I'm a 19 year old kid that is wanted to get into 3-Gun. Where do I start? What do i need? and how exactly do I practice for it besides just going out and putting rounds down range?

Thanks.

Shameless plug... I wrote a book on the subject,, the only book on the subject,,

Do you have any local 3 gun matches??

If so attend them,, go slow ask questions, and watch the good 3 gunners and learn.

Matt Burkett videos ,,, "how to practice" that will help you in all of your shooting of any type.

Shoot what you have. That is if you have all 3. Show up to local matches and participate. You will figure out what best fits your needs as you shoot.

I practice at my clubs action pistol area. I use a timer. The timer shows me where i need improvement and keeps me practicing the same way i compete. I set up different drills for speed, accuracy and movement. I try to practice with at least one gun a week.

I practice drawing, dry fire and shottie reloading at home.

Shooting in other matches helps. like steel challenge, uspsa pistol, practical rifle, etc.

Some of the videos like the ones in the 3 gun nation link at the top of the page can be helpful.

At some point in practicing you will have to start putting rounds down range.

Shotgun reloading is one notable exception. A few hours a week for a couple of months and you will be on par with the pack. Practice every night and you will start getting faster.

Shotgun used to be my weakest discipline by far. The last somewhat major match that I shot, there was a woods walk shotgun stage where I finished something like 5th overall. The rest of my stages didn't go nearly so well. I shot that stage well because I had a good plan with no wasted time and every time I was moving I was loading and I finished with one shell left in the gun just as I had planned. No misses and nothing went wrong, and I didn't drop half a dozen shells.


Learning how to plan to shoot a stage, and keeping your plan going with the stress/adrenaline/mistakes that will inevitably occur is one of the biggest steps to placing well. Myself, I like to compete. Shooting is fun but I want to win.... so I game stages out.


Another element of practice with a low round count is position shooting with your rifle. At some point you will be forced to shoot with your rifle canted at some obscene angle while kneeling behind barrels and barricades that are the wrong height for you to brace off of. Learning how to quickly adopt a stable shooting position is important to not mucking up technical rifle stages.

Learning how to pace yourself based on the targets is important too. It is difficult once the adrenaline is flowing, to go from hosing down a bunch of close range rifle targets, and then drawing and trying to shoot some long range pistol steel. Shooting within yourself and learning how to focus on the fundamentals, and mostly just stay calm is paramount.


The biggest thing for a first match is to not be overwhelmed. Safety is paramount, the rest is just shooting stuff... and shooting stuff is fun right?


Also: You will come to love Texas Stars, if you pay attention for 10 seconds you will see they are little more than another plate rack.

I was just watching that video...I need help and inspiration with my shotgun loadings

AMU video

Noveske video

When it come to loading, shooting (and hitting the target), and all aspects of the 3 gun game make sure you can do it slow and safely before your try to go fast. Learn to hit a 15 yards pistol target in the A standing still, firing one shot at a time, before you try to run past and double tap it.

Speed will come with practice...remember this: You cannot miss fast enough to win