A side benefit of shooting .22s is that the tendency to anticipate recoil or flinch due to muzzle blast is eliminated as, well, there isn’t any muzzle blast or recoil. The very qualities that make the .22 an ideal training tool also make it difficult to design a gun around, as the lack of velocity, gas volume and pressure it produces gives very little fuel for a semi-auto to run on. A major consideration when choosing a .22 as a trainer then is reliability, as clearing stoppages detracts from training time.

Many people, myself included, started working with Ruger’s venerable 10/22 as a trainer and it has a number of good things going for it. It’s ubiquitous, inexpensive, well-served with aftermarket parts if you want to customize it and most important, has cheap hi-cap magazines. These, together with Butler Creek’s loading device, mean that you can spend a lot of time shooting and less time stuffing fiddly little rounds into mags. Team this with a reliable handgun such as the Browning Buckmark and you have a setup that will serve not only for training, but for Steel Challenge or Ruger Rimfire matches also.

If you want to maximize the .22’s utility, then a setup that closely mimics your “real guns” is the next step. One option is to use a .22 conversion kit that drops into your existing AR-15, but they can be finicky and usually accuracy isn’t anything to write home about, as the .22 LR bullet is generally happiest when shot through a 1:16 twist barrel. There are other problems with lead fouling, particularly if running a compensator, but the drop-in conversions do have the benefit of being affordable and they allow you to use your existing optics package without having to transfer it to another gun.

Another choice for rifle training might be to consider one of the AR .22 clones, such as the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 or the Umarex-made Colt version. While duplicating the controls and look of the AR-15, these are generally much lighter than the real thing, and in some cases you’re stuck with the manufacturer’s choice of furniture.

I’ve been a big proponent of the Nordic .22 conversion upper for several years now since buying one of the very first models. So far, I haven’t come across anything to beat it when it comes to reliability or accuracy. It’s a dedicated .22 LR system, designed from the ground up with a 1:16 twist barrel and a bolt that isn’t compromised by having to fit within the profile of the 5.56 upper.

Although it looks like a typical centerfire upper receiver, the internal machining is completely different, optimized around the rimfire cartridge and its relatively dirty blowback operating system. I’ve regularly run through an entire brick of ammo without one gun-related stoppage, pausing only to squirt a little CLP on the moving parts. Nordic offer three barrel options, so getting a setup to duplicate the balance of your 5.56 upper is a relatively simple affair, and by using your existing AR lower receiver, ergonomics and trigger pull are maintained. As with any semi-auto, magazines are a critical component of the system, and there are several options currently available that will work in a standard AR lower, the best of the bunch being from Black Dog or CMMG.

Pistol conversions can be more finicky, and can be separated into two camps: the generally reliable and everything else. Tactical Solutions makes a quality 1911 conversion that has options for both single-stack and wide-body frames. One nice feature of the TacSol kit is that it comes with high quality rail- or rib-mounted iron sights that can be easily removed for use with optics, or a red dot can be bolted up to the rail just as easily. Unlike a purpose-built .22 pistol, the conversion unit’s magazines match the profile of the full size gun, so mag change drills can be incorporated into a range session without having to switch gears between the two platforms.

Rimfire training bridges the gap between dry-fire practice and trigger time on your competition or carry gun. No matter what system you use to actually fire the .22 round, you can be building skills and eliminating bad habits while making your ammo budget go a little further. Besides, they’re fun and for that reason alone, a good .22 should be part of your arsenal.

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ATI StG 44

American Tactical Imports provides a variety of German-built .22s designed to mirror the features of full-caliber guns. For 2012, they will be extending their inventory to include the ATI StG 44, a replica of the WWII-era German Sturmgewehr 44 combat rifle. This .22 semi-automatic rifle accepts a high-capacity magazine, arrives in a period shipping crate with appropriate military markings, and has been constructed to be as historically accurate as possible.

CZ 455 Varmint Evolution

Available in a wide variety of rimfire options -- including .22 LR, .22 Mag., .17 HMR and .17 Mach 2 -- CZ's radical-looking, switch-barrel bolt-action is a fine update to its more traditionally modeled 455 series. While the Model 455 Varmint Evolution may have received mixed reactions to its aesthetics, one thing is for sure: It shoots like a dream at 50 yards, making it an ideal varminting rimfire.

Mossberg 464 SPX

If an AR-15 style tactical .22 rifle and a lever-action cowboy carbine had a love child, it would look just like the latest 464 SPX rifle from Mossberg. With an 18-inch barrel, matte black finish, and steel rifle sights, the 464's six position stock and tri-rail forend provide a unique blend of cutting-edge gun features and old-fashioned reliability.

Ruger LCR-22

Introduced with the SR22P, Ruger's new Lightweight Compact Revolver chambered in .22 LR features an eight-round magazine, along with square-notch rear and fixed-blade front sights. With a barrel length of 1.875 inches, this lightweight, smallbore snubbie makes for an excellent carry option.

Ruger SR22P

Ruger is a long time industry leader in .22 plinking and hunting with their ever popular 10/22 semi-automatic rifles. In 2011, they listened to customer feedback and introduced the 22/45 pistol and 10/22 rifle with barrels threaded for sound suppressors, a factory 25-round magazine for the 10/22 rifle, the 10-shot Single-Ten single-action revolver and an eight-shot rimfire version of the popular SP101 double-action revolver. For 2012, look for the new polymer-framed SR22 semi-auto pistol and the LCR-22, an eight-shot rimfire understudy for the LCR .38 caliber concealed-carry revolvers.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown

Touted as "America's No. 1 .22," Ruger reintroduced its famous 10/22 semi-auto as a takedown rifle earlier this year, and it was met with glowing reviews. The 10/22 Takedown is easy to disassemble and put back together, making it incredibly portable -- and it's super accurate too -- and with its two-piece, black stock and stainless steel barrel, it's certainly a treat for the eyes.

Ruger 22/45 Lite

With a gold-anodized aluminum finish, this futuristic-looking trail gun almost looks like something out of Star Wars. The Ruger 22/45 Lite features fully adjustable target-type sights, along with a threaded barrel that accepts suppressors (where legal, of course).

Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 MOE

Smith & Wesson made big news years ago when it introduced a .22-caliber version its M&P15 rifle, the M&P15-22. Now, the rimfire AR is available with Magpul MOE furniture. Our sister magazine, Petersen's RifleShooter, labeled this rifle its favorite tactical .22, and for good reason: It's lightweight, reliable and functions exactly the same as a standard 5.56-chambered AR.

Smith & Wesson M&P22

Available with 10- or 12-round magazines, the Smith & Wesson M&P22 is everything a shooter should expect from S&W's M&P centerfire series. With a magazine disconnect safety and an ambidextrous thumb safety, the M&P22 is an excellent learning tool for young or inexperienced shooters, and of course, it's a joy to shoot.

