Stage 1 of the LaRue 3 Gun match started with competitors engaging targets with a Dillon Mini-Gun – not something you’ll find at your average match. (Photo: David M. Fortier)

Texas is a state that is able to claim many great titles, events, monuments, sports teams and collegiate institutions, and now it can claim another title - it was the host state to one of the best, if not the best, 3-Gun competitions shot in 2009 so far. It is fitting that such an event took place in Texas, as the company responsible for orchestrating the event is known for big things coming from this big state.

A Brief History

Last year Cavalry Arms was set to host a 3-Gun competition at Tiger Valley located in Waco, Texas. Certain events precluded Cavalry Arms from being able to follow through with their plans and as a result had to remove itself entirely. LaRue Tactical admirably picked up the slack, and in the process laid the foundation for what would take place on March 28-29, 2009.

After taking over the match preparations for Calvary Arms and receiving a strong shooter turnout for previous matches, LaRue Tactical decided to once again hold a 3-Gun competition at Tiger Valley. In true Texas fashion, the match had to be bigger than the last, and LaRue Tactical was sure not to disappoint.

Pre-Match Prep

After learning things from the previous match, Greg Coker was tasked with setting up and designing the 2009 LaRue Tactical 3 Gun Match. The venue was again laid at Tiger Valley, where director T.J. Pilling has a strong track record with respect to hosting and running various shooting events in the central and north Texas regions.

Coker watched as applications poured in and at the SHOT SHOW this past January, was able to persuade master statistician Linda Chico to leave her southeastern residence and fly out to Texas and assist with shooter data. Chico is single-handedly responsible for keeping all of the numbers in order, and needless to say, without her things would be in disarray.

A competitor vaporizes a clay bird during a stage. Competitors’ skill with rifle, pistol and shotgun were all put to the test. (Photo: David M. Fortier)

It appeared that LaRue Tactical had everything in place for a phenomenal 3-Gun match - an excellent venue, excellent statistician, a match director who was working diligently on the event itself and great food. So the next question became, How could LaRue Tactical keep with the Texas motto of "Everything is bigger in Texas?"

Obviously a company that prides itself on making some of the finest optics mounts, railed forends and other rifle accessories would need to have something equally unique at the match to separate itself from other 3-Gun matches around the nation. In fact, that very weekend, not so far away in Arizona, was another well known 3-Gun competition. So if LaRue Tactical was going to make this a premier 3-Gun event, it would need to separate itself from the pack, in a way only Mark LaRue and the LT Team could dream up. More on that in a moment.

The Match

As I arrived at the Fairfield Inn and gazed into the parking lot, I could tell this match was going to be big. Trucks and SUVs with logos such as JP Enterprises, Dillon Precision, Surefire, the United States Army Marksmanship Unit and several other corporations had made the drive from their respective locations to participate. More than 200 3-Gun/Multi-Gun competitors from around the country, some flying in from as far as Alaska, were converging in Waco. It was truly a sight to behold.

At 7 a.m. sharp, the teams were to meet and head out to their first stage. The weather on the first day deserves some discussion. As I walked to stage 1 the wind was roaring at a constant 15 to 20 mph with guests in the upper 30 to 40 range. And it was downright cold. So cold in fact, that two people from Minnesota on my squad even conceded that they were "chilly."

This almost 200-pound dummy needed to be moved to retrieve a carbine during one stage. (Photo: David M. Fortier)

Without a doubt, the answer was yes. It was at this moment that I realized how LaRue Tactical was able to put a smile on every competitor's face, all the while adding to the motto "Everything is bigger in Texas."

Some Stage Descriptions

Stage 1 consisted of the following: start on the Dillon Mini-Gun, engaging the three LaRue Targets with 50 rounds of 762 NATO; transition to your handgun and engage an array of steel set at approx 25 yards; then transition to the LaRue Tactical OSR (a brand new 308 semi auto rifle) for a shot on a 200-yard MGM flasher target; and finally transition to a make shift roof and engage various steel targets at 86, 160, 200, 414 and 500 yards.

That is an intense stage by any competitor's standard. In fact, I heard on numerous occasions throughout the match that even if a shooter finished dead-last, the fact that a shooter was able to engage a target with a Mini-Gun officially made the match the best event they would shoot all year. I had to agree.

Not only was there all the barbecue you could eat, but over $100,000 worth of prizes were given away. (Photo: David M. Fortier)

While the Mini-Gun stage was by far the favorite of the match, I personally enjoyed the breaching stage. The competitor started in front of a steel breaching door (purchased just for this event) where you shot out two mock hinges with your shotgun. Then after entering the "house," the competitor engaged a steel plate with his shotgun.

Next the competitor deposited the shotgun and transitioned to his rifle, addressing threats as they presented themselves throughout the house. However, before breaching the door, the shooter drew a colored card and was not allowed to shoot targets with that color on them, adding yet another mental gymnastic to the stage.

Final Thoughts

The LaRue Tactical 3-Gun match had eight challenging stages shot over the course of 2 days, superb barbecue, a great crew at Tiger Valley, a prize table teeming with goodies (the total of which exceeded $100,000), and lastly a camaraderie that is only found at shooting events. The match supported our wounded men and women, bringing in some veterans to watch and even compete in a stage or two.

Many competitors had never shot a 3-gun match, let alone ever participated in a competitive shooting event in their lives. However, the stages were set up so that shooters of all levels were able to compete and have a great time.

The event brought out the best the shooting sports has to offer and I'm greatly looking forward to the 2010 edition.

The opinions contained in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of TacticalGunFan or its staff.