The Matchup: Taran Vs. Jerry

3GN breaks down one of the higher profile matchups of the 2010 3GN Tour.

By Chad Adams

The tension was palpable from the moment the two heavyweight shooters were drawn. With an audible “ahhh,” the crowd was buzzing as the two titans of practical competition readied themselves during dry firing. And by the time Taran Butler and Jerry Miculek stepped to the firing line, every single spectator was on the edge of their seat.

On the left was Jerry Miculek, the most accomplished, freakishly talented revolver wizard of all time. Also arguably the most versatile shooter in the history of practical competition, Miculek has simply done it all, with countless championships won with wheel guns, semi-automatic pistols and in the sport of 3-gun, where he is one of the sport’s most dominant Open division shooters. A Hall of Fame career that’s final chapters have yet to be written, when Smith & Wesson’s legendary shooter steps to the line, other stages shut down so that range officers and competitors can watch the show.

On the right was Taran Butler, the enigmatic pistol wizard who cut his teeth in California’s seminal Southwest Pistol League, ultimately becoming a dominating force in not only what is arguably America’s toughest pistol circuit, but racking up national titles in multiple disciplines, including 3-gun. And in this 3-gun season, no shooter has been close to Butler, who has thoroughly dominated the Tactical Optics division, which routinely boasts the deepest field of talent throughout the major events. On any short list of the best competitors in 3-gun, Butler’s name is near or on the top of every list.

At the horn, each man sprinted out of the starting box, churning toward the first position—the rifle barricade, what has become the most important station of the 3GN Shoot-Off. Pull a one- or two-plate lead coming out of rifle, and chances are you win the run.

Miculek was first to his SCAR, by a mere half-count at best, and immediately dropped into a reverse-kneeling-supported position against the barricade, as did Butler. Their first shots broke almost simultaneously, with neither competitor finding the mark on the MGM six-plate rack set at 100 yards. Though it’s tough to clearly tell, it appeared Miculek broke two shots that miss before his third shot knocked down the first plate. Butler appeared to have broken one, possibly two shots, impossible to say as the camera angle changes at this point in the edit, before knocking down his first plate. Regardless, each competitor’s first plate falls at the same time, Miculek’s only slightly ahead when viewed in slow-motion.

Miculek edged ahead on plate two, immediately followed by Butler, the rhythm repeated for plate three. Then Miculek clearly gets more comfortable and knocks down plates four and five, with Butler’s fourth plate falling in rhythm with Miculek’s fifth, repeating the cadence for Butler’s fifth and Miculek’s final plate.  But Butler immediately knocks down his final plate as Miculek stands, pulling even as each ground their SCAR, sprint to the shotgun station and are in a dead heat as they mount the FNH SLP shotguns.

In a rarity, and surprising to most, it’s the shotgun that proves the deciding factor in this matchup, as Butler lays down a smoking run, going seven-for-seven through the five pepper poppers and two clays. But Miculek required one follow-up shot, and after his eighth and final shot, the veteran shoot-off competitor hesitated, seemingly looking back to ensure his final target is neutralized. That extra shot and slight hesitation proved to be all the separation Butler would need.

Exploding through the pistol rack, Butler’s last pistol plate disappeared as Miculek’s second plate began to fall, before Butler knocked down the stop plate, thereby knocking  Miculek out his first appearance in the 3GN Shoot-Off.

For the top competitors, the 3GN Shoot-Off proves to be a most interesting formula. Butler, clearly having an outstanding 3-gun season, was most unceremoniously ousted in the first round of his first shoot-off appearance by Patrick Kelley. But what often sets champions apart is how they respond. Butler responded in his next 3GN Shoot-off by cashing a $5,000 check courtesy of Leupold. And Jerry? Well, you’ll have to stay tuned to see how one of the biggest names in the sport fares in his next 3GN Shoot-Off.

In most sports, it’s usually the final match-up where the two “best” are destined to meet. But luck is part of the game in the 3GN Shoot-Off, and it made for even more tension than normal when Miculek and Butler squared off in the first round of the 3GN Shoot-Off following the FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun Championships. To see the entire event, be sure to watch 3-Gun Nation this Thursday at 3 PM EST, or catch it anytime after it posts on www.3gunnation.com.

Posted on 8/24/2010