3 Gun Shoots

[Nemo]

much like cowboy shooting.  4 gun, lever rifle, 2 single action pistols and shotgun.

Good article on drills and training. 

Nemo


http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/drills-3-gun-shooters/

Drills for 3 Gun Shooters

By Bob Campbell published on January 24, 2019 in How To, Safety and Training   

I have been shooting, training, and training others for a very long time. I am not a top competitor at 3 Gun. However, I recognize 3 Gun as a lot of fun for those that love to shoot. A love of shooting must come first. Next, you may have a desire to compete for the sake of it. 3 Gun is a great thing for this. As an instructor, I recognize what it takes to win, and I hope these lines will help you to get started and be competitive. I am looking forward to comments from 3 gun shooters. I hope that they will add to my knowledge as well as yours.

Speed loading a new magazine into a pistol

Be certain to get rapid magazine changes down pat before proceeding to competition.

Before you begin shooting, you have to understand that the baseline is that you must be skilled in the basics of shooting. You must be able to shoot well. You must be able to shoot safely. Get this squared away and start training. Remember, poor training will result in the waste of a lot of ammunition. If you cannot afford to take a top-rated training class, well, you are in the same boat as a lot of people. Some have the time but not the money and others vice versa. Purchase a DVD from someone who has actually won at 3 gun (more than once). OK, who really watches DVDs these days? However, there are some really great videos online, but you still need a trustworthy source. The Personal Defense Network tops the list for many.

As for training, I have won a string of combat-style matches and handgun silhouette. I was firing a minimum of 500 rounds a week in practice. This is a small amount compared to what competitors fire to stay on top today. When other demands including a job, family, and education intervened, I toppled from the top spot.

Commit to the program and realize that it will be three to five months before you see significant improvement. Firearms skills are perishable. You will improve with time and you will reach a plateau. After that, it will take more work to get to the top. Dry fire is essential. Practice handling, speed loads, dry fire, and trigger press. These drills will improve your gunhandling. Gunhandling is more important than marksmanship in some competitions. The marksmanship problem isn’t as severe as the speed problem.
handgun during recoil with a spent casing in the air

Being competitive demands a lot of practice and ammunition.
Pistol Handling

The following are good training sessions, beginning with the handgun.
The Draw

Draw – Ten times from the competition holster.

Draw, re-holster, draw – Do not look at the holster as you draw and re-holster.
Dry Fire

As with all gun handling, start with a triple checked unloaded firearm and a backstop that would stop a bullet. Focus on a bright orange target on the backstop. Execute 10 good trigger compressions. Next, execute 10 reloads from slide lock. If you use snap caps, Lyman has new ones, this will go much easier.
Shotguns
Bob Campbell shooting a shotgun quickly

Running the shotgun takes plenty of practice.

Practice loading the shotgun with fake shells. Load two, load one, load a full gun load. Load the shotgun and move into the firing position. Load it with one shell or two and then move into the firing position. Keep practicing and do not be a robot but mix up the number of shells loaded. Practice working the action. When space allows practice quickly moving forward and to the rear quickly. Take long sliding steps so that you do not trip and fall on objects behind you.
Rifle Drills

Begin with the muzzle down, from a triple-checked empty chamber. Practice shouldering the rifle and acquiring the sights quickly. Shoulder the rifle and find the sights 10 times. Next, shoulder the rifle and dry fire the piece 10 times. You need not use an empty magazine, this drill is easier if the magazine isn’t in place and the bolt doesn’t lock back.
Locked two handed grip shooting a pistol

The 9mm is a good choice for 3 Gun- control and practical accuracy are excellent. The 9mm is a good choice for 3 Gun- control and practical accuracy are excellent.

Next, do a barricade drill, shouldering the rifle and dry firing from the right side of the barricade (or corner wall) and then the left side. This is good preparation for 3-gun competition. As you progress, there are other drills. You should move and pivot to address targets at all angles.

These dry fire drills will be a solid foundation for 3 gun shooting. Keep safety first as you progress to live fire, and pay attention to the basics.
Where are the 3 Gunners out there? Share in the wealth and spread a little knowledge about your best 3-gun drills, tips, or tactics in the comment section.