Posted: 3/29/2009 6:00:37 PM EDT
|
I've only been to one, relatively informal, 3 gun match before and had no idea what to expect. My buddies told me that I should have gone with them last year, and it's true. This year's Larue Tactical 3-Gun match at Tiger Valley was the most fun I've ever had shooting! I came in 110 or so out of, what, 160 or so competitors and still walked away with WELL over $200 in Larue sweetness. Blew me away! I thought I was going to win a case of bottled water or something, as badly as I screwed the pooch on some of those stages!
Hat's off to Mr. Larue and all the other folks that threw this party. I really, really had fun! By the way, there were three Wounded Warriors there, and they ended up in our squad. It was an honor to get to shoot with them, not to mention the ton of active and retired military and LE that competed. Maybe this should have gone in the "Larue Tactical, my God" thread, but I had to throw it out there somewhere! |
|
I second the motion, best match ever. First time I've ever fired at over 100 other than sighting in my scope. I was actually squaded with the winner, it was a joy to watch what he could do. Even seemed human when he made a mistake or two that the rest of us would also make.
And lastly, a simple thank you for all those shooters who didn't laugh when my fat old booty "fired" the stages. |
I want to meet Mark next time. I got a chance to meet Fingar, Fortier and a few others, but I REALLY wanted to meet the man and get him to sign my RO hat. I didnt even get a chance to get up on the mini gun, it was that balls to the wall. Great job, and it was good meeting yall. I was the guy running the shot timer on stage 6...
|
A great event all in all and a pleasure to meet so many ARFCOM folks!
|
PHolsted posted this video on Brian Enos forums. It shows the mini-gun and a few stages. Video Link
The stage and final results are posted there as well. |
| I totally enjoyed the match. Here is another video of the mini gun. Select the HD option on Youtube for better quality. |
|
Quoted:
I totally enjoyed the match. Here is another video of the mini gun. Select the HD option on Youtube for better quality. Y'alls videos are showing just how much running the ROs do at these deals. Like football referees, they're running the same dang pattern ... but 200x.
|
|
Thanks a bunch to Greg, Blake, Austin, Cody, Brian, Heidi, Greg, TJ, Andrew, Rick, Justin, and all of the RO's and staff whose names I can't remember. This match was awesome! The stages were great, the company was better, and the food was the best I've ever had at a match while eating on the range. The prize table was excellent!
Thanks as well to Mark LaRue, Dillon Precision, JP Enterprises, Tac Pro Shooting Center, Nightforce, Leupold, Dawson, Eagle, POF, MGM, XS Sights, Remington, PWS, Matt Burkett, Sabre, DPMS, Blackhwak, Oakley, Sierra, BTI, Brownells, TNVC, Safariland, POF, L-3 Com, and Hooters for making the donations to the prize table! I shot the match last year, I shot it this year, and I damn sure plan on being back the next time around! Congrats to Daniel Horner and Kelly Neal. Ya'll shot damn good! Monte |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I totally enjoyed the match. Here is another video of the mini gun. Select the HD option on Youtube for better quality. Y'alls videos are showing just how much running the ROs do at these deals. Like football referees, they're running the same dang pattern ... but 200x.
Aint that the truth. I have RO's many matches and stages .... man by the time the day is over with I am worn slap out. |
|
Quoted:
PHolsted posted this video on Brian Enos forums. It shows the mini-gun and a few stages. Video Link The stage and final results are posted there as well. Did you notice the shirt in the vid? I am Pholsted. Oh Just a note do you happen to know the who the guy in the red windbreaker is? The one hogging up my shots? LOL Just kidding It the one and only Mark Fingar..........I hope I can get some of those pics he took!! And Mark sorry about the muzzle blast!!!!! I talked to both Mark and Greg several times and told them what A great time I was having and more importantly how thankful I was they were putting this match on and how much respect and honor they showed to our Active Military, our Veterans and to our LEO's. I can't wait for next years!!!!!!! Only question I have for Mark and Greg how are you going to top the Mini Gun next year?????? I don't want to leave out TJ with Tiger Valley. They have a wonderful Range facility and am very grateful they held this match on there grounds. I also want to say thanks to everyone that worked the match. These guys and girls do this for no more than the fun if it and a great job they do. Lastly I want to say thanks to the Sponsors! I have never seen a prize table the likes of the one at this match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will make sure I contact them all to let them know how much they are appreciated and If I am in need of their product I will do business with them for supporting this match and the shooting industry. Thanks to All! |
| Thanks to TJ, Greg, Mark, ALL of the LaRue Crew, Sponsors, and shooters for a GREAT weekend. I have shot the Soldier of Fortune 3 -gun in Vegas and this was 10 times better. It was worth it just to shoot the minigun. I had an awesome time. Thanks again!!! See you next year!! |
|
Quoted:
The wounded warrior project is a great cause. I get charity contribution matches through my company and I donate 10% of my check + company match to that fund. Injured soldiers deserve nothing but our utmost respect and honor. Cant forget the parralel program Hope for Heroes. They do great work with TBI and PTSD Vets. |
|
Quoted:
I want to meet Mark next time. I got a chance to meet Fingar, Fortier and a few others, but I REALLY wanted to meet the man and get him to sign my RO hat. I didnt even get a chance to get up on the mini gun, it was that balls to the wall. Great job, and it was good meeting yall. I was the guy running the shot timer on stage 6... Devil dog,......Lol, next time Im gonna bring a ritz cracker and see if you do push-ups for it too. LMAO (inside joke after hours) If anyone wants info for the three wounded warriors I think I have the emails. There are many more and their families, that can use your help. Keep checking the LaRue site, there will be a link there soon to our site and how you can help more actively. Mark truly went out of his way and out did himself. Just to be clear on something,......All you whining bitches that talk mad internet tough guy shit about ML,....know that he LOST money on this event when you add up what the fees were for the shooters VS the $100,000 plus in prize table goodies, not to mention feeding a Mini gun for @ 200 shooters, and 3 meals a day for 2.5 days. Mark LaRue a stingee asshole?......I FKKN think not. Mark, thanks for teaching me how to properly drink coffee, "1/3 of a cup of scalding hot coffee please" SF, H4H |
|
I too screwwwwed the pooch at this one. But had one hell of a time, I am still grinning. There were four stages I loved and did OK in.
