As we witness and chronicle the growth of airsoft around the world, we at Popular Airsoft have advocated the branching airsoft players into disciplines which they think they can excel on, especially for those with a competitive streak. There team-based airsoft tournaments, Action Air/Airsoft Practical Shooting, MilSim, and of course the usual skirmish games that we all started with. All are treated equally in our coverage here at Popular Airsoft as we see all of these branches contributing to the growth of our hobby being a shooting sport, rather than being labeled as just a recreational activity.

Another thing that we have been advocating as a branch in airsoft as a shooting sport is the development of the 3-Gun tournament, which is inspired by the 3-Gun tourneys that happen every year. This is a discipline where shooters should be proficient in pistol, shotgun, and rifle; and go in time trials against other proficient shooters. Popular Airsoft was the first to  make an official call that 3-Gun be developed for airsoft, and we first wrote about in late 2010.

If we are correct, our friends from NYC Airsoft, under the leadership of Moondog, have conducted the first recorderd3-Gun competition airsoft during their OP: Early Dawn. It wasn't a big 3-Gun event as it was side event for the Early Dawn. Still, big things start small, and we saw such event as an early promise to what can be a good competitive branch in airsoft.

Not long after the NYC Airsoft 3-Gun side event,  the National Rifle Association (NRA), announced the development of .22 and airsoft versions of the 3-Gun for local gun clubs for inexperienced shooters. As we say, airsoft can provide good foundations for training anyone to take up real steel shooting as the principles of shooting, and a good portion of firearms operation are similar for both real steel and airsoft. NRA even called the airsoft version of 3-Gun as 3-GAS (Guns from Airsoft), which we see as appropriate  just like the IPSC naming their airsoft practical shooting version as Action Air. And of course, with Gas airsoft guns used much in competitive shooting, such 3-GAS designation is well accepted.

And with this development, the NRA announced their first 3-GAS event that will be held in at the SAS Black Ops Airsoft Arena in Marietta, Georgia. The event will be held on the 13 of April. Not a highly-adrenalin event, as this more of an introductory event for shooters of all ages. Still, any lessons learned or experience gained for such activity can be carried on for even more serious 3-GAS competitions.  We're excited to see even a short report of this.

For airsoft field owners, 3-GAS also offer another activity for their customers as they can organise their own 3-GAS competitions. For airsoft retailers, it's also good business as 3-GAS shooters will need only an AR-style rifle, but also a pistol and a shotgun --- all of which will need to be customised for high speed precision airsoft shooting such as 3-GAS.

We hope to see more 3-GAS events not only in the USA, but also around the world. This is a discipline of being proficient in three types of airsoft guns, and we recommend that the recoil-blowback airsoft guns be used for these events.

If you're organising such event, don't forget to drop us a note. We're excited to hear from you.

(All the photos here are from the NRA Blog)