Choosing a 3 Gun Shotgun
The shotgun is the most important gun in 3 gun competitions. Matches are often won and lost when using the shotgun. Our goal on 3gunshotgun.com is to help provide you with all the information you need to pick the right 3 gun shotgun for you.
The Basics –
For 3 gun tactical optics division, most shooters choose a 21”-24” barrel length with an equal length extension tube. 21” should get you 8+1 capacity, and 24” should get you 9+1 capacity. Every 3 gun competition has its own set of rules, but most allow 8+1 in the gun, and some allow you to load extra at the start of the stage; because of this, some shooters have gone to 10+1 or more when shooting tactical optics. Open division shooters prefer longer tubes (10+1, 11+1, or more), and can run a longer barrels (26”-28”), though most open shooters have extension tubes that extend well past the barrel.
The most popular sight system for the tactical optics division is a vent rib barrel with a single fiber optic at the end of the rib. Most 3 gun shotgun stages do not require aiming, but instead pointing (this is a scatter gun, don’t forget). Standard dovetail sights are also used in 3 gun, and offer some advantage when shooting slugs. Ghost ring sights are not good for 3 gun, they are just not as fast. Shotgun stages are all about speed, and the vent rib edges out the other options.
Stock choices are predicated on speed as well. Most 3 gun competitors use traditional shotgun stocks instead of pistol grips. A pistol grip might help support the shotgun when weak hand reloading, and it might make you feel like you have more control, but testing has shown that the traditional stock is faster for most shooters.
Which shotgun to get – >
The Basics –
For 3 gun tactical optics division, most shooters choose a 21”-24” barrel length with an equal length extension tube. 21” should get you 8+1 capacity, and 24” should get you 9+1 capacity. Every 3 gun competition has its own set of rules, but most allow 8+1 in the gun, and some allow you to load extra at the start of the stage; because of this, some shooters have gone to 10+1 or more when shooting tactical optics. Open division shooters prefer longer tubes (10+1, 11+1, or more), and can run a longer barrels (26”-28”), though most open shooters have extension tubes that extend well past the barrel.
The most popular sight system for the tactical optics division is a vent rib barrel with a single fiber optic at the end of the rib. Most 3 gun shotgun stages do not require aiming, but instead pointing (this is a scatter gun, don’t forget). Standard dovetail sights are also used in 3 gun, and offer some advantage when shooting slugs. Ghost ring sights are not good for 3 gun, they are just not as fast. Shotgun stages are all about speed, and the vent rib edges out the other options.
Stock choices are predicated on speed as well. Most 3 gun competitors use traditional shotgun stocks instead of pistol grips. A pistol grip might help support the shotgun when weak hand reloading, and it might make you feel like you have more control, but testing has shown that the traditional stock is faster for most shooters.
Which shotgun to get – >