Lets see your complete 3 Gun Set-Up (Pics Please!)

Do be aware that if you shoot 3 Gun under IPSC style rules, everything has to come off the belt; chest rigs and such are verboten. So read the rules of the game wherever you are going to be shooting. As there aren't 3 Gun matches on every corner, your choices may be dictated. You will learn a ton at your first match but you really need to be equipped to comply with the basic rules of the game.

I use an IPSC belt or belts rigged to suit the match I'm shooting in. I have race holsters and use those if allowed and it makes sense or BladeTech style Kydex rigs. Most of my 3 Gun shooting has been in the US where I use 30 round mags for the AR and carry two. I have both shell caddies from which I load weak hand and AP Tactical duals on my right side/front. I'm set to carry up to 24 shotgun shells depending on the stage. I'll have anywhere from two to five pistol mags on board again depending on the stage and whether I'm in the US or Canada. I have higher cap mags for use south of the boarder and so need fewer of them.
 
Whats the wisdom behind taking everything else off the belt and chest rigs being un-allowed?

maybe I should add more pistol mags and a way to carry shotgun shells
 
GuiltySpark said:
Whats the wisdom behind taking everything else off the belt and chest rigs being un-allowed?
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Thats how the rules are, basically IPSC HQ was worried about how it looked. :nest: Personally I prefer to run everything off the belt anyhow and my l33t chest rig gathers dust.
 
There's a decided tendency in IPSC to avoid the military look. If you look at the videos of IPSC matches you won't see any camo or other similar stuff. IPSC people might tell you that these policies have made IPSC successful and acceptable around the world.
 
redryder said:
Hercster, does IPSC allow battle belts? That would be my choice before a vest, but second to a match specific setup regular belt.
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Sorry I don't really know what a battle belt is. Some LEO's us their duty belts but probably 95% of IPSC shooters use the common two belt system such as the CR Speed version. Whatever the case, it's wise to know where you are going with this. Holsters, mag pouches and so on really add up. You are also looking at a fair number of magazines some of which are seriously pricey. I have four pistols all of which have their own holsters, magazines, mag pouches and belts because I don't like switching gear around. For sure it's possible to economize but the start of that is to know the rules and those vary in the case of 3 Gun. The very best way of learning the basics including equipment requirements is to call a club and go to a practice session or club night with what you have. Competition shooters are very helpful to new people and you will get a lot of info and avoid expensive mistakes.
 
I don't think 'Battle' belts are disallowed, any belt used must either go through at least 3 of your pants loops or be attached to a second belt that runs through at least 3 pant loops. Be aware that you gear can be no more than 50mm away from your torso, depending on your belt and chosen holster the padding of a battle belt may push your gear beyond the limit.
 
IPSC Shotgun rules for equipment are Section 5.2.

The part that was mentioned about no camo is up to the Match Director. All it says is that camo is "discouraged". I've seen many IPSC competitors who show up in the ubiquitous camo pattern shorts. Though at the same time I've never seen anyone kitted up like a mall ninja either. This is rule 5.2.8.

From my reading I don't see any issue with battle belts as long as they conform to 5.2.3 to 5.2.5.
 
The more I hear about "IPSC style 3gun" the happier I am that I don't shoot it. I'm sure it is fun, its just not as much fun as the 3gun style I am accustomed to.
 
Runningfool said:
The more I hear about "IPSC style 3gun" the happier I am that I don't shoot it. I'm sure it is fun, its just not as much fun as the 3gun style I am accustomed to.
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Mecanik made it as fun as possible due to a ton of work he and his crew put in but definitely nowhere near as fun as the regular 3 gun due to the silly tournament rules and scoring. IPSC is my favourite for pistol but it has a long way to go needing many changes to make it my favourite for 3 gun.
 
Match fun

Some of my favourite matches are the unsanctioned ones I shoot in Texas. Both the rules and the scoring are simplified with a focus on safety and fun. The other major thing they do is make the matches as inclusive as possible. a lot of the matches are "rimfire friendly". So we can have a mix of centre fire and .22 shooters side by side with no problems whatever. Some of the targets are setup for the rimfire people, if you don't have a shotgun, you can use your pistol on the shotgun targets. Scores are kept by division but aren't the focus of the events which run every week for the princely sum of $15 for members like me and $20 for walkins.

