made to sponsor-providedequipmentFNH USAs SCAR, SLP Shotgun and theFNS-9.

3-Gun competitive shooting has been, andcontinues to be, a perfect outlet for our products

such as the SCAR, SLP and FNSall of which hbeen designed and developed to the standardsof military or law enforcement applications, saTommy Thacker, director of product managemeand team captain for FNH USA. Those standarmake our products that much stronger and reliawhen youre running to the next stage through rterrain and every possible weather condition.

IN ANY SHOOTING COMPETITION, A SUDDEN DEATH FINAL

MAKES ALL THE HYPE AND BUILD UP WORTH THE WAI


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In the previous ve years, I dont believe anothergun has had the same level of impact on the sportof 3-gun as the SLP shotgun, said Adams. TheSLPs popularity stems largely from its popular gassystem. The gas system in the SLP is probably themost widely used for autoloaders in 3-gun. For yearsBenellis inertia or recoil driven system was a leaderin the sport.

At the time there simply were not enough gathat held up as well as the Benelli and someshotguns. When FNH came out with the SLPdid deliver a great gas system that mitigatesbit and makes it easier for some shooters todle, said Adams.

The newest of the three FN guns used is the FNS-9.The FNS-9 is FNs entry into the highly competitive,striker-red pistol market. FN really went todrawing board to decide what worked on pistols of

that genre and what did not. With the introdthe FNS-9, it delivered a duty-style pistol tharuns, is extremely robust and the ergonomicoutstanding in the hand, said Adams.


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ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN VEGAS FOR SHOT SHOW?

F YOURE GOING TO BE AT RUMBLE ON THE RANGE - CLICK HERE AND LET US KNOW

A 3-Gun Nation Shoot-O is onlyone aspect of what 3-gun is reallyabout. During the course of a matchhere will be several stages. Some

stages will feature big, long, naturalerrain with rolling hills, high round

counts and lots of movement. Otherstages will require the shooter tosimply stand in a box and grab gunso the table. For these stages, itsall about speed and accuracy. Overhe course of a match, you can have

a bad stage and make it up with agood stage.

Where the match is more of a mara-hon, the Shoot-O tests the shoot-

ers ability to deliver on demand,n front of a crowd, and when thepressure is at its utmost. The Shoot-O tests not only shooting abilityand athleticism, but more thananything it tests the competitorsmental game. You have to be able toblock out the crowd, cameras and

houghts of the money youll win.Most of all, you have to be able toblock out what the competitor nexto you is doing. After all, you only

get one chance, said Adams.

Although we change it up through-out the season, the Shoot-O goessomething like this. The competitorsbegin in a start box. After the hornthey sprint to their rst station. Letssay that is the SLP shotgun. Theyengage eight targets and return theSLP to the box before sprinting tothe next box.

Perhaps this would be the SCAR.The competitor would then engage

targetsohandanywhere fromabout 50 to 100 yards. These targetswould be something along the linesof a six-target MGM plate rack. Afterreplacing the SCAR back in its box,the competitor would sprint to thelast station.

Prior to this point, the competitorshave been working inboard. Now atthe last station, they are going to beclose, where they can see and heareach other. The rst one to knock

hit the crossover stop plate is thewinner and takes home the purse,concluded Adams.

FNH USA has alwa

been dedicated to

the support and

advancement of th

shooting sports.

3-Gun competitive

shooting oers a

friendly environme

for shooters of all s

levels and gives th

FNH USA shooting tethe perfect outlet t

demonstrate the stre

and reliability of ou

products to those w

may be new to the w

of competition shooti

Ken Pfau

Senior VP

FNH USA

AMMO PROVID

OPTICS PROVID


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16 M. HANISH

17 J. TISCHAUSER

9 A. POPPLEWELL

24 A. DAUN

8 J. CASANOVA

25 B. DUECK

4 G. JORDAN

29 B. RAY

13 M. BURKETT

20 C. ANDERSEN

12 C. UPCHURCH

21 T. GIBSON

5 K. LAKER

28 J. PARKER

1 D. HORNER

2013 3-


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n champion

W. CHANDLER 1

B. PIATT 18

T. BUTLER 2

J. MICULEK 10

J. TIELKE 23

B. THOMPSON 7

C. CARBON 26

K. GARCIA 3

P. KELLEY 14

M. VOIGHT 19

T. PAYNE 11

T. HOLMES 22

R. BERNSKOETT

S. WIGGINS 27


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Casanova Wins 3GN Tactical Iron Division

COLORADO NATIVE FOLLOWS BREAKOUT 2

WITH MONSTER FINISH IN 2

By any denition, 2011 was a breakout season for

James Casanova. One of many competitors jumpinginto Tactical Iron, which had a rejuvenated popularityfollowing the adoption of 1X optics as allowedequipment at major matches, Casanova immediatelychallenged veteran shooters Kurt Miller and Kelly Neal.In fact, Casanova picked up a division win on theseasons nal weekend last year at FNH USA 3-Gun,keeping Neal out of the money and giving Miller the title.

After nding my niche in Limited/Tac-Iron last year,I began this year with the goal to win the divisionalseries in Limited, Casanova said. Along with that was

the goal to post competitive scores in the Tac-OpticsDivision while shooting in Limited. Not every match wasa success in the latter goal but I learned things at everymatch. One of the best things about 3-gun is being ableto shoot and talk with so many other great shooters. Itis amazing how open and free everyone is about whatthey are doing from the stage plan level all the way upthrough how to rig your gear so that it will work best foryou. I learned something new that I could apply to myshooting at every match this year thanks to all the greatcompetitors I got to shoot with.

In 2012, Miller competed mainly in Tactical Optics, andwas not part of the 3GN races, while Kelly Neal jumpedout to the early Tac Iron division lead with a win atSuperstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun in March. KyleOGlee pulled an upset win over Casanova at Midwest3-Gun in May, while Warren Becker notched a big winat MGM Ironman in June. At the midway point of theseason, Casanova, one of the early division favoritesfor 2012, had yet to pick up a match win. Undergoingsurgery, and battling a bad back, at one point it wasunclear whether Casanova would be able to nish outhis abbreviated 2012 campaign at all.

The little bumps in the road this year actually startedin January with wrist surgery, then my back and elbow,geez I sound fragile!, Casanova said. All that denitelymakes this win a sweeter accomplishment. AfterCMMG, I wasnt sure I was going to be able to makeany more matches at all this year, but thanks to somegreat docs and physical therapists I was able to pullthings together well enough to make it to the CrimsonTrace Night Match and then nish out the season.

Following Crimson Trace, Casanova put together h

rst division win of the season at Rocky Mountain3-Gun, a tough, natural terrain match that puts apremium on long-range rie shooting. And he needit, as Neal had just picked up his second division wthe year at Northwest Multi-Gun.

From strictly a Limited division standpoint, RockyMountain would be the toughest of the year, Casasaid. That match really pushes long range, which isomething I do love, but when they put those littletargets way out they get REALLY hard to see.

In September, Casanova topped fellow 3GN Pro Secompetitors Cody Leeper and Brian Vaught to winOzark, setting up a pivotal winner-take-all match-uwith Kelly Neal at Fallen Brethren 3-Gun in Texas.

