A Brief Overview of the 3-gun (Multi-gun) Divisions

[huck]

A Brief Overview of the 3-gun (Multi-gun) Divisions


For a complete directory of all the rules to USPSA / 3-gun go to http://www.uspsa.org/rules/

The official rules to USPSA and multi-gun:
http://www.uspsa.org/uspsa-rules.php
http://uspsa.org/RifleShotgunMultigu...-2013final.pdf

Rifle
http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2009RifleRules2-5.pdf
Open: compensators, ports, bipods, no limit on optics or electronic sights
Tactical: No open characteristics, one electronic / optical sight. Compensators are permitted, but can be no larger than 3" x 1"
Limited: No open characteristics, one non-magnified optic. Compensators are permitted, but can be no larger than 3" x 1"
Tactical and Limited are the same except Tactical allows one electronic / optical sight. Limited allows a non-magnified one for multi-gun only. Both are “factory produced rifles”. Both allow a limited compensator (see rules).

Note: There are no magazine capacity or size limits in any category.
Power factor is 150 min for minor / 320 min for major, so even though AK’s are significantly more than AR’s (~295 vs ~192), they are both minor
Major is 30-06, .308, etc… so an M14 (depending on the ammo weight and muzzle velocity) is shooting in major.

Shotgun
http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2009ShotgunRules2-5.pdf
Open: Detachable magazines, speed loading devices, compensators, ports, optics or electronic sights, Max capacity: 10+1
Limited / Tactical: Must be factory built, No open characteristics. Max capacity: 8+1
Heavy Metal: 12 gauge pump only. No open characteristics. Max capacity: 8+1

Note: A 20 gauge is major power factor and is accepted in all categories except Heavy Metal – which requires a 12 gauge pump.

Pistol
http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2010Handg...sProof3web.pdf
Open: electronic optics, magazines have a max 170mm length restriction
Limited: unlimited magazine capacity (max 140mm length restriction)
Limited-10: limited to 10-round magazines
Production: very limited changes to original, factory pistol, all scoring minor regardless of round size. Too many other rules to list here. See the rules.
Single Stack: single stack magazines, 8 major (>=.40) and 10 minor mag capacity
Revolver: 6 rounds maximum (All other rules still apply. eg: A revolver with a red dot is an open gun.)

Precision Rifle
http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2009PrecisionRules2-5.pdf
Semi-Auto: Almost no rules – must be semi-auto
Manual: Same as Semi-Auto, only must be manually operated
Note: Both only allow 5 rounds loaded maximum.

Multi-gun divisions
http://uspsa.org/RifleShotgunMultigu...-2013final.pdf
Open: Open Rifle, Shotgun, and handgun
Limited: Limited Rifle, Limited Shotgun, Limited Handgun
Tactical: Tactical Rifle, Limited / Tactical Shotgun, Limited Handgun
Heavy Metal: Limited Rifle (minimum .308) (max 20 rounds), Heavy Metal Shotgun (12 gauge pump only), Limited-10 handgun (must be .45 ACP)
Heavy Metal Tactical: Tactical Rifle (minimum .308) (max 20 rounds), Heavy Metal Shotgun (12 gauge pump only), Limited-10 handgun (.40 minimum)

[Bobby Hated]

great resource. good job! i'll be referring people to this thread in the future.

[Yar]

On pistol for open class it's a 170mm magazine max and for limited it's 140mm max mag lenght. After that is however many rounds you can fit in that length magazine.

For tac rifle comps can be no larger than 3" x 1"

[GeoffLinder]

Limited now allows a single "non-magnified" optic in place of iron sights.

This is not true for Heavy Metal Limited, irons only in that division.

Also, muzzle brake in Tac/Limited must be no larger than 3" in length and 1" in diameter. No restriction on muzzle brake size in open.

[jhaselton]

Originally Posted by GeoffLinder

Limited now allows a single "non-magnified" optic in place of iron sights.