Taurus Tracker 992

Taurus calls its Tracker 992 double-action revolver "the most versatile Tracker ever," due to its easily removable cylinder, transforming it from a .22 LR to a .22 Mag. with just the push of a button. The Tracker 992 features a transfer bar mechanism, which prevents hammer striking unless the trigger is pulled completely to the rear, along with Taurus' signature rubber grip and the Taurus Security System.

Umarex USA .22LR UZI

Umarex USA will be importing .22LR semi-automatic pistols and rifles based on the famous UZI submachine gun. These rimfire guns are branded IWI, which is the original UZI maker, but they are manufactured by Carl Walther in Germany. The rifle, modeled after the UZI carbine, includes a folding stock and faux suppressor. The pistol, based on the Micro UZI, will accept the same 20-round magazines as the rifle. Umarex will also be shipping a replica of a Colt 1911 semi-auto designed to shoot .22.

Walther P22

Walther is releasing a new model of the popular P22 pistol. This version will include an integrated red laser sight.

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New .22s for 2012

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Colt is going through some big changes at the moment due to a massive investment in new machinery. Some machine tools have been in almost continuous operation at the plant since they were driven by overhead belts, and many are being replaced by state-of-the-art CNC machining centers, which is good for us consumers, as it usually means increased productivity, shorter lead times, more product choices and better quality. Despite all the changes, JMB himself would feel right at home on the shop floor and maybe just a little proud that his iconic design is still going strong.

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Ready for Service

Raw forgings arrive from the foundry, ready for machine operations. There are other ways of making a 1911 frame, but beating red-hot steel with massive hammers has its own set of benefits. Besides, it’s a manly way to make a manly gun.

Steel Grain

Like wood, forged steel exhibits a grain structure. When correctly oriented, this grain provides greater resistance to the shear forces generated when the pistol cycles.

Precision Frames

The 1911 frame requires many machine operations to complete, some of which are performed more efficiently on older tools. Here, the front strap and trigger guard are partially profiled.

Cutting the Channel

One of the most difficult operations to perform on modern equipment is cutting the channel for the trigger bow. The machines performing this operation have been in service since the plant first started making 1911s – as one is in use, the other is being rebuilt.

Heavy Lifting

Most of the heavy lifting is done on CNC machine centers like this one.

Processed Frames

Multiple frames are loaded into the machine and batch processed, saving time and handling.

On the Rack

The frames are placed on a rack together before the next step.

Engraving

Once fully machined and inspected, the frames are laser engraved with a serial number. At this point, a hunk of steel becomes a firearm.

Polishing

No machine is capable of handling the intricacies of polishing – a real, live and highly-skilled human is responsible for the final finishing of your 1911.

In-House Barrels

Barrels are produced in house on a CNC lathe.

Profiling the Barrels

After turning on the lathe, another CNC mill profiles the locking lugs and barrel feet.

Rifling the Barrels

Barrels are then rifled and chambered. Here, a rifling broach is seen next to the barrel it just produced.

Slides Forged

Slides also start out as forgings before making their way through the factory.

Hand Fitting

Once all parts have been manufactured, they come together for final hand fitting.

Approved By...

Once assembled and checked, the pistol is stamped on the trigger guard with the assembler’s initial.

Proof Firing

Guns are then proof fired at the range before being boxed up and shipped.

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Building the 1911: Making the Nation's Favorite Handgun

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So long as you’re safe, you’ll usually find the people involved in the sport to be welcoming and friendly and they’ll go out of their way to explain things to a new shooter, but a little advance knowledge never goes amiss.

Hope to see you at the range.

Years later, after some competitive shooting in the Marine Corps, I found my true competitive love while watching a shooting video of the top United States Practical Shooting Association shooters.

Practical shooting began decades before in the form of leatherslap competitions, where the shooters focused on fast drawing defensive firearms from their holsters. The original informal competitions became governed by the USPSA and the International Practical Shooting Confederation. The sports became known as “practical shooting,” and the shooting and gear evolved at a very fast rate.

Practical shooting has been in my blood for over 20 years now, and I have competed in both USPSA and IDPA, as well as other variations of steel or practical type competitions. This experience has led me to figure out some stuff along the way, things that would make life for a new shooter much easier.

Lets keep the list short for this article, so you can focus and absorb each one, and in future articles I will expand on all the other things you will need to know to shoot competitively. While my focus (and background) is in practical shooting, this list addresses things that can be applied across the board.

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Don’t Make Assumptions

I am surprised each time I hear someone in conversation or from a distance talk about competitive shooting. Oftentimes they are misinformed by other “target” shooters on what competition is really all about, what gear to use or specific rules. I have students who are avid competitors show up to classes with a lack of knowledge about the rules of their sport. So, one of my first recommendations is to read the rulebook of the sport they are shooting. If you are a new shooter, don’t make assumptions until you attend a match and watch and speak to the shooters. After that, you will have a much broader understanding of the sport and what your next steps should be.

You Don’t Need a Predetermined Skill Set

Many new shooters may actually be required to attend a class or group session before being allowed to compete. That being said, you don’t need to be a great shooter (or even a good one) to compete. Almost every shooting sport out there has different classes of shooters ranging from beginner to expert. Most often, you will be competing against others with similar abilities. I have heard shooters say they are going to practice a bit before getting into competition, and my response is always to encourage these folks to get to a level of training where they are safe, then jump in with both feet. Competing with good shooters will probably help you more than practicing on your own.

Don't Be Too Quick to Buy All Your Gear

Please follow my advice on this one: Do not go out and buy guns and gear until you have watched a match. I can’t possibly express how often I see shooters with guns that are completely wrong for their division. While there is a wide range of gear that may work, there are probably more effective (and most of time less expensive) gun/holster/magazine combinations available. Please take the time to watch a match, and take a notebook with you. Ask the best shooter you see what guns he or she is using and why. This insight will save you time, headaches and hopefully some cash.

Match Nerves Never Go Away; Learn to Control Them

This is one that prevents many people from shooting a match, or even considering it. Just think of the inevitable nervousness as an adrenaline rush. Even the top shooters in the world get the shakes when they step up to the plate, but one thing they all know is there is no secret potion that will get rid of that performance anxiety. If your nerves are really bothering you, find a good instructor/coach that can break down your issues.

Don’t Expect to Win Right Away

When I was still in law enforcement I routinely brought other officers with me to handgun matches. Most of them shot well, but seemed to be surprised when they were out-shot by civilians or first timers. Since then, I've met many people who shot their first match and were so humbled that they chose not to go back. Even if you're a good shooter at your local range and you can beat your buddies, you're probably not going to win your first match. You can't let a slow start bother you, though, my personal suggestion is to look at it as a challenge!

