3-Gun Nation Magazine (AUG/SEPT 2014) Free Online Preview by 3-Gun Nation

CHOOSING SHOTGUN AMMO

GEAR REVIEWS

DO-EVERYTHING RIFLE

AUG/SEPT 2014

STAGE VISUALIZATION

RICK BIRDSALL

moving Rookies, Sophomores and Veterans Raise Their Game on the 2014 3GN Pro Series

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STRENGTHENING YOUR CORE FOR 3-GUN SUCCESS

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18 52 12 08 38 COVER STORY 38 // Making A Move

In the second full season of the 3GN Pro Series, several competitors are making big moves on the 3GN Leader Board. Young and hungry, the new faces of the 3GN Pro Series are shining through.

30 // Do-Everything Rifle

52 // Keeping Your Core Strong

hands of the game’s best at the Pro Series, it occurred to me

for some time now, and for good reason. A strong core makes

how equally suited the light rifle was for the majority of our 3GN

you less prone to injury by helping you control movement,

Club Series matches across the country as well.

transfer energy and shift body weight better and safer. The

As we watched the growing popularity of the short rifle in the

Core strength has been a buzzword in the fitness community

fundamentals of good exercise start there. The same is true for your shooting—always have a list of core drills that keep your fundamentals solid and keep you improving.

36 // Running To Win

This is not going to be an article about physical fitness—I’ll leave that task to an expert like my fellow writer and 3-Gun Nation Pro Chris Andersen. What I hope to impart to you is a good baseline of maintenance and some tips to keep your kit running!

AUG+SEPT 2014//CONTENTS 06 // 3GN News 16 // 3GN Club News 22 // Tight Juniors Race 50 // 3GN Ladies Division Update

12 // Stage Visualization

08 // MGM Junior Camp

course of fire and think we know where we need to shoot which

serious practice only to get beat like a circus monkey by some

guns. I’m not sure about you, but that rarely works out the way

“kid?” I know I have, on more than one occasion, in fact. It’s a

I had hoped. In fact, I find when I don’t give a course of fire the

feeling I hate, but based on what I saw at the 2014 MGM Junior

attention it requires, it rarely turns out well.

Pistol Camp and 3-Gun Camp, it’s something I can see I need to

I think we’ve all had times when we quickly walk through a

How many of you have gone to a match after putting in some

start getting used to—you probably should, too.

18 // Choosing Shotgun Ammo

In our continuing series on the shotgun, in this issue we will discuss the types of ammunition and chokes you should consider utilizing at a match. There are really two ways to approach the use of shotgun ammunition, especially with birdshot. Shot size and choke selection are the two main topics we will discuss,

46 // Leupold Throw Lever

Leupold recently announced the debut of the Mark 6 Throw Lever, an accessory for Leupold Mark 6 riflescopes, which enables shooters to make fast magnification adjustments.

but you need to complete some homework to ensure you are prepared for what a match director or range master will throw at you in a course of fire.

28 // There’s No Quit In Lee Wills

At 14, there is no denying 6th-place Junior Shooter Lee Wills is an accomplished 3-gun shooter and someone to keep an eye on in the future. To succeed, every competitor has a series of hurdles they must overcome, although Lee’s first challenge was a foe too formidable to succumb to practice and discipline alone.

55 // Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro

CONTRIBUTORS // STAFF Contacts // Patrick E. Kelley

As a competitor, instructor, writer and photographer, Patrick E. Kelley’s passion for the shooting sports runs deep. Having won

Editorial: Advertising: Production:

chad@3gunnation.com pete@3gunnation.com james@3gunnation.com

his first match in the 1980s, he continues to win in the field as well as promoting 3-Gun.

Publisher Chris Andersen //

A lifelong shooter and sportsman, Chris Andersen has been competing professionally since 2010. Andersen, a 3GN Pro Series competitor with several top major match finishes in

National 3-Gun Association 105 Watershire Drive Irmo, South Carolina 29063 United States of America

multiple divisions, is also a USPSA Pistol Grand Master.

Executive Editor:

// Guy J. Sagi

Guy J. Sagi most recently worked for the NRA Publications division for 10 years, the last five of which he served as editor in chief of Shooting Illustrated, the organization’s newsstand

monthly magazine. He brings with him 30 years of writing and photography experience in the firearms industry.

Chad Adams

Executive Producer:

Pete Brown

Associate Editor:

Guy Sagi

Director of Competition: Rob Romero 3GN Club & Regional Series Director:

Charles Sole

3GN Club & Regional Series Co-Director:

Tennille Chidester

3GN Stage Designer:

Larry Turner

NRA Board Member:

Joseph P. DeBergalis Jr

Larry Houck //

Larry Houck’s background includes lead firearms instructor for the Department of the Army Police Academy West Region, Fort

Production

Meyer SWAT team and a major defense contractor. Houck’s competition background spans 20-plus years, including USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, Bianchi Cup and 3-Gun. Houck is currently leading the 3-Gun Nation Regional points series in the Tactical Irons Division.

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3-Gun Nation Magazine is a bi-monthly publication available by subscription and retail/newsrack sales. To subscribe, please visit www.3GunNation.com/Subscribe. To inquire about dealer/wholesale opportunities, please contact Pete Brown by email at pete@3gunnation.com. All content distributed in 3-Gun Nation Magazine is protected and copyrighted and may not be reprinted, duplicated or redistributed without the express written consent of the National 3-Gun Association.

“3-Gun Nation” first hit the airwaves in 2010, filming major 3-gun matches around the country and shining a spotlight on this growing sport, featuring the amazing talent of the competitors who quite literally are the best shooters in the world. As a company, we’ve evolved quite a bit since Keith Garcia won that first Shoot-Off and $5,000, and today the National 3-Gun Association is the premiere governing body for the sport, with competition programs servicing Pro and Lady Pro Tours, a national, major-match circuit in the 3GN Regional Championship Series, and our grassroots effort to grow the sport at the local level—the 3GN Club Series. Along with this magazine, the 3-Gun Nation brand reaches our fans on television, 3GunNation.com, social media, and through press releases to several media outlets. And through all that reach, one of the achievements I’m most proud of is the level of notoriety we’ve brought to this great game and the people who play it. This issue’s cover story, “Making a Move,” features Rick Birdsall, one of those up-and-coming Pro shooters who embody everything 3-Gun Nation is all about. He’s young and hungry, he’s gone all-in to pursue the sport with relentless passion, and now after taking a few lumps in the Pro Series, the payoff for Birdsall is unfolding before us all—higher match finishes, increased television coverage, and now even his picture on the cover of this magazine. To be sure, all of us at 3GN like Rick, as he’s a great guy, but his cover selection came down to one simple reason—he deserves it. And he’s not alone, either. While Birdsall gets the top billing here, there is a host of other 3GN Pros putting in the work and competing at extraordinarily high levels in the 3GN Pro Series. And that’s why we featured 10 more Pros alongside Birdsall: Shane Coley, Matthew Sweeney, West Chandler, Jason Tielke, Chris Andersen, John Mouret, Aaron Reed, Rob Tate, Tommy Smith and Jansen Jones. The group ranges from 3GN rookie to veteran 3-gun competitor. It features law enforcement and military, a doctor and a lawyer. In short, this small group is as diverse as the entire group of folks that make up the game of 3-gun. But they all have one thing in common—they’re getting it done on this year’s Pro Series Tour.

