3‑Gun Nation Pro Series Tour

Keith Garcia and Team Hornady® Members Storm Inaugural 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Tour

Team Hornady® members capitalized on their talent and sharp shooting skills, using Hornady® bullets and ammunition during the Inaugural 3 Gun Nation Pro Series Tour, March 31, 2012, at the Ancient City Shooting Range in St. Augustine, Florida.

The invitational showcased 64 top 3-Gun competitors and introduced them to a shooter's choice freestyle format, featuring stages that allowed shooters to decide which firearm to use, and when to begin. This unique format enabled shooters to determine their own strength and ability at every stage.

Pistol and shotgun targets were as close as seven yards, with rifle targets out to 100 yards. Rifles engaged round steel or paper targets, while shotguns shot square steel and clay pigeons. Pistols shot round and square steel and paper targets.

Keith Garcia was the overall winner, shooting Hornady® 223 Rem 53 grain Superformance® ammunition in his rifle, and Hornady® 124 grain XTP® in his 9mm pistol. "I used the 53 grain because its reduced recoil allowed me faster second shots on quick, short-range stages," said Garcia.

Adam Popplewell finished sixth, shooting Hornady® 40 cal 180 grain XTP® bullets in his pistol, and 223 Rem 75 grain Steel Match® in his rifle. "In a match like this, with few stages and fast times, any malfunctions can cost you the match," said Popplewell. "But with Hornady® ammo, it's never a concern."

Top ten finishers also included Clint Upchurch who placed seventh, and Patrick Kelly who finished eighth overall.

Match Director Rob Romero noted, "As a professional shooter, I wanted to create a one-day match format that would be both entertaining for the television audience and spectators, and exciting for the professional competitor running the stages." He said the technical component of each stage, combined with the competition's freestyle format allowed shooters to evaluate their own strengths, and make decisions accordingly.

Chad Adams, Vice President of 3Gun Nation said, "The 3-Gun Nation Pro Series represents a truly new era in 3-gun, with 64 of the country's best shooters competing heads-up, in the same division, for an entire season. This elevates the sport to an equivalent of bass fishing, and even NASCAR, where you see the very best competitors battle on the same elite stage."