If You Need Help, Simply Ask Someone

When you are at your first match, it’s pretty likely that you will have a question or need some help. Don't be afraid to ask someone. Most shooting communities that I have been a part of are extremely helpful to all involved and more often than not will go to extreme lengths to help fellow competitors. I have seen more guns, gear and ammunition loans than I can count.

Your Ability in Practice Will Probably Never Translate to the Match

I wish this weren't true, but it is. Practice makes perfect, so hopefully you will spend some time training on the range to improve your match scores. Surprisingly, you may not be able to perform to the same level in a real competition as you do in practice. Don’t let this discourage you, though, as long as your skill is improving in practice it will carry over to competition. If there is a huge difference in your ability in practice and a match, then consider this an indication that you might not be as strong mentally as you need to be. Likely, the failure during competitions is a result of a lack of confidence, or high anxiety, which brings us to my final tip...

Have a Strong Mental Preparation Program

Shooting is a physical skill that is strongly influenced by visual input and mental control. That is why it's so important to understand what the “mental game” is, and how to improve in that area. The reason I bring this up is that new shooters always tend to react to a poor performance by going to the range and simply shooting more. While this may be an effective solution, it is much less effective than adding some mental training to the equation. In my book, Your Competition Handgun Training Program, I include a mental section that helps shooters build solid mental skills that translate to better performance in competitions. A key point in that section covers utilizing the mental tools I give them, such as a “focus breath” and “performance statement” during their training.

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8 Competition Shooting Tips for New Shooters

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Mike Seeklander is the owner of Shooting-Performance LLC, as well as the president of the U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, Okla. Mike has extensive formal training and experience as a full-time professional instructor, and has authored numerous pieces of curriculum. In 2010, Mike published the incredibly popular book Your Competition Handgun Training Program, as well as a logbook and two DVDs (“Competition Handgun Training Skills and Drills,” volumes 1 and 2), to complete the Shooting-Performance training system. Mike teaches a wide variety of programs through USSA and his company Shooting-Performance, including defensive firearm and competition classes.

If you’re interested in competing at next year’s event, the time to start your research is NOW. Assemble your gear and train at as many smaller, local matches as possible, because simply turning up and expecting to finish, let alone place well is a tall order, equivalent to driving down to the Daytona 500 in the family minivan and expecting to turn in decent lap times. Check out the video from the 2012 MGM Ironman.

There’s been big changes over the past few years in the rifle division for Colt. Nowadays they’re not just supplying one customer with one product (Uncle Sam, the M4), they’re supplying many different customers with up to 40 different rifles in the lineup. This wasn’t an internal business decision, it was kind of forced, as the company lost out on the Army M4 contract when it was awarded to the Freedom Group earlier this year. In many ways, the loss was a good thing for Colt and it’s line of rifles for the civilian market–their line now boast products the market actually wants. Ain’t capitalism grand?

Since 2009, Colt has dropped some serious money into modernizing the plant, with new machinery and processes. It was intriguing to see machine tools made in the 1930′s still hard at work, standing next to a state-of-the-art CNC machines. One thing that was truly impressive though, was the attention to quality that went into each gun. Yes, they’re far from being custom one-offs, but the gauges, comparators and controls that are in place mean that you can pull a rifle out of the rack and it will perform identically to any other in the line.

Each carbine, whether it’s made for the military or civilian market is made to exactly the same standards. We got to see some of the critical dimensions that make up a Military Specification, then compare them at random to parts that were coming off the machines. Suffice to say, the Colt parts exceeded the specification by a wide margin. Having built a fair number of ARs, I always figured that parts were parts, no matter where they came from. I might have to change that opinion.

Take a look inside the plant with me, I’m sure you’ll see a few things that’ll trip your trigger.

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Pretty Soon, These Will Be M16 Lowers

Raw forgings are taken from their racks and placed into fixtures in the CNC machining centers.

Daniel Horner from the AMU launches from the MGM zipline tower

The MGM Ironman has the reputation of chewing up shooters and spitting them out. In the last few years, each day of shooting has been punctuated by at least one ambulance ride, and the combination of heat, dust and a high round count means that refined & tuned competition guns crash and burn with monotonous regularity.

It’s a match like no other. This year, competitors will be expected to shoot from a zipline, after launching themselves off of a three-story tower.

The next stage involves diving into a tunnel and mowing down a bunch of subterranean targets with a pistol equipped with a weapon light and laser, and then emerging to shoot some more with a full-auto MP5, shotgun and rifle.

There are targets that charge, targets that are way the heck out there, and for 2012, a steel target called the Death Star, as well as the usual assortment of poppers, clays, plate racks and paper, some of which are shot while driving a golf cart.

If this doesn’t sound hard enough, well there’s a way to get more out of the experience. The Ironman offers a unique equipment category, kind of a “super open” division where you can run pretty much any gun you want and as many of them as you can beg, borrow or steal. The only snag is that you have to hump everything on your back for three days, and a 140-pound loadout is not uncommon.

The Ironman was the very first major match I attended, so it holds a special place in my heart. If you have a hankering to shoot it, don’t be disheartened by anyone who says it’s for experienced shooters only – go sign up for Ironman 2013 and I guarantee you’ll learn more about your gear and skills in three days, than in any other environment.

I’ll be attending the match this week and will bring you as much of the action as will fit onto an SD card. Wish me luck; I’ll need it.

UPDATE: Check out this awesome video from Stage 5 of the 2012 MGM Ironman.

The Vortex Razor HD is a true 1x power scope with a 115-plus-foot field of view, and features a JM-1 BDC reticle in a 30mm tube. The turrets offer 50 MOA per rotation, and these tactile, zero-resettable turrets make traveling with them so much easier. The Vortex Razor HD will be available this fall and will retail around $1,700, but may sell for as low as $1,399.

With an illuminated reticle at 1x power, users get two reticle options at 6.5x power: a Mil Hash, or a BDC built around a .223 62-grain accurate up to 600 yards. The first focal plane retails around $1,600, while the second retails around $1,400.

The JM Pro-Series features an expanded bolt release, a chamfered loading area and a variety of Nordic Components parts. Available with a 24-inch non-ported barrel for the 10-shot and a 22-inch barrel for the nine-shot, this well-received, gas-operated shotgun retails around $800.

Cramming rounds into a tube-fed shotgun is a time-consuming exercise, and the ability to perform this task without dropping precious shells can decide where you place in the overall standings. Usually, this calls for a weak hand reload, where the shotgun remains shouldered while the left hand grasps three or four shells from a belt mounted caddy. These are then thumbed one at a time into the loading gate, a process which requires a lot of practice and manual dexterity.

Carbon Arms has stepped in to help solve this problem with products include multiple shell holders “that allow the use of loading two in shotgun at a time” and are designed for ergonomics, speed and reliability.