The win that stands out the most for me this seasowas Fallen Brethren, Casanova said. Kelly and I wneck and neck going into the match, thanks to himbeing sporting enough to disassemble his shotgunthe clock at Rocky Mountain, allowing me to squeapast him there. We talked before FB3G and neitherwas going to be able to shoot the nal divisional m

of the year at Blue Ridge, so in his words it was a dmatch in Texas. I got to shoot with Kelly there, whialways great, and I had several really strong stageshelped me take the win. It felt really good knowing done it when it really counted.

The 3GN Tactical Iron Division Championship marka signicant accomplishment in Casanovas recentmeteoric rise in the sport. Few shooters have improas rapidly over the last couple of seasons, withCasanova nishing 8th overall in the inaugural 3-GuNation Pro Series Tour, along with taking the title in

Tactical Iron.

For me it is a huge validation that the work andpractice I have put into this sport has paid o, no pintended, Casanova said. The $5k is great, thankVERY much Hornady, but the accomplishment is evbetter.

A Grand Master-level pistol shooter, Casanova hasadded very specic gear in Tactical Iron to get hims



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over the hump. With the acceptance of 1X optics inlimited divisions, Casanova began running a LeupoldPrismatic, which he credited for helping him excel withthe Limited rie. However, it might be his and MarkPassamanecks shotgun products that got him overthe top. Part of Carbon Arms, Casanova has used theTWinS Loading Systems, and thereby the Load Twotechnique, to shave precious time o his shotshell

loading.

One of the biggest things that has helped me step upmy shooting is not being at all afraid of shotgun loadinganymore, Casanova said. Going into any stageknowing that I can re-gas my shotgun

without leaving a ton of time on the table has madeit possible for me to focus more on the shooting angetting on the gas pedal.Gear aside; few competitors have as much raw shoskill as does Casanova. With a strong showing inthe Pro Series, along with his Tactical Iron DivisionChampionship, Casanova should be one dangeroucompetitor in January at the 3GN Championship in

Vegas.

My head is in a good place headed to Vegas,Casanova said. The division win denitely adds a extra condence, but just reminding myself that, wall the rest of it, I still nished 8th in the Pro Series helps make me feel strong heading into the Shoot-

And you can bet Casanova will be out there battlinthe divisions best again next season at 3GN parmatches across the

country.

But unlike yearspassed, it will be

Casanova that steps toline as a marked manthe 3GN Tact

Iron Champion.

Oh yes Ill be back, Casanova said when asked ifhe would attempt to defend his title. I am planningshoot Limited in the matches that arent part of theSeries next year and I denitely want to win this titl

again!


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22/108

Written by

Bryce M. Towsley

SHOOTer

ready


23/108

Back in 1981 Barbara Mandrell recorded a song called I was CountryWhen Country Wasnt Cool. It was a huge hit, dominating the charts th

summer, and became one of her signature songs. Its also become a pie

of Americana that is paraphrased often. So, if you will indulge me a bit h

I was 3-gun, when 3-gun wasnt cool.

Well actually, thats not totally correct. Three-gun shooting has always

been cool. But I was doing it before it got discovered. In fact, when I

started, I had trouble getting the editors of shooting magazines to acce

more than a token article now and then. Today, 3-gun shooting is on its

to becoming the dominant shooting sport and its a big part of what I w

about to earn my daily bread.

Oh yeah, I just heard a report a couple of days ago that there are more

country music radio stations in America today than all the other music

formats combined. So I guess Barbara and I were both ahead of our tim

just wish gun writing paid as well as singing.


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Many of those early articles that I wrote were

on how to customize the guns to make them

competitive for 3-gun shooting as nobody made

a competition ready long gun. I think its a

huge statement about how cool 3-gun has

become with mainstream shooters that so many

top companies are now introducing competition

ready out-of-the-box rearms today.

For example, Benelli s new 3-Gun shotgun

was introduced in late 2011 and I believe is the

rst ready to roll, instant 3-gun, just add ammo,

shotgun for this sport (Remington and FNH

USA have suitable tactical/defense models; the

Mossberg 930 JM is geared toward 3-gun).

Some ries, like the JP Enterprises JP-15 that

I compete with, can be ordered competitionready. But I think that the new Stag Arms 3G

might be the rst rie that is designed around

the sport, by serious competitors, and marketed

specically for 3-gun

competition (Editors

Note: Technically, the

DPMS 3G1debuted

rst, but DPMS never

pushed it very hard.

Since Stag released the3G to much acclaim and brisk

sales, Colts and DoubleStar are

among the recent major

manufacturers to release a

rie marketed specically for

3-gun.)

Stag is well known for producing

left-handed AR-15-style ries as well as the

conventional right-handed models. They

got noticed for the southpaw aspect, but

built their name by producing high-quality

ries.

For the record, the Stag 3G

can be ordered in right- or left-

hand models. I have a couple of

shooting buddies who are very

happy about that.

Stag Arms worked with their 3-gun shootin

team to develop the new rie and after sho

it quite a bit, I think they got it almost right

Thats not a statement I make lightly, as its

pointed out to me that I would probably bi

about free money.

There are in truth a few things I would cha

For example, I would add an extended cha

handle latch, a tactical bolt release and po

an ambi-safety. But these are small things

the truth is, this gun is competition ready o

the box.

The rie uses an 18-inch stainless-steel se

heavy barrel that measures .727-inch near

muzzle and uses a 1:8 twist rate. The cham

is 5.56 NATO, so it can re both 5.56 and .Remington ammo. The barrel has six utes

are interrupted by the gas block for the ri

length gas system. The last 3/4-inch of the

is stepped down to .705-inch to the muzzl

The barrel is tted with a 2-1/4 inch-long

compensator installed with a crush washe

unique compensator has nine 1/4-inch hol

three rows of three. One row is center-top

the other two rows are close on each side.holes are angled, some are straight. There

also three smaller holes in the top-front of

compensator pointing forward. This is perh

the most eective brake at countering muz

I have ever tried. If I had to nd a complain

the rie its that the brake actually will drive

muzzle too low with each shot so that the

end up under the aiming point.

We did some drills using fast double taps a

even some fast 10-shot strings at close ran

and I found that once I got the hang of it I

get the sights back on a 10-yard target fas

than my nger could pull the trigger. I had

the impression of waiting for the shot while

watched the dot on the Z6 Swarovski oat

A zone. Thats not something I encounte

most ries, as it usually takes more time to

the sights back on target than to pull the tr


25/108

am not sure if thats a function of the brake or the

trigger, but I suspect its a combination of both.

While I was not using a timer on these drills,this

gun is extremely fast, as often the two shell

casings would only be a few inches apart in the

air.

The gun is tted with a Samson Evolution free-oating

handguard. This handguard comes with a rail along the

top. There are holes along the sides and bottom to add

more rails if you want them. The sides are skeletonized

with a double row of cuts on each side. The diameter

of the handguard is 1.825-inches, which is easy to

grip. The 15-inch handguard extends well past the low

prole gas block. One of the problems with most AR-

style ries when used for 3-gun shooting is the short

handguard.

A tip that some of the top 3-gun shooters have taught

me is to have the weak hand extended way out on the

front of the gun. Never hold

the gun in front of the

magazine well, rather

get your hand

out as far

as you

can.

