3GN Spotlight: Dianna Liedorff

She’s one of the more likeable and respected women in the sport, and she also happens to be one of its toughest competitors. Team FNH USA’s Dianna Liedorff is one of a handful of Ladies expected to battle for the 3GN Lady Shoot-Off and a $5K prize from Cheaper Than Dirt!

A lifelong competitor, a cop, and an avid 2^nd Amendment supporter, Liedorff talked candidly with us about working and shooting with the “boys,” her dad’s influence, and the future of women in the sport of 3-gun.

3GN: Tell us about your day job.

DL: I am an 18-year veteran with the Tulsa (OK) Police Department. I’ve worked a variety of assignments, including Narcotics, Street Crimes and Gangs. Currently I’m in the field, shagging calls and chasing bad guys. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I choose to work the worst parts of town! I love my job.

3GN: How does competitive shooting enhance skills you need in law enforcement?

DL: Competitive shooting provides a different atmosphere than most training environments. There is a simulated stress that cannot be matched. Plus there is a huge mental aspect of the 3-gun game. Not only handling stress, but remembering where the targets are, when you are going to reload; for example: shoot six, load four, shoot eight (because I have a longer distance to cover and it would be more efficient). “How many do I have in the gun now? Oh, I need a slug in the middle of that.” You can see where I’m going with that. Then there is the rifle. “How far are they? What do I want to set my scope on, what magnification?” With all those variables something is bound to go wrong, and it’s great training to fight through and keep thinking when things aren’t going as planned…which happens all the time to police officers.

I hope to be an ambassador of the shooting sports to the law enforcement community to spread the word of how much fun and what great training can be achieved through the shooting sports.

3GN: As a woman, is it tougher to be a cop?

DL: I think there are definitely different challenges as a woman. But for the most part, I think women get the job done; we just may take a different road to get there. I can pretty much go into any situation knowing that I am the underdog physically, therefore I may not go “hands on” as quick as a guy. I get people to comply some other way, whether that is politely asking…or creating distance and pointing my gun at them…and politely asking!

3GN: What hobbies do you have outside of shooting?

DL: I grew up showing horses with my family in North Central Missouri. Even though I dabbled in competitive shooting in high school, when I got out on my own and moved to Tulsa, I stuck with the horses. I barrel raced and trained horses for 15 years before coming back to the shooting sports. I fulfilled my dream of building a barn with living quarters … and now my tack room is full of ammo!

3GN: What first got you into the shooting sports, and who has been the most influential in your shooting career?

DL: My father must have wanted a boy. Shooting is only one of the many things he’s gotten me into! He always wanted to go hunting, so I went hunting until I killed Bambi’s mother at 16 and I felt terrible (Bambi actually came back and waited—Hey, I am a girl!). So he took me to some local USPSA matches and we liked it. He is definitely my biggest influence (and fan) in my shooting life. I have had a lot of great influences over the years, from Michael Plaxco "back in the day” to currently, Erik Lund. They are both great teachers. When I came back to shooting, Erik believed in me early on and encouraged me into the 3-gun arena.

3GN: Why 3-gun?

DL: I think I’m addicted to 3-gun because of the challenge and the atmosphere of the matches. There are so many components of the game that it seems like there is always room for improvement … unless you’re Daniel (Horner) or Taran (Butler)! There is a great commraderie with 3-gun shooters, and the natural terrain matches are so unique and beautiful! Rocky Mountain … wow.

3GN: What are your shooting strengths?

DL: My knee-jerk reaction to that question is my pistol game, but I think my strength may lie in my familiarity with all three platforms. “Jack of all trades, master of none!” I think I’m getting better at managing matches too, from stage breakdown to physically making it through long, tough days.

3GN: Where do you still need improvement?

DL: I have been working on dry-fire drills over the winter. I am a strong-hand, “pluck and stuff” shotgun loader. I am toying with the idea of changing to weak-hand reloads and have been spending a lot of time on that. I know I need to be physically stronger to be more competitive.

3GN: At your level, what do you do to improve?

