Department of Military Instruction
    
Army website

We bring the Army to the classroom!



Home

Mission
History
Sponsoship
Selection
Training
CWT Photos
3-Gun Match

West Point's 3-Gun Match     

The United States Military Academy Combat Weapons Team hosted the 3rd Annual Houghton Memorial 3 Gun Challenge at West Point on October 13 & 14.

CPT Andrew Houghton was a member of the Combat Weapons Team during his four years at West Point. Upon his graduation in 2001, Andy was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and in 2004 was deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. During his deployment Andy’s platoon carried out over 400 combat missions. First Lieutenant Houghton volunteered to extend his duty in Iraq and was gravely injured in an RPG attack on July 10, 2004 (his first day back from leave). Andy succumbed to his wounds on August 9th, 2004 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

3-Gun Match Links:

Safety Rules

Sportsmanship & Conduct

Ammunition

Firearms

Firearms Classifications

Holsters & Equipment

Classes

Scoring

FAQs

Map / Directions

The Combat Weapons Team is proud to organize a marksmanship competition that bears the name of one of their own. Andy Houghton embodied all that is great in the American soldier, and we hope to uphold his legacy by continuing to serve the Corps of Cadets with training that saves lives on the battlefield. Please visit www.andyhoughton.org for more information on the life of CPT Andrew Houghton, and The Captain Andrew R Houghton Foundation. 

We will have 8 challenging stages utilizing Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun alone. The match will be conducted on six different ranges in the West Point training area, to include the 300-meter pop up range.  Participants should be prepared to face a mentally demanding match. 

The 3-gun match format will be similar to our friends at OBCATS 3-GUN CHALLENGE in Old Bridge New Jersey.  We will have three divisions, Limited, Tactical, and Open. Should an insufficient number sign up for any division, those shooters will be squaded to the next most appropriate division.  


Pre-registration for this match is required. There will be no registration the day of the match. We will not be accepting e-mailed applications. Slots are limited to the first 80 competitors. Half of the competitors will shoot on Saturday and half will shoot on Sunday, please indicate which day you would like to shoot.  If you want to shoot as a squad, please list the names of the people, you would like to shoot with on your application and send them in together. 

Equipment rules and ammo requirements will be listed on the Rules Page.

Match Director will be Craig Jackson.

Questions?  E-mail Craig Jackson : cwtusma@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

 

Match Rules

Updated 14 Sept. 2007

 

1.  Safety Rules      Back to Top

     a.    Participants are subject to match disqualification for violation of any rule or regulation in sections 1 or 2.

     b.  Cold Range :  Participants firearms will remain unloaded at the match site except under the direction of a match official.

     c.  Designated Safe Areas 

            (1)  The Safe Areas will be clearly identified.                         

            (2)  Unloaded firearms may be handled in the Safe Areas. 

(3)    No ammunition may be handled in any Safe Area.

     d.  Rifles & Shotguns (carry from vehicle or between stages)

            (1)  Shotgun and rifle are to be carried with the muzzle in a safe direction with the action open AND/OR with a safety flag or safety block inserted or cased.

            (2)  Rifles & shotguns must have detachable magazines removed.

     e.  Handguns (carry from vehicle or between stages)

            (1)  Handguns must be cased or remain in a holster, magazine removed except in designated safety areas, or under the direction of Range Officer(s) on a stage.

            (2)  Handguns must be carried with the "Hammer/Striker Down."

            (3)  On stages, the Ready Condition of handguns  must be "Hammer Down" for DA autos, and "Cocked & Locked" for SA autos or DA autos with manual override safeties.

     f.  Disqualification

            (1)  Participant shall be disqualified from the match for any Negligent Discharge.        "Negligent Discharge" is defined as the discharge of a firearm in an unsafe manner or unintentionally in which a projectile (bullet) strikes the ground within 6 feet of the competitor or range officer, or outside the confines of the backstop.

            (2)  A participant shall be disqualified from the Match for dropping a loaded firearm.

(3)   A participant shall be disqualified for allowing the muzzle of his/her firearm

to break the 180 degree safety plane (except while holstered, drawing or re-holstering.)

(4)   Sweeping yourself or a fellow competitor regardless of whether the gun is loaded.

(5)   Having a loaded weapon other than on a course of fire.

     g.  No participants or spectators shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the match site.  Any participant found to be impaired and deemed unsafe because of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting and requested to leave the range.

     h.  Eye protection is mandatory for participants, spectators & range personnel at the match site.

     i.  Ear protection is mandatory for participants, spectators & range personnel while on or near a stage of fire.

 

2.  Sportsmanship & Conduct     Back to Top

     a.  Participants and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous, sportsman-like manner at all times.  Disputes will be handled promptly and fairly by the Match Director and/or a group consisting of three or Combat Weapon Team coaches.

     b.  Clothing with any obscene logos, sayings, pictures or drawings will not be worn or displayed while at the match site/range.

 

3.  Ammunition

     a.  No tracer, incendiary, armor piercing or steel-jacketed ammunition is allowed.

     b.  Pistol/revolver ammunition shall be 9x19 or larger.

     c.  Rifle ammunition shall be 5.56 NATO or larger.

     d.   Shotgun ammunition shall be 20 gauge or larger, LEAD SHOT and LEAD SLUGS ONLY.

e.       All