from the editor

Also getting it done are the great folks from MGM Targets, along with all of their industry friends and supporters that make up the amazing group from the 3-gun community that run the MGM Junior Camp. Check out our report on the work being done to turn out the next generation of 3GN Pros. And if that were to come true, it wouldn’t be the greatest takeaway for these youngsters, as the MGM Junior Camp instills values that go far beyond the field of competition. Finally, this issue is packed with tips to help you up your own 3-gun game, from Scott McGregor’s “Stage Planning for Success,” to Chris Andersen’s “Core Training Drills,” Larry Houck’s “Choosing Shotgun Ammo,” and Pat Kelley’s “Running to Win,” there’s a stage win’s worth of pro training tips in these pages. Throw in a rifle build feature, “The Do-Everything Rifle,” and some additional gear highlights, and there’s a lot of great material in this issue of 3-Gun Nation. As this issue goes to print the 3GN team is headed to Pro Series Event #4 and the Southwest Regional, while 3GN Club Matches are in full swing around the country. I’m reminded again just how far we’ve come since 2010. But I’ll promise you this, we’re just getting started.

SEMPER,

Chad 3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

PAGE 5

written by

Scott McGregor

JESSE TISCHAUSER

STAGE VISUALIZATION PAGE 12

3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

Recently I was shooting theschool NW Multigun in Bend, OR, are Videogames, social-media, and work schedules with a friend of mine, Matt Foster. He owns FMJ Marketing formidable foes for parents who make quality family time a high Development, a firm that’s very good at building brands priority. Add the regular intrusion of text messages and e-mails, and marketing. and it’s easy to see why some adults simply surrender to the notion that there no remedy. However, solution found He also loves to is shoot 3-gun, but doesn’ta get to domay it asbe often as he’d like. I could see Matt was studying the stages to figure out in a growing 3-Gun Nation trend. which targets he needed to shoot when, and with what guns. The impression I got seemed to consist of, “There are some pistol More and more families up at 3-gun matches than targets here, and then I are pickshowing up my shotgun and shoot some ever before, and the reason for the increase may come as a of these targets over here, and then load some shells and then surprise. sport and builds concentration, discipline andI need sensetoof dump myThe shotgun pick up the rifle. With the rifle, shoot these paper targets and then long-distance steel. OK,of responsibility in young shooters, butthe it requires an all-new layer plan done.” When the walk through wasstrategy. over, I asked mental gymnastics to formulate a stage As a about result, his real plan. That’s exactly how it sounded. conversation takes place—between parents, children, even other competitors. The camaraderie built defies high-tech, impersonal How do you plan to shoot a stage? Do youa know? world and, according to many of those interviewed, the friendly I think we’ve all hadoftimes when we quickly through course and helpful attitude fellow shooters, rangewalk officers and aofficials fire andkey think where we need to shoot which guns. I’m isofanother towe theknow growth in family participation. not sure about you, but that rarely works out the way I had hoped. In fact, I find when I don’t give a course of fire the attention it YACKLEY FAMILY requires, it rarely turns out well.

Mark and Becky Yackley were on the go when we caught up to There are shooters who have a much better skill set than I do and them this He was they preparing a trip to the Pentagon that’sfor part of story. my problem, make for it look easy. One of the best and she was driving back from business-related training in lessons I’ve learned was advice from Jerry Miculek—everyone figures outMark their isown plan to shoot a Patrol stage. trooper I may not have the Colorado. a Wisconsin State who finished experience run aMarine stage Corps like Jerry. His skill set the allows his first four necessary years in thetoU.S. in 2002, joined him to do different things and it’s important I remember that he’s reserves and has served another six years as an active-duty been doing this much longer than I have. He used his brother-inreservist. Becky ski instructor. Add their sons, (15), Sean law Jim Clark Jr.,isaahighly respected gunsmith andTim accomplished (13) and Andrew (9), and this is a busy family shooter in his own right, as an example. Jerry may not run a stage the same way as Jim, because that plan may not cater to his style or strengths. About 1 1/2 years ago Mark shot his first 3-gun match and caught thewho bug.need “I amtopretty to practical shooting, For those work new on breaking down stages, having coming up mostly competed in smallbore rifle and air pistol in highgoing school with YOUR stage plan and seeing exactly what you’re to do and college,” Mark wife and Imay methelp. on the rifle team in when you hear the said. beep,“My visualization college.” Athletes have used visualization for decades and it’s not new to competitive shooting. I learned the technique while playing high Shooting sports Our haveposition always coach been awould big part of the couple’s our lives. school football. have us visualize Becky’s fatherand gunsmiths for Krieger grewgoing up with a assignments call on every detail Barrels. of what She we were to do

before we hands, even walked field. Therifle point to rifle in her and “I onto shot the high-power forwas the Wisconsin move High our skill set Team and assignments fromwas conscious to State Power as a junior and on the Whistler Boy subconscious thought. team at Camp Perry,” she said. “I went to Camp Perry several years andwatched was ablea to attend the Marine Corps clinic you’ve for juniors If you’ve 3-Gun Nation Pro Series match, seen two years.” She also shot on a rifleNew team3-gun in hershooters teens, Palma with plenty of visualization techniques. may be ablefather to improve their game scholarship by harnessing some of the things that her and got a partial to Marquette University to help be onme. its air-rifle team. Show up early! If you can arrive the day before a match, you An encounter in Virginia ledyour the family to 3-gun. 2011, At I shot should have time to check zero and see the“In stages. the Combat Shooting Match was lucky enough to be the USMC very least, look at the ones you’lland shoot first. Have a stage description, rangefinder and the stage squaded witha Jayson Smith of take Teamnotes. FNH, Read and he encouraged me description, but remember it is often only a guideline. getto to start competing,” Mark said. “I knew that I wouldn’tDon’t be able wrapped around the axle if the stage on your printout doesn’t shoot much unless was ainfamily activity. I was in able get my look exactly like theitstage front of you. Stand thetostart sons into the 2011 USPSA Area 8 Junior Camp and we started position and then walk the stage, determine which targets you will shooting USPSA that fall. In the fall of 2012 we started in 3-gun at the FNH USA 3-Gun.”

Exercising your mind before a match The camp in 2011 was a turning point for the written by can shave time from your score.Guy boys, who were 11 and 13, according to Becky. J. Sagi

“…[I]t did not require experience,” she said. shoot gun. Count targets,for figure out where you will “I thinkwith thatwhich is something verythe important dump guns and what condition the next gun will be in when you juniors in shooting. They need opportunities grab it. Find the best shooting locations for all of the targets, and to enter sport and they can’t be to opportunities onlytoforfind kids look for the visual cues and landmarks determine how those with experience.” Tim and Sean attended the MGM Targets positions quickly. They can be anything—stakes, walls, dump tables,Junior tree roots, fault lines,and whatever can usetoas a reference. 3-Gun Camp in 2012 2013. you According Mark, the MGM camps had a major impact because of, “…the ability of Theinstructors point is to to visualize yourself running the stage on theto work the help the kids pick out areas they need clock. I like to walk each stage until I am comfortable and have on.” Tim is fourth place the 3GN Junior soso theothers training formulated a rough plan.inThen I stand out Division, of the way worked. can work on their plan, close my eyes and visualize the stage. I look at all of the details in my mind. I visualize what gear I have on my person—enough to shootby theDave stageBinkley with any Tim and Sean are sponsored andneeded Marc extras. I count the number rifleTactical, and pistol I’m people carrying Scroggins, ownersof ofspare Gravitas butmagazines a lot of other and where they are positioned. I see where my shotgun caddies have helped way. Included on thatones list are Tom Hines are and how along I havethe them filled. I see which have slugs, if at Odin Works, Benny Hill of Triangle Shooting Sports, and at least necessary, and how many shells I have on my person, including when I “yard quad directors, load. Thatwho wayhave I canhad just a aextras dozenfor shooters, alongsale” with amatch drop the shell graband thatrepresented isn’t right and start again with a new grab significant impact their respective companies (Never happens, right?). and sponsors well. That’s one of the recurring themes in talking

Made in USA

I visualize the starting position and wait for the beep. When the timer goes off, I shoot the entire stage in my mind by visualizing every movement, shot, transition, and every target from its required position to the end of the stage. Naturally, in my mind, it’s a stage win!

Matt responded, “I knew visualization was necessary, but I didn’t take it to a specific enough level. I’d form a general plan by target array, where I’d load, dump each gun, etc. That’s not good enough. Sure, you’ll engage all the targets, but it won’t be as fast as you’re capable of.”

In reality, as many times as you go over a stage in your mind, you still have to go out and shoot it. Hopefully, by this point, you’ve already taken care of the skill set portion of shooting. It doesn’t mean you have to be Pro level, but you should have been practicing the basics to the point where they’ve become very familiar and have built some muscle memory. The entire purpose of planning and visualizing how you will run a stage is to move the stage plan from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind.

Even if you’re not quite there, you’ll be better off having planned the stage. After Matt’s next stage, I asked, “How did you approach the stage when you were breaking it down so you could visualize your entire run in detail? How did it differ?”

Do you know what I mean by shooting from your subconscious mind? Think about something you’ve done so often that you don’t really even have think about it—driving, for example, when there is nothing out of the ordinary. Do you have to consciously think about what you’re doing as you’re cruising down the road? Do you have to think about how your guns work when you’re shooting in a stage, or is it all muscle memory when it comes to how your guns function? When you purposely or inadvertently run your pistol dry, do you have to think about where your hand goes to get a full magazine or does it just go to the mag pouch because of all of the repetitions? How about the 4.0-second shotgun loads everyone likes to post on YouTube? Have they done it enough to do it subconsciously in a match? Tapping into your subconscious and shooting the stage from that place is your goal. Some describe it as being “in the zone;” Jerry Miculek describes it as being “in the moment.” It’s to have your gear and a stage so engrained in your subconscious that you don’t have to spend the time or energy figuring out what you want to do in the stage when the timer goes off. You already know, because you’ve already shot the stage enough in your mind to know exactly what you need to do. Being curious, I later asked Matt, “What was your approach to a stage before learning how to visualize how you were going to run it?”

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3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

Matt answered, “Literally, I started to visualize how I was going to engage each target, what sequence, left or right, the path I’d run, not just when I’d load, but where, etc. It’s actually a lot of fun; it’s almost like getting to shoot each stage more than once.” He continued, “Runs immediately became smoother, which is faster. Without the specific plan I would ‘hunt’ for targets rather than just smoothly run the course and engage as they become visible. My shooting itself isn’t any faster, but my times improved quite a bit.” I’ve had a few stages in the last few years where I’ve been “in the moment.” I know when I’ve been there because I hear “shooter ready” and the next conscious thought I have is when I hear “if you are finished.” When it happens, I’ve found I’m shooting in an almost euphoric state. I know all of the target locations and I engage them effortlessly. Everything seems to be in slow motion—I’ve actually seen my pistol bullets in flight. As you continue to build your skill set and your ability to formulate your plan, you may get much more detailed in your planning. You may be able to estimate what your stage times should be because you know in what splits you’ll shoot different target arrays and how long the movement will take you within that stage. Personally, that’s the next aspect of planning I will be working on the rest of this season. Good luck with your planning, make visualization a regular part of your practice sessions and do it a bunch at your next match. You’ll be glad you did!

do-everything

rifle PAGE 30

3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

written by

Chad Adams

Build a Mid-Weight Rifle to Take On Any Course of Fire in 3-Gun! 3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