DL: Practice, practice, practice. I am actually going to practice this year! It’s not brain surgery. You have to put in the time to improve at anything. And I am running and working out to improve my strength and endurance.

3GN: How tough is it to compete at this level?

DL: It’s pretty tough! The days are long and physically challenging. The weather doesn’t always cooperate. With the added bonus from 3-Gun Nation having money on the line, everyone is stepping up their game and more shooters are coming to the sport to compete for titles and money!

3GN: Explain the time commitment: training, travel, etc.

DL: There is an enormous amount of time and energy that goes into training, preparing and actually attending the matches. The matches are pretty tricky to get into and require a lot of planning relatively early in the season. By February I was already entered into every major 3-gun match I plan on attending for the year.

There is a lot of gear and ammo required, and if you don’t drive you have to figure out the most economical way to get it there. That requires a lot of planning. If I’m not driving, I have had friends that are driving take my stuff while I fly. Or I plan ahead with ammo and leave my bag/ammo on the FNH USA truck. Most major matches are three days long. That’s a huge commitment of time away from work.

3GN: How did you become part of Team FN?

DL: Mostly luck I think! I was squadded with them at Rocky Mountain in 2009. We all got along well. I was shooting a borrowed shotgun, so they offered me a shotgun. It sort of blossomed from there. After I won High Lady at Benning that year, they offered me a spot on the team for the 2010 season. It was a huge honor. It has surpassed my wildest dreams. Not only am I on the team, but I have been certified as a 303 Less Lethal Operator/Instructor/Armorer. The  whole team goes to the big trade shows not only as a team member, but also working the floor and showing off all the awesomeness that FN has to offer!

3GN: Why is sponsorship so important to compete in this sport?

DL: This sport is financially taxing just to get all the gear required, not to mention stiff entry fees. To compete at the top level, it requires a lot of travel as well. Although sponsorships don’t usually include everything, it certainly allows shooters to go to many more matches than they would be able to attend on their own. And it’s good for the businesses to get their name out there. It’s a win-win.

3GN: What’s it like being one of the top ladies in a male-dominated sport?

DL: It’s pretty cool actually! I have been in a male dominant profession for almost 20 years, so I’m used to being compared to the guys. It doesn’t bother me. I rather enjoy being the underdog and love playing up the “don’t get beat by a girl” mind game! Although I certainly don’t mind competing with the boys, my goal is to win the ladies division.

3GN: We’ve added Lady Shoot-Offs and prize money to the 3GN Tour this year. Are you excited about that?

DL: I’m super stoked about the Shoot-Off as a shooter as well as a fan of the show. Besides the lucrative aspect, just having the opportunity to compete in that format really gets me fired up! I think it’s great for the viewers to see the Ladies and Juniors compete as well. For whatever reason, guys dig chicks with SCARs! J

3GN: We have you pegged as one of the ladies to beat for Cheaper Than Dirt’s $5K Lady Shoot-Off in November. Who do you think will be in that Shoot-Off?

DL: Well, thanks! That may be a horse race trying to get in the Shoot-Off. Of course, I would expect my National Champion teammate, Tasha Hanish, to be there. Katie Harris and Sharon Griffin are other names in the T.O. field. The Godmother of Ladies 3-gun, Deb Cheek, and Maggie Reese dominate in Open.

3GN: What do those types of prizes, exclusively for women, mean to the growth of the sport?

DL: Between the exposure from the show and the money up for grabs, it can only mean that this sport will see an influx of women. There are some amazing women in the handgun field that would rock 3-gun. Jessie Abbate is already a 3-gun National Champion. Julie Golob is a force to be reckoned with. I hope we see these girls as well as new shooters come play and get hooked on this game! As a 2^nd Amendment supporter, that makes me smile!

3GN: Will we ever see a lady beat all the guys and win the main event of the 3GN Championship?

DL: Is Wonder Woman participating; the Bionic Woman? No, I seriously doubt that is possible. I’ve got to give it to the top men. They are bigger, stronger and faster … but they better not let me catch them slippin.’ They don’t need to be worried about getting arrested, they need to worry about getting beat! J