3-Gun.com
  • 3 Gun
  • About 3 Gun
    • Why 3 Gun?
    • Get Started in 3 Gun
    • 3 Gun Divisions
  • 3 Gun Equipment
    • 3 Gun Rifle
    • 3 Gun Pistol
    • 3 Gun Shotgun
    • 3 Gun Accessories
  • 3 Gun Articles
    • Why You should Participate in 3 Gun
    • Pistol Knock Down Power
  • Equipment Reviews
    • 3 Gun Pistol Reviews
    • 3 Gun Shotgun Reviews
  • Find a 3 Gun Competition
  • Blog

How to Get Started in 3 Gun

To get started in 3 Gun, you will not need much…

First, you will need some essential equipment:

  1. Any semiautomatic pistol is acceptable to use as a 3 Gun pistol and many excellent semi-automatic pistols can be purchased for $400 or less.  Glocks are particularly affordable and well performing, making them a favorite of many 3 Gun competitors operating on a budget.
  2. Any semi-automatic rifle will work for 3 Gun competitions.  Most 3 Gun shooters will use an Ar-15, however an AK-47 is acceptable as well.  You do not need to have a scope.  A plain Jane AR-15 will work just fine to get started with and you can always make upgrades later if you desire when you have the money and inclination to do so.
  3. Any shotgun will work for a 3 Gun shotgun.  At some point along the way, it will be worth getting an extension tube so that your shotgun can hold 8 rounds in the tube but that is not necessary immediately.
  4. 1-2 extra magazines for your pistol and your rifle for reloading on 3 Gun stages that require alot of pistol or rifle shots

Second, you will need ammo


Depending on how many stages there are at the 3 Gun competition you are entering, you will need differing amounts of ammo for each weapon.  Typically the following will be plenty for most 3 Gun competitions:
  1. 100+ rounds of pistol ammo (cheap fmj ammo is what I prefer to save money)
  2. 100+ rounds of rifle ammo (once again I prefer cheap fmj ammo as long as it has proven to be accurate enough for me to shoot it on the long range shots that may be included in the 3 Gun course)
  3. 40 rounds of shotgun shells.
  4. 8 rounds of shotgun slugs


Third, you will need to find a competition in your area


Most large cities have at least 1 or 2 local 3 Gun competitions these days although they are sometime hard to track down.  We have compiled a list of many of the 3 Gun compeititons around the country, however, it is by no means complete.  If you find a 3 Gun competition that we do not have on our list, please notify us of the location and details at [email protected] so that we can add it to or list to help other shooters find it and continue to help the sport of 3 Gun grow.  Find a local 3 Gun competition here
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  • 3 Gun
  • About 3 Gun
    • Why 3 Gun?
    • Get Started in 3 Gun
    • 3 Gun Divisions
  • 3 Gun Equipment
    • 3 Gun Rifle
    • 3 Gun Pistol
    • 3 Gun Shotgun
    • 3 Gun Accessories
  • 3 Gun Articles
    • Why You should Participate in 3 Gun
    • Pistol Knock Down Power
  • Equipment Reviews
    • 3 Gun Pistol Reviews
    • 3 Gun Shotgun Reviews
  • Find a 3 Gun Competition
  • Blog