From Carbon Arms’ website:

The average shooter can put on a SSL (chest worn) and cut their load times by 30% or more with 30 minutes of practice.  An average user, with a little more practice can reduce their load times by 40 to 50%.  The backbone and pinwheel allow the SSl clips to be worn on the belt instead of the chest.  You get the same speed and benefits of the SSLs, but worn at the belt level.

The FSL (belt worn) takes a little more practice to master than the SSLs, however significantly less than the traditional strong and weak hand load 4 techniques.

This alternative system is easier to learn and less dependent on fine motor skills. Instead, the shooter grabs two shells at a time from a belt clip which holds them end to end, just like they wind up in the mag tube. They are then pushed into the magazine in one slick movement.

Three-gun maestro Patrick Kelley used this system to good effect at the first big match of the 2012 season last month at Rio Salado in Arizona, and he can demonstrate just how easy it can be to keep the 12 gauge topped off.

Would you use this new contraption?

Following the invention of the double column magazine by Deudonne Saive, there really haven’t been a whole lot of original ideas coming out of the handgun industry for the last 75 years. Yes, I know, underqualified hacks like me will tell you all about the latest whizbang doodad from SHOT show, but in comparison to say, the medical field, it’s really just the refinement of existing technologies and the application of new materials from other industries, combined in many instances with hyperbolic marketing.

Which brings me to the AF2011-A1 double barrel pistol from Arsenal Firearms. If you listen carefully to the video, you can almost hear the dialog in the meeting that lead to it’s creation. ”Hey Franz, we’ve got a couple of spare 1911′s and a MIG welder. Any clue what we can do with them?”  Either that, or they hired a recently-graduated business consultant who mistook the South Park underpants gnomes episode as an instruction manual.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a brilliant idea that involves a couple of Glock 17s and a tube of JB Weld…

Chad Adams interviews Tommy Thacker after his win in Vegas (Photo courtesy of Dianna Liedorff)

The 2012 SHOT show provided the backdrop for the richest payout in the sport of 3-gun, when eight finalists squared off under desert floodlights to battle in front of the cameras. Team FNH veterans Tommy Thacker and Mark Hanish took it to the wire in a nailbiting finish and later, I got to speak with the guy responsible for creating the event.

Chad Adams is both the presenter and chief string-puller at 3-Gun Nation, the TV show that has introduced the sport to millions on Versus and is about to enter its third season.

IH: Chad, we’ve seen a whole raft of TV shows present shooting in a positive light in the past couple of years and it’s great to see 3GN has gained audience. What do you see as the main reasons for this?

CA: I truly believe our ratings and viewers are increasing because there is nothing else quite like 3-Gun Nation on television. When you look at the exposure shooting is getting through major networks like History and Discovery, combined with the traditional outdoor networks, there has never been more shooting shows reaching mainstream America. But within all of the that, 3-Gun Nation is unique. It features raw and unfiltered, pure competition at the highest levels, seen through the lens of the top shooters in our sport. You get a feel of who these competitors are and what they’re all about.

IH: The new relationship with NBC Sports probably raised some eyebrows in the shooting community, given that NBC has never been particularly gun-friendly. Have you felt any influence or pressure in that regard?

CA: We’re excited about the potential that comes with Versus becoming the NBC Sports Network. For us to be able to leverage the NBC Sports brand is a powerful tool. The folks we work with at NBC Sports Network have shown a real, positive interest in how we showcase the shooting sports. In fact, NBC Sports Network match Leupold Tactical Optics’ contribution of $25,000, making the $50,000 3-Gun Nation Championship prize the largest payout in the history of our sport.

IH: You’ve changed the competition format for 2012, concentrating on the Scoped Tactical division to the exclusion of the guys running Heavy Metal or Open gear. I have to admit, I was pissed when I found out. Care to give everyone the rundown on that?

CA: I’ll use the analogy of racing: A traditional 3-gun venue is sort of like having NASCAR, Formula 1 and Truck Series drivers all on the track at the same time. Having five different equipment divisions competing at the same venue makes 3-gun difficult to relate to the average viewer. The 3-Gun Nation Pro Series will put the top 3-gunners all in one division, competing head-to-head, for cash payouts. The Pro Series represents a new era in 3-gun — the dawn of a true professional shooting sport.

IH: Of the matches & venues you’ve been to in the last 24 months, which ones have been your favorites from a TV standpoint?

CA: Showcasing Outlaw 3-Gun matches on our TV show has been an awesome experience. Each one really does have its own flavor, and those very personal characteristics of each match make for a very different TV experience. Rocky Mountain presents wide open vistas at NRA’s amazing Whittington Center. Blue Ridge challenges competitors with stages weaved into rolling natural terrain. Superstition, very much a square bay match, amazes with flat-out, wide open shooting unlike anything seen anywhere else. Shooting styles, the use of props, the backdrop — 3-gun has a different face everywhere we’ve been.

IH: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone looking to get into the sport of 3-gun?

CA: The best piece of advice I’ve heard, and I’ve heard it time and time again from top 3-gunners, for those thinking about getting into 3-gun is simply this–go shoot a match! It doesn’t matter what guns and gear you have to start. Nearly everyone begins with very basic firearms and loading out of pockets. Most folks will be pretty awful at the game compared to the veterans on their squad. But it doesn’t matter. Come out and shoot a match. Most likely the folks there will lend you gear, coach you up, and you will leave the range that day changed forever. Give it a chance and 3-gun will get into your blood forever. And I speak from experience. A couple of years ago I shot my first match, and I’m completely hooked.

Caracal Full Size 9mm

Full disclosure; due to work commitments I wasn’t able to visit anywhere near the number of exhibitors I wanted to last week, so there may well have been a hidden gem lurking unseen. That said, 2012 seemed like an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary year in the firearms industry, with no real standout designs from major manufacturers. Most of the innovation seemed to be at the margins, with smaller companies and accessory makers taking point.

An example of this would be the Caracal pistol. This gun has been bobbing around at the periphery for a few years now, but now looks set to make its debut in the U.S. market, with a solid distribution and marketing plan behind it. All this is good news for us shooters as no matter how good the product, if it isn’t supported with spares, consumables and the aftermarket, it will disappear after making a brief splash in the gun rags. I hope this pistol sticks around for a long time, as it’s pretty damned good.

The Caracal is made in the United Arab Emirates and is designed by one of the engineers who brought us the Glock and Steyr handguns. It should come as no surprise then that it’s pretty strongly influenced by both designs, being polymer framed and striker fired with an 18 round capacity in 9mm. The important differences are in its ergonomics and trigger, as the bore axis is the lowest I’ve ever seen on a locked breech pistol and the factory trigger is set at 2.8lbs with a clean break and a short tactile reset. It is, by far the best factory trigger I’ve ever shot in a polymer gun and knocks the reigning champion, the Springfield XDm 5.25, off its pedestal.

