3 Gun Match, signed up for my first!

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Pretty stoked, signed up for my first 3 gun match! It was $300, kind of pricey I think. BUT, it's a "zombie" shoot, 15 total stages including one machine gun stage (ammo included!). Last year was it's first year, and the prize table was close to $200,000. Hornady is a MAJOR sponsor because the have a factory in Grand Island, NE. Here is a link to the info on the shoot. http://www.zombiesintheheartland.com/ I'm so stoked it's ridiculous. Has anyone ever done some 3 gun matches? If you have (or haven't) do you have any tips? I'm not going to buy a chest rig or anything to carry mags. I think I'll try my hand at making some kydex mag holders for my belt that will carry mags for my AR and my GLOCK 19. Here are some pictures of what I will be using.

My .223 Specs:
-PSA Lower
-PSA Mil-Spec LPK
-MOE stock
-PSA Upper w/ 16" Chrome lined barrel -1:7" twist, carbine gas system.
-Core 15 Charge handle with Large latch
-RedXArms BCG
-Troy 13" Free Float Bravo Rail
-1-4x Leupold scope

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Glock 19 specs:
-Glock 17rd mags
-Custom Kydex holster
-I may add 10-8 performance sights, not sure yet.

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(said kydex holster is in the background)

Benelli Nova Tactical:
-18.5" Barrel
-Rifle Sights (may switch to ghost rings)
-Mag extension (holds 6+1) I may take it off so it is 4+1 so I don't have to shoot in the Tactical division. Yay or nay?
-Hopefully I will be sending off the barrel to get threaded for use with chokes-- if it works out I'll be using a Dead Coyote choke.

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There are some things I was hoping to add to the weapons before the shoot, but since it was a $300 entry fee they will probably be put on a back burner. Those being: 10-8 performance sights for my glock, CMMG 22LR conversion kit for my AR so I can get cheap practice in, and a Geiselle SSA trigger for my AR.
 

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
i really like your ar, mind if i pm about specs and stuff? also i've been trying to find that color glock in a 26c or 19 its awesome!
 

NismoFire

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna, TN
Seriously, though, don't try to fly through the stages...accuracy first, THEN speed. If they're score like IDPA, then you definitely want to make every round count.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
i really like your ar, mind if i pm about specs and stuff? also i've been trying to find that color glock in a 26c or 19 its awesome!

PM away man! And yeah, I love that glock. I'm looking for a 17 with that color but it pry won't happen.

Nismo- definitely something I need to remember. Having never done 3 gun before I don't know how I will act in the moment, but I know when hunting I force myself to slow down for follow up shots and when I do the outcome is much better! Speed is fine, accuracy is final. As for scoring, I would have to double check on if they score like idpa or not. I do know that a missed target is +5 seconds and not engaging a target is +10 so 2 more seconds to get a good shot is better than popping off rounds and not hitting targets and getting huge penalties.
 

gamecock257

Skid Plates
Location
Clinton, SC
I'm jealous, I'd love to do something like 3 gun for fun.

I have a nova tactical too and really like the factory ghost rings, quicker than you'd think and came pretty accurate for me.

Looks like all 3 of your guns are quality, so I'd focus on how you're going to carry mags and ammo. If you have no malfunctions loading your AR and Glock will be super quick and easy. However jt does happen. Make sure you know them backwards and forwards so you can identify problems (if you have any) and fix them quickly. On the other hand I wouldn't expect any problems with the nova tactical unless you short stroke it under stress. But loading a shotgun quickly takes a lot of practice, so maybe focus on that.

Either way good luck! And be sure to let us know how you do.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Does anyone have any input on how to carry mags? I'll be using 17rd glock mags and 30rd Pmags. I think with that I should be okay carrying one spare of each on me while running a stage, so I'm looking at something like this...

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which would run me around $35-$40. Which makes me think perhaps I should try my own hand at making them? I mean, knifekits.com has everything I would need to do it for right at about $100, but with the kydex purchased I could make multiple mag holders, and eventually other things. (I would make my own press to save money.) I have read other places to not buy too much gear for 3 gun until you've done it and know what you need and what will work best for you, so a kydex mag pouch like the one pictured seems the most simple/easy way to go. Thoughts?
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Also, any suggestions for shot shell holders? I don't feel the mesh stretchy buttstock things will work so well as the shotshells don't pull out of there too easy.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Okay, yet another dilemma. I'd like to video the match first person-- how would you guys go about doing so? I would love to be able to somehow use my iphone, but if not I may consider a contour camera or something.
 

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
You could do the Swann video camera that Jason posted a review on. It's cheaper than a go pro. Someone else posted up first person video of them shooting their shotgun so you might check that out for mounting ideas.
 

gamecock257

Skid Plates
Location
Clinton, SC
Also, any suggestions for shot shell holders? I don't feel the mesh stretchy buttstock things will work so well as the shotshells don't pull out of there too easy.

Somebody, Mesa tactical maybe? makes a plastic 4 shell carrier that you could Velcro to the left side of your receiver. Also you could get one of the things you put on your belt that holds 4 shells, you pull them all out at once and then load.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Figured I would update this. The Nova Tactical does not come threaded for chokes, so I will be sending it off to Carlson's Choke Tubes in Atwood, KS to get that done. Looks like it will be $150 for the work and 3 choke tubes of my choice. I'm gonna get extended tubes- full, modified, and improved. Those should cover all my shotgun needs as it will be mainly for coyote/turkey hunting and some 3 gun matches if I get in to it. Was hesistant to put the money into my shotgun, but I sold my Stoeger 2000 with 28" barrel so I figure I will keep this Benelli forever and make it my all around shotgun (until I can get an SBE2). I think I'm going to order two of those shotshell holders ^^ but first I'm going to try making a couple out of Kydex. Which brings me to my next things. I'm gonna get set up to do some kydex stuff like mag holders and holsters, so I can make things exactly how I want them and its gonna run me $90 to get everything to do it and a single mag holder is like $40 so i figured it would pay off quickly.

Talked to my dad and looks like he is going to do the shoot with me. He has an AR, but its a 90's colt 20" HBAR with carry handle and 3-9 scope, so he is having me build him another AR. Here is the list of components, I'll update with pictures later.

PSA stripped lower
PSA Lower build kit
PSA complete upper
PSA 16" chrime lined gov't profile barrel 1:7" twist
PSA M-16 BCG
Magpul MOE FDE stock
Ergo suregrip Pistol grip FDE
BCM/Vltor MOD 4 charge handle
Troy 13" Battlerail Bravo FDE

He is unsure yet on vert grip or not, and not 100% on an optic. However, I believe he is going to go for a Trijicon Acog TA31 with the green donut and BDC.... can you say I'm jealous? I'll throw pics up when I get everything in and document the process of putting it together. BTW the other weapons he will be using are his Benelli SBE2 and his H&K USPc 40.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Also today I decided to paint some Pmags so they stand out from the rest of the pack. Here are a few pics of the process. Overall I'm happy with how they turned out!

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jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
I'm thinking about painting my 30 rounders OD. I just ordered a couple more today...

It was pretty fun. I'm gonna paint a few more differently I just haven't decided yet. I want to paint my shotgun so I figured I would practice on some mags. Ill probably make some stencils and try my hand at multicam or something.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Some updates for anyone that might be watching this:

I sent my shotgun barrel off to get it threaded for the use of chokes to carlsons choke tubes in Kansas. I've heard nothing but great things about them. I decided to do so after I failed to knock over steel silhouette targets at 30 yds with 8 shot. (It will have no issue with a full choke in doing that, which is the max distance I will have to shoot my shotgun). I used some 5.56 XM193 from Walmart on the same targets and successfully punched a couple holes in the steel (oops).

I have enough ammo to do the shoot but decided to buy .223 that they are making available to the shooters so I don't take much from my supply. At .65 cents/round for Hornady stuff I figured it was a good deal.

There are still spots open for anyone interested! The prize table topped $166k (with a max of 300 shooters) and most of the prizes are given out at random.

I also installed a free float rail on my dads upper. We got the whole thing built but I don't have photos of the finished product. I did take pictures for a mini how-to for installing the rail:

Take off the existing hand guard and flash hider/comp. After that grab some steel punches, a BFH, an your old trig book.

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They are taper pins so make sure you hit the correct side! Whack the crap out of them! you wont hurt anything. Once you get them started they come out easy. There is also a roll pin that holds in the gas tube to the gas block, it does NOT need as much force as the roll pins. Put the two taper pins and one roll pin in a bag so you don't lose them.

Use the BFH to tap the FSB off of the barrel. It usually just needs a little nudge to get it going. (Be sure not to twist it and bend the gas tube!) The FSB and handguard retainer should come right off and the gas tube will pull right out.

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Next is cutting off the delta ring removing the spring and retainer. Wrap up your barrel and upper receiver so you don't scratch it or gettin shavings in nooks and crannies. Use a dremel with cutoff wheel to make cuts in the delta ring- make sure to make cuts where you won't hit the barrel nut! Cut down to the spring on each side, and use a flathead screwdriver to pry off the delta ring.

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Yay!

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I use vice grips and man power to twist/pull of the spring and retainer.

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Boom.
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After that it is trimming the FSB with a dremel, reinstalling it and painting it. (Don't forget to install the gas tube!)

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Lastly is the rail. The troy battlerail series all will be the same, but others may differ from this. There are four Allen head bolts and four funky nuts. Get the bolts started into the nuts.

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Slide the tube over the GB. There is a piece of the rail that had to slide over a notch in the barrel nut. Once past that rotate the rail til it is on perfectly straight. I used my carry handle to hold it perfect. Then tighten down the bolts evenly! You will end up with something like this:

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It's a VERY nice rail for a great price. I tried twisting it and moving it and it didn't budge. I would trust this rail on a duty gun, and has been proven by many others as capable of doing so. If anyone had questions about the rail or where I got it let me know!
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
and here is part two

[video=youtube_share;NUo1aVP6D5Y]http://youtu.be/NUo1aVP6D5Y[/video]

I did alright for my first one. I know now what gear I want/need to help my times, and will be looking for some local matches to do to work out kinks for next year. The prize table was ridiculous. Probably 80 guns were given out, some cross bows, infared vision, all sorts of ridiculous stuff.
 

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Yeah everyone got prizes. Didn't place in the top three but ended up with a huge midway usa range back that will be very useful, a pistol range bag, a camelback, and some camo under armor pants (that are too small). It was a great weekend and I'm HOOKED on 3gun. Now if only I could graduate and get a real job then I could get into it more.
 
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