Limited allows Backup Irons along with a single "non-magnified" optic. There are several people running setups like that.

[GeoffLinder]

Originally Posted by jhaselton

Limited allows Backup Irons along with a single "non-magnified" optic. There are several people running setups like that.

Yes, true dat, you can have both

[hammer]

What's the restriction on tac optics to have a 45 degree side mount iron sights. Eg JP, etc.

[huck]

Thanks for the feedback. Updates applied.

[GeoffLinder]

Originally Posted by hammer

What's the restriction on tac optics to have a 45 degree side mount iron sights. Eg JP, etc.

No restriction on that, backup/tactical irons are allowed in addition to primary optic in Tac

[gose]

Originally Posted by jhaselton

Limited allows Backup Irons along with a single "non-magnified" optic. There are several people running setups like that.

Some matches will only allow the backup irons to be in the same plane as the NMO though, ie, no dot on top and irons at 45 degrees.

[GeoffLinder]

Originally Posted by gose

Some matches will only allow the backup irons to be in the same plane as the NMO though, ie, no dot on top and irons at 45 degrees.

Gose is right, not all matches follow USPSA rules. IMG rules variants at what are sometimes called "outlaw" multi-gun matches (non USPSA rules) have many differences in many cases for their gear requirements. But for USPSA, you are good to go with offset SRT iron sights on a Tac rifle setup.

BTW, safety rules at most IMG matches tend to be the pretty much the same as the USPSA gold safety standard.

[uscbigdawg]

Need to update some of these.

On rifles, there's no "factory produced rifles," restriction. Shotgun capacities no more, with only match specific restrictions. No longer is there major/minor in 3 gun.

Probably can delete the precision rifles with regards to USPSA.

[huck]

Originally Posted by uscbigdawg

On rifles, there's no "factory produced rifles," restriction.

I got that from Appendix D3 and D4. Is that not the case any longer?


http://www.uspsa.org/rules/2009RifleRules2-5.pdf

[uscbigdawg]

Never has been

[gose]

Originally Posted by uscbigdawg

Need to update some of these.
On rifles, there's no "factory produced rifles," restriction. Shotgun capacities no more, with only match specific restrictions. No longer is there major/minor in 3 gun.
Probably can delete the precision rifles with regards to USPSA.

There always was a factory criteria (for USPSA), but it was always very loosely enforced. Daniel's gremlin lead to some pretty heated debate over on BE.

Minor and major can still be used for 3-gun, USPSA chose to use time-plus for this year's Nationals and probably will continue to do so in the future. Technically its still in the rules.

[uscbigdawg]

So...not enforced and no longer used = don't worry about it.

Run what you brung.

[gose]

Originally Posted by uscbigdawg

So...not enforced and no longer used = don't worry about it.
Run what you brung.

Yupp

Though, isnt USPSA tac/lim still 8+1 even after the beep? I thought they only lifted the restriction in Open?

[uscbigdawg]

I'd be surprised, but anything is possible when it comes to USPSA over complicating 3 gun.

[WASR]

Thanks for putting this together. I am trying to figure out how my Saiga will fit into 3 gun, and this is helpfull!

[tagacali]

XRAIL 21 rounds acceptable for Open Division?

[joelogic]

Originally Posted by WASR

Thanks for putting this together. I am trying to figure out how my Saiga will fit into 3 gun, and this is helpfull!

Mag fed = Open

[uscbigdawg]

Xrail is ONLY allowed in Open

[Readytoroll]

Cool stuff

[speeddreamz]

Curious if anyone uses a 20ga shotgun? Would one consider it a disadvantage in terms of power/pellets going downrange?

I've got all 12 ga, but realized the rules besides heavy metal allow 20ga as min.

[joelogic]

I would say probably not because of ammo prices. But I can think of one guy that rocks his 20ga pump.

[skyscraper]

Thanks for the info...great thread! Im just getting started so this has been very helpful.