Have any of you guys ever thought of having a budget 3gun class?? That would involve I guess an sks with open sights, a tokarev pistol and a pump shotgun with a max 5 rd tubular magazine? I think it would open open shooting sports up to a lot more people. I'm pretty new to shooting sports though. So maybe it wouldn't work.
Cheap 3 gun idea??
- Thread starter rl4930
- Start date
I don't care what you've spent on your gear... 'Come to the match and shoot.
Divisions aren't based on how much your guns cost.
Thing is though... Sometimes people go cheap and it ends up costing them more.
For example... A guy might "think" he's saving money by using a $200 SKS, but... When reading the match brief he finds out that he can't use steel core ammo.
So... If he want's to shoot he's gonna have to spend a wad of cash on commercial 7.62x39 ammo.
I've found it doesn't really matter all that much up here in Canada... Pleanty of guys have expensive guns/gear, but... shoot like donkeys.
Conversly there are guys running circles around the seemingly high-speed low-draggers using somewhat less expensive/sophisticated gear.
At one of our matches a couple of seasons ago we had an iron sighted sks shooter out do most of the optic'd AR guys...
That sounds like the way a lot of the new guys start out. Usually by the second match they've bought different gear.
I don't think it would "open it up" to many folks at all. The biggest hurdle for new shooters is the will to attend and give it a try, not the gear they have. In the past I've outfitted lots of folks who only had one or none of the guns they needed. Conversely, I know lots of guys who have better gear than me but aren't interested in trying it out.
There is never a shortage of guys willing to lend guns and gear to new shooters.
Edit: FWIW, a Tokarev is a terrible choice for action shooting. Most do not have a safety so they'd have to be holstered chamber empty and steel-jacketed 7.62x25 can make a mess of steel targets that other pistol calibers have no effect on.
It seems to me that having a "budget" 3 gun shoot would put a great big wall in the middle of the people you're trying to entice to join.
If I have a SIG P226, and an AR that I literally dumped enough money in to buy ten or fifteen SKSs does that mean I'm forbidden from joining the "budget" match, but still not able to join the "normal" one because I don't currently have $2000 to drop on a fancy shotgun?
It creates an artificial divide between the low and high cost of equipment, and then you start ending up with silly rules like the Open division of IPSC where changing something on your gun directly kicks you up to compete with the hardcore shooters with $25,000 custom pistols.
Take the focus away from the equipment, and more about how you use it.
If I have a SIG P226, and an AR that I literally dumped enough money in to buy ten or fifteen SKSs does that mean I'm forbidden from joining the "budget" match, but still not able to join the "normal" one because I don't currently have $2000 to drop on a fancy shotgun?
It creates an artificial divide between the low and high cost of equipment, and then you start ending up with silly rules like the Open division of IPSC where changing something on your gun directly kicks you up to compete with the hardcore shooters with $25,000 custom pistols.
Take the focus away from the equipment, and more about how you use it.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
In my first 3 gun match I was squadded with a guy running a beautiful laminated stock SKS...gave him props for running the stages with only 5 rounds in his rifle when the rest of us had 10. How much fun you have at a match has very little correlation with how much your gear costs (for most people).
I agree with Stevo, the greatest barrier for new shooters isn't so much the gear as the willingness to giver' a go! Multigun matches are intimidating when you are a newbie - at first glance a newbie can feel like a poser in a sea of operators...in reality you are just a poser in a sea of other better-kitted posers
I agree with Stevo, the greatest barrier for new shooters isn't so much the gear as the willingness to giver' a go! Multigun matches are intimidating when you are a newbie - at first glance a newbie can feel like a poser in a sea of operators...in reality you are just a poser in a sea of other better-kitted posers
Schecter 81
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton Area
The biggest hurdles with the SKS is NO STEEL CORE at most ranges. The stripper clips are EXTREMELY cumbersome. You can get the entry level ARs for under $600 now. Buy the time you factor in two matches work of commercial 7.62x39 ammo, you just about covered the cost of an AR vs a $250 SKS and had much more fun running LAR mags and doing mag changes vs fumbling stripper clips from pockets. Not only does it ruin your course time, but it slows everything down for the day. Now imagine you have an entire class running equipment that slow!!