I managed to put a half dozen or so mags through the full-size gun at Media Day at SHOT and was impressed by the lack of muzzle flip and natural pointability. If the production examples are the same as the ones provided to the press, then it will deserve your attention.  Caracal have a pretty decent IPSC crew in Europe and are actively courting some very big name shooters in the US at the moment in order to build a USPSA Production division team -  if they sign the guy I hope they will, then expect some fireworks this year.

I’m looking to get a test gun in house to put through the wringer and give a better idea of its capabilities – watch this space.

For more new guns and gear from the 2012 SHOT Show, click here.

For more new guns and gear from the 2012 SHOT Show, click here.

If you’ve ever picked up a Walther P22, you’ll get a sense of deja vu when you encounter the Ruger. They’re almost exactly the same size and shape, but while the Walther has a cast zinc slide, the Ruger’s is machined from aluminum, with serrations allowing for better grip and slide manipulation.

The SR22 also features an ambidextrous mag release and safety, making the gun as easy to use to lefties as it is to righties, plus an external hammer with a rounded spur for easy single-action shooting.

Learn How to Customize Your AR-15

For the sake of argument, let’s say you’ve shot your first 3-gun match, and now want to make your rifle more competitive. I’m going to use the AR-15 as an example here, as it’s pretty much the ubiquitous platform for 3-gunning. We’ll delve into the world of piston driven guns later.

The basic M4 pattern carbine suffers from several drawbacks for competition use, though, it’s come a long way since Eugene Stoner designed it, and the basic operation is still the same. This means that it’s over-gassed, lacks an effective muzzle device and has a crappy trigger. The stock handguards also mean that POI can shift dramatically if you make effective use of a barricade, so clearly there is room for improvement. The good news is that all of these shortcomings can be overcome relatively cheaply, mostly using tools found in the average garage, without shelling out for an entirely new gun.

The parts required to turn a stock, off-the-shelf carbine into a match winner can be found at any one of a number of online vendors, but to save you the hassle of ordering parts individually, Wheaton Arms puts together a basic kit that gives you pretty much everything you need. Crisp, single stage trigger; check. Ambidextrous safety for weak hand shots; check. Adjustable gas block to control bolt carrier velocity and a big ‘ol compensator to drive the muzzle forward and down; check and check.

In order to deal with the problem of barrel deflection due to contact with cover, most competitors use a free float tube to isolate the two. The number of available free float tubes has exploded in the last few years, but Samson Manufacturing’s offering is one of the best. It’s very lightweight and available in a number of lengths, including the increasing popular, monster 15-inch version. Samson also has delved into the 3-gun kit market and now offers a bundle of products including their Evolution rail thrown in with a number of other goodies. They’re loyal supporters of the sport, and you’ll probably see more of their fore-ends in use at a major match then any other brand.

For this project, we’ll use a Bushmaster MOE carbine as the test mule and go through the upgrade process step-by-step as we break out the gun plumbing tools. But, before we get to install our new goodies, we’re going to remove the old parts.

Wheaton Arms 3 Gun Kit Parts

Our Test Mule

Stripping your AR-15
First off, clear the weapon and separate the upper and lower receiver. Remove the handguards by pulling back on the delta ring and lifting them clear. Place the upper in a vice upside down, taking care to clamp around the front sight tower, not the barrel – this part will be discarded. Unscrew the A2 flash hider from the muzzle. Drive out the taper pins holding the front sight tower to the barrel and tap the tower off the barrel towards the muzzle. Drive out the roll pin that secures the gas tube and then remove the gas tube.

Take the lower receiver in a firing grip and using your support thumb, and lower the hammer. Using a punch, press out the hammer and trigger axis pins and remove the hammer. Press firmly on the right side of the safety pivot, where it comes through the RHS receiver wall while rotating the safety lever; this will cause it to pop free. Remove the safety. Remove the trigger and disconnector, along with their springs.

You should now have a pretty sorry looking carbine and a pile of spare parts. Here’s where it gets interesting.

Installing the New Kit
The first part to be installed is the gas tube to the gas block. Make sure the gas tube orifice lines up with the corresponding hole in the gas block, then drive in the roll pin to secure it. Place the gas tube onto the barrel and line up the gas tube with the barrel’s gas port, then tighten up the set screws.

Place the Samson thermal bushing over the barrel nut. Slip the fore-end down the barrel and tighten up the set screws. For a full demonstration of the process, go here.

Screw the muzzle brake onto the muzzle and torque it down until it indexes with the 12 o’clock position. One of the easiest ways to screw up accuracy is to over-tighten a muzzle device, as this will stretch the barrel and constrict the bore at the worst possible place, so if the comp doesn’t line up first time, you can file a little off the convex side of the crush washer. Alternatively, use a peel washer and adjust the number layers to achieve a perfect fit. I usually just put a 3/8-inch punch through the compensator and use that to tighten it, holding the upper receiver in my left hand. A dab of loctite makes sure it stays there.

That’s it for the upper. Let’s finish up the lower & take this thing to the range.

Brass Flying

I got in to the sport of 3-gun because I’m a generalist rather than a specialist. In other words, I don’t do anything particularly well, but can get by in most subjects that are shooting-related.

One of the best ways to improve our skills is to break each aspect of the sport into its component parts and focus intently one area, then compare our performance to others in order to discover just where our weaknesses lie. The downside to this is that our screw-ups are manifestly obvious to those around us, so if you’re a shrinking violet, prepare for a little discomfort.

I got the chance to assess my pistol skills last weekend at the USPSA Area 2 Championships at Rio Salado in Arizona, and boy, was that an eye opener. Rio is probably the best pistol club in the country, and you can’t throw a stick in any direction without hitting a half-dozen Grand Masters, so at any competition, the field is very, very deep, and therefore an ideal venue to absorb information.

I was squadded with Eddie Garcia, Nils Johansson, Muneki Samejima and Cody McKenna, among others, all of whom achieved super-ninja status years ago and are great guys to boot.

Anyway, here’s a video of some of the stages, shot by my team mate John McClain, with all my ugly mistakes in evidence.

Photo Courtesy Michelle Cerino

People tend to hold their opinions on firearms dear, so it was good to find a wide variety of views regarding the most versatile handgun on the market right now. I’m occasionally asked for a recommendation regarding other 3-gun gear, so let’s throw shotguns into the mix, eh?

For 3-gun and other “tactical” applications, if you want a semi-auto shotgun that’s ready to go right out of the box, some say there’s only one choice right now, and that’s the FNH SLP Mk1. It’s not without its drawbacks; it’s a pretty substantial chunk of metal and doesn’t point as well as some of its competitors. Being a gas-operated gun, maintenance is a consideration as the piston spring should be replaced every few thousand rounds, and once you’ve ripped off a chunk of skin from your thumb, you’re going to want to do something about the spear-like prongs on the shell lifter.

