Have you ever wondered how to haul all that gear around?  I’ll cover a couple of solutions in this tip blog. 

I personally use an Eberlestock bag.  The model I have found that works best for 3-gun is the Phantom bag.  The bag has a large backpack with a removeable rifle sheath.  The important part of this bag is that It allows a separate sheath for the shotgun to be placed in between the rifle sheath and the backpack. This keeps the weight balanced in the middle as opposed to putting a shotgun sheath on one side or the other. 

I have my cleats in one side of the outer backpack pockets, and knee and elbow pads on the opposite pocket.  In the  large middle area I have two mesh bags, one for rifle accessories and one for shotgun accesories.  I also have a padded bag for my pistol.  This area is large enough to accomodate all three bags, as well as the ammo i need for one day’s shooting.  I have a seperate ammo box that I use for the entire amount of ammo I need for the match, as I usually double all ammo counts for the match.  (Sometimes you have to reshoot stages….sometimes you miss!) http://www.eberlestock.com/Phantom%20Backpack.htm

Another popular choice is the Safariland 3 Gun bag.  It looks more like a traditional long gun soft case, but Safariland has detailed this bag for the 3 gunner.  There are two long gun slots and there are external pouches for the handgun and accessories.  This pack also comes with backpack straps.  http://www.safariland.com/DutyGear/product.aspx?pid=4552 

As far as ammo goes, you can usually fit enough for the day in either of the packs, or just bring an ammo box.  Both of these packs are supplemented with the range cart or POLARIS RAZR!! See you at the range! 

Team FNH USA will be shooting at Midwest 3 Gun Championship and Bianchi Cup!  Come to our FB page and wish us luck!

Here is a question we get alot, “What kind of guns can I use?”  Well, if you have a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun, there’s probably a division for you!  Most of the matches are considered “outlaw” matches and have their own rules and and not all recognize EVERY division I’m going to cover, but I will lay out the most popular. 

Tactical Optics- allows you to have ONE scope on ONE gun.  This division attracts the most shooters.  Usually a 9mm or similar handgun, 12g semi-auto shotgun, and a .223 caliber rifle are the weapons of choice.  I haven’t seen one shooter that chooses to put the scope on anything but the rifle.  The handgun can be a production, say FNH USA’s FNS, the new striker fire gun, or it can be a custom gun. 

Tactical Irons-same set up as Tactical Optics, but only iron sights on the rifle.  For those of you with good eyes or just “old school”!

“But I have race guns”

Open- allows you to do anything to any gun.  So, you will see bi-pods on rifles, dots on handguns and shotguns, and super high capacity magazines systems, such as the X-Rail that holds over 20 shotgun rounds!

“But I only have a pump shotgun” 

Heavy Metal- requires a pump shotgun, a .45 handgun, and a .308 rifle. 

So, odds are that you already have what you need to get started. Next post, we will talk about the logisics of hauling all this stuff around at a match.

USPSA 3 Gun Nationals (Vegas) and the NRA show (St. Louis) are this weekend!  Team FNH USA will be at the NRA show.  Teammate, Dianna Liedorff, is shooting nationals early and then heading to the NRA show!

On behalf of myself, the staff of The Way Human Performance Institute, and VertX, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our troops past and present and all the tactical athletes protecting this country at home or abroad.  Thank you.

Jaime Gamache M.Ed., CSCS, is Owner and Head Strength Coach of The Way Human Performance Institute ( www.thewayhpi.com and www.facebook.com/pages/The-Way-Human-Performance-Institute/117742824954659 )