MN3GunGroup has the 3-gun season starting

March 3rd, there will be a 3-gun match at SCAPSA in Clearwater.

March 17th, there will be a Tactical Shotgun match in Harris.

Now to get out and practice.

I'm in for SCAPSA without a doubt..... Less than 5 weeks out to the start of the 2012 season

Just bringing this back up for those that might be interested.

$25.00 entry with four courses of fire. Recommended that you bring 100 rounds for each weapon and 10 slugs just in case. Courses of fire have not be finalized yet and could change due to weather/snow conditions at the range that day.

Longest range for rifle is about 100 yrds on this range, but the course designers always have ways to make the shots challenging enough.

Myself and at least two others will be at the Clearwater Truck Plaza for breakfast at between 0630 - 0700 hrs. that morning prior to heading to the range to set up.

Where do I go to get info and maybe sign up?

I am on there web site but it says the match is march 5 and there are results posted so I am thinking it is from last year.

Info on the SCAPSA site is from last year. The most current info will usually be on the MN 3-gun Groups Facebook page. You don't need to sign up in advance, Just show up and be prepared to have a good time.

At around 0730 hrs., someone usually puts up cardboard IPSC targets with arrows pointing the direction to the range. Go South from the Hwy. 24 exit off I- 94. You should see the targets starting at the first intersection south of I-94. Or check the web site for better directions and a map to their location.

Show up and have a good time. For first time competitors a quick note on safety is added. We have a very relaxed shooting atmosphere but we do take firearms safety very seriously. Take your unloaded and bagged handgun to a marked safety area to holster up. Long guns, lock the action back and keep bagged or placed on gun cart. If you have questions, please ask.

Cold Range rules here.

THIS IS A COLD RANGE, there is to be no gun handling anywhere except under the direct supervision of a range officer or at the designated safety area. No ammo may be handled in the safety area. A match DQ will result from handling ammo in the safety area.

SAFETY: Most of the stages here are freestyle. We try very hard to not give you an opportunity to break the 180, but nothing is ever going to be 100%, so watch yourself. Same goes for keeping your rounds on the range – if you launch one over a berm you’ll earn yourself a match DQ.

What time does it start and how long will it go?

Set-up starts at 0730 hrs. if you choose to assist. Sign in starts at 0930 hrs. and shooting begins at 1000 hrs.

Due to the unknown weather on that date, I am guessing most of the four courses will be fairly short and fast. Best guess on ending time is around 1500 hrs. with tear-down.

On a couple of the courses of fire there will be some new and interesting steel targets put out by MFR Metals in Rogers MN. I purchased these for my own use but am using them in my courses of fire just to see how well they take the beating.

Looking forward to seeing the targets from MFR. We are looking at them as one of the possible vendors to get our range set up with some good steel. Their prices sure seem good.

Thanks for the info. Weather permitting I will be there. I have about a 2 hour drive that morning so I probably wont make it to set up but will be happy to help take down. This will be my first 3gun, and I am really looking forward to it.

Well going off the 10 day forecast, 50 degrees and sunny doesn't look very likely, but hope to see you there anyways. We'll be doing a 2 hour drive to get there as well. The last 3-gun I went to was early December and had about the same conditions. If you dress for accordingly it won't bother you. If you can keep your feet, head and hands warm you'll be GTG. Do a base layer with a good set of thermals and wool over poly-propylene socks. Wear a good set of boots, they may be a little slower to run in, but personally I go to have fun, not to have numb toes all day. Lower torso: I just wear compression thermals, and loose thermals under my regular pants. Upper torso: Compression thermals and loose thermals, with a warm jacket that I take off when it's my turn to shoot. You don't want to be so bundled up you can't get to your gear

Couple other things that may help. Those cheap little shake up disposable hand warmers are your friend, you would be amazed at what a few in your pockets can do to keep your core temp up. Another tip I got from Payne that works great is to use one of those hand-warmer/muff deals that strap around your waist to help keep your hands warm. When your not shooting, you should also help with pasting and re-setting targets, this will keep you moving and warm as well. Being a new shooter they will put you towards the rear of your squad, so the extra time you get to spend helping re-set targets, will give you a chance to see what works for others and for you to put together your own game plan.

If anyone out there has questions.....post em' up. 6 days to the match.

Any one in Maplewood/twin cities wanna carpool??

Just a few things for people attending this shoot to consider. The following is a list of skills that I know will be tested at this shoot based on the courses of fire that are drawn up.

1. You will be running (not very far) with a holstered pistol. Make sure you are using something that is secure.
2. You will be shooting targets with shotgun and rifle from both right and left shoulder with a reload of that weapon mixed in. Take the time and dryfire practice safely making the transition from one shoulder to the other without accidentally touching the trigger of the weapon.
3. You will be required to shoot both right and left handed supported with your handgun. Again, practice the safe transition.
4. There may be some 80-90 yard offhand rifle targets. The targets are large, but can still become difficult if you have to hold the weapon up for a good length of time. Practice holding a perfect sight picture on a small dot or object for as long as you can, and you will see what I mean.
5. Shotgun reloading. There may not be a lot, but you will be required to reload your shotgun on the clock. Try to figure a way to have extra shells on your person either in some sort of shell holder, or even cargo pockets.
6. Weapon transitions. You will be required to shoot one weapon, then transition to another weapon by abandoning the first weapon. Every abandoned weapon must be completely empty when abandoned. By that I mean you will shoot your shotgun dry, the rifle will have the magazine removed THEN the chamber cleared (you don't need to lock the bolt back), and the handgun will have magazine removed THEN chamber cleared.
7. Slings are not needed, and are actually frowned upon. The reason is safety. Slings have been known to yank a pistol out of the holster during a course of fire. At this match at least, you will not be required to carry one long gun while using another weapon.