I happen to love Benelli shotguns, but in order to make them competitive, you’ll probably wind up chopping down the barrel, re-threading for chokes and adding a mag extension before even thinking about taking it out to play.

There’s slightly less work to do on the 18.5-inch pistol gripped version, but there’s a reason most of the top shooters prefer a vent rib barrel and conventional stock. Either way, after a while, you’re going to want to upgrade the bolt handle and bolt release. I’ve been holding my breath for the Jerry Miculek-designed Mossberg 930 ever since it was rumored at SHOT show last year, but I guess the guys in CT have been swamped by demand for the chainsaw. Go figure.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Cerino

For pump guns, the choice is less clear. The Mossberg’s shell lifter stays in the up position when the bolt is closed, leaving the mag tube wide open for a weak hand reload, but it’s always been eclipsed by Remington’s products. The venerable 870 has a ton of aftermarket goodies, so you can customize it to your heart’s desire — the one I saw this week had a bolt that looked like it had been chewed into its final form by a herd of angry beavers.

My personal preference is for the Browning BPS, though as anyone who’s seen my carry gun will tell you, I’ve got a thing for the underdog, also-ran contenders, so you should probably take that with a grain of salt.

What’s your pick for best competition shotgun?

VLTOR TS3 with Browe BCO, Tactical Tailor rifle case and frickin' HUGE mag release.

In the last season of Top Shot, Chris Reed and I were invited back as honorary team captains for an episode where the players competed with a new carbine from VLTOR, the TS3. Unfortunately, other than plinking a handful of rounds into a berm, I never got the opportunity to see what the rifle would really do, so thinking it might be time to rectify that situation, I called the manufacturer and requested a T&E sample. The hardship I endure for my readers…

At work, I got a call from our armorer that a package had arrived marked to my attention, so I scurried on over to collect it. Wafting up from the cardboard box came that unmistakable new gun smell, and popping the lid brought back memories of southern California.

The specs on the TS3 are pretty much top-notch. Noveske barrel, Geissele trigger, VLTOR upper & stock, MPI bolt, etc, etc, etc.  A good rifle though is more than just a collection of parts, though. How they’re put together is just as important as the individual components (yes, Century, I’m looking at you).

I’ve built more than a couple of my own ARs, so I humbly claim a little knowledge of the subject, and I’m pleased to say that VLTOR did a bang-up job on this one.

It’s a duty gun, rather than a competition rifle, but it’s probably the softest-shooting of the bunch. I’ve never been a fan of 16-inch, carbine-gas system guns, as they’re almost always over-gassed. The VLTOR however uses a mid-length gas system, which softens the operating cycle considerably and teams it with one of their own compensators, and while the comp isn’t as effective as say, a Rolling Thunder, it’s nowhere near as obnoxiously loud.

Supplied rail covers, BUIS and VLTOR compensator

The upper and rail system are welded together during manufacture, which makes for an extremely solid unit. It’s heavier than a lot of the free-float tubes out there, but its heft and obvious quality lets you know you could definitely abuse the hell out of it, and it balances very nicely. For those of us that are hard on gear, a little extra mass is comforting. Other quality touches include the reinforced sling swivel sockets, Gunfighter charging handle and Diamondhead backup irons.

Shooting the carbine was as uneventful as you could imagine: mag in, bolt closed, squeeze the superb two-stage trigger, holes appear in target. Repeat.

It ate everything I stuffed in the mags and ejected the empties about 12 feet to the right and rear. Best groups were shot with Sierra 77gr  handloads and Hornady Steel Match, both hovering around an inch at 100.

As a carbine that could serve as both a reliable and versatile duty gun for someone who worked in harms way, and as a recreational tool, this one is worthy of consideration.

Pelican 1720, Brownells 3-gun case and range bag

As part of my job, I fly with guns and ammo about twice a month. Taking a single handgun to an industry expo is a piece of cake compared to the logistics involved in getting all your gear to a major 3-gun match, so the approach differs according to the event. As with most things in life, there’s a right way, a wrong way and the army way of doing things, so I figured I’d take this opportunity to share what works for me and how to make the experience as hassle-free as possible. I can’t claim to be an expert on air travel and I’d love to hear your stories, good, bad or nightmarish.

My guns are usually transported in a Pelican hard case. I use the 1720 model, which you can order with no foam insert for around $160. Into this goes a Brownells 3-gun soft case, which provides adequate cushioning while still fitting inside the Pelican. This also solves the problem of how to schlep your gear around the stages when you reach the match, and still leaves a little room for ammo or accessories. A couple of keyed-alike, short shackle padlocks secure the contents from sticky fingers, though there’s nothing to prevent someone walking off with the whole shebang. I’d like to see someone come out with a version in screaming yellow or Kawasaki green, so it would be noticeable from across an airport concourse, but you could always employ a couple of rattle cans to achieve the same effect.

Pistol and rifle ammo goes in the bottom of my (second) checked bag, along with a few shotgun slugs or buckshot rounds due to the ammunition weight limit of 5kg or 11lb. Cheap birdshot is usually readily available without restriction at just about any Wally World — 9mm major, not so much. Magazines, holster, pouches, cleaning kit, etc., also go in with the ammo.

My range bag is employed as a carry-on. There’s an obvious danger in employing it thusly, so I take extra care to search every pouch and pocket for live ammo or empty cases. Having attracted the attention of the TSA before, and having the fine to prove it, I can’t stress enough how important this is. If you have kids, get them to go through it as well — with Christmas coming up, they’ll be highly attuned to searching for presents, so you might as well make use of the little buggers.

There are a ton of articles out there on the web and in print as to the procedures involved when you actually get to the airport, so I won’t labor the subject here, especially as each facility seems to have its own riff on the same tune. Suffice to say, declare your guns and ammo at the check-in counter and be prepared to hang around while the cases are swabbed for explosives. When you arrive at your final destination, grab an airport employee at the baggage carousel — should one be available — and find out where your guns will appear. In some airports, they’ll be spat out on the same conveyor belt as your checked bag. In others, you’ll have to go track them down at the baggage office.

So there you have it: A quick and dirty guide to a subject that is often shrouded in mystery. But once you get used to the procedures, they shouldn’t inhibit you from traveling to participate in events across the country. Any of you guys have any tips you’d like to share?

How it works
Attached to the end of a conventional shotgun magazine is, wait for it, the magazine end cap. By replacing this with an X-Rail, you effectively add four extra magazine extensions to the existing mag tube, each of which is rotated into place by a spring. As a mag extension is emptied, a full one is automatically indexed into position. All up, the device gives the user the option of 22+1 capacity; by comparison, its nearest rival, the Russian Saiga, only manages a paltry 20 rounds in its drum, which is almost impossible to seat on a closed bolt.