Well, you long-armed types, please dont take that

mean put your ngers in front of the muzzle. I haveactually seen that done with an MP5 during a matc

and it was not a pretty sight. Grip the fore-end on

side, with the elbow extended parallel with the gro

This gives much better control of the rie for latera

movement for rapid target transition. Try this with

short handguard and all you get is burned ngers.

I guess my point is, this long handguard proves to

me that Stag listened to some real shooters when

designing the rile.

Another point of contention on most AR15 ries is

the trigger. Many AR builders are stuck on Mil Sp

Stupid and forget that shooters need good trigge

Its not uncommon to have precision targets at 500

600 yards or even farther in a 3-gun match. Its a h

handicap to have a ten pound battle trigger that

Its a longer pull than most

match-grade single-stage

triggers, but smooth and clean.

On my rie it breaks at just

slightly over three pounds.


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rougher than Rosie ODonnells personality. Unless you

order a better trigger as an option, almost all ries will

need an expensive replacement before using them in

competition. One popular replacement trigger is the

Geissele Super 3-Gun trigger. This STAG rie comes

with that trigger as standard equipment.

Geissele made its reputation with two-stage triggers for

AR ries. I have one in one of my hunting ries and its

excellent. This new trigger was developed by Geissele

for 3-gun and uses what they call a hybrid pull. Its

a longer pull than most match-grade single-stage

triggers, but smooth and clean. On my rie it breaks at

just slightly over three pounds.

The buttstock and pistol grip are from Magpul, featuring

its collapsible ACS buttstock and MOE hard-plastic

pistol grip. Both have storage compartments.

The rie is also available with optional Dueck Defense

Rapid Transition Sights (RTS,) which are oset iron

sights that are used for close in shots. This system was

developed by Barry Dueck, a top shooter who I have

had the pleasure of squadding with in several matches.

In all but Open Class of 3-gun shooting you are limited

to one optic, which is almost universally on the rie. I

choose the 1-6 Swarovski Z6. That means I can turn

it down to one power, which is no magnication, turnon the electronic dot and use it like a red-dot with

both eyes open for close stu. Then, using a MGM

Switchview lever, I can quickly turn it to 6X for the

longer shots. This works great for me, but there are

some shooters who prefer more magnication on

the top end for the long shots, particularly those w

compete in the West where long shots are commo

The Open Class shooters often install a 3-9 or larg

scope and then put a small, reex, red-dot sight at

45-degree angle for the close targets. Its very fast

simply roll the gun, keeping your cheek weld, and l

up with this sight. But the other classes are not allo

this second optic. They can, however, have iron sig

So the Dueck Defense Rapid Transition Sights (RTS

mounted at a 45-degree angle to provide an iron s

option for the close stu.

If you are planning to compete with a scope that dnot have zero magnication at the low end, you sh

consider this option. It will add $200.00 to the $1,4

price tag of the gun.

I tested the rie by shooting three dierent factory

and one handload using bullets ranging from 50 gr

to 75 grains. The average for three, ve-shot group

with each of the four loads was 1.23 inches, which

excellent accuracy.

When I put out the word that I am bringing all the


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guns, targets and all the ammo for some 3-gun

practice I do not have any problem nding

willing shooters. My shooting buddies and I took

this gun to the range a few times to practice

running some rie scenarios. After several

hundred rounds (of my ammo!), we are in

universal agreement that this is a well-balanced

and a well behaved 3-gun rie. We experienced

no jams or failures to operate. We found the

gun handled well for the fast stu and settled

ne for the long-range precision work. The only

complaint was after we ran out of ammo and I

wanted to pack up and go home, when the guys

bitched that I didnt bring enough bullets.

Anybody looking to get into 3-gun shooting

would be well served to check out this rie.

All you add are optics and ammo and itscompetition ready.

Also note that 3-gun simulates combat

situations. So even if you are not interested in

competition, if you want your gun to defend your

home or to spank your buddies at your shooting

range, a gun that wins matches works just as

well for those uses too.

After all, its designed to be accurate, fast anddependable. What else could you possibly want

in a rie?

PRODUCT SPECSSTAG ARMS MODEL 3G

CALIBER 5.56 / .223

BARREL 18 inch, Stainless 1:8 twist

OA LENGTH 39.25 inches

WEIGHT 7.5 pounds

BUTTSTOCK Magpul ACS

GRIP Magpul MOE

RAIL SYSTEM Samson Evolution 15 Free

ACTION Gas Impingement, Semi-A

TRIGGER Geissele Super 3 Gun (S

SIGHTS Dueck Defense RTS (optio

FINISH Flat Black

COMPENSATOR Stag Arms 3G

PRICE $1,459

The Samson Manufacturing

15 Free Floating Evolution

Handguard is modular,

allowing the attachment of

rail sections or sling mounts

along the handguard, while

granting shooters the ability

to mount accessories as

needed but not be burdened

by a full quad rail.

The new Stag Arms

3G answers the call of

shooters looking for a

muzzle device to help

control muzzle rise for

quick follow up shots

often required in 3-Gun

Competition.

Dual, rear accessible,

water-resistant battery

storage tubes and

an integral storage

compartment in the

butt of the stock

provides multiple

storage options.

he Magpul MOE Grips one-piece

reinforced polymer construction

provides simplicity and durability

needed to withstand 3-Gun

environments.


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PRODUCT PERFORMANCESTAG ARMS MODEL 3G

FEDERAL 55-grain Ballistic Tip 3,005

THREE 5-SHOT GROUPS @ 100 YARDSTESTING CRITERIA

TEST LOAD

BLACK HILLS 50-grain V-Max

Handload 55-grain V-Max22.5 grains H335

HORNADY Match 75-grain

VELOCITY AVERAGE BEST

3,081

2,576

2,643

0.8

0.8

1.1

1.1

1.6

1.18

1.18

1.2

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second 15 from the muzzle by an Oehler 35P chrnograph, and best accuracy in inches of best ve-shot g


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Written by

Jansen Jones

Noveske Shooting Team


31/108

When I rst became interested in 3-gun, I was looking for all the information I

could gather on the subject. At that time, there existed only a few good videos

on YouTube, only one informative website with a sub-forum dedicated to the

discussion of the discipline and Matt Burketts Practical Shooting Radio was t

only podcast available. I watched, read and listened to everything I could nd a

3-gun in the hopes of learning everything I could about the game. It is now almo

2013, the sport has grown immensely, and I nd that there are more and more sho

in the position I was not long ago, looking for more information about gear, guns a

matches.

I hope to address an often asked question by new shooters looking to get started in the

game and that question is: which pistol should I shoot? When it comes to selecting a pistol for

3-gun, there are many choices available. In my opinion, 3-gun pistols break down into two major

categories, hammer-red and striker-red guns. The dierences are obvious, the hammer-red guns hav

exposed hammer (for example, an STI 2011); while the striker-red guns do not have any exposed hamm

(for example, a Glock 34). These two categories dominate the 3-gun circuit, whether it is a local club mat

or a 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Event. The two categories oer the shooter advantages in some areas whil

disadvantages in others.

From high-end 2011 to utilita

polymer-framed striker-fired

there are several pistols suit

for todays 3-gun


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First lets examine the hammer-red pistols. Examples

of hammer-red pistols often seen in 3-gun competition

include (but are not limited to); STI/SVI 2011s, CZ-75s,

and various Sig Sauer pistols. Some of the advantages

of hammered-red guns include excellent accuracy,

better triggers and shorter reset than striker-red guns.