My many THANKS to LARUE, TJ's Tiger valley, and all the other sponsors. I will stop being a cheap bastard and buy from the sponsor lists. The minigun stage, the door breach stage, and the tunnel stage and the "wall hiding 25 bad guys at the windows" stage. No excuse for poor a plan on my part. I learned alot. 1) Even if I hate shotguns. I need a good 8 shot shotgun with ghost ring sights and a modified choke to even "fantasize " about being competitive. 2) I need a match trigger in all my AR 15 to get the fast groups on the reduced size zero centers on the targets. 3) I need a flat top upper and another aimpoint for my carbine to exploit a lighter trigger. 4) Hunting scopes are for hunting. 5) Shotguns need stocks unless you are blowing locks out.  Yeah. How about that?
6) I need an oversized safety on my cav arms lower. It is hard to actuate. 7) We are a point where the amount of fight brought to the enemy, has reached above the old plateau of 2003. In that era we saw squads of riflemen repel battalions of enemy in traditional infantry city fighting, and saw a rebirth on the battle field of what riflemen should be. We are entering a stage here where optics, weapons design and performance compress the shooting disciplines. No longer is a single fighter defined by these old titles. Rileman, Scout, Designated marksman, Sniper..... Given the current availability of training, gear , inclination, and opportunity, the average individual gun owner can dominate in any tactical environment with a single well chosen, and outfitted rifle. I saw Mark LaRue's successful experiment, prove that point this last weekend. Long live the patriots! |
|
I feel you on the 14", I was running a 18" open bore pump with 6+1, but you know what, I don't think I'll change. Only thing I might do is add a choke. It's actually my house gun and does quite well in that role. And knocks the plates down quite well when there isn't a 30 mph tail wind holding them up. :-)
As far as the rifle, I just need more trigger time at long ranges. Other than sighting in the scope, this is the first time I've shot @ 100 or more. I've mostly played CQB until Larue. Maybe next year we'll have to do a morter stage, mmmmmm maybe a Mark19? Oooooo how about a 2" black powder cannon, or a bowling ball morter? Possibly a 1919 at a bunch of Larue's. Grenade toss anyone? Just how do you top a minigun?!? |
|
Quoted:
I too screwwwwed the pooch at this one. But had one hell of a time, I am still grinning. There were four stages I loved and did OK in. My many THANKS to LARUE, TJ's Tiger valley, and all the other sponsors. I will stop being a cheap bastard and buy from the sponsor lists. The minigun stage, the door breach stage, and the tunnel stage and the "wall hiding 25 bad guys at the windows" stage. No excuse for poor a plan on my part. I learned alot. 1) Even if I hate shotguns. I need a good 8 shot shotgun with ghost ring sights and a modified choke to even "fantasize " about being competitive. Mossberg 590 w ghostring 2) I need a match trigger in all my AR 15 to get the fast groups on the reduced size zero centers on the targets. Try running commercial brass case, not wolf.
3) I need a flat top upper and another aimpoint for my carbine to exploit a lighter trigger. 4) Hunting scopes are for hunting. 5) Shotguns need stocks unless you are blowing locks out. Yeah. How about that?