Tokarev? Why? You can buy Norinco P226 knockoffs or 1911 knockoffs for a couple hundred bucks that are far better suited to the game.
Plenty of cheap pumps on the market. 5 rounds wont hurt you, my semi only holds six. Get a norc 870 knock off and it will take 870 tube extensions and you know have a 7+1 or 8+1.
No need for expensive gear, just need to think out and research your purchases. At least a cheap AR from the start will let you grow and upgrade the platform as you grow in the sport.
Tokarev? Why? You can buy Norinco P226 knockoffs or 1911 knockoffs for a couple hundred bucks that are far better suited to the game.
Plenty of cheap pumps on the market. 5 rounds wont hurt you, my semi only holds six. Get a norc 870 knock off and it will take 870 tube extensions and you know have a 7+1 or 8+1.
No need for expensive gear, just need to think out and research your purchases. At least a cheap AR from the start will let you grow and upgrade the platform as you grow in the sport.
Tongarirohiker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I've seen people run Norc CQ's. What other cheap AR options are there? May be a better question for the Black Rifle forum.
sub-$800ish
DPMS Panther Oracle
M&P Sport
Windham Weaponry
Black Forge Tier 3
sub-$1000ish
Core15
T97
Windham Weaponry
As others have said just show up with what you got, then your wallet is screwed from that day forward.
I have shared my rifle and shotgun at matches, but I don't like sharing my belt and pistol (unless you have a holster for it). It's a pain taking it off/on. At the very least, make sure you got a good, sturdy belt and holster and something to hold your mags. Again, show up with what you got, but TBH, the belt system is something to not cheap out on. Buy once, cry once.
1st match I used bone stock Norc AR, 870 and Glock. Next match, scrapped the 870 and got me a semi-auto. Like I said, your wallet is screwed moving forward.
I have shared my rifle and shotgun at matches, but I don't like sharing my belt and pistol (unless you have a holster for it). It's a pain taking it off/on. At the very least, make sure you got a good, sturdy belt and holster and something to hold your mags. Again, show up with what you got, but TBH, the belt system is something to not cheap out on. Buy once, cry once.
1st match I used bone stock Norc AR, 870 and Glock. Next match, scrapped the 870 and got me a semi-auto. Like I said, your wallet is screwed moving forward.
glad my wife isnt on CGN..... im hoping to start shooting sports next year. its too late this year since im still waiting for my R.
I think you have one too many zeros!Schecter 81
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton Area
IRG had the CIA ARs on for $550, and the DPMS were on for $600 for the past month or so. There was even a deal from SFRC for NEA 10.5" For $750 for a while. Hell, Wolverine just had some DD on for $1000 and they have the V7 on right now for $1,200
There are lots of economical options for ARs depending on where you want to start and what you want to add on to it. I started with my SKS......for one match. Then I had Milarm build me my HERA. Buy once Cry once.
I got significantly more enjoyment out of the matches running an AR then I did out of my SKS. That alone created the value. You dont need to spend $2,500 on one, but an AR is the way to go. a $600 dollar AR will give you the platform to build a killer 3-gun AR off of as your budget allows.
In Medicine Hat last year, one of our regular competitors suggested a "Red Gun" match. I took a poll of all our regular competitors and shooters in the surounding area and couldn't find enough shooters to make putting on a match worth while. As previously mentioned most shooters who show up for a match with an SKS only show up for 1 match, maybe 2 before they move on to something more effective. I've only ever seen 2 shooters (I'm one of them) that trim their SKS Stripper clips to 5 rds to make easier to use in competition.
