Your 3 Gun Kit, Then and Now

jtischauser

I'm addicted to kicking ass
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
23,507
Location
Guthrie, OK
Matt Rigsby brought up a good point about our introductory 3 gun kits. He said "Most everyone around here started out with a 16" carbine and pump shotgun. Come out and join us." In response to a new competitor asking if his current guns were ok for 3 gun.

This brings up an interesting point which should make for some fun stories and discussion. Why does everyone have a 16" carbine and a pump when they are obviously are not the best guns for 3 gun. Are they the best guns for any job around the house/ranch or are they simply the cheapest and most available?

What did your first 3 gun kit consist of and how has it evolved.

Feel free to tell the stories about your scopes falling off or when you finally came to the realization that maybe your high point wasnt the best thing out there.
 
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Then: (9 months ago when I started)
Mossberg 870
Romanian AK-47
Beretta 92G

Now:
Remington Versa Max Tactical (just bought it)
Stag 3G AR-15
Smith and Wesson M&P Pro

12 Months from now I expect to have a back up shotgun and a practice rifle.

This sport has made me buy my first semi-auto shotgun and my first AR-15. I still wish there was a classification/division for AK-47 however. I love shooting that gun.
 
I have several AR varients in different caliber, and just recently put together a 16" M4. Like the others it has a specific purpose. This one sits in the front seat of the truck while working around the farms, and has its own area in the cab of the tractor, Velcro'd on the roof.
 
I'd say the pump because they're the cheapest. And that whole, "All ya gotta do is rack it and the bad guy will crap his pants and run away screaming 'mommy!'" myth.

I can't think of any reason for the 16" carbine being so common other than it's the closest you can go to M4 without pinning/welding or SBRing the rifle. Used to be harder/more expensive to go to middy 16", but that's not as true anymore.

I'm weird I guess, my first AR was 16" middy, and my first shotgun was an 1100 semi-auto.

I moved to an 18" rifle gas AR before my first 3Gun match.

I'm not sure what I'll do on a shotgun. I'm a ways away from being able to afford a Benelli auto, but the loading port on the 1100 is so wonky I don't think I want to mess with even practicing with it. Probably buy a Nova or Super Nova so that I can start using the Benelli loading port while saving for an M2.

After only one match, I can see that a getting a good shotgun is more important than spending more on my AR or pistol.
 
Brent Akin said:
Probably buy a Nova or Super Nova so that I can start using the Benelli loading port while saving for an M2.
The loading port on a Nova will spoil you. The M1/M2 loading port isn't near as generous.
 
I started with a Bushmaster 16" 1-9 twist m4 profile with birdcage flash hider and retractable stock.
My shotgun was a 5 shot Mossberg 500 with wood stocks.
Pistol was a Beretta 92fs.

Now I have a Loki 18" stainless, double fluted 1-8 twist .223 wylde with midlength gas (early run before rifle gas was available) and a VLTOR rifle stock and rifle buffer topped off with JP Benny Cooley comp.
Shotgun is an Accurate Iron 26" M2 with +7 Nordic tube.
Pistol is M&P 9pro.

So much better now that I've learned what works instead of what looks cool on video games.
 
Wall said:
No SBE is similar to M1/M2 just longer. The Nova's port is wider & more open.
Plus the Novas lifter stays up once depressed the first time. It loads faster than anything else.
 
I was VERY lucky to have an awesome wife and friends like Tony, Jesse and Matt who refused to let me buy crap for my first 3-gun set up.

Then and Now

Guns
PSA upper/lower 18" Nordic barrel w/ rifle length gas. 1-4x optic
Accurate Iron M1 Benelli 24" with +9 tube
Glock 34

Gear
CR Speed belt
Man Mountain shotgun caddies
KyTac holster and pouches
Fully decked out jogging baby stroller :D

I am sure some of it will be upgraded but not until I get better
 
Since there was no club level 3 gun matches in Oklahoma back in 2009. I had 6 months to acquire my kit.

My first post about 3 Gun was "What shotgun is best for 3 Gun?" I think KurtM was the first to respond with something to the effect of buy a Benelli M1 or M2. So I found a used 24" M1 on Enos and KurtM was kind enough to open up the loading port, install a welded lifter, and put on a front sight if memory serves me correctly.

That was also a time of AR15 shortages with the new administration in office. So again on Kurts advice I ordered a JP CTR-02. But the wait was 9 months. So I ordered a 20" Firebird Percision upper build very similar to the JP I had coming. I paid $350 or so for a complete DPMS lower and sent it off to JP to have one of their triggers installed.

I was running an XDM9 in production so I bought a couple of extended base pads for it.

Now I have 7 Benellis, 4 Stag 3 G's, and a trio of Accurate Iron STI 2011's.
 
I started with

Glock 17

10.5 sbr with suppressor

And a Saiga 12 with no chokes.

Now I use

9mm sti 2011

Benelli m2 21" barrel and long tube

JP15 that currently has a an gold trigger, ap customs 17" carbon fiber tube and rolling thunder comp

All have been worked on by Kurt Miller and accurate iron

There is not much I would change at this point.
 
Started with a bone stock 16" DPMS w/ iron sights, Mossberg 500 Cruiser, M&P Pro...all of which I dug from various parts of my house where they were staged for home defense.
Fast forward 18 months, JP 20" Rifle, AI Benelli M2, SV 40 and an empty bank acct. ;-)
 
My first 3gun setup was John just bring ur pistol I got everything else.

Xd40
Borrowed:
Ai m2 (Michael)
16" carbine (Michael)

Now:
Sti 40 built by Benny Hill
24" m2 built by AI
FrankenAR that I built
 
Starting out: Rock River 16" carbine with an Eotech, S&W M&P, FN SLP (the 6+1 one with ghost ring sights).

Now: Full custom Larue upper/lower with JP barrel and internals with a Z6i, SV 9mm, and Benelli M2.

I started out with the others because that's what I had for plinking, defense, etc. I even shot my first 3G match with a chest rig because that's what I was told I needed. The chest rig and I have parted ways since and made way for more appropriate gear for the game.

My rifle has gone through about 10-12 different configurations with stocks, forends, muzzle brakes, triggers, barrels until I have arrived at what I prefer now. I've had 3 different scopes until I finally ponied up for the Swaro.

My pistol went from a fullsize M&P to a G34 for sight radius, then an STI Eagle for awhile to a custom 6" Cheely STI. Went back to a G34 for awhile until my SV 9mm was done. Full custom in every way, it is exactly what I want.

My shotgun went from a tactical SLP to a regular SLP for capacity and different sights. The FN ended up being less than reliable so I made way for a custom Benelli M2 and I haven't looked back.
 
Good thread Jesse...

Then
Stock Nova
Rock River ATH - 18" barrel, wylde chamber, Iron sights
Beretta 92FS

Now
Benelli M1 with 10 Rd Xrail
Rock River ATH - 18" barrel, wylde chamber, Iron sights
Beretta 92FS

Future upgrades to include...
Tac30 or Aimpoint T-1 Micro (cant decide)
G34 or M&P Pro (cant decide)
 
Then:

S&W M&P15 16" with iron sights and an awesome quad rail with a vertical grip attached
Mossberg Maverick 88
XD40
The only gear I had to speak of was my carry holster and mag pouch that came with my mag pouch.

Now:

JP Rifle built on Spikes lower
Benelli M2 18.5"
M&P 40 Pro 5"
 
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