3GN Spotlight: Rustin Bernskoetter

In a sport filled with Type-A personalities, Rustin Bernskoetter seems a bit more laid back, reserved even—until he steps into the box that is.

When the buzzer sounds, Bernskoetter is one of the most dynamic 3-gunners in the country—smooth in his movements, lethal at long range, and fast on close range paper or steel.

While the remaining seven competitors will step to the line in sponsored shirts, looking like walking NASCARs, Rustin will likely come out in a plain, unadorned T-shirt.

But don’t let the look fool you. Bernskoetter made a run all the way to the final match-up in his only other 3GN Shoot-Off, and don’t be surprised if he makes it all the way to the end in Vegas.

Confident, skilled and hungry—the field should beware Rustin Bernskoetter.

3GN:What got you into competitive shooting?

RB: A friend invited me to shoot a club level USPSA "Thursday Night Thunder" pistol match. I was hooked to competitive shooting immediately.    

3GN:Why 3-gun?

RB: I like the variety of 3-gun. There are no two stages the same. There's long-range precision, mindless hosing and everything in between.     

3GN: You seemingly came out of nowhere in a lot of people's eyes. How did you get so good, so fast?

RB: Good old fashioned hard work. Identifying my points of weakness. Shooting until my fingers bleed.  Staying up until two o'clock in the morning reloading ammo so I can do it all again the next day.

3GN: How much training time have you been putting in for Vegas?

RB: I have been training about five days a week. I have a private range on my dad's land which is two miles from my house. The winter weather in Missouri has been unseasonably warm this year so it makes training very enjoyable. If there were snow on the ground, I would still be out there though. 

3GN: What specifically have you been working on the most?

RB: Mostly, I have been working on weapon transitions and manipulation with all three guns. As far as shooting goes, I've spent most of my time on pistol. Becoming proficient with a new pistol takes more time than the other two guns. I borrowed a bunch of poppers from a friend to simulate the pistol portion of the most recent 3GN Shoot-Offs. It’s two banks of poppers in a V-shape with a stop plate. I built some gun dump barricades like what is used in the 3GN Shoot-Offs. Occasionally, my wife or one of my brothers will come out and we will hold our own shoot-off.

3GN: As a non-sponsored shooter, do you have a sense that you're the underdog? Is there a chip on your shoulder?

RB: I don't feel like an underdog. I have been competing with the best shooters in the nation for some time. Match results speak for themselves. 

3GN: What would it mean to you to become 3-Gun Nation Champion?

RB: It would mean that you would probably stop writing articles that refer to me as “relatively obscure.” But seriously, it would be a high honor to become the 3-Gun Nation Champion. I would treasure the accomplishment.

3GN: How big would a cash prize of $50,000 be for you and your family?

RB: I want to thank the all of the 3GN sponsors for their generous support of the finale. As far as the $50,000 grand prize goes, that buys a lot of ammo.

3GN: Removing yourself from contention, who is the favorite in Las Vegas?

RB: Honestly, I do not think there is a favorite. All of the finalists are excellent shooters who have proven themselves. In a shoot-off, all it takes is one miss or one slip-up and it's all over. Many times it comes down to hundredths of a second between the winner and loser.

3GN: Can you win the 3-Gun Nation Championship?

RB: Yes, I can win. I am hungry to win. I am training to the best of my ability to win.

Posted on 1/14/2012