6) I need an oversized safety on my cav arms lower. It is hard to actuate. 7) We are a point where the amount of fight brought to the enemy, has reached above the old plateau of 2003. In that era we saw squads of riflemen repel battalions of enemy in traditional infantry city fighting, and saw a rebirth on the battle field of what riflemen should be. We are entering a stage here where optics, weapons design and performance compress the shooting disciplines. No longer is a single fighter defined by these old titles. Rileman, Scout, Designated marksman, Sniper..... Given the current availability of training, gear , inclination, and opportunity, the average individual gun owner can dominate in any tactical environment with a single well chosen, and outfitted rifle. I saw Mark LaRue's successful experiment, prove that point this last weekend. Long live the patriots! |
|
Quoted:
8 shot shotguns are okay, but you should try a 14 in barreled 4 shot tube shotgun for the absolute best combat loading experience...  And Armor. The three most hard core dudes out ran the entire course in a fighting load. That takes strength and courage. |
|
Quoted:
I feel you on the 14", I was running a 18" open bore pump with 6+1, but you know what, I don't think I'll change. Only thing I might do is add a choke. It's actually my house gun and does quite well in that role. And knocks the plates down quite well when there isn't a 30 mph tail wind holding them up. :-) As far as the rifle, I just need more trigger time at long ranges. Other than sighting in the scope, this is the first time I've shot @ 100 or more. I've mostly played CQB until Larue. Maybe next year we'll have to do a morter stage, mmmmmm maybe a Mark19? Oooooo how about a 2" black powder cannon, or a bowling ball morter? Possibly a 1919 at a bunch of Larue's. Grenade toss anyone? Just how do you top a minigun?!? Flamethrower - And they are not regulated.... 
|
|
Yeah, armour. I wouldn't have FIT in the tunnel with my armour set up on. It was bad enough that when I crawled in the tunnel I found no openings. I put the rifle through the only opening visable. RO starts yelling at me to put it through the gap. I'm yelling THERE IS NO GAP!!! RO yells between the 2x4's. So WTF I pull the rifle back and commence to use physics (my fat booty) to move the tunnel into a position where the right wall now has a gap. I was not gentle, Before the 2x4's were touching, after I had about a one foot wide gap to easily place the rifle.
Man, what a fun time. I guess I need to order a little Larue today. |
| My partner and I were 2 of the guys that ran it "geared up" with our duty weapons. It was an EXCELLENT equipment check and everything worked like I hoped/thought it would. You never really know until you test it. We got some good training and that is one of te main reasons we came. We knew we would win something even if we came in last. It was an awesome event. |
|
Quoted:
I just wanted to steal page 2 And If I wasnt out of a job I would have tried harder to attend this match even though it would have been a ways from Ga to TX. There were a few folks there from Georgia, and Wisconsin, and Indiana...ect. Just goes to show "all that time on the internet paid off". To quote a friend. PS, 14" Duty shottys do indeed SUCK for that event don't they? |
|
I used my 14 inch Wilson shotgun with the Surefire forend and everything - and I definitely need reloading practice, preferably with cold fingers! Hard to compete with the guys who load 9 rounds, but then again, that's not the shotty that they keep beside the bed, either. Compete with what you carry, I say!
It worked fine except I need to bring some heavier shot to knock some of those durn plates over! I gotta say, the breaching stage and the shoothouse were my favorites - well, the minigun was hard to beat, too! The ROs were great. They had to have the patience of Job to put up with some of the mistakes that I made. I called Larue this morning and ordered the Harris Bipod BMR-S and LT706 Swivel Mount Combo that I've been wanting just out of appreciation for the great time! Well, it makes a good excuse, anyway...! 
|
|
Quoted:
I used my 14 inch Wilson shotgun with the Surefire forend and everything - and I definitely need reloading practice, preferably with cold fingers! Hard to compete with the guys who load 9 rounds, but then again, that's not the shotty that they keep beside the bed, either. Compete with what you carry, I say!
It worked fine except I need to bring some heavier shot to knock some of those durn plates over! I gotta say, the breaching stage and the shoothouse were my favorites - well, the minigun was hard to beat, too! The ROs were great. They had to have the patience of Job to put up with some of the mistakes that I made. I called Larue this morning and ordered the Harris Bipod BMR-S and LT706 Swivel Mount Combo that I've been wanting just out of appreciation for the great time! Well, it makes a good excuse, anyway...! Three words: Double Aught Buck! That star bit me in the backside (took a few extra shots and wound up running dry after dropping the third popper-had to take the penalty for a missed bird). Bad thing is, I had 00 buck with me, I just didn't use it. Bad call on my part, and it cost me one or two places in the finals. Live and learn, practice some more, and be there again next year! |
|
What a great match! It was my first major 3 gun and I did not know what to expect. My buddy and I brought so much stuff we had the rear cab of his truck so full, you could barely see out the back glass. The stages were well laid out and pushed you. What a great learning experience.
Some of the things I learned: 30mph winds are no fun for shooting > 200 yards. If you have sunscreen in your range bag, PUT IT ON! Bring more than one size shot ( all I had were 7 1/2's and the Texas Star ate my lunch). I thanked Mark and Greg several times, but thank you again for all you did. The food was amazing and that was THE best prize table I have ever seen. Also thanks to the RO's and everyone that worked the match. I will definitely be seeing you guys next year! Here are some more videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8qEyqPTBU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqFCWqbUwsE |