IPSC THREE  GUN  MATCH

If you are up to the ultimate challenge, then this match is just for you.

To compete with any one of the three firearms and do well is not easy, but to have your pistol, rifle and shotgun all functioning perfectly, ammunition absolutely right, gun handling skills beyond reproach and knowing the zero of whatever firearm you are using for that particular stage, calls for considerable self discipline.

It is not cheap!  But I will outline the various options or classes that we shoot in New Zealand.

First of all, we must remember that our parent body, Pistol NZ, have negotiated long and hard with the authorities over many years to allow this sport to happen.  There are many misguided souls in various circles of our society who firmly believe (in their ignorance) that semi-auto rifles should be totally banned and indeed some countries have done just that.

PNZ have adopted IPSC rules, out of the number of variants that exist, so that we base our 3 gun rules on IPSC, but in order to attract new competitors, a couple of other classes are now included, namely tactical and heavy metal.  This sport is huge in USA where, of course, the whole concept originates. 

Here in NZ we simply do not have the numbers to allow too many specifics, so in the Kiwi way, we improvise and still enjoy.

I will give a brief outline of what the classes require:

IPSC Open

• Rifle is major or minor, scoped, comped, bipod etc.
• Pistol is the normal open specs
• Shotgun allows comps, whatever sights, speed loaders and larger mag tubes

IPSC Standard

• Rifle is major or minor, with no scope or electronic sights, comp. or bipod
• Pistol is the normal standard specs
• Shotgun is 7+1 capacity with no electronic or scope sights or comp. and no speed loaders

Tactical

• Rifle is major or minor with one scope or electronic sight, no bipod, comp. of a particular size is allowed.
• Pistol is the normal standard specs
• Shotgun is 7+1 capacity with no electronic or scope sights or comp and no speed loaders

Heavy Metal

Whilst overseas there are stringent requirements for what you may use in this class, in NZ we hope it may encourage newer shooters without incurring a huge expense.

• Rifle is major power factor which is 350, i.e. 308 (7.62 x 51) minimum
• Pistol is major power factor, revolver or single stack mag i.e. .45 acp, .357 mag etc.
• Shotgun is a pump action 12 gauge with at least no. 4 shot

At a local level, talk to the match organizer about what firearms you have got.  The sport wants you to have a go!

Safety is paramount.  You will be conducted through every stage by an experienced Range Officer, but you must be thoroughly competent in your handling skills, especially reloading, unloading and clearing jams.  Practise these with dummy ammunition.  You need to be able to control your firearm in possibly less than ideal conditions.  You will encounter, for example, shooting positions specifically designed to be awkward and targets that may seem impossibly small or something you have just not done before.

The course designer has set out to create a challenge for all the entrants, which is a huge task given the wide range of firearms being used.  Please enter into the spirit of the match and consider the problems facing a course designer: availability of range area, the work involved in building props, the difference between rifle, pistol and shotgun stage requirements etc. etc.

Matches at a local level may be a one day event with, say, 2 stages each for pistol, rifle and shottie, about 150 rounds.  The bigger events will take three days and 600 rounds to complete.

If you see an event advertised that you want to have a go at, please let the organizer know of your intentions asap.

Start checking your own gear:

• Are your guns in a good safe condition and up to specs?
• Do you know the zero exactly at different distances?
• Do you have good comfortable clothes and footwear?  -  your shoes/boots will need to be supportive and have a good tread pattern
• Take wet weather gear and hot weather gear, water to drink, a pack of some description so you will have what you need where you need it

Remember 3 gun is an outdoor sport.  You should be as fit as possible and prepared for whatever conditions nature may turn on for the day.  You will be with a bunch of great people who have a similar interest.

As in IPSC pistol, all stages you will shoot are timed, so quick is good.  Power and accuracy are entered on your scoresheet and somewhere, someone is entering

The most suitable rifles for 3 gun are semi-auto and 20 or 30 round magazine capacity, so the law states you must hold an E cat. licence.  Please ensure you are legal before turning up at a match.  Your local club and Arms Officer can get you through this process.

The targets you will engage are a mixture of IPSC classic, full and partial versions with some hard cover and no shoots, steel poppers and plates and also others that the organizing club has available.  Frangibles, such as clay birds, both aerial and static, are common.  A few solid slugs are generally incorporated.

 Please never use steel cored rifle ammo, as it destroys expensive targets, also no steel birdshot.

 Right!  Now you have done your best on the ranges, it is up to the computer to decide.  Results for each class and age group are decided with the bigger matches also grading shooters as well.

 Open, Standard, Tactical, Heavy Metal all now have a winner rated 100% and so on down the list.

 By this time you have figured out just what you could have done a little better and hopefully next time get closer to that winning position.  Get some of your buddies at the club together, talk to experienced 3 gun competitors, hunt around on the internet.  Compete in IPSC pistol matches, as that is a huge part in getting it all together for:

                                              The Three Gun Match.

For further information, contact PNZ match director Steve at 3gun@pistolnz.org.nz

or this website, contact Ron