3-Gun Match

Contact: Bill Miller

3-Gun/Multi-Gun is a USPSA style shooting match using steel, cardboard, clay pigeon and paper targets. These matches use rifles, shotguns, pistols, and pistol caliber carbines (PCC). Rifles are limited to 308 or lower caliber, pistols and PCCs are limited to 45 and lower caliber. No magnum, steel penetrator, or tracer rounds are allowed. Courses of fire use props to simulate walls, openings, and shooting areas to test shooter’s accuracy, speed, and agility. Like USPSA, these matches are scored using “time plus penalties” protocols.

3-Gun/Multi-Gun matches take place in the Cowboy Town area of the Unified Sportsmen’s Range (USC) located west of Rexburg, Idaho. During matches these areas are limited to competitors/observers only.

There are typically a minimum of four “courses of Fire” (COF) at each match. However, there is only one active shooter per COF at any time. Each shooter is under the direct supervision of a NRA Range Safety Officer who has the skills/knowledge/experience to conduct the COF in a safe manner.

COFs are designed so that the minimum distance between a shooting position and a steel target is 30 feet (10 yards). Match protocols require there are no loaded guns within the match area. Additionally the “180 Rule” is enforced; a line parallel to the primary impact area moves with the shooter and the shooter needs to keep the muzzle down range of 180 line to avoid disqualification.

The match “walk through” discusses the COF for each stage. The shooter participating in the COF is under the direct supervision of an RSO. This individual instructs the shooter when to load, when to start shooting, and at completion of the COF, instructs the shooter to unload. Then both this individual and the shooter verify the chamber is empty and the magazine is removed before the trigger is pulled and the hammer falls on an empty chamber. Pistols are then holstered or cased/sleeved. At this point long guns (PCCs/rifles/shotguns) are flagged with Empty Chamber Indicators to provide a visual reference that the gun is safe.

After both the shooter and the RSO have determined that the firearm is safe, the command to reset targets is given and any knockdown/paper/cardboard targets are reset for the next competitor.