3GN’s Top 10
Our Editor Picks His Top Ten Most Likely To Win the 3GN Championship and Leupold's $25K.
By Chad Adams
1. Daniel Horner
Fresh off a deployment to Afghanistan, the Army Marksmanship Unit phenom showed less rust than should have been expected with a division win in his 2010 debut at JP Enterprises Rocky Mountain 3-Gun. That’s bad news for the field.
Why he will win: Quite simply, Horner is the best 3-gunner in the game. He shoots, loads and transitions as good as anyone, only he does it at a full sprint.
Why he won’t win: He has only shot one major match in 2010, and his one appearance in the 3GN Shoot-Off ended in a first round bounce by his former teammate and good friend, Remington’s Robby Johnson. Also, he’s not even in the match. But with Wild Cards on the table during USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals, we’re calling Horner a lock. Still, with Army duties shortening his 2010 campaign, the lack of competition could prove to narrow the gap just enough to let the field steal a win.
Bet On it: The kid wins a Wild Card and steals the show, along with $25,000, courtesy of Leupold.
2. Taran Butler
The product of California’s vaunted Southwest Pistol League has focused all his attention on 3-gun this season, and the results have been absolutely dominating.
Why he will win: Dating back to last year at Fort Benning, Butler has won his division in every match in which he’s competed, including a 3GN Shoot-Off victory following the weather-shortened Sabre Defence Blue Ridge Mountain 3-Gun in April. He has been the most consistent shooter this season, making him one of the top guns heading into Vegas. Can’t you see a shoot-off stage set-up in his back yard?
Why he won’t win: Detractors will quickly point out that Butler’s success has been with AMU’s Daniel Horner out on deployment. Butler has also been bounced from the 3GN Shoot-Off twice, at the hands of Patrick Kelley and Rob Romero, proving Butler isn’t unbeatable.
Bet On It: Butler will have on his game face, for sure. If the seeding works out, a Butler vs. Horner final will burn the house down. I’m picking a $10,000 check from US P.A.L.M. to round out Butler’s epic season.
3. Mike Voigt
The USPSA President hasn’t shot a lot of major 3-gun matches this season, but when he shows up, everyone else in the Open division is shooting for second place. Voigt had dominating wins at DPMS Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun and MGM Ironman. He also won individual honors and led the U.S. Open Team to a first place finish in the IPSC Pan American Shotgun Championship in July.
Why he will win: In his two 3GN Shoot-Off appearances Voigt has looked good, with two deep runs, losing to Keith Garcia in the finals at SMM3G, and to a red-hot Dave Neth in the semi-finals following MGM.
Why he won’t win: Trainer, competitor, and USPSA President, Voigt keeps a lot of irons in the fire, and he does it well. However, with the 3GN Championship following USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals, where he has to win a wild card just to get a shot, that might be too much going on over one very busy weekend.
Bet On It: Final 4, and a serious threat to take home the title. A Timney check for $5,000 will be riding back to Cali.
4. Bruce Piatt
One of the top pros in the game for some time, Piatt is having a deceptively quiet season. Known for his prowess in Limited, Piatt jumped into the deeper Tactical Optics division for 2010: and he’s sitting 4th place overall for the season.
Why he will win: Piatt was mistakenly left out of the shoot-off following FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun Championship, and he’s been chomping at the bit since. The shoot-off format is one of his specialties, and he will make some noise at the 3GN Championship. Word is Team DPMS is flying in early to practice, and most are using Multi-Gun Nationals to fine tune for 3GN. A dialed in Bruce Piatt can spell serious trouble for the field.
Why he won’t win: Though he should have one under his belt, Piatt has yet to compete in a 3GN Shoot-Off. Different guns, big crowd, big money on the line—a lot to overcome in your 3GN debut.
Bet on it: Final 4, and don’t be surprised if Piatt is the last man standing.
5. Jerry Miculek
Does he need an introduction? Miculek is arguably the best the game of practical shooting has ever seen, and he has Open division wins this season at FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun and JP Enterprises Rocky Mountain 3-Gun.
Why he will win: In his two shoot-off appearances, Miculek suffered a first-round defeat to Taran Butler and a finals loss to Remington’s Robby Johnson. His second showing was considerably better than his first, and the legendary Smith & Wesson shooter seems hungry to win the inaugural 3GN Championship. Look for Jerry to be more dialed in with stock equipment than you’ve ever seen him.
Why he won’t win: With 3GN being a Tactical Optics match, Miculek will most likely finish somewhere out of the top two spots, meaning his Shoot-Off draw could go unfavorably. He will also face heavy competition if he wants to win the USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals preceding 3GN. If he faces too may heavy hitters in a row, will Miculek still have enough gas in the tank during a finals showdown against the likes of Horner or Butler?
