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3 Gun Divisions

3 Gun has a few main divisions: open, tac ops, tac limited, heavy metal ops, heavy metal limited.  The different groups that put on 3 gun competitions have slightly different rules, and that’s what we have outlined below.

IMGA and USPSA are the 2 main 3 gun organizations.  IDPA also puts on 3 gun competitions with their own set of rules, but they have a smaller following for their 3 gun competitions.

IMGA/IMA 3 gun – International Multi Gun Association – IMGA 3 Gun Rules
– IMGA is not an “official” association, but these are the rules most of the national matches go by (and what most local matches are loosely based on).

USPSA Multigun – United States Practical Shooting Association – USPSA Multigun Rules
– USPSA is an official association, and is one of the major competition shooting organizations.  They’re big on pistol, and have embraced 3 gun / Multi-gun.

Below we have compared the main two in table format:


OPEN DIVISION

Pistol
IMGA USPSA


Rifle
IMGA USPSA


Shotgun
IMGA USPSA
Caliber 
 9mm min 
.355 min 


Caliber 
.223 min 
no min 


Bore Size 
20ga min 
20ga min 
Power Factor 
not calculated 
165 major/ 125 minor 

Power Factor 
not calculated 
320 major/ 150 minor Shot 

Size Lead
only, #6+ shot 
not spec’d 
Optics unlimited 
any 


Optics 
unlimited unlimited 


Optics 
allowed 
allowed 

Magazines 
170mm max 171.25mm max


Magazines 
unlimited 
no max 


Magazines 
unlimited 
unlimited





Bipods 

allowed allowed 



Tube Capacity unlimited 
10+1 loaded
Compensator/ Porting
allowed 
allowed 


Compensator/ Porting 
allowed 
allowed


Compensator/ Porting 
allowed 
allowed 


TAC OPS

Pistol 
IMGA 




USPSA 




Rifle 
IMGA 


USPSA 


Shotgun 
IMGA 


USPSA
Caliber 
9mm min

 


