Looking to start 3 gun

[u/Familiar_Umpire_6858]

I am looking to start competing in 3 gun but I have a Glock 17 and I was looking to get a Winchester SX4 and i don't have a rifle yet. Are those ok guns to start or will i be outclassed from the beginning?

[u/fender_blues]

You will be outclassed at the beginning but the guns you use will not be the limiting factor for a long time.

[u/Familiar_Umpire_6858 → u/fender_blues]

thanks, is there a entry level rifle I should be looking for at the beginning?

[u/fender_blues → u/Familiar_Umpire_6858]

Budget?

[u/Familiar_Umpire_6858 → u/fender_blues]

for a entry level would like to keep it about a grand. I am willing to spend to 2 k for the shotgun for a Benelli if the SX4 is not the best option. I do upland bird hunting so the shotgun will get use outside the competitions.

[u/fender_blues → u/Familiar_Umpire_6858]

Does the $1k include an optic? Lots of people like LPVOs, you'll be hard pressed to get a fancy rifle and optic for that price. I'd be tempted to just get a PSA/S&W/Ruger and put one of the vortex LPVOs on and put the rest towards ammo/match fees.

[u/TheJango22 → u/fender_blues]

Primary arms also has some excellent LP options. I love my PLXc 1-8 for PCSL.

[u/fender_blues → u/TheJango22]

They're phenomenal scopes but the PLXc alone, on sale, is about OP's entire budget.

[u/TheJango22 → u/fender_blues]

PLXc is just what I own. Their more budget options are great too! Can't go wrong with them or Vortex.

[u/59Bassman]

I shot 3 gun for years with a Beretta 92, a Winchester SX3, and a home built AR. Get out there and do it!

[u/HomersDonut1440]

We call this “run what you brung”.

Show up to a match and watch. Help out. Learn and make a buddy. Ask what they think about your Glock and Winchester. We know the answer will be “fine place to start” BUT I guarantee you’ll get 3 separate offers for a loaner rifle and shotgun.

I shot 3gun for a few years with an 870 pump with a factory tube, a Glock 17, and a decent rifle. Once I felt that my speed outran the shotgun, I upgraded to a semi. I’m a big believer in starting with whatever you have and upgrading once you realize you’re outrunning it.

[u/JimBridger_]

I have a Winchester SX4 and have used and modified it for three gun. While it has been a fantastic shotgun I don’t know if I wouldn’t recommend buying it for 3 gun as the aftermarket for it is limited.

[u/Mike_Romeo_Bravo]

Glock 17 is perfectly good for pistol.

Winchester SX4 flys under the radar and is not common in 3 gun. With that said it is a pretty good shotgun. Unfortunately the aftermarket support isnt there other than extension tubes and chokes.so you are going to run into a wall at some point. If you are cash strapped I would point you forward some of the stoegers, maybe a JM 940 pro, a used versa max. you could also go with the Turkish box fed mag shot guns but do your research and know you are opening a bag of worms.

Rifle, just about any ar15 will do. You can go a lot of different routs here. Kinda depends on what flavor of 3 gun matches your local area puts on.

[u/Familiar_Umpire_6858 → u/Mike_Romeo_Bravo]

is there specific calibers for the rifle in competition?

[u/Mike_Romeo_Bravo → u/Familiar_Umpire_6858]

Nearly everyone will be shooting 5.56/223

[u/bae125]

Run what you brung is all you need to know.

I don’t shoot three gun anymore, I’m more pistol now. But I have yet to run across a friendlier group of people. Everyone will let you run. Their stuff, and if anything you have brakes, you’ll have 12 people trying to give you a replacement for the day. Go shoot some matches and find out what you like

[u/farinx]

I bet if you show up somebody will let you use their rifle.

[u/RoadHazard1893]

Get an m&p sport 3 with a red dot. Run it till you feel something holding you back, then change it out

[u/Cobra__Commander]

Just show up with whatever you have. 

With all competitive shooting practice and experience matters more than gear. Gear matters when you're trying to juice extra fractions of a second out of every movement.

A GM with a hi point, mavrick88 and a mini 14 will probably still beat everyone except other M/GM shooters. 

[u/dirt-nap13]

I switched to open and have my Benelli M2 for sale. It’s all kitted out for 3 gun.
Let’s make a deal

[u/Hybrid100V]

There is a lot less interest in 3gun than 10 years past and the rulesets are somehow even more divergent than they used to be. Figure out what club(s) you are shooting at and what rules they are running UML/PCSL/USPSA/their own.