Downsides of the hammer-red guns are that some

of the magazines require more maintenance/cleaning,

they are generally more expensive, and at major

3-gun matches you have to engage the safety when

abandoning the pistol.

Next lets address striker-red pistols. This category of

handgun has made inroads in 3-gun competition thanks

to an abundance of aftermarket parts and gunsmithing

services which address many of the shortcomings in the

platform. Examples of the more common striker-red

guns used in 3-gun include Glocks, Smith & WessonM&Ps and Springeld Armorys XD series.

Some of the advantages of a striker-red pistol are they

cost considerably less than the hammer-red guns, they

require a lot less maintenance, and you do not need

to engage any safety when

abandoning the gun

due to the passive

safeties being

built into the

platform. The striker-red gun is not without its

disadvantages which include mushy triggers that a

less than ideal for 3-gun, the magazine capacity ne

to be increased with aftermarket base pads, and th

factory sights are basically unacceptable for seriou

3-gun competition.

When I started 3-gun, I already owned a Glock 34,

naturally this is what I took to my rst match. I quic

learned the factory sights were adequate for shots

full-size USPSA or IDPA paper targets at reasonab

distances, however for the 5x5 pieces of steel se

between 10 to 20 yards, these sights simply would

do. The rst thing I did when I arrived back home w

order a set of adjustable competition sights for my

Glock, along with some extended base pads for my

magazines. I have stuck with the Glock platform fo

going on ve years now, despite trying a few diere2011s along the way. The 2011s I have are great gu

with crisp triggers that shoot amazingly well, but fo

some reason I simply cannot stray from the striker-

platform that has helped me get through many a m

malfunction free.

If you are just starting out in 3-gun, the striker-red

guns are an excellent option for the reasons discus

previously. After youve shot a few major matches

and gained some experience and are determined tcontinue in the sport, a 2011-type pistol is somethi

to seriously consider. The majority of shooters in th

9m


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3-Gun Nation Pro Series are using 2011-type hammer-

red pistols.

Regardless of which type of pistol platform you opt

for, you are going to want to shoot 9 mm. Its cheap,

accurate, reliable and you can nd it almost anywhere.

Also, you want to select a good holster with strong

retention. 3-gun usually involves rigorous movement,

whether it is climbing over a barricade, crawling through

a tunnel or simply running as fast as you can to get from

position A to position B. I have seen plenty of pistols

jump out of holsters and hit the ground, all because

the holster did not have sucient retention to keep it

secure during the course of re while the competitor

took o running through the stage. Needless to say,

spending a few extra dollars on a good, secure 3-gun

holster is a worthwhile investment.

I mentioned before, there are literally hundreds of

aftermarket parts available to enhance or improve both

the striker-red but also the hammer-red platforms.

Within the community of 3-gun we are fortunate to have

several shooters on the 3-Gun Nation Pro Series who

are leading the way with innovative products for both

pistol platforms.

Taran Butlers company, Taran Tactical Innovations

oers excellent extended base pads in many colors

for both the Glock and 2011 pistols. Matt Burketts

Predator Tactical oers a line of custom built 2011

pistols ready to go for 3-gun.

Also, more and more companies are creating produ

aimed at the sport of 3-gun, some of which addres

problems of moving vigorously with a holstered pis

specically. For example, DSG Arms and Safarilan

oer a dedicated line of competition holsters and

pouches designed for the sport.

There is a lot more which could be said about thes

two pistol categories, but ultimately you will need t

out and shoot a match to see what you like or don

about either platform.


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The 3-gun community has

built a reputation as one of the

nicest and most helpful within

the shooting sports, so dont

be afraid to approach and talk

to veteran shooters at a match

about which pistol they shoot

and why.

Remember, they were once

new shooters too.Whether you are on the

road, this little access

save your life. While n

by any means, and

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While extremely durable, the

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For those who prefer an upscale look, the RoadID is available in a rather cosmopolitan leathe

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

CLICK HERE TO TELL US

WHAT STYLE PISTOL YOU

PREFER TO USE FOR 3-GUN

Written by Ja


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Watson Cruises to 3GN Heavy Metal Champions

BREAKOUT SEASON CA

BY 3GN DIVISION

In his rst year of widely participating on the national

Outlaw 3-gun circuit, DSG Arms Kuan Watson wassimply dominating in 3GNs Heavy Metal Division, goinga perfect four-for-four in Division matches to run awaywith the 2012 3GN Heavy Metal Championship.

Winning the 3GN Heavy Metal Championship is amilestone achievement to me; 2012 is the rst year thatI have been able to travel and compete in more than acouple of matches, Watson said. In the past, work hasprevented me from being able to travel and compete inthe major matches. I could make Rocky Mountain 3-GunChampionship and Texas Multigun Championship

because of their relatively close proximity. I was neverable to compete with the other shooters from aroundthe nation. I have had the opportunity to chase after theundeniable King of Heavy Metal, Patrick Kelley, but hewas absent from the division this season. My divisionchampionship tells me that I can be competitive andhold my own at any match that I attend.

Watson started o the 2012 campaign in dominatingfashion. At Midwest 3-Gun Championship he won everystage in the match, blasting the eld my more than 30percentage points.

The 2012 season was my rst big season to shoot3-gun, Watson said. In May I competed in theMidwest 3-Gun Championship in Missouri. It was myrst trip to that match and I had heard stories of badweather in the previous years. We ended up havingperfect weather for a match and I took my rst HeavyMetal division win.

In June, Watson again found himself in the winnerscircle at the inaugural He-Man Championship, a HeavyMetal and Heavy Metal Optics match put on by JP

Rocky Mountain 3-Gun match directors JJ and DeniseJohnson. A few weeks later Watson returned to NewMexico to repeat his performance at Rocky Mountain.

August turned into another trip to the NRA WhittingtonCenter for the 10th Annual JP Rocky Mountain 3-GunChampionship, Watson said. This time we had 15competitors in He-Man Iron. I was glad to see this,as competition in Heavy had been tapering o. Lastyears Heavy Metal Division Champion, Rob Romero of

the Noveske Shooting Team, was shooting again th

year, so I knew it was going to be a tough go of it. Itogether some very solid rie runs and pulled in mysecond Heavy Metal Division win. I better call it He-or JJ and Denise will be hunting me down!

After picking up a key win over Romero, Watsonnext faced o against Bryan Ray at the Ozark 3-GuChampionship. With the season nearly over, Ray stas the last competitor who might be able to challenWatsons remarkable season.

I was fortunate enough to be squadded with Sams

Bryan Ray, a Pro Series competitor, another top HeMetal competitor. We also had Jomar Villamor in ousquad, so that made for three of us who were shooHeavy Metal. Needless to say, we all had a great timsmacking steel with our .308s. Jomar took the honoof being the rst to break a steel target. That is notsomething that we try to do considering the cost oftargets and the hassle of repairs, but it is somethingthat will make you the center of attention for a whileOnce again my rie saved me on a few stages. Bryaestablished an early lead, but was a little rusty with heavy guns and I was able to squeak by for my thir

Heavy Metal Division win.