The result is a large number of shooters every week. Those on a budget or short of ammo have choices. We get more family people that can't afford 200 rounds of centrefire and so use .22 Pistols and Carbines when they can get .22LR which is a continuing problem.

In six years of shooting these matches I've never witnessed an argument over anything. The regulars tend to shoot in the same squads and so they become better acquainted. Some people are still very competitive but not to the detriment of the fellowship. We have some excellent national level shooters and then there's me. They make allowances for my creaky old legs and I never feel out of place despite shooting with guys up to 50 years my junior.

I think they have a very good formula for recreational shooting while still accommodating those that compete at the serious level.
 
raks said:
I don't think 'Battle' belts are disallowed, any belt used must either go through at least 3 of your pants loops or be attached to a second belt that runs through at least 3 pant loops. Be aware that you gear can be no more than 50mm away from your torso, depending on your belt and chosen holster the padding of a battle belt may push your gear beyond the limit.
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I won't trash talk something I've never tried but wow, that seems pretty crazy (appreciate you taking the time to write that though). Seems like too much control. Think I'll stick to free for all 3 gun competitions in the near future.
 
GuiltySpark said:
I won't trash talk something I've never tried but wow, that seems pretty crazy (appreciate you taking the time to write that though). Seems like too much control. Think I'll stick to free for all 3 gun competitions in the near future.
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There are advantages to the standards and the success of IPSC world wide provides some evidence. Safety is also an issue and IPSC reputation in that regard makes events easy to insure. I'll offer you one safety example that has merit and that's the exclusion of cross draw holsters. Every effort is made to avoid "sweeping". Call it "control" if you want but it works. I have the occasion to watch "Joe Public" at the ranges without the training and safety standards and it can be very scary. While some rules can be annoying, IPSC has millions of hours "under its belt" and does very well in most respects.
 
GuiltySpark said:
Whats the wisdom behind taking everything else off the belt and chest rigs being un-allowed?

maybe I should add more pistol mags and a way to carry shotgun shells
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Not the reason why IPSC doesn't allow chest rigs, but certainly the reason no one at the matches I shoot use 'em... They're too damn slow.
 
raks said:
I don't think 'Battle' belts are disallowed, any belt used must either go through at least 3 of your pants loops or be attached to a second belt that runs through at least 3 pant loops. Be aware that you gear can be no more than 50mm away from your torso, depending on your belt and chosen holster the padding of a battle belt may push your gear beyond the limit.
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can a battle belt fit through belt loops?
 
Onagoth said:
can a battle belt fit through belt loops?
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I didn't know what a battle belt was until this thread but from the pictures posted, the answer to Mr. Onagoth's question is no and the rules are very clear in this respect. I think the intent of the IPSC establishment is also pretty clear and that is to draw a line between the IPSC "game" and what is commonly considered "tactical" and military. I agree with another post in that most IPSC shooters would not want a "battlebelt" set up because it's too slow. Competition magazine carriers are designed to be very flexible to personal preferences such that they can be spaced and angled to suit the shooter and provide a fast and low-drag draw. It's rare to see anyone use mag pouches that are vertical. The purposes of what I now know as a battle belt and a competition rig are very different. Everything in an IPSC setup is designed for adequate capacity and speed.
 
Few updates from first post.

Pistol: Tanfoglio Stock 2 (Australian length) with Eric G springs and hammer.

Shotgun: Versamax with all the go fast parts like extended bolt handle/release, milled port, welded lifter, 3.5" marked barrel cut to approximately 21" and threaded. Nordic tube, follower and clamp.

AR: ATRS large magwell lower, Timney trigger, ACE stock, JP Rifle upper reciever, JP Rifle screw in trigger pins, JP Rifle low mass buffer, JP Rifle low mass bolt carrier, Colt Rifle bolt, Colt Rifle firing pin, Colt Rifle gas tube, PRI adjustable gas block Hogue grip, Samson 15" Evolution rail, McGowan stainless light weight 18" .223 Wylde barrel, BCM gunfighter charging handle, Surefire MB556K compensator. Burris MTAC 1-4 on an AMD Recon QD mount.

Belt: CR Speed, 2 10 shell Carbon Arms Pin wheels, Two Ghost pistol pouches, Two California Competion AR pouches and a Bladetech DOH holster. Have additional add ons depending on match.

Real happy with this setup now.

 
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