Bet On It: Smart money always has Miculek in the finals, but I’m picking an exit during the round of 8. I also sense I will be eating some serious humble pie with this pick.
6. Dave Neth
In his first year with a new team, FNH USA’s Dave Neth faced a lot of challenges early in this 2010 campaign. New guns, new teammates, new sponsors—and then a DQ in Missouri. But Neth rebounded in a big way in Idaho, cashing a check from Warne for $5,000.
Why he will win: Neth shoots the SCAR and SLP platforms, giving him a decided edge heading into the Shoot-Off. If he reclaims the pace he set at MGM Ironman, his home match, Neth will not be touched.
Why he won’t win: As the title sponsor, Team FN would obviously love to see one of its own holding up that $25,000 Leupold check. How will the blue team handle the pressure?
Bet On It: Round of 8 a safe bet. But Neth could easily double down and make the money in Vegas.
7. Barry Dueck
SureFire’s Dueck has been hot, with successive division wins at FNH USA Midwest 3-Gun and MGM Ironman. A veteran 3-gunner who has shot a lot of Tactical Optics, Dueck has the potential to do some serious damage in the 3GN Championship.
Why he will win: In his two 3GN Shoot-Off appearances, Dueck was knocked out by Chris Sechiatano and Taran Butler, two quality shooters; and Dueck’s run against Mike Pinto at FN displayed the type of run he can put together. Dueck is very accurate with a rifle. He has the ability to go one-for-one on the rifle plates, making it tough for anyone to run him down. The brand-spanking new father also has extra motivation that he’s never had before.
Why he won’t win: Accuracy often comes by being deliberate. Get just a fraction too deliberate even one time, and the best in the world will send you packing.
Bet On It: Top 8 likely, crashing the money possible.
8. Rob Romero
Veteran Kurt Miller calls him one of the “princes of the sport.” And just about any competitor will tell you he’s the next big name in the sport of 3-gun. With one 3GN win under his belt already, Team Noveske’s Rob Romero is having a breakout season, and will be one of several shooters vying for a Wild Card slot during USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals.
Why he will win: Romero has shot well in 2010, and he’s getting better with each match. Seemingly tired of the label “up-and-comer,” Romero already belongs among the list of the best in the game today—and we think he’s out to prove it at 3GN.
Why he won’t win: Early reports put a lot of big names in this year’s Multi-Gun Nationals, which means Romero will probably be facing the toughest road to the championship, having to win a spot out of Tactical Optics, the deepest field, and then work through the 60-man field and 16-man shoot-off. When it only takes one bad run to send you packing, will four days of near perfection be too much to ask?
Bet On It: Final 8, and a solid threat to the money. A star-studded draw could work favorably for Romero—he’s a giant killer.
9. Patrick Kelley
He is the king of Heavy Metal. As such, he’s earned his way into four out of the five 3GN Shoot-Offs, the highpoint a first-round upset of Taran Butler at DPMS Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun.
Why he will win: Kelley is burning to prove he belongs among the upper echelon of practical shooters. He knows the guns, knows the format, and recently proved at MGM Ironman he can be competitive with Tactical Optics gear. If he shoots Tactical Optics at USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals and enters 3GN dialed in—look out.
Why he won’t win: Kelley has yet to get over the shoot-off hump. While he has put together great runs, it has yet to all come together in one shoot-off. Kelley is also putting tremendous pressure on himself to win it all as a non-sponsored shooter, putting the shooting public on his back. The question is, can he settle in and just go out and shoot?
Bet On It: Final 8, but don’t think a two-plate lead going into shotgun makes you safe. Kelley can run you down.
10. Keith Garcia
Law enforcement officer, trainer, competitor, Garcia proved he had the chops when he stepped up and won the inaugural 3-Gun Nation Shoot-Off in March, knocking out Adam Popplewell, Patrick Kelley and Michael Voigt to take home the check for $5K.
Why he will win: While he said all the right things and was gracious, Garcia won that first event with a swagger. He’s a confident shooter, and he will fear no competitor once he crashes into the field of 16.
Why he won’t win: Garcia has already tasted the success, and the after-effects, of winning a 3GN Shoot-Off, with a new jersey to prove it. It would seemingly be easy to start daydreaming of hoisting another 3GN check. Counting chips before the dealing is done can be hazardous in Vegas.
Bet On It: Final 8. But don’t be surprised if Garcia has another magical run in him.
Don't like my picks? Sign in, spout off, and tell me where I got it wrong. Or spark up the smack talk on our Facebook page. And get ready, ‘cause we’re heading to Vegas …
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