PAGE 31

In a past issue, we chronicled the growing popularity of the lightweight rifle (“Build it Right—Build it Right”) for 3-gun. Fueled by the breakneck pace of the 3GN Pro Series, these short-barreled, lightweight guns are more maneuverable, drive quicker on target-to-target transitions and are remarkably easier to get into and out of technical positions on the move. As we watched the growing popularity of the short rifle in the hands of the game’s best at the Pro Series, it occurred to me how equally suited the light rifle was for the majority of our 3GN Club Series matches across the country as well. When you break down the typical club match, it becomes clear: lots of bay shooting, in and out of walls, with normally only a sprinkling of truly long-range work to deal with. For the majority of local matches across the country, the light rifle is a great choice for racing on the weekend. While short rifles aren’t a new revelation by any means, the Pros have again been proving their worth. And that stands in stark contrast to the 3-gun rifle that emerged in years past at major outlaw matches across the country. These natural terrain matches featuring challenging long-range courses of fire dictated the use of 18-inch, heavy-contour barrels. Sure, you could, and plenty did, use lightweight guns at these matches, but the majority carried the heavier gun in competition. The knock against using a cut-down rifle is, of course, a perceived loss in accuracy. Back when I was on the staff of American Rifleman one of our editors Ransom Rested a host of different revolvers to test theories on barrel length affecting accuracy. The results of that test were revealing, when a short-barreled J-Frame outshot a half-dozen other mediumand large-framed revolvers with much longer barrels. The conclusion, one that can be applied to all firearm platforms, is this: a well-made, stiff barrel, can be incredibly precise and deliver outstanding accuracy performance. That’s not to say there isn’t performance lost, however. A shorter barrel provides less time to burn powder, thus bullet velocity is lost. Also, the lighter the rifle, the tougher that gun can be to hold on target, so while the barrel may be capable of delivering minute-of-angle accuracy, it’s all for not if the competitor can’t hold the rifle solidly enough to extract that accuracy potential. Offhand shooting has once again become a prominent skill set tested in 3-gun. Here, a heavier gun is always preferred to a lighter one in regard to holding that aiming point on target. But even in supported positions, with match directors often requiring contorted body positions to take on long-range targets, a heavier gun goes a long way in aiding the average

shooter to hold that rifle steady on the clock. Finally, recoil dampening has traditionally been another consideration for competition—the heavier the gun, the quicker the recovery time, the faster the splits on target. But today, advancements in lightened bolt carrier groups, dampening recoil buffers and adjustable gas blocks enable shooters to dial that perceived recoil down to extremely manageable conditions, making lighter rifles faster than ever before on close-range target presentations. So what’s this all mean? 3-Gun Nation members are in the enviable position of having a multitude of match styles in which they can compete. With competition programs offering more than 100 Club Series matches, four national Regional Championship matches and the elite Pro Series Tour, there are infinite possibilities in regard to target presentations to take on across the country. That fact alone begs for a “Do Everything Rifle.” Since we can’t all have four different rifles perfect for specific match conditions, I decided to attempt to come up with one rifle perfect for taking on anything a match director can throw at you. Light enough to be nimble for close work, yet heavy enough to take on offhand and longrange target presentations. It would have to feature the upgrades proven by the top 3-gunners, and be one that can be easily put together by the average home gunsmith. A tall order to be sure, so we instilled the help of Keith Pitts and Accurate Armory to help us get the job done right. So we started with forged upper and lower receivers from Accurate Armory. Pitts finishes the receivers in-house, machined to some pretty tight tolerances—this is borderline custom work when you look at the fit and finish on Accurate Armory guns. Anodized in black, with custom, laser engraving as an option, these handsome uppers and lowers provide our starting point. The heart of the rifle, the barrel, comes from Black Hole Weaponry. I pride myself on knowing this industry extremely well, and I’m embarrassed to say this company really snuck up on me. Black Hole Weaponry came on as a 3GN Regional sponsor earlier this year, which required I do some quick homework on what has proven to be a serious up-and-comer in the 3-gun market, turning out barrels that are receiving high praise for their precision. This model is a 16-inch 416R stainless steel barrel chambered in .223 Wylde, featuring 3 polygonal rifling. A mid-length gas system drives the bolt carrier group, while 1/2-inch threads can accommodate standard muzzle brakes and compensators. Black Hole Weaponry utilizes a unique finishing process called “shot peening.” This preparation step in the finishing process delivers overlapping dimples in the metal, creating, according to Black Hole Weaponry, a uniform layer of compressive

stresses, increasing part life by increasing resistance to fatigue failures, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen assisted cracking. The end of the barrel is fitted with a Seekins Precision AR ATC muzzle brake, which has been steadily gaining popularity among top 3-Gun Nation Pro Series competitors. In turn, a Seekins Low Profile Adjustable Gas Block enables you to tune cyclic rate to your liking— in this case, driving a standard DPMS bolt-carrier group. A 15-inch Samson Evolution fore-end completes the upper receiver. Lightweight and with a comfortable outside diameter, the Evolution has proven itself in the hands of many top 3-gunners. And its thermal bushing, designed to reduce heat transfer, attaches to a standard GI barrel nut, making this one of the more simple systems to install. The lower receiver is fitted with a DPMS Lower Parts Kit (without trigger group), which provides everything you need to get your rifle running: trigger spring, trigger pin, hammer spring, hammer pin, disconnector and spring, bolt catch, bolt catch plunger, bolt catch spring, bolt catch roll pin, selector, selector detent and detent spring, two takedown detents and springs, magazine catch, button and spring, screw and washer, and trigger guard assembly and pin. We did, however, opt to upgrade the selector switch and went with nickel boron coated detents. But retailing around $35, the DPMS Lower Parts Kit is a great resource to outfit your build. For the trigger, we turned to one of the new models from HiperFire, the 24 3G, which HiperFire claims is loaded with enhancements perfect for this game. HiperFires are single-stage triggers utilizing user-set pull weights of Light, Medium-Light or Medium. A lot of 3-gunners have turned to HiperFire triggers over the last couple of seasons, with strong reviews. To complete the rifle, we outfitted all furniture with Magpul accessory parts. The buttstock is from the MOE (Magpul Original Equipment) line, a drop-in replacement for any AR-15 variant. A pretty basic model, by Magpul standards, the MOE retails for around $70 and is a substantial upgrade over the mil-spec A2. Its straight-line comb delivers a consistent cheek-weld, regardless of where you mount the rifle. With the multitude of firing positions required in this sport, that’s a great advantage. Likewise, a Magpul MOE Grip and Enhanced Trigger Guard round out the upgrades to the lower receiver, improving ergonomics considerably. The real reason for this gun build, other than a cool story on how you can make a “Do Everything” rifle, was to reward winners from our inaugural 3GN Club Series national points race. As such, we built three of these awesome guns and sent them to three of our champions: Andy Peterson, Kevin Suffridge and Eric Eckhardt. Suffridge reported half-Minute of Angle (MOA) groups in his accuracy testing, which I verified with a one-hole group from a field position during some function testing after the rifles were first built. Eckhardt, who is one of the top Semi-Pros in the country this season, plans to use the rifle as a demo-gun. A shooter for Adams Arms, Eckhardt plans to show what the company’s drop-in piston kit can do when put in a “high end competition rifle.” Obviously, we had the benefit of a lot of our tremendous sponsors kicking in parts to complete this rifle build. As such, this is truly a pretty high-end rifle. But if nothing else, it should point out just some of the endless ways you can go when building up your own rifle for 3-gun. You can certainly argue the merits of a nimble, light rifle for bay matches, or a heavy-barreled tack driver for natural terrain matches heavy with long-range targets. But for what it’s worth, it’s tough to beat the all-around game of this 16-inch, midlength version of a 3-gun rifle. With practice and a little confidence, a competitor can be fast, mobile, and accurate with this “Do Everything” rifle—and in 3-gun, no matter the venue, that’s always going to be part of the game. PAGE 34

3 GUN NATION MAGAZINE

making a move cover story

RICK BIRDSALL

Rookies, Sophomores and Veterans Raise Their Game on the 2014 3GN Pro Series 24. Rick Birdsall

Sitting in 24th place, Rick Birdsall has made one of the biggest jumps in the standings over his finish in 2013, moving 20 slots up from #44. In fact, only Jason Tielke, who jumped 22 slots into 10th place, has made a bigger climb. However, Birdsall’s move is arguably even more impressive in only his second year on the 3GN Pro Series Tour, and with one throwaway score, all the way down at 39th, his 22nd and 16th place finishes in Events #2 and #3 could have him poised for a move to challenge the top 10. Birdsall’s road to the 3GN Pro Series began during his 2012 Semi-Pro campaign, his first year training seriously and traveling to more major matches around the country. “I started in Tac Iron because it was the only optic I owned, and I felt like my good eyesight gave me a slight advantage at long ranges,” Birdsall said. “Locally, we didn’t have more than a 100-yard range, so most of the practice I did was for fast-paced stages, much like the Pro Series is now. At the beginning of 2012, I didn’t really have the Pro Series on my radar. I was still very new and I didn’t feel like I belonged there, given my skill set at the time. It wasn’t until late in the season, when I realized how competitive I was at the national matches, that I started to believe that I could make the Pro Series. Once I got that idea in my head, there was no stopping me—I was going to make the Pro Series.” PAGE 38

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With a late-season charge, Birdsall qualified fourth in the Semi-Pro division, earning a slot in the 3GN Semi-Pro Shoot-Off in Las Vegas. There, Birdsall got his first taste of the lights, cameras and action that embodies the 3GN Pro Series and the 3GN Championship—3-Gun’s biggest stage. “The Shoot-Off in January of 2013 was an amazing experience,” Birdsall said. “Being in a competitive environment of that caliber, with all of the added production elements, really cemented the feeling that the Pro Series was for me. Shooting under the lights in Las Vegas, with hundreds of people in the crowd, is definitely an experience that I will never forget.” With a top-four finish in the Semi-Pro division, and the experience of running the Shoot-Off under the Vegas lights, Birdsall rode that momentum into the inaugural 3GN Pro Series Qualifier where he punched his ticket to the 2013 3GN Pro Series—and that’s when the competition really got tough, racing on stages built to showcase the top talent in all the sport. “Last season was a great learning experience, but it definitely put me in my place very quickly,” Birdsall said. “This is an extremely talented group of men and that can be very intimidating. The Pro Series will chew you up and spit you out, if you let it. There is zero margin for error, with the difference between places being fractions of a second. There were

many times during last season where I had great stages and I realized that I could compete at this level. There were also a lot of instances where stages didn’t go well; those were times that it was important to stay positive. I knew if I kept pushing forward through the disappointment of the 2013 season, I would get to a point where everything would just click—that moment is now.” In March, Event #1 kicked off the 2014 3GN Pro Series, and with it renewed hope from all the competitors. A new season, new faces on the Tour, with everyone trying to make their mark and take a run at the 3GN Championship. But for Birdsall, that first match produced exactly the same results as entire season before—39th place overall. “I shot four matches in 2013 and one in 2014, all of which resulted in roughly 40th place finishes,” Birdsall explained. “I was not happy about that. I was at a point where my placement among the competitors wasn’t improving, so I felt like I had to make a change. Coming into match #2 this year, I decided to step on the gas and see what happened. As it turned out, that was exactly the change that I needed. I’ve continued to get better and grow more confident with every match, so I’m excited to see how the season shakes out.” Getting on the gas produced just the results Birdsall was looking for. At Event #2, a pair of 18th-place stage finishes propelled the second-year Pro to his best finish to date in 22nd place. Then at Event #3, 12th- and 14th-place stage finishes carried him all the way to a 16th-place finish. After a year on the Tour, he’d finally figured out how to start gaining on the field. “The biggest difference this year is my approach,” Birdsall said. “Traditionally, I have always been a very conservative shooter. I wouldn’t take a lot of penalties, but as a result I would post the super-fast stage times of the other top competitors. I essentially threw that approach out the window for match #2 this year. I focused on speed and keeping my feet moving at all times. Now that I finally figured out what it takes to succeed at this level, there’s no stopping me. I can’t wait to see how this will impact the trajectory of my shooting career.” With one match remaining in the 2014 Pro Series, a lot remains to be decided. Ranked in the top 25, Birdsall is in solid position to qualify for his first 3GN Championship appearance, though that’s certainly not a lock, with several top-flight competitors below him on the leader board that currently only have two scores. However, if the Michigan native can build upon his performance for the third consecutive match, the sky is the limit for Rick Birdsall. “My sophomore season has really allowed me to come into my own,” Birdsall said. “I understand what it takes to compete at this level, and that was the last piece of the puzzle. I have arrived, and I’m not going anywhere.

“The 3GN Championship isn’t the ultimate goal,” Birdsall continued. “It is merely the opportunity for me to attain my ultimate goal, which is become 3GN Champion. At 24th, I’m in a strong position to make a run at the 3GN Championship, especially since my 39th-place finish isn’t doing me any favors in the standings. As long as I can post another solid finish at match #4, I will make it into the 3GN Championship and earn a shot at the title.”