Mark Roth, the wiry, hyperactive inventor of the the X-Rail, sent me one to install on an FNH SLP Mk1. According to the detailed instructions that accompanied it, the first order of business is to remove the existing magazine tube. Evidently, the guys at FNH don’t want you to do this, as it’s easier to get my brother to remove bills from his wallet than it is to separate the mag from the receiver. Two strap wrenches and the gentle ministrations of a blowtorch were needed to get the two to part company, but once that was achieved, the rest of the parts bolted up without incident.

Range Time
Let’s just say that if you’re a wingshooter with a tendency to check your swing, this thing will cure you. Hanging a small European hatchback off the muzzle of your shotgun will achieve the same effect, but it won’t be nearly as much fun. Ripping through 23 rounds of birdshot and annihilating steel targets is all part of the sport and the added weight of the extra ammo does a good job of soaking up recoil and keeping the muzzle on target. The downside is that transitions between widely-spaced targets are slower, as all that mass up front is harder to get moving and just as hard to stop, especially if you’re not a particularly big guy like yours truly.

RCI have a number of options to kit out Benellis, FNs and the venerable Remington, as well as a couple of compact versions for pump guns such as the Mossberg 500, which don’t extend past the end of an 18″ barrel. Under development is an integrated model, which replaces the shotgun’s forend and brings the magazine adjacent to the receiver – I believe this will be the next evolutionary step in Open division shotguns and if it proves reliable in competition, will probably make its way over into the military & LE sphere.

First up: What’s the most versatile pistol currently on the market?

I reckon it’s the XDm 5.25 in 9mm. You could say it’s more accurate than the Smith & Wession M&P Pro with a better trigger (that’s a matter of opinion), and it gets you into the game in USPSA Production division – Limited division if you’re OK with shooting minor power factor, IDPA ESP and Bianchi Cup.

Throw on an extended magazine floorplate and you’re all set to go three-gunning.

Although Glock is better served by the aftermarket, Springer Precision makes a good selection of trigger parts, should you want to lighten the XDs further, and BladeTech have a dropped and offset holster that works well for all the gun games above; should you want to change out sights, Dawson Precision has all the fiber optic versions you could ever require.

When I first picked one up, I thought the higher bore axis might be a hindrance to rapid sight recovery, but found that not to be the case – just shows you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet.

Most likely, I’m not good enough to notice a difference in my splits, but when I shot it side by side with a Glock 34, the Springer turned in identical times on a Bill drill.

Best of all, the thing shoots surprisingly small groups and flatters you into thinking you did it all yourself.

So there you have it ready to go, straight out of the box with a good trigger, great sights – though the front sight could be narrower – comfortable ergos, plenty of capacity, and unlike many stock 1911s, it actually goes bang when you need it to.

I’d say that qualifies as a versatile handgun, no?

After the thrilling season finale of Top Shot, I’m proud to welcome Dustin Ellerman to the Top Shot Champion fraternity that now includes the new champ, myself and Season 2 winner Chris Reed. We now have a Christian camp counselor, country boy from down South and well, me, for whatever that’s worth.

I got to talk with winner Dustin to get his take on events and the inside scoop on his showdown with eventual runner-up Mike Hughes.

Iain Harrison: Why did you apply for the show?

Dustin Ellerman: It looked like fun! Any time you can get to ride a zipline or a get hauled up on a crane while shooting guns, well I want to play.

IH: What’s the first firearm you’re going to get now that you’ve won?

DE: Actually there are two. That Larue OBR is such a sweet shooter, I had to have one and the 10/22 is one of my favorites, so I had to have one that Volquartsen perfected.

IH: What other plans do you have following the show?

DE: I’m going to be signing a lot of autographs! Seriously, though, I’ve had such great support from kids, that I’m going to be headed to a bunch of schools and churches to talk with the kids and have photos taken with them. I’m also planning on running a youth marksmanship camp in the Spring, once things have died down a little.

IH: Now, for the final episode, tell us about the dueling tree challenge – seems like they threw in a twist this time around.

DE: Yeah, the plates were a little bit bigger, but they were moving. That was the fourth time I’d shot a Glock, so that was cool, and I was kinda glad that Gary beat me because I want people to feel safe & it wouldn’t look good if this DHS agent gets beaten by a nobody from east Texas.

IH: At the HORSE challenge, why did you pick the golf balls as your first target?

DE: At home, one of my favorite targets are golf balls; I’d set them at 100 yards & check zero my rifles with them. I’d mentioned this in the house, so when we walked up, Gary said, “Hey Dusty, there’s your golf balls.” When Mike chose the AK one handed we were like, “are you nuts?” I tried to take up the trigger to the end of the first stage, but I was totally unprepared when it went off, but that’s what happens when you have an 8 lb. rifle on the end of your arm.

IH: The final shoot off wasn’t even close. What happened?

DE: Yeah, we had go back and reshoot parts the next day because I left the cameras behind. I caught Mike on the rock throwing part of the course because I’d been practicing back at the house, throwing rocks for maybe an hour a day then it was on to the Benelli. I had to throw in maybe four or five extra shells and then took off. Going into it, I gave Mike an 80/20 chance of winning, but he told me later that buried the front sight in the bottom of the ghost ring on that Benelli instead of centering it and kept repeating his mistake.

IH: Planning on heading to SHOT Show?

DE: Yeah, I read about the party you guys had last year. While I’m not a big drinker, I’m not missing out on that!

Who watched the show this season? Let’s talk Top Shot in the comments section.

Limited Division
In Limited, the shotgun and handgun choices are pretty much the same as in Tac Optics, but your rifle can either have iron sights or one, non-magnified optic. Kurt Miller, the current division champion still uses irons, so if you feel that you’d like to give 3 gun a try with a stock AR15 A2 variant, you’re in good company. Swapping out the issued front sight post with a finer version is usually a good call, but as far as gun modifications go, that one is hardly going to break the bank.

Fellow iron sight shooter and friend Patrick Kelley wrote a great article on using metallic sights here and he really covers the subject in more depth than I could ever hope to. If irons aren’t your thing, or you currently have a red dot sight gracing the top of your rifle, then you could join the legions of shooters who have drifted into Limited for just those reasons. The current hot setups are the Aimpoint Micro, the Leupold Prismatic and the Eotech. All have a small (4-2 moa) dot, which helps when you’re engaging 8″ plates at 300 yards.

