3-gun competition is one of the most popular shooting sport in the United States, drawing participants nationwide. As the name calls, you would need 3 guns, pistol, shotgun and rifle, to compete the speed and accuracy with fellow shooters.
Whether you're navigating a shotgun stage, taking down long-range targets with your rifle, or engaging in fast-paced pistol shooting, the ideal scope must be versatile, durable, and optimized for rapid target acquisition. Let’s dive into the scope options to elevate your performance during the competition.
The shooting ranges usually are from 25 to hundred yards out, depending on the specific setup of the competition field. LPVOs (Low Power Variable Optics), red dots, magnifiers, prism scopes are fair enough to beat the game.
3-gun competitions have different divisions, Limited, Open, Tactical Optics, Heavy Metals, Outlaw Open. We have listed each of the division scope options below.
In the following paragraphs, we are going to explore the scope options based on the division.
Red dots for limited division
In the Limited Division of 3-gun competition, only unmagnified optics are allowed on your rifle, such as red dots or 1x prism scopes. For rapid target acquisition, two features should be prioritized when picking the dot, a high window size and a crisp, easily visible dot. An over 20mm height window with a 6MOA red dot would be a good option. Some people may prefer 3MOA dot size for longer range precise shooting.
Tube-style (enclosed) red dot sights are more durable than open sights because of their sealed lenses, making them suitable for all weather conditions. Additionally, enclosed red dots often provide a larger window compared to reflex sights, enhancing visibility. On the other hand, the advantage of open red dot sights is their lightweight design, which can improve balance and allow for quicker target acquisition during fast-paced competition.
Prism scopes are another excellent choice, offering a sharp reticle and clear image. For longer-range shots, a prism scope with a BDC (bullet drop compensator) reticle is particularly effective, enabling precise range calculations and targeting. Even if the illumination failure, the etched reticle remains functional during competition.
If you have good eyesight, a red dot is often the better option due to its intuitive aiming and unlimited field of view, enabling effective two-eye shooting—an advantage in fast-paced scenarios. However, if you have serious astigmatism, a prism scope is a more reliable choice, as it offers a clearer reticle than a red dot.
Optics Recommendation
Tactical Divison
The difference between Tactical Division and Limited Division is that you are allowed to install a magnified optics on the rifle. You have several options to arm your rifle, red dots combining with magnifiers, over 1x prism scope, 1x prism scope combining with magnifers, LPVOs.
Concerning the combination of red dot with magnifiers, prism scope with magnifiers, the red dot and prism scope are similar as those of limited division. Magnifiers in 3x, 4x, and 5x configurations all offer effective options, with 3x being the most popular choice based on personal shooting preferences. These magnifiers allow for windage and elevation adjustments to ensure precise reticle alignment. Additionally, a flip-to-side mount enhances convenience, enabling shooters to quickly switch between 1x and 3x/4x/5x magnification during fast-paced competition. This flexibility ensures optimal performance in dynamic shooting situations.
If you prefer to use prism scope, we have 3x and 4x prism scope options for you, exception for 1x prism scope.
Some competitors prefer using a single scope for all shooting distances, making an LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic) a solid choice. When selecting an LPVO, you may prioritize three key features, true 1x power, a bright center dot, and high-quality glass.
True 1x power allows shooters to use the LPVO as red dot for close-range fast target aiming. A bright center dot, which is essential for fast target acquisition, could be enabled by fiber material or illumination setting. High-quality glass ensures the edge-to-edge image clarity, enhancing your shooting experience.
For fast target acquisition, we recommend selecting a second focal plane (SFP) LPVO, as it’s more intuitive to use. For those who prefer a highly visible illuminated center dot for quick aiming, an LPVO with a fiber optic reticle is an excellent option. Continental 1-6x24i Fiber Tactical Riflescope (SCOC-44) is highly recommeneded. However, if the brightness of the center dot is not your primary concern, we suggest the Continental x6 1-6x24 Tactical LPVO Riflescope (SCOC-23T), which features a BDC reticle that provides both accuracy and speed in target acquisition.
Our Continental line features German Schott HD lenses with VePRO FMC, delivering over 90% light transmission for exceptionally clear, sharp images and crisp reticle patterns. The standard 4-inch eye relief and expansive field of view at true 1x power ensure fast target acquisition and greater flexibility in shooting positions, providing a smooth and seamless experience, especially during high-speed stages.
A key accessory to purchase is the throw lever, which is essential for quick magnification adjustments during competition. Our Continental line scopes are fully compatible with the SCCON-TL throw lever, engineered for rapid and smooth magnification changes, ensuring you stay ahead during fast-paced competition stages.
When you install the LPVO on the rifle, you may need an additional mount, one-piece mount or rings. Here are some mounts you may pick based on your rifle and guns. You will need to confirm the rail type, length, the objective lens dia, the tube dia. For LPVO, we would recommend one piece high mount.
Open division and Outlaw open division
We have talked about how to pick the scope for the rifle. For shotgun and pistol, it is quite similar, big window size with a clear dot for fast target acquisition. One thing to mention is that, for those two types of gun, the open sight maybe preferred over enclosed ones.
Here are some popular gun choices
Popular pistol: Smith & Wesson M&P 9, Sig Sauer P320, Glock 17, 19, custom 2011, 1911
If the pistol doesn't have an optics-ready system, then you would need to find the adapter to match the pistol and red dot. If the pistol has the optics-ready system, the adapters would come with the pistol producer. You wouldn't need to purchase adapters from us. You can install our red dot with the matched adapter. For more information concerning how to install the red dot on the pistol, refer to our previous blog post.
Popular rifle: Frankenrifle AR-15, Daniel Defense DDM4 V7, Sig Sauer M400-DH3, JP Rifle
Vector Optics' red dots always come with a mount (for picatinny or weaver rail), which can be directly installed on the rifle with the matched rail. For LPVO, you may need to select scope ring to install.
Popular shotgun: Beretta, Remington Versa Max Tactical, Benelli M1, Stoger 3000s.
Vector Optics' red dots always come with a mount (for picatinny or weaver rail), which can be directly installed on the shotgun with the matched rail.
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