With the division already locked up, Watson closedout the season with an emphatic win at the Blue RidMountain 3-Gun in October. Watson won ve of ninstages on his way to a 90-point win over Joel Turnenewest addition to the U.S. AMU Shooting Team.

Watson won a lot in 2012. But for the law enforcemocer that got his start shooting in the shadow of tfamed Eddie Rhodes, one win on his way to a divistitle had more signicance this season that all the re

The win that stands out from the others is the one Rocky Mountain 3-Gun Championship, Watson saRM3G was my rst major match to compete in bacin 2005. A couple of shooting buddies told me abouthe match and that there was a division called He-MI owned a pump shotgun and a single-stack 1911, I borrowed an M14 and made the drive. I didnt dovery well, but I was hooked on the heavy guns! Whiat the match I met another He-Man shooter named



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PART 1 OF 2

GETTINGSPONSORED

Written by

Scott McGregor


41/108

Weve all been there at some point, your rst 3-gun match. In my

case, my rst experience with 3-gun was watching the 2004 DPM

Tri Gun Challenge at DPMS. Im sure some of you were there, and

for some of you, it may seem like a long time ago. I attended after an

invite from Randy Luth, founder of DPMS, after Randy and I had

met at one of the media shoots

day before SHOT in 2004.

attended to see what all fuss was about with 3-g

The most memorable pa

of watching the match,

rst everyone was very

approachable. Second, it

looked like a ton of fun. Third, some o

those folks could really shoot.

Little did I know, watching the match w

be a life-changing experience. A few yearlater 3-gun would take over my hobbies, I

would develop an entirely new circle of like-min

friends, and trips to the range would be on the sam

level of importance as going to work.

Everyone has their own story of how they became involved in shoot

3-gun, but weve all been faced with the realization of how 3-gun ca

be very costly! Ive heard a number of times, I need more ammo, ho

do I nd a sponsor? or I need a (ll in the blank), do you think they

sponsor me?

Certain Traits

and Skills Sets

Can Put Sponsor

Logos on Your

Shirt and its

Not All AboutPerformance!


42/108

My next question, what do you bring to the table

to pay for whatever it is a sponsor gives you. As

a shooter, there are some qualities you can work

on which will help you be more valuable to your

current or potential sponsors. Youre basically in

public relations and, indirectly, youre also in sales.

You may not take orders, but you can help answerquestions and you may be the rst impression a

customer sees of the sponsor.

Travis Gibson and I spend a bunch of time

together on the road and weve discussed the

topic of sponsors/shooters extensively. Being the

VP of MGM Targets, he gets hit up constantly for

sponsorships of some kind.

Why would a

company give a

shooter anything?

You might be

a good

shooter

or a good guy/girl, you may be very likable and

you may try real hard, but the real answer is to

sell product! Why would a company use their

valuable resources to give you gear or cash

sponsored shooter? Do you show the kind of

set/awareness which makes them believe you

be of value? What are the attributes they look when searching for a shooter to help promote

develop their product?

Bruce Piatt is arguably one of the most visible

the professional shooters. Hes been a sponso

shooter for 20-plus years. I asked Bruce if win

was the most important thing for his sponsors

his answer is indicative of what most compani

are looking for in a shooter. Not in my case,

said. My sponsors want me at matches, mixin

it up with the competitors and spectators. The

want people to have approachable access to

company representative.

Lets get this out there right nowif youre just looking for free stuff, you may get so

But if thats all youre looking for, it wont last long and youll gain the reputation o

being a taker. Listen to this, nothing is free, its basic business economics. Somewh

along the line someone had to pay for your free scope, glasses, gun, scope mount,

handguard, holster, belt, shell caddies, 3-gun case, hard case, shoes, mag pouches

ammo. If youve been around long enough, you learn help with expenses can be onethe best sponsorships you could be lucky enough to find.


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Obviously, the more you win, the more you draw attention from potential sponsors. But winning isnt t

only thing a company looks for.

Winning is important and of course any manufacturer would like to see their shooters win, but I woul

its more important for the shooter to promote the brand and always be professional, said Clint Upch

Colts Manufacturing sponsored shooter. This leads us back to some of the attributes Travis and I hav

put together. Lets see if you agree.

Social SkillsIn my business experience, Ive heard it said

the biggest cause of failure or success in the

workplace is due to a persons social skills. The

way you interact with others is very important.

Learn to listen, not just formulate what youre

going to say next when the other person stops

talking. Talk to everyone; if you see spectatorsat a match, be sure to talk with them, not just

other shooters. Keep a positive attitude; when

someone asks you how youre shooting, chances

are they dont really want to hear everything

you screwed up or could have done better.

Remember, there will be times when you dont

really have to say anything as well. Basically, just

be yourself, or if thats a bad thing, work on being

better!

IntegrityYour integrity is an extremely valuable attribute

when it comes to your reputation as a competitive

shooter. www.dictionary.com denes integrity

as, adherence to moral and ethical principles;

soundness of moral character; honesty. I dont

really think I need to go too deep into this one,

you either get it or you dont. Youre only as

good as your word; your reputation will precede

you.


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Shooting SkillShooting skill does actually play a part in your

looking for sponsors. You need to be working on

your skill set. You dont necessarily need to be

winning everything you enter, but you need to be

competitive on occasion. Once you get past your

local matches, the skill level of all competitors

increases dramatically. You need to continually

work on your shooting skill as well as the other

attributes which will make you attractive to

sponsors.

Product KnowledgeA basic knowledge of a companys product is

very important. If youre hitting up a company forsupport, do you know all about their products? If

you were at a match and were asked about the

product, could you tell them about it and direct

them where they could purchase the product?

Have you been to their website yourself? Could

you direct others there?

Approachability

One thing which often takes spectators and new

shooters by surprise is the approachability of the

pro shooters. I would venture to say most of

us have experienced this while at a major 3-gun

match. We all want to do well at a match, but how

do we carry ourselves when in between stages?

Ive seen top shooters

struggle to get away from

a well-meaning person

at a match who

just wants to talk.The best technique

Ive seen is to let the person know you need to

concentrate on shooting for a few minutes and

youll be available to talk more AFTER you sho

the stage. Sometimes folks dont know proper

match etiquette; they can learn if youll help po

it out. Dont be rude, but youre there to shoot

well as be a representative. Sometimes you ca

tell when someone wants to say something, bumay be shy or doesnt want to bother you. Say

hello, show them youre approachable. Watch

some of the shooters whove been around a w

handle the situation. You can very often make

spectator or newer shooters day just by talkin

with them.

VisibilityHow visible are you? How many matches does

your situation allow you to attend throughout t

year? Will you be attending local matches? Yo

might be well suited to look to a local gun shop

or manufacturer for sponsorship. Will you be

attending area matches or bigger matches wit

driving distance? Will you be traveling to atten

national level matches? How many matches

do you want to/get to shoot? A sponsor would

benet from you attending matches where the

a possibility of TV or editorial coverage. Are yoavailable to help them work trade shows such

the SHOT Show or the NRA Annual Meetings?

This could be an added value you can oer.

Media SkillsCan you answer questions if you were to be

interviewed? Interacting with the media is a skand doesnt come naturally to many people. T

next time you watch NASCAR, watch the drive

interviews. Dont let yourself think those guys

dont practice interviews just as much as runn

practice laps! Think about what youd say in an

interview. Are you familiar with social media? W

is your sphere of inuence?

Develop a 15 - 30 second

elevator speech.

Practice the speech in the

mirror so that you can see

what you look like, the

epressions you make, and

whether or not you are

smiling.


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AttitudeWhat kind of attitude do you project? Your attitude

will reect on you and your sponsors.

Good JudgmentOverall, use good judgment when youre at amatch. Dont lose your temper if you screw up a

stage. If you do, give yourself a minute to assess

where it went wrong and then get over it! When

youre out at night, whether at a match or a trade

show or just out to dinner, you still represent

yourself and your sponsors.

These are some of the traits Travis and I have

discussed regarding shooters and sponsors. I

next issue youll be hearing from Travis regard

some things on the sponsor side. Much of it w

the same, from the sponsor perspective.

As for me, Ive been very fortunate to have so

great sponsors. Representing FMG Publicatioallows me to work in and around the rearms

industry and to shoot competitively. There are

many folks who wouldnt agree when I say Im

Living the dream!

By all means, if you see Travis or mysea match, let us know if this is at all hel


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At 3-Gun Nation its probably no secret that we arefans of all things hard rock and heavy metal. If youveever tuned into an episode on NBC Sports Network, the

sound track of the show may have made you spill yourmorning coffee. Much like the sport of 3-Gun, heavymetal music makes our adrenalin flow and the fistspump.

Through a mutual friend, 3GN was introduced to PhilLabonte of the heavy metal group All that Remains.While we were already fans of ATR, we were excited tolearn about Labontes stance on the 2nd amendment,one of which he is very vocal about. Not afraid to speakhis mind, Labonte (known by his band mates as CaptainPolitics) frequently sounds off in his support of the 2ndAmendment in the music media. A very brave stanceindeed considering the music industry as a whole istypically anti-gun. We knew immediately we had a friendin Labonte.

As it turned out, Labonte was also a huge fan of 3-Guncompetition and 3-Gun Nation. As such, 3GN invitedLabonte to appear in the FNH USA Shooting Tipsportion of the program with host Mark Wills.

When it comes to music and stuff like thatyoure never done picking up tips whether it besinging or playing guitar, said Labonte. Youre

never done learning. When it comes to 3-Gunyou can always do things better, faster and youcan always be more accurate. I really enjoyedspending time on the range with the guys, and Ilearned a great deal about the sport and myselfas a shooter.

For more than a decade, All That Remainshas produced some awesome, head-bangingmusic. And its latest and sixth album is no exceptionA War You Cannot Win (released electionday) boasts 13 powerful tracks thatare not only hard and heavybut also melodicthroughout.Featuring trackssuch as Stand Up,Sing for Libertyand You Cant Fill myShadow, ATR drops thehammer once again andwill make your adrenalinflow and the fists pump.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ LABONTES OP-ED FOR ALTERNATIVE PRESS


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Tischauser Takes 3GN Heavy Metal Optics Championsh

STAG SHOOTER KNOCK

DEFENDING CHAMPION IN ROUTE TO

Stag Arms Jesse Tischauser declared way backat the beginning of the 2012 campaign that he was

going to win the 3GN Heavy Metal Optics DivisionChampionship. Then after a solid season, with oneimportant head-to-head match-up, along with a littlehelp, Tischauser did just that, knocking o 2011 HMOChampion Barry Dueck to claim this years crown.

The 3GN HMO race started back in March when FNHUSAs Erik Lund notched the rst win of the season atSuperstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun. Then in May,Tischauser squared o against SureFires Dueck at theMidwest 3-Gun Championship, in what would prove tobe the most important match of the season. Tischauser

edged out Dueck in a tight battle to take home his rstmajor 3-gun win.

The early victory at Midwest was huge, Tischausersaid. It was my rst time ever shooting Heavy Opti

was condent in my abilities but I really had no ideaI would do shooting against the defending champioI edged out Barry by less than one match point. Thaone point put me in the drivers seat for the rest of tseason and ended up being the deciding factor in trace for the championship.

Dueck bounced back in June with a big win at theever-challenging MGM Ironman. Meanwhile, Tischanotched another win of his own at the next 3GNDivisional match, the Northwest Multi-Gun ChallengThen in August, the two squared o again for the r

time since Midwest at the JP Rocky Mountain 3-Gu

However, thats when Tate Moots, a veteran 3-gunnand longtime HMO shooter, threw the race a curve by topping Dueck in a close contest. Unfortunatelyfor Dueck, who heads SureFires Suppressor DivisioRM3G marked one of only a few Divisional matcheswould be able to shoot in 2012 due to work deman

And letting tho100 points slaway would costly. Becau

in September,a match in which Duec

was forced to scratch,Tischauser was dominant

against a less-than-stacked on his way to his pivotal and clinching third match wof the season at the Ozark 3-Gun Championship. Dwould go on to pick up a win at the last match of thyear, Fallen Brethren 3-Gun, but it was too little tooas Tischauser took the title 300 to 299.21. JP Gang(234.99) nished third.

I have been a huge proponent of 3-Gun Nation fro



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the start, Tischauser said. So to come win a Division title and $5,000 really solidof the good things I have been telling shoabout the series. It means a lot to all of uhave great companies like Hornady puttithese big cash payouts. Five thousand dis the most money I have ever won, and every bit of it to pay for all of the extra gugear I had to buy for this division race.

For Tischauser, winning the HMO title me

basically competing in two full seasons wcompletely dierent gear. A member of thPro Series Tour, Tischauser was competiin Pro Series matches and qualied as thnumber 17th seed heading into the 2013Championship in Las Vegas. In the Pro She shot Tactical Optics gear all season, wswitching to the radically dierent, and echanging match-to-match, gear for HeavMetal Optics.

It denitely wasnt easy, Tischauser sai

Heavy Optics is the division with the movariations in equipment rules. I shot threedierent pistols, two dierent shotguns aone rie in the four matches where I shotOptics Division. My gunsmith, Mike Cyrw

Accurate Iron, deserves a big attaboy. Heme four new pistols this season so I coulthe best gun in my hands no matter howmatch rules read.

As for the actual shooting it wasnt as das I expected, Tischauser said. The He

Divisions are slower. Magazine capacity restricted, recoil is bigger, and everythingcarry is for lack of a better word, heavy. Swhile the equipment was reducing the spwhich I could perform, I found myself showith more accuracy and moving with moeciency. It translated directly over to animprovement in my long-range rie shoowhich was the weakest part of my game 2011. So not only did I fatten up my walleshooting Heavy Optics, I also improved maround game.

With a division title under his belt, Tischanow has his sights set the 3GN Champioin Las Vegas, along with an eye toward 2and what lies ahead for 3GN.I kind of like winning, Tischauser said. yes, I am already planning my return to thin 2013. I might try to do so in another disimply because I dont think anyone elsedone that before. I think next year I will trwin it all in Heavy Irons.


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AR15.com was originally started more than 16 years ago

as a mail list where those interested in discussing theAR-15 would send an email to the lists email address

and the mail server (back then a Unix Sun workstation

sitting in a closet) would then forward those emails to all

the subscribers.

Over the years, the mail list concept was replaced by

a website, the server replaced by a couple of racks full

of equipment and servers, and the closet replaced by a

dedicated hosting facility with redundant Internet service

providers, backup power supplies, and all the high-techhosting conveniences available today.

Through the years the number of participants has grown

from a handful subscribed to the original mailing list to

the several hundred thousand we have today. AR15.com

itself has grown to become the largest rearms-related

website in the world.

In 2011 AR15.com held the largest 3-gun competition

ever with the AR15.com-Rockcastle Pro-Am 3-Gun

Championship at the Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park

City, Kentucky.

This event featured 250 pro shooters, but in addition

added 250 amateur shooters shooting a second set of

eight challenging stages over the course of two and a

half days.

With points on the line for the 3-Gun Nation Tour, the

match was sold out almost immediately on both the pro

and amateur sides. Film crews from 3GN and ShootingUSA were on-hand, as were a handful of local media.

The prize table was the largest anywhere, and every

competitor walked o with a prize package at least equal

to their entry fee.

With the opportunity for amateur shooters to meet and

rub elbows with the pros, attend clinics with their idols,

and watch them shoot stages similar to what they

shooting next door, needless to say many of theseamateurs were immediately hooked and have sinc

become dedicated 3-gun competitors.

For their families, the Pro-Am featured support fro

NRA in the form of the 3-Gun Experience. A chanc

non-shooters to experience a simulated 3-gun cou

using .22 LR handguns and AR-style ries. Like an

addictive sport, all most shooters need is a chanc

try it. Then they realize 3-gun shooting is what sho

should always have beena fun and challenging wbecome increasingly procient with your rearms.

This year, the AR15.com-Rockcastle Pro-Am grew

again. Hosting the same 250 pro/250 amateur sho

but adding celebrity and disabled vets to the shoo

lineup caused some slowdowns during the weeke

As a result, the event is looking to grow in 2013 an

expand on the calendar as well as on the range. L

announcements soon on what will once again set

for the largest 3-gun event ever held.

With a chance to shoot with the pros, socialize wit

the leading names in the sport, shop the 3-gun ret

that help sponsor 3-gun, and overall challenge you

in what is quickly becoming the best shooting spo

around, make sure you keep your eyes open for th

AR15.com-Rockcastle Pro-Am 3-Gun Champions

registration when it opens early in 2013.

AR15 .com

Written by Edward Avila


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Until then, AR15.coms success in the online space is

manifesting itself in a brick-and-mortar retail location in

Farmington, NY.

With a soft opening later this month, this 10,000-square-

foot facility will feature a showroom full of tactical, self

defense, and competition rearms and gear from both

AR15.com as well as a large number of the big names

in the industry, including LaRue Tactical, Armalite, Stag

Arms, Trijicon, Nordic Components, AP Custom, Bedell

Customs and many more.

The goal is for this retail space to oer hands-on with the

gear, to be able to get gunsmith services for whatever

your needs, and to also oer training in rearms safety,

tactics and competition. Basically a one-stop destination

for the tactical shooter (forgive the use for the wor

it is easier than saying all non-hunting shooting n

such as self defense, training and practical compe

The retail location will oer supplies and accessori

outt the shooter and upgrade their rearms. Muc

the purpose of the Pro-Am, the new store will help

shooters get out and shoot and train more often a

as help get non-shooters involved in the sport.

With a grand opening scheduled for Spring 2013,

an eye out on the site for details of this event. In ad

AR15.com will be covering the SHOT Show in Jan

well as the Rumble on the Range in Las Vegas. Vis

3-Gun Nation forums on AR15.com for all the lates

and event coverage.


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Written by

Patrick Kelley


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The Perfect PitchPitch is rarely discussed but is important. In simple terms proper pitch

will have both the Heel (top) and Toe (bottom) of the butt (recoil pad)

fully planted into your shoulder pocket. Look over the photos and

recognize the angle of the recoil pad.

Here is a theoretical example.

We want to set up our shotgun to be red against a brick wall.

We want the least amount of muzzle movement under recoil while

shooting. To do that we would set the

pitch to zero so the recoil pad

would make full contact

with the wall (pad @ 90* =

perpendicular to the rib =

zero pitch).

This results in the barrel pointing downrange and parallel to the

ground. Now if you put that zero pitch recoil pad against the cu

of your shoulder, the gun will be pointing way high! If you lower

the barrel back to parallel with the ground you would only have

toe of the recoil pad touching your shoulder. Firing a quick pair

this conguration would not only have you in pain but also have

muzzle heading for the sky!

Why? Because the recoil impulse will close the gap between theheel of the recoil pad and your shoulder as it pivots on the toe o

recoil pad. Or the toe will slip down your shoulder, pivoting the m

upward between your hands. The reverse happens when more

is in contact with the shoulder. Is the light coming on? Too little

and the muzzle moves goes high, too much pitch and the muzz

moves down. You want a at shooting shotgun? Check your pit

KEEP

MINcast

length of pull

pitch

heel

toe

drop

cheek weld


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More Than Just A DropWe 3-gunners make changes to stock drop in order to have our eye in

line with our sights (single bead, real sights, what have you) to give us

the point of impact we desire. As you probably know, or have heard, your

eye (in absence of a rear sight) is your rear sight. Reducing the amount of drop

raises the Comb of the stock and your eye along with it, while increasing stock drop

lowers it. Consider drop as your elevation adjustment mechanism. We have discussed the

eects of pitch, but how does drop alter pitch? Many 3-gun suitable shotguns come with shims and or other drop adjustm

provisions. These adjustments create a pivot point at the receiver/stock junction. As you pivot the stock the angle of the b

(pitch) changes. An increase in drop lowers the stock and increases the pitch, as does the position of the recoil pad in rela

your shoulder up and down.

Changes in Drop will changa) The Pitch

b) Where the recoil pad is located on your should


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No Comb-Over HereThe comb on many 3-gun shotguns is a xed section on

the stock where we are supposed to maintain cheek weld.

We know that any change made to stock drop will also

shift the height of the comb. Additionally, any modication

to the LOP will alter the eective comb height. Looking

at the photos you can pick out several images where the

comb slopes downward from receiver to butt. Where you

place your cheek, and in turn your eye, changes the sight

picture. A change to LOP, longer or shorter, puts your

cheek in a dierent spot and again changes your sight

picture. Many shooters, out of need, shorten their stocks without

paying attention to the attendant change in eye placement.

A couple of the current popular 3-gun shotguns have a feature

borrowed from the clays game, height adjustable combs. Nearly all

Benellis and the new Remington Versa Max have interchangeable

comb inserts. If your favorite power tool is not so equipped, not to

worry, there are work-arounds. We discussed the comb as part of

drop, and equated it to an elevation adjustment for the rear sight.

As a stand alone piece, interchangeable comb inserts work to alter

elevation point of aim/point of impact (POA/POI) independently from

drop. Another feature is that they can be assembled in combination

with drop, to create a parallel comb. Again checking the photos

will see a raised Comb where the top surface is parallel with t

barrels rib. The advantage to this is, no matter where you mak

cheek weld along the Comb, your eye is in the same relative po

to the sights! This can be handy when shooting from dicult

positions when getting a consistent cheek weld is all but impos

Add to that, a parallel comb tends to slide along, rather than

your cheek under recoil (provided your pitch is set correctly).