Targets for Handgun will consist of paper IPSC silhouette targets, steel plates, and steel pepper poppers. Shotgun targets will be stationary clays in holders, steel plates on stands, and pepper poppers. Rifle targets will be paper IPSC sihouette targets and 2/3 size IPSC steel plates on stands that both ring like a bell and move when hit.

The rifle steel targets (a good portion provided by MFR Metals) are armor plate but can still be damaged by "steel core" bullets. As some of these targets are my personal targets, I ask that everyone take the time to use a magnet on the bullet of your choice. If the magnet sticks to the bullet (not the case), you will not be allowed to use that ammo on the steel targets. We will try to work out an alternative. The steel plates are also armor steel but can not be shot with shotgun slugs or steel shot. All shotgun ammo must be lead shot only! Steel shot can bounce back off of steel plates and be a hazard.

There will be a Range Officer (RO) right next to you while you run the courses of fire. We will coach you through the course if you are new, and we will make sure you take the time to do things safely. No one at this match will receive a new Ford truck for winning. We are all here to have a good time only, and the RO's will try to make it so that you are safe and will want to come back and try the sport again.

If for some reason you are not able to shoot a weapon from your right/left hand, or right/left shoulder. You can still run the course of fire, you will just be assessed a time penalty to your score.

Thanks Payne

Had a blast, fun and challenging stages, especially the off hand shotgun. Look forward to shooting with you again soon.
MN3Gun group does a great job as usual.
Take care
Dave

Great job guys. I had a blast. Looking forward to the next one already.

Just a quick note to everyone that showed for the match. Thanks for coming out! Who would have thought the turnout would have been so high. 56 shooters I think.

Squad #1, thanks for working so hard resetting the stages for each shooter. A bunch of you assisted with set-up and tear down also, that is very much appreciated.

I would like a little input from the shooters. I had set up stages #1 and #3. On stage #1 I put the little 5" steel target at the back of the pepper poppers (about 17 yrds), what did you think? I knew it would be a challenging target, but for the most part everyone in Squad #1 hit it and the confidence boost it gave was amazing to see. On stage #3 the steel plates were my personal targets, did you like them? As far as that course of fire goes, I had hoped it was challenging for everyone but didn't want it to beat anyone down too much. Rest assured you won't find that much weak hand shooting at any other match in the country.

Stage #4, the steel rifle targets and the spinner were mine. I know the spinner can be a real brain tease, but how did you like the steel silhouettes?

I ask for response on those specific targets because I had purchased them from MFR Metals from Rogers MN. I think they have a great product at a very fair price. I would like to give them a little feedback from the shoot.

Thanks again for comiing out.

Dave - It was great shooting with you again. Good job! It is amazing the things you learn at these matches and how they carry over to the work enviornment.

I had a great time again, and shot a lot better than I thought I would. I liked all the stages and challenges they presented. I think I tend to get sloppy shooting the big silhouettes, so it's good to have some targets requiring precision.

The steel targets were all fun to shoot and looked like they worked well. Those tripod bases stayed up better than I expected, I think I saw one fall only once or twice. The steel silhouettes were about the right size for a good offhand rifle challenge, I missed a couple rounds.

Now for my question, how can I practice shooting a spinner at home? Is there something low budget that could simulate the same weight, etc? I couldn't remember the rules on shot size, so maybe I should try a hotter shell with heavier shot. Do they make something that holds together better in a 4 or 6? I don't hunt birds, so this is out of my area of knowledge.

EDIT: I really need to send out my barrel for chokes, but don't want to sink money into this M3. Would rather replace with an M2 eventually.

Otherwise, thanks for a good match, I had a great time and will be out again.

The spinner is a booger with any weapon. I see Federal is starting to make heavy upland game loads that are lead shot from what I understand, but they come with a Flight Control Wad. I will be stocking up on those in the future if they do start getting made. Otherwise I know of people that have used buckshot on these and had good results. A tighter choke is probably the best thing to use. I was using 1235 fps 8 shot and go it spinning but I used a Light Mod choke.

MGM Ironman 3-gun (MGM makes these targets) uses these targets at 100 yrds. for rifle, 85 yrds. for slugs, 20 yrds for handgun, and about 15 yrds for shotgun. It is a good target to get to know how to shoot it. I think they will be more popular at major shoots this year.

They have a new target out now called the "propeller plate rack" or something like that. It is basically a plate rack with steel plates on the top and bottom, with a pivot point in the middle. Hit one plate and the entire rack is thrown off balance, causing the rest of the plates to be more difficult to hit as they spin like a propeller. If you check "youtube" for "Polish Plate Rack" you will see what I mean. I wish I could afford one.

Sorry I couldnt help tear down, as it was I made it home with just enough time to grab my gear and get to work on time.

I liked the courses, some were fast and close, the others like Stage 2 had some techical rifle with the small gongs. I liked the off hand shooting, great way to work on some "out of your comfort zone" shooting. I am always a fan of technical handgun shooting so the 5inch on stage 1 was fine by me. I like the spinner, never that great at them and like the practice when they are at other matches. I also like the paper shooting with the rifle, at the last matches I was at all rifle was steel so it was fun to do some close rifle work with speed. I am going to check out the steel target company and may pick some up for my practice.

I had a great time and looking forward to the next one in April, I think Ill be able to bring some of the guys too.

Great work again, it was a blast,
Dave

Are there any results posted any where?

If you want to PM me your e-mail address. I can send you an excel doc with the results.

IM sent. Thanks

You can also email Jay from the mn 3 gun group websit and he can add you to the list. Looking forward to the next match at Mntka.

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