.400 major, .355 min



Caliber 
.223 min 


no min 


Bore Size 
20ga min 


20ga min
Power Factor
not calculated 




165 major/ 125 minor 



Power Factor 
not calculated


320 major/ 150 minor 

Shot Size 
Lead only, #6+ shot 

not spec’d
Optics 
not permitted 




not permitted




Optics 
1 electrical or optical 

maximum of one

Optics 
not permitted 


not permitted
Magazines 
140mm max double stack, 170mm max single stack

141.25mm max double stack, 171.25mm max single stack

Magazines 
Drum mags not allowed 

no max


Magazines 
tubular only


tubular only











Bipods 
not allowed 


not allowed


Tube Capacity
not more than 9 rounds total

8+1 loaded
Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 




not allowed 




Compensator/ Porting 
1″x3″ limit 


1″x3″ limit 


Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 


not allowed


TAC LIMITED / TAC IRONS

Pistol 
IMGA 




USPSA 






Rifle 
IMGA 



USPSA 


ShotgunIMGA 


USPSA
Caliber 
9mm min 




.400 major, .355 min 





Caliber 
.223 min 



no min 


Bore Size 
20ga min 


20ga min
Power Factor 
not calculated 




165 major/ 125 minor 





Power Factor 
not calculated 



320 major/ 150 minor 

Shot Size 
Lead only, #6+ shot 

not spec’d
Optics 
iron sights 




not permitted 






Optics 
not more than one non-magnified 

one non- magnified

Optics 
not allowed 


not allowed
Magazines
140mm max double stack, 170mm max single stack 

141.25mm max double stack, 171.25mm max single stack

Magazines
drum mags not allowed 


no max 


  Magazines tube only


tube only













Bipods 
not allowed 



not allowed


Tube Capacity 
9 rounds total at start 

8+1 loaded start
Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 




not allowed 






Compensator/ Porting 
1″x3″ limit 



1″x3″ limit


Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 


not allowed


HEAVY METAL SCOPE

Pistol 
IMGA 





USPSA 

Rifle 
IMGA
 

USPSA 


Shotgun 
IMGA 


USPSA
Caliber 
.44 min 





.400 min

Caliber 
.30 min


.308/7.62×51 


Bore Size 
12ga min 


12ga min
Power Factor
165 





165 

Power Factor
320 


320 


Shot Size 
Lead only, #6+ shot 


not spec’d
Optics 
iron only 





iron only 

Optics 
1 electrical or optical 

Max one 


Optics 
not allowed 


not allowed
Magazines 
10 round max. 140mm max dbl stack, 170mm max single stack


10+1

Magazines 
20 round limit 


20+1 loaded start 

Magazines
tubular only


tubular only










Bipods 
not allowed 


not allowed 


 Tube Capacity 
9 rounds total
start 

 8+1 loaded start
Compensator/ Porting
not allowed 





not allowed

Compensator/ Porting
1″x3″ limit 


1″x3″ limit


Compensator/ Porting
not allowed 


not allowed


HEAVY METAL LIMITED

Pistol 
IMGA 





USPSA 

Rifle 
IMGA 



USPSA


Shotgun 
IMGA 


USPSA
Caliber 
.44 min 





.45 acp 

Caliber 
.30 min



.308/ 7.62×51


Bore Size 
12ga PUMP


12ga PUMP
Power Factor
165 





165 

Power Factor
320 



320 


Shot Size 
Lead only, #6+ shot 

not spec’d
Optics 
not permitted





not permitted

Optics 
not more than 1 non-magnified 

iron sights 


Optics 
not allowed


not allowed
Magazines 
10 round max. 140mm max dbl stack, 170mm max single stack

10+1

Magazines 
20 round limit



20+1 loaded 
start 

Magazines
tubular only


tubular only









Bipods 
not allowed 



not allowed


Tube Capacity 
9 rounds start


8+1 loaded start
Compensator/ Porting 
no allowed 





not allowed 

Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 



not allowed


Compensator/ Porting 
not allowed 


not allowed


IDPA 3 Gun / Multi Gun – International Pistol Defense Association – http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPA_DMG_rules_07062010.pdf


IDPA is big on pistols. If you already shoot IDPA, this is a good option. If you don’t shoot IDPA, then the IDPA 3 Gun is not the one I would start with. That being said, our local IDPA made up their own rules based loosly on IMGA/ USPSA classes, with a different set of scoring rules.

Non-legal Rifle modifications – all classes: no bipods, no lasers, no extended or over-sized mag wells, and no compensators more than one inch.

Non-legal Shotgun modifications – all classes: no bipods, no lasers, no speed-loaders or detachable box magazines, and no compensators.

Classes:
Stock Service Gun (SSG): Rifle: 5.56×45 (.223) or larger, iron sights only. Shotgun: Pump only in 12 or 20 gauge, iron sights only; 5+1 Capacity. Pistol: Any IDPA SSP legal pistol or revolver using IDPA legal capacity.

Enhanced Service Gun (ESG): Rifle: 5.56×45 (.223) or larger, iron sights or single optic, inline magnifier legal. Shotgun: Pump or semi-auto only in 12 or 20 gauge, iron sights only; 5+1 Capacity. Pistol: Any IDPA legal pistol or revolver using IDPA legal capacity.

Stock Pistol Caliber Carbine (SPCC): Rifle: 9×19 or larger pistol caliber (including .30 carbine) with iron sights only. Shotgun: Pump only in 12 or 20 gauge, iron sights only; 5+1 Capacity. Pistol: Any IDPA SSP legal pistol or revolver using IDPA legal capacity.

Enhanced Pistol Caliber Carbine (EPCC): Rifle: 9×19 or larger pistol caliber (including .30 carbine) with iron or single optic sights, inline magnifier is legal. Shotgun: Pump or semi-auto only in 12 or 20 gauge, iron sights only; 5+1 Capacity. Pistol: Any IDPA legal pistol or revolver using IDPA legal capacity.

Lastly, there is an international 3 gun group, which doesn't govern any competitions in the US: World IPSC 3 gun – International Practical Shooting Association.  I have not looked into their rules, so I did not include any information on them.

If you’re serious about 3 gun, pick one of the divisions above, and build your guns to fit both IMGA and USPSA

Find a Local 3 Gun Competition in Your Area

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  • 3 Gun
  • About 3 Gun
    • Why 3 Gun?
    • Get Started in 3 Gun
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  • 3 Gun Equipment
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