Again, if your pellet-spreader didnt come with this feature a litt

snooping around in the Brownells catalog or by clicking the lin

you should get you want you need.

DETERMINE IF YOUR

STOCK DROP FITSYOU PERFECTLY,OR WHETHER IT IS

EITHER TOO HIGH ORTOO LOW FOR YOU

ATCHING INSTRUCTIONS:

he drop change kits are identied by letter. To ensure aorrect drop always match locking plates and shims thatave the same letters (e.g. C - CDX - DX or C - CSX - SX).

DX = Right Hand SX = Left Hand


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Cast Of Characters

Cast-on, cast-o. Nope, not a new shing device,

but rather an often over-looked but important

aspect of shotgun tting that can really improve

accuracy and speed.

Please refer to the photo showing cast. The

image shows the centerline of the barrel running

though the stock. Any oset in the stock from that

centerline is called cast. In a right-handed world

cast-o has the stock biased away the shooters

cheek (as seen in the photo). Cast-on would have

the stock pushing the right handers cheek away

from the center line and o of a good sight picture.

There are no absolutes in cast settings, but

generally some cast-o is needed by right- eyed

shooters in order to get their cheek and eye

squarely behind the sights. That is why youll nd

many factory shotguns set just so. While a thinly

faced righty might want a little cast-on to get that

good sight picture, a round faced fellow would

want more cast-o to receive the same benets.

Some of the popular 3-gun pellet slingers come

with adjustments for cast. However you can

eectively change cast without moving the stock

on shotguns not so equipped.

By simply adding or removing material from the

cheek-side of the comb you can achieve similar

results. As we discussed earlier drop lets you set

elevation. Now consider cast as your windage

adjustment mechanism.

A Fitting Tribute

As I have described, each of these terms has an associated adjus

capability. Each adjustment eects the way the gun reacts under r

or alters how you see your sights, where the sights are in relation

your eye and in large measure where your shotguns payload im

It is important to adjust each of these elements in a try and se

approach in order to receive the most benet.

My tting begins with LOP, and then I shoot slugs for zero

and pattern with shot. Using that info I know approximate

where my cheek needs to be to have my POA and POI m

I will then change stock settings of drop and cast (short

permanent alterations) and then test for recoil control an

comfort. If changes in pitch are needed to improve fast fo

up shots I will balance those with drop and comb height

Ill head back to the range to re-check zeros and then ret

my shop for ne tuning (including permanent alterationI love shooting my shotguns and in every instance I n

a good tting shotgun not only adds to my pleasure, b

points to my game.

See you on the range

The Power

Down and D

If you have only on

make it Light Mod

A 3 dram, 1-1/8 ou

of 7.5s will get you

most any match!

21 to 26 barrels

preferred but a 28

A magazine tube s

be long enough to

minimum, and don

about it sticking pa

muzzle!


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Leeper Defends 3GN Junior Title

Coming into the 2011 3GN season, there was somequestion over who the top junior was in the game. Therewas the remarkable Katie Harris, who after less than

a year in the sport went on an absolute tear last year.Jake Denno seriously stepped up his game last year aswell, an arc that continued into 2012 as Denno rackedup huge points in Open. Throw in Lena Miculek, of thefamed Miculek-Clark family tree of shooting, and 2012looked to be an exciting race for the honor of top 3GNJunior.

As good as all of these young shooters have proven tobe, in two years no junior has been as good as CodyLeeper. After a breakout season last year, Leeper wenton to defeat Jake Denno and JD Wilcox to win the

inaugural 3GN Junior Championship Shoot-O. Thenthe 17-year-old became the only junior shooter toqualify for the 3GN Pro Series this season. Finally, afterDenno broke out to a huge lead early this year, Leeperran him down to defend his 3GN Junior title.

It was very satisfying win, Leeper said. I was reallychallenged by Jake Denno this year and had to ght toovercome his scores and get on top in the beginning.Even then he is a strong competitor and was an ever-present threat to the title. Although winning the divisionoutright through matches might not have been as

suspenseful and exciting as the Shoot-O last year, itwas still a pleasing win.

Leepers achievement has not been without sacrice, asthe Emmett (Idaho) High School senior gave up all othersports to pursue his love of competition shooting. Theresults were impressive, as the junior shooter competedwith Pro Series competitors at the highest level on hisway to winning his second 3GN Junior crown.

I used to be a varsity athlete in football, wrestling atrack, and after giving all of those up to be a dedicashooter, it feels absolutely amazing to have it all pa

like it has, Leeper said. But I have to thank Colt, JShooter Magazine, Warne and FNH USA, becausewithout them I would not have had the year that I d

To maintain his 3GN Pro Series card, Leeper will haearn it back at the 3GN Pro Series Qualier in FebruWhile his scores were good enough to keep him inoutright, Leeper did miss a match that knocked hiscumulative score out of contention. However, Leephas big plans for next season, and for his future.

After such a great year this year, you can denitely

expect to see me at the Qualier to earn a spot bacamong the Pro Series shooters, Leeper said. I plato join the United States Air Force and become amechanical engineer, so this means I have one morseason left to put it all on the line before I join. Itsgoing to be all or nothing for me this coming seasoregardless of whether I qualify for the Pro Series or But you will see me branch out to limited (Tactical Iat the non Pro Series matches.



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3GN Lady Shoot-O Set

ALL-MICULEK FINAL POSSIBLE W

KAY AND DAUGHTER, LENA, QUALIFIED FOR LAS VEG

Four ladies will step under the lights and face o forthe title of 3-Gun Nation Ladies Champion, with thewinner taking home $5,000 from Hornady, during the3GN Championship in Las Vegas. Katie Harris, KayMiculek, Dianna Liedor and Lena Miculek qualied forthis top-four 3GN Lady Shoot-O. Harris, Kay Miculekand Liedor are all making return trips to the 3GN LadyChampionship.

As far as getting to the big show, Im looking forwardto it, said Liedor, of Team FNH USA. There was a lotof energy there last year and its exciting to get to be apart of it.

Harris comes into the Shoot-O and will square oagainst number four seeded Lena Miculek, who qualiesin only her rst year of competitive 3-gun. While Harrishas signicant experience in the 3GN Shoot-O format,falling in last years championship to Liedor in therst round, Miculek is obviously not a newcomer. Thedaughter of Jerry and Kay Miculek, her breakout season

is proof this should be an exciting rst round matThe remaining bracket is a rematch of last yearschampionship round, where Miculek outlasted Lion her way to winning the inaugural 3GN LadyChampionship. Each competitor has signicant SO experience, and few women have accomplishmuch in a shooting career as has Miculek.

Ive got a little score to settle with my friend KayLiedor said. So, yeah, Im excited for the rematI love Shoot-Os. They are really anyones gamegot a decent amount of experience with Shoot-Othrive in that format, so do I think I can win it all, yeah!

With Jerry Miculek in the 3GN Pro Series Shoot-Oall-Miculek Lady Shoot-O nal could set up quitmemorable night for the Cheaper Than Dirt! shoothe Miculeks should run the table, potentially $55could be headed back to Shootout Lane in Louis



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Three-gun competitions are often little more than

controlled mayhem. You never know what will go

wrong. From high winds, rai

Documents

3-Gun Nation Magazine Issue #1