2014 FNH 3gun championships

pauls

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
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Including myself, there were only 4 Canadians at this match, and that is too bad because it was a fun one.
It felt tougher than prior years, mostly due to long distance steel being smaller than in the past.
More slung rifle starts as well, which is a new one for me. Didn't realize how much it would throw off my balance when shooting on the move with a shotgun. (i.e. my excuse for all the missing!!)
Even though I wasn't happy with my overall performance, I managed to place a somewhat respectable 51 of 279 in Tac Optics.

Prize table was over $200,000
There was a raffle where they gave away an AR50!

Stage 1 and 2, video was crappy (as was my shooting!!)

Stage 3
Engage paper with rifle or pistol, then move to box b and engage 9 plates with pistol or shotgun.
No excuse for missing that last shotgun plate.
I timed it at over 5 seconds to reload twice and shoot it. on a stage this fast, that took me down to 54% vs about 74% if I didn't miss.
That one mess up equaled about 10 stage/match points, or 8 places in the final overall standings. :(
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Stage 4
3 gun nation final style stage.
Sloppy pistol shooting cost me more points and places!!
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Stage 5
Start with either pistol or shotgun, shoot steel, move to next box and shoot 4 steel ipsc targets at distance. I think they were around 50 yards? Felt like 500.
Then transition to next firearm and shoot 4 ipsc steel and paper in final box.
I broke the front sight on my shotgun earlier in the match, which was playing with my head as I didn't know how far off I had to aim to hit those slug shots.
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Stage 6
Start on top of a sea can, engage 6 steel ranging from 100 to 200 meters.
3 of which are skinny sammies, oriented in a windmill fashion with one hanging down, one and 90 degrees and one at 45. 4" main shooting area.
200 meter flash targets were 6" if I remember correctly.
Then slide down a pretty fast slide (fast enough to break 2 legs and a number of pulled muscles throughout the weekend) and then engage steel with shotgun and/or pistol
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Stage 7
2 gongs and a plate rack with rifle, mandatory reload and 6 paper
12 shotgun targets
6 handgun targets, mandatory reload and 2 gongs.
Must work on offhand rifle on small targets!!
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Stage 8
shoot gong in the woods and steel plates with pistol or shotgun, then engage long distance steel with rifle.
Rifle targets ranging from 150 meters to 400.
big uneven fallen tree as your only way to support the rifle. ground behind the tree was sloping away from the tree and sandy/uneven.
Was tricky to get a solid shooting position. No real way to keep sights still so I had to time the wobble and break the shot.
First target was 300 meters (10" circle) and last one was 400 meter ipsc target.
What made the targets challenging was the size and the fact that they had this wide plastic sleeve above the target that was the same colour. Made you think the target was much bigger than what it was and easy to be sloppy, as demonstrated here! :
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Stage 9
Rifle slung, pistol holstered, start with shotgun.
16 steel plates, 6 paper and 6 rifle, 100 to 350ish meters. (6-10" targets)
Having a slung rifle threw me off a bit while shooting the shotgun. New experience for me, one I learned from and that won't effect me again.
Pistol, had to avoid shooting trees! Almost pulled the trigger a few times as the tree was coming into view.
Rifle, 2nd target I shot at was the longest one (350ish) and I hit it three times in a row before the RO's realized which target I was shooting at. Cost valuable time on a stage like this but it happens.
Miscommunication between us before I started the stage. Thought I explained my stage plan, but long hot days, we all lose focus.
I will give him credit for admitting he was looking that the wrong target and apologizing.
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Overall it was a very well run match.
Everything ran on time, shooters didn't have to reset as there were about 8 match staff on each stage, and the weather could not have been better.

This should be on everyone's list of matches to attend.
 
Each stage was inspired by one of the other major 3gun matches.
Video I didn't show was 2 jungle run stages. One I had the camera pointing too low and you don't see anything and the other the lighting was crappy at 7am in the woods so too dark.
They were fun with lots of shoot on the move and small rifle steel out to 150 meters tucked away in the trees

The FNH match is pretty much my favourite one to attend for a couple reasons.
The drive down and back is awesome. The route I take is full of fast and winding roads in the hills/mountains, so I get to push my car a bit and get my speed fix.
There is BBQ at one of my gas stops along the way, so I get my BBQ fix.
Winchester Virginia is an awesome city with many good pubs and restaurants. This trip I discovered a Cajun restaurant and a pub with local craft beers! There are places to go hang out with other competitors unlike other matches that are located in the middle of nowhere.
And the prize table is one of the best available.
A buddy of mine injured himself, was only able to complete 3 stages, and was pretty much last place. He still walked away with a prize worth $200.

For me, its definitely worth going to.
 
Yup. stage 6
He broke his fibula when he hit the bottom of the slide.
First thing in the morning, with the dew and the cold, that slide was kind of quick.
He tried to slow himself by grabbing one side of the slide which rotated him just enough to hit the bottom with one foot and angled just the wrong way.
 
Yup. stage 6
He broke his fibula when he hit the bottom of the slide.
First thing in the morning, with the dew and the cold, that slide was kind of quick.
He tried to slow himself by grabbing one side of the slide which rotated him just enough to hit the bottom with one foot and angled just the wrong way.

Was that Brian..?
 
Yes, best ROs ever!
Never been officiated with such class and professionalism.
Ruined me for all RO experiences going forward.
 
Except the one hopped up on Benadril he was talking to his favorite bush when I left him...next time stay out of the poison vines ; - P
 
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