4. Shane Coley & 6. Matthew Sweeney

In 2013, several members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Action Shooting Team earned births to the 2014 3GN Pro Series Qualifier via the 3GN Club Series, each winning a division at their home club in Georgia. Over the last few seasons, since Robby Johnson departed the AMU for the civilian world, the 3-gun torch has been carried by Daniel Horner and Tyler Payne, with the addition of Joel Turner in 2012. While most thought their teammates from the pistol world could do well, I’m not sure anyone realized just how good Shane Coley and Matthew Sweeney could be—and how quickly they could transition to competing against the game’s best. But then Sweeney won the Qualifier, with Coley coming in third. At Event #1, Coley immediately made his presence felt with a fourth-place finish, before Sweeney finished fourth at Event #2. In all, Coley has racked up three top-10 finishes, with Sweeney earning two top 10s,

SHANE COLEY

making it abundantly clear that the AMU is a near-lock to have four shooters in the top 10 heading into the 3GN Championship, with one more, Turner, lurking outside the top 10 at #15. With all that talent, if the bracket fell in their favor, the addition of Coley and Sweeney means we could potentially see an all-AMU final four in this year’s 3GN Championship!

5. West Chandler

One attribute of West Chandler’s shooting has been clear since he first began shooting the 3GN Pro Series—he has an absolutely ridiculously fast trigger finger. In 2012, Chandler finished 15th on the Pro Series, and at the 3GN Championship Shoot-Off, the Texas doctor was surgical in his onslaught of rounds sent downrange during a spirited battle with eventual champ Keith Garcia. Last season, Chandler was again solid, finishing 18th and earning his second consecutive 3GN Championship birth. This season, however, Chandler has taken his game to another level, with three top-10 finishes, including a 5th-place overall at Event #1. With the maturity of his game catching up to those lightning quick shooting splits, it’s only a matter of time before Chandler hooks up for a finale stage win or a deep 3GN Championship run.

10. Jason Tielke

Arguably no competitor has made as dramatic as an improvement, and been more consistent, than Jason Tielke. Finishing 32nd last season, Tielke was two spots out of the top 30 that advanced to the 3GN Championship in Vegas.

WEST CHANDLER

This year, however, Tielke is standing strong in 10th place, a whopping 22 spots ahead of last year’s finish, with a slot in this year’s Championship assured for October. With a 12th and two 11th place finishes, Tielke has been right there with top pros on squad 1 all season long, just fractions of a second away from crashing the top 10 and getting a shot at the 3GN Shoot-Off finale stage. Now here’s where it gets even better with Tielke. Normally a very smooth, possibly even measured shooter, Tielke finally let it go on the final two stages of Event #3, visibly pushing the pace more than we’ve ever seen him before. The result, a fourth- and third-place stage finish on the final two course of fire that day—he’s was running with the heat. It left us wondering if we witnessed the light bulb-moment for this shooter right before our very eyes. If so, Tielke won’t just be challenging for top 10s—he’ll be challenging for match wins!

15. Chris Andersen

Our resident training writer, Chris Andersen is proving his knowledge base this season, sitting in 15th place, twelve slots ahead of last season’s 27th place finish. Andersen has been solid all season, with 21st, 23rd and 15th place finishes in this year’s three events. Andersen came on strong last season with a birth in the 3GN Championship, where he fell to AMU’s Tyler Payne in the first round, and this year has seen more steady improvement. With a 3GN Championship Shoot-Off under his belt, that experience, along with this season’s improvement, could translate into a deep run in this season’s main event.

16. John Mouret

In 16th place, four spots better than last year’s final standings, is Arizona law enforcement officer John Mouret. A rookie on last year’s Tour, Mouret advanced to the Championship in his first season, where he fell in the first round to fellow rookie Joel Turner of the AMU. Mouret is a big, physical competitor, and as he gets further dialed into the speed of the Pro Series, he’s likely to become only more dangerous. With three top-30 finishes this season, his 12th-place showing at Event #3 is his best to date. If his improvement continues, it’s only a matter of time before Mouret consistently challenges for top-10 finishes and could be looking at a deep run in this year’s 3GN Championship.

17. Aaron Reed

One spot behind Mouret is another competitor in his “sophomore” season on the 3GN Pro Series Tour—Team Bushmaster’s Aaron Reed, who did several tours as Navy SEAL before jumping full time into 3-gun. Reed finished the season last year in 30th place, claiming the final slot into the 3GN Championship, where he had an entertaining matchup with Stag Arms’ Kalani Laker. In that matchup, Reed jumped out to a big lead during the first bout, only to see the veteran Laker reel him back in at the final pistol array before advancing two bouts to none.

AARON REED

Reed has finished as high as 16th this season and looks more comfortable this year with speed of the 3GN Pro Series. His slot to the Championship well at hand, Reed won’t sneak up on anyone this year. Only time will tell if last year’s crucible of competition will have him primed for a deep run in the Championship. Remember, his past line of work required performance under pressure all but a handful of 3-gunners could never imagine—anybody who can get through several combat deployments can clearly keep a cool head when buzzer goes off.

18. Rob Tate

One spot behind Reed is his Bushmaster teammate Rob Tate, who along with Ravin Perry, stands to make the third Bushmaster shooter headed to the Championship—just like last season. At last year’s Championship, Tate, who finished 24th overall, where he fell to past 3GN Champion Tommy Thacker in the first round—a tough Shoot-Off draw to be sure. This season, Tate has finished as high as 19th, in this really just his second full season transitioning away from pistol to more 3-gun competition. A solid final match will secure his Shoot-Off slot again— and Tate has the kind of pistol skills that make him dangerous at the main event.

22. Tommy Smith

What Tommy Smith is doing this season, how quickly he’s picking up the pace of the 3GN Pro Series, has been fun to watch. A good ole’ boy out of the incredibly competitive Tarheel 3-Gun monthly series, Smith has gotten better each time out in this his rookie season on the Tour. After a 31st place finish at Event #1, Smith has climbed the ladder steadily with a 25th and 22nd place finish over the last two matches. He’s in a solid position to be safe for the Championship in October, giving him Event #4 to really push the envelope against the game’s best. If he can do that and hook it up at the final match, Smith would be an interesting dark horse coming into the season finale. Regardless, Smith has been impressive this season, and looks to be a shooter to watch in the near future. A future that might just be right now. JANSEN JONES

26. Jansen Jones

Few competitors have worked harder over the last few years than the Noveske Shooting Team’s Jansen Jones, and this season it’s clearly showing up in the results. Jones narrowly missed last year’s Championship Shoot-Off, just one spot out in 31st place, and in 2012 a questionable disqualification cost him his best match finish of the season, and ultimately a shot at the 3GN Championship. This year, however, Jones is in the best spot he’s ever been on the Pro Tour, with a 14th-place finish propelling him into the top 30. Also, if he can have a solid Event #4 and get rid of his 40th-place score, Jones will likely move up the leader board and be primed for his 3GN Championship debut.

