Event 3: FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun Championships

May 21-23, 2010; Fayette, MO

In the last few years, 3-gun competitions, the multi-gun form of practical shooting in which competitors run tactical-style stages of fire with rifle, shotgun and pistol, have exploded in popularity. Seemingly distant from most average shooters’ reach only a few years ago, accessibility has undergone a drastic shift in recent years as major firearm industry manufacturers have radically increased match sponsorship across the country.

Since JP Enterprises first took over the old Soldier of Fortune match, MGM Targets, DPMS and FNH USA have all summoned their resources to establish major 3-gun matches across the country, adding venues in Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri, respectively. The impact upon the sport’s growth has been tremendous, and FNH USA’s Midwest 3-Gun Championships is one of several matches that has seen explosive growth.

“This year’s match is the 5th year the match has been held,” said Ken Flood, FNH USA. “We started the match at the request of Randy Luth, former owner of DPMS, to have a sister match with the same rules as the DPMS Tri-Gun Challenge. We started with about 120 shooters and expect 230+ this year.”

Step to the firing line at Midwest, and it’s pretty clear what brings more shooters to Missouri each year. Piles of spent brass litter a course of fire that stands as a solid mix of target presentations, from long-range rifle over vast expanses of real estate, to built up square range designs that challenge the top shooters in the world.

“The match utilizes both improved-type traditional ranges as well as natural terrain,” Flood said. “We put emphasis on rifle accuracy in the form of partially concealed paper targets as well as steel out to 400 yards. We also like to feature a high-round-count shotgun stage of at least 34 rounds. The most defining quality, in addition to our excellent range officers, is the challenge of each stage with creative design and effective management.

With FNH USA sponsoring the Midwest 3-Gun Championships, as well as being the title sponsor of 3-Gun Nation, the June match is an obvious stop on the inaugural 3-Gun Nation Tour. But Midwest stands on its own merit as well, a quality major in a location key to growing the sport of 3-gun.

“Our match is a good fit because it is one of the top 3-gun matches in the U.S., and we are centrally located,” Flood said. “We also will draw competitors who will be attending the Bianchi Cup, which is the week after our match and 20 miles away. We expect many international competitors as well as many of the top U.S. shooters. We want to be a part of the 3-Gun Nation because it is going to be the most exciting thing to ever happen to 3-gun and will certainly propel the sport into the limelight of the shooting world.”

Together with key sponsors such as FNH USA and SureFire, 3-Gun Nation is attempting to forever change practical shooting with thousands of dollars in cash prizes earned through dramatic head-to-head shoot-offs at the premiere venues in the sport. 

“Frankly, it is more fun than any other shooting discipline I have participated in, and I have done everything,” Flood said. “The 5th annual FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun Championships will be one of the most exciting matches of 2010 and one of the most fun!

Posted on 3/24/2010