Heavy Metal
Currently undergoing some transitional changes, the purest form of Heavy Metal division comprises a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, single stack 45 acp handgun and a 7.62 NATO battle rifle. This is the combo you’ll need to compete at the Rocky Mountain 3 Gun event, where they call it like it is, renaming the category He Man and checking each competitor’s chest for the requisite amount of hair. I usually run a homebuilt FAL, Browning BPS and Colt 1911, though M1A’s AR10′s and even the odd Garand can be found gracing the squads.

You could also throw a low powered variable scope or red dot on your rifle and compete in the relatively new Heavy Optics class, should your tastes wander in that direction.

The bottom line is that no matter what gear you have, there’s usually a 3 gun division that it’ll fit. Even if your guns span several different classes, it really doesn’t matter for your first few events, just show up, be safe and have fun.

I’ve been shooting open division guns for about six months now. For those who aren’t aware, the Open Division is the competitive division classified by the USPSA to allow the greatest range of handgun and sight modification. Handguns used in Open Division are the competitive shooting equivalent of a souped-up race car. These guns are custom built and often expensive, but if you’re serious about shooting competitively, you should consider saving your cash.

Suffice to say, there’s a whole lot about this sport I have left to learn and who knows, perhaps someday I’ll be able to use my equipment to its full potential. I’m not holding my breath.

I got started in the Formula One of shooting sports with a Springfield Armory custom shop pistol based on a very early Tripp frame. It had a lot of rounds through it, so many in fact that the barrel looked like it had polygonal rifling.

Recently, however, Predator Tactical owner Matt Burkett offered me the chance to replace that worn-out open division gun with a Predator Tactical Wraith race gun (I guess you could also call it a pistol or handgun).

Burkett’s a seven-time MGM IronMan Overall Champion, three-time World 3-Gun Champion, two-time European 3-Gun Champion and 2003 National IDPA ESP Champion. Bottom line, he is recognized around the globe as a world class shooter who’s approaching legendary status. Predator Tactical is his brainchild, and he’s building some of the best Open Division tools out there.

So, I thought, who am I to turn down an opportunity like that? The only downside was that I’d have to pick it up two days before a major match and have no time to do any load development, but what the Hell, right?

The Wraith in 9mm is built on an STI 2011 frame and features a chopped commander length slide with a 4 5/8-inch bull barrel threaded into a fairly compact compensator. Despite the added length of the compensator, it weighs less than a steel-framed Government model and points like a magic wand. All the usual refinements you’d expect from a mechanical device of this quality are present; Scheumann Ultimatch barrel, Dawson magwell, undercut and stippled grip frame, six-port compensator, Extreme Engineering fire control parts, Ed Brown beavertail, etc, etc, etc.

While visiting Predator Tactical’s Tempe, Ariz., shop, I watched gunsmith Lynn Harrison (no relation) heat treat a custom made slide stop that would result in an ultra-tight lockup, then engineer Scott Towner used the part to hand fit the barrel locking lugs, a couple of thousandths at a time. Pronouncing it done, a C-More was bolted up to the proprietary 90 degree mount and the gun taken for its inaugural lap around Scottsdale gun club.

But enough of the technical details, it was time to find out how this high-class gun shoots. We’ll take it to the range in my next post.

For now, anybody have any questions or comments about Open Division or the custom guns like this one used in competition?

Enough of the technical details, how does it shoot?

Compared to my older, full-sized race gun, this one points faster and transitions quicker – one thing that became apparent was that I was getting noticeably more “A zone” hits on fast transitions, implying that I was over-swinging the older model. It feels, for lack of a better term, more nervous in the hand and the recoil impulse is more punchy. I noticed a bit more muzzle flip, but as the two guns are using powders with two different burn rates, I’d hesitate to read too much into this. My current load is 7.2gr of Autocomp under a Montana Gold 125gr CMJ at 1.165 OAL – if anyone out there has a better formula you’re willing to share, I’m all ears; right now, I’m looking for a little more gas at the comp. Please note, if you’re dumb enough to use this load in a stock 9mm, there’s a good chance you’ll be picking pieces of brass out of your hand, or worse. Don’t do it.

I originally loaded long at 1.185 inch and suffered a few failures to feed (on camera, natch), but since shortening the OAL, the gun runs 100%. When it fed and ran on factory 125 grain fodder, that should have been a clue, but nobody has ever accused me of being a rocket surgeon.

The trigger breaks right around two pounds and has a very short reset – hammering steel targets has never been so much fun. Dot movement is straight up and down, though its amplitude is currently more than the full size gun exhibits. One cool feature of the C-More mount is that it’s a two piece system, allowing a spare sight to be pre-mounted to the upper plate. In the event of the original sight going down during a match, it can be switched out for the spare which has already been zeroed; locator pins on the mount ensure that zero is maintained.

I was initially skeptical that I’d be able to make use of the Wraith, due to being accustomed to something heavier and longer. Like most gear decision however, it pays dividends to look at all the available options, and while I won’t be getting rid of my old gun, this one going to be accompanying me to the next few matches.

Hosing it at 15 yards

Last month, I was privileged enough to be invited to Camp Perry, the great bastion of traditionalism,  to shoot a rifle match that was pretty far from the norm for that neck of the woods. In an effort to get more owners of black rifles out to the range and compete against their peers, the NRA’s competitive shooting division tasked ex-SEAL and all round good guy Trey Tuggle to come up with a course of fire that would be both challenging and non-threatening. His response was the NRA National Defense Match, which stresses marksmanship from 7 yards all the way out to the 500 yard line.

The first relay to shoot the new event were drawn from various Service teams, from the media, the shooting industry and with the odd 3-gunner thrown in for good measure. FNH USA were title sponsors and they sent along KenPfau and Tommy Thacker from their 3-gun team as representatives.  As befits a new match, a new target system was used, supplied by Shot Response, which enables each shooter to be scored in real time, with results posted immediately on a flat screen TV in the back of a trailer for all to see.

As with most first-time ventures, there were a few bugs to be worked out, such as the propensity of competitors to cross-fire onto an adjacent target, especially when transitioning from one side of a barricade to another. Without a penalty system in place, this slowed down the match a little, but the overall concept proved to be viable and fun; in the words of the inimitable Mr Thacker, “kinda like Bianchi Cup for rifles.”

Three equipment divisions were recognized 1. Open, where anything goes, 2. Limited, which meant that you could have one, non-magnified optic on the gun or iron sights and 3. Optics, which permitted one magnified optic only. Limited & Optics guns needed a sub-20″ barrel, no bipod and 4.5lb trigger.

I used a home-built AR15 with an 18″ SPR barrel, rifle length gas system, lightweight carrier & buffer and a Jard trigger. Optics were a Leupold Mk4 1.5-5 with a Deltapoint in a Predator Tactical offset mount, and while the package worked great, I would have liked a little more magnification for the longer range targets. A 3-9 power would have been about ideal.

For all you 3-gunners or even non 3-gunners: What set-up would you have used?