INTRODUCING Leupold Mark 6 Throw Lever Leupold recently announced the debut of the Mark 6 Throw Lever, an accessory for Leupold Mark 6 riflescopes, which enables shooters to make fast magnification adjustments. The Mark 6 Throw Lever clamps over the magnification adjustment ring on the Leupold Mark 6 family of riflescopes, providing a point of traction. Exclusively available through Alamo Four Star, the Throw Lever has an MSRP of $189.99. Throw levers have become all but a required piece of gear in the sport of 3-gun, with companies such as MGM Targets, and its SwitchView line of products, leading the development. With stages often requiring rapid target transitions that can be as drastic as a few feet out to 500 yards, the ability to quickly dial magnification is critical to perform well. With the Mark 6 Throw Lever, Leupold delivers an accessory that had to this point been underdeveloped for this line, which should make Leupold-running 3-gunners smile come match day. www.leupold.com.

THROW LEVERS HAVE BECOME ALL BUT A REQUIRED PIECE OF GEAR IN 3-GUN

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keeping your core strong PAGE 52

Core strength has been a buzzword in the fitness community for some time now, and for good reason. A strong core makes you less prone to injury by helping you control movement, transfer energy and shift body weight better and safer. The fundamentals of good exercise start there. The same is true for your shooting—always have a list of core drills that keep your fundamentals solid and keep you improving. At every level in your shooting career, your core drills are the ones that keep you on track, keep your fundamentals in check and give you a baseline upon which to improve.Your practice routines should always include them to ensure your basic abilities stay intact to avoid setbacks in your training.

focus on perfect trigger presses will start ingraining the best habits possible. Now is also the time to make sure you are as proficient as possible in loading and handling of all of your guns, particularly your shotgun. The faster you are comfortable with these skills, the more fun the sport becomes. Manipulation: Your dexterity and manipulation will be one of the most important things to start training on initially. Concentrate on becoming an expert in being perfect with draws, firearm presentation, reloads, malfunction clearing, etc. These skills are automatic to the advanced shooter, and the mastery of those skills starts right now. You cannot practice these fundamentals enough. And, the

CHRIS ANDERSEN

practice bedrock training drills to develop a winning program In addition, very much like your core gets a little stronger each time you work out, your core shooting drills will evolve and change based on your ability level. Here are a few of the core drills—based on shooter-ability level—I have used over the years, and continue to use to stay as sharp as possible on match day.

New Shooter Think fundamentals. As your start your journey into competitive shooting, the core principles you should be concentrating on revolve around safety and good,basicshooting fundamentals. Safety: First and foremost, your practice sessions, and match days, should begin and end with safety. As you figure out your equipment and make changes, etc., NOTHING is going to be more important than staying safe. Now is the time to build the muscle memory and fundamentals that will ensure you have a long, safe shooting career. That means your highest priorities should be good muzzle and trigger discipline, as well as always staying under control. Fundamentals: Time spent shooting at the range should always start with some very basic execution of sound fundamentals. Group shooting and even dry-fire with lots of

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more instinctive they become, the better 3-gunner you become down the road.

Intermediate Shooter Visual Patience: As you progress in your abilities, you will instinctively want to start to hit the gas with your pace, and it is important to push that pace. But, even more important than pushing is knowing exactly when to back off to stay under control. Visual patience is the real key to this sport. Having the ability push as hard as possible, while staying under control to ensure one-shot hits on targets, is where you reach your maximum potential. Core drills should reflect that, with tons of emphasis on changing pace and level of difficulty, to teach yourself to remain visually patient and hit those targets on the first shot. The intermediate-ability level can be dangerous on this front because you are starting to figure things out and want to go fast. However, I see many shooters stall in their improvement because they push too hard and are never able to reign it back in and get to the next level. Efficiency of Movement: There is lots of time to be gained in improving your efficiency of movement at this skill level—coming into positions ready to shoot, controlling your movement and speed to stay on target better, moving and

shooting, etc. Odds are you have not been coming into position with your gun up ready to shoot yet, and you are standing still when you should be moving and shooting. Start pushing a little to see where time is being left on the table. Start testing yourself. Put various movement and shootingposition drills on the clock to ensure you are staying as efficient as possible, all the while remembering to remain patient and go one for one.

in my practice sessions to far beyond what I expect to see in the match. This not only sharpens my ability, but it makes the shots in the match seem easy at times compared to what I have been practicing. And easy = fast. This also applies to complexity. I try and constantly vary the formats in my practice sessions to keep myself guessing and make sure my problem-solving skills are as sharp as possible.

Long-Range Ballistics: Now is also the time to sort out your rifle shooting. Long-range shots in matches tend to sort beginning shooters from those at a higher level quickly because they are not familiar with their rifle’s ballistics. And by familiar, I do not mean using your iPhone calculator, or reading the side of an ammunition box. I mean independently confirming your chosen bullet’s ballistics, through YOUR rifle, at the ranges you intend to shoot in the real world. Doing that makes you a better rifle shooter on many levels, but the most important is going to be with regard to your confidence. The key to being a successful longrange competitor is confidence in equipment and abilities, and that starts by taking the time to confirm how each performs before the timer starts in competition.

Eye Speed: What you see, how quickly you see it, and how you process things are of the highest importance at the advanced level. Regular routines to keep your eyes sharp are incredibly important. I always try to track my dry-fire sessions, and core speed and transition drills to make sure I am at the level that I need to be. And if something slips, I immediately focus my efforts on bringing that particular skill back up to speed—all the while keeping track of the big picture to ensure my overall abilities continue to improve. Your eyes and your brain are the most important muscles in this sport, so you should work them out as often as possible, especially when competing at the more advanced levels.

Advanced Shooter Achieving that first 80 to 90 percent of your ability is easy compared to this part. That final 10 percent is harder than the rest of it put together. As an advanced shooter, all of the fundamentals should be automatic at this point. The big lessons have been learned, and so now your improvement revolves around elevating your overall ability level with core drills that help you do just that. Extreme Difficulty: I do not like surprises in a match. If you find that you are surprised, it usually means you have not prepared properly to compete and are not going to be able to contend for that good finish. Taking shots in practice with a very high level of difficulty means you usually keep those surprises to an absolute minimum. Having had the opportunity to shoot matches all over the country at this point in my career, I am very familiar with what sort of shots to expect at each of them. So in my preparation for those matches, I up the level of difficulty

Fitness: Some may argue with me on this, but if you have been paying attention, you are aware that this sport is getting faster and faster with better and better athletes rising to the top of the podium. Power, explosiveness and speed are becoming more and more important to being competitive at the highest levels. Time spent in the gym for me involves exercises and workouts that allow me to remain as flexible as possible for smooth movements and transitions. It also helps build up speed and explosiveness to ensure I get to that next shooting position fast every time. A good fitness regimen also pays dividends outside of shooting.

Now Get To It! Staying true to these fundamentals has helped me tremendously in my career. And they can definitely help you, too. Of course everyone’s core drills may be a little different, although the principle is always the same. Stay focused on keeping the core aspects of your shooting strong, and your skill level will continue to improve!

if you have been paying attention, you are aware that this sport is getting faster and faster with better athletes rising to the top of the podium.

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INTRODUCING Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro It’s the kind of system that can save your life. A laser automatically activates when you assume a master grip on a handgun equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips or Laserguards, reducing the number of steps required prior to engaging a criminal threat— at a time when stress will shorten your memory and tunnel vision will close in. Crimson Trace holds the patent for its Instinctive Activation System, and in the last 20 years the company has sold more than 2 million. Not long ago, however,the company rolled out a new Rail Master line that’s different. They don’t hide in handgun-specific grip panels or ride in sculpted fashion on the front of the grip. The unit fits on virtually any handgun, rifle or pistol with a Picatinny- or Weaver-style rail, so the firearm-specific, grip-activated switch is gone. The activation-paddle for the 5 milliwatt laser, however, makes it nearly as intuitive as its predecessors. The Rail Master Pro CMR-205 is the latest addition to that lineup. It still has that elevation- and windage-adjustable laser, but it adds a 100-Lumen white light. A green-lasered version, CMR-204, is also available. A single CR2 lithium battery, housed under a .73-inch cap at the front of the weaponlight, provides power. Its location means there’s no reason to re-zero when replacing the battery. Battery cap removal is as simple as using a nickel to back the battery cap off. Anticipated lifespan of a battery in the CMR-205 is two hours of continuous use, but that shouldn’t be much of a concern. Crimson Trace has a “Free Batteries for Life” program, in which owners of the company’s laser-aiming devices get a set of batteries once a year delivered to their house. To avoid inadvertent activation and loss of power, the Rail Master Pro also automatically powers down after 5 minutes.

Squeeze both ambidextrous pressure paddles simultaneously and hold pressure until the unit lights up. Maintain pressure until the Rail Master Pro toggles to your preferred configuration, then release. That’s it. A single tap on one of the paddles is all that’s required to activate or turn off the unit. However, to avoid long finger throws or complicated manipulation at a time of stress, the Rail Master Pro ships with four different inserts. The manual recommends which one will align the paddles next to the front of the triggerguard (they’re numbered and a chart is provided with different handgun recommendations), precisely where your trigger finger will be sliding past as you engage the trigger— so one-handed activation is nearly intuitive.With a two-handed, thumbsforward grip, it required ½ inch of movement from the support thumb to turn on the weaponlight when mounted on a Springfield XD 9. The waterproof Rail Master Pro has an aluminum body, with polymer construction in a flat-black finish. It measures 2.25 inches in length (including activation paddles), is 1.10 inches tall and 1.20 inches wide. In testing it held zero and windage and elevation adjustments were easy, as is always the case with Crimson Trace lasers. The rail mount, something the company calls Secure Lock Technology, held firm and didn’t work its way loose after an hour of shooting (no Loctite was applied, either). Mounted on the strong side of a long gun, slightly forward of the offhand position, operation will be every bit as intuitive. For most, activation will be with the index finger. But, you know 3-gunners. Some will wrap that thumb around the fore-end to drive the gun and wind up using the other paddle for activation. Either way, it works. The Rail Master Pro is covered by a three-year warrantee. If you decide it’s not the system for you within 30 days of purchase, Crimson Trace will refund your money. MSRP for the American-made weaponlights are $279 for the red version (CMR-205) and $379 for the green (CMR-204). Visit crimsontrace.com for more information.

There are four modes of operation: laser and light; laser only; light only; and laser with a strobing light. That’s versatile for a unit that weighs only 2.7 ounces (with the battery installed). Best of all, changing the setup is much less complicated than what’s required on some weaponlights.

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INTRODUCING Ruger LC9 Sturm, Ruger recently announced the debut of the all-new Ruger LC9s pistol. The LC9s is a striker-fired version of the award-winning LC9 pistol. Like the LC9, the LC9s is a slim, lightweight, personal protection pistol that is chambered in 9mm Luger. The LC9s features a newly designed trigger mechanism with a short, light, crisp trigger pull that improves accuracy and performance. “The Ruger LC9 set a high standard for reliable, lightweight personal protection, said Chris Killoy, Ruger President and Chief Operating Officer. “The LC9s follows the success of the LC9, yet provides a new option for shooters who prefer the short, crisp trigger pull of a striker-fired pistol.” The LC9s uses the same holsters, extended magazines, lasers and accessories as the LC9 and features a blued, through-hardened alloy steel slide; a one-piece high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip frame with aggressive checkering; a grip extension magazine floorplate to improve handling; and a rapid acquisition, windage adjustable, 3-dot sight system. The compact, 17.2 oz. Ruger LC9s pistol has a 3.12-inch barrel, an overall length of 6 inches, a height of 4.5 inches and a slim 0.9-inch width. The compact frame and short trigger reach is designed to accommodate a wide range of hand sizes. The LC9s offers modern safety features such as an integrated trigger safety, manual safety, magazine disconnect, inert magazine for safe disassembly and a visual inspection port that allows for visual confirmation of a loaded or empty chamber. The LC9s ships with one 7-round magazine, a soft case and a cable locking device.

Carry Combo – Pair the new Ruger LC9s with the Comp-Tac 2 o’Clock IWB Holster for a highly concealable carry package.

New Plan Delivers 3GN Magazine To All Members In response to requests from much of the membership base, 3-Gun Nation Magazine will now be included in all memberships, at no extra cost. For $45, every Annual Member of 3-Gun Nation, regardless of the competition series, etc., will receive the only publication dedicated to the sport of 3-Gun. “After looking at our membership plans, we had some folks as members who didn’t get the magazine but wanted it, while others came in with a separate membership and added the magazine, so it was a little confusing,” said 3GN Magazine Editor in Chief Chad Adams. “Boiling it all down to this one streamlined membership plan takes what we believe is a great publication and delivers it to every member of the 3-Gun Nation.” Going forward, a 3-Gun Nation Annual Membership will be completely all-inclusive. Along with the magazine, that plan will include a 3GN competition ID# that gives the member access to all 3GN Club Series and 3GN Regional Series competition programs, including eligibility to all competition points races, prizes and 3GN Classifications.

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