Which shotgun for 3 gun

This refers to how the shotgun cycles rounds through the chamber. With gas-operated shotguns, the gun uses a portion of gasses from the cartridge being fired to cycle the bolt carrier to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge.

With inertia-operated shotguns, the gun uses the recoil of the shotgun to cycle the bolt carrier. So, from a shooters perspective, gas operated shotguns such as the Mossberg JM and Beretta tend to cycle faster, recoil less and will run lighter loads. Where the inertia shotguns such as the Stoeger M and Benelli M2 tend to need heavier loads, cycle slower and have more felt recoil.

As it appears above, the gas shotguns are the way to go. So, you might ask why the inertia shotguns are so popular. The answer comes down to reliability and maintenance. With a gas shotgun, the shooter must make sure the gas rings are up to the task and they also tend to malfunction more than the inertia guns when dirty.

As we talk about reliability, bear a few things in mind. First of all, 3-gunners run their shotguns HARD. We often stretch the limits of what these guns were built to handle. Also, shotgun ammunition has the loosest tolerances of all types of ammunition, by far. Not only will you have different sizes of shot shells literally different lengths and diameters from one manufacturer to the next making the exact same round , we use our shotgun to shoot birdshot, buckshot and slugs, sometimes all in the same stage.

Consequently, 3-gunners are likely to experience shotgun malfunctions. After narrowing the budget down and learning a little about the operating systems of the auto-loaders and what to expect in regard to reliability, the next mitigating factor is the availability of aftermarket accessories. However, most often, you will at least want to add a magazine extension. Another potential addition would be a rear sight to aid in slug accuracy. The DIVA with the highest combined scores. HOA will become our first.

We teach you how to improve! Good Eye and Ear Protection Required Ear muffs or molded ear protection recommended Bring your own sturdy belt to carry holster and magazine pouch Sunscreen — We will be in the sun much of the time. Please do not bring your own firearms or ammo. This clinic is not for beginners who have never shot any firearms. In general, look for 3-Gun or multi-gun matches and find the one closest to you. Most competitions use some variation of these rules, but be sure to read any association or club-specific rules before competing.

These rules exist to keep the competitions safe and fair for everyone so you need to respect them. The three big expenses are the pistol, rifle and shotgun. I strongly recommend something like a Safariland or Bladetech belt rig for this type of stuff as that will help you as you grow and develop as a shooter, but a cheapo chest rig will work too. Many manufacturers are supporting the hobby with good, entry-level and budget-friendly firearms and other pieces of gear, and the community of shooters that make up most 3-Gun matches are friendly and welcoming.

What do you think about 3-Gun shooting? Interested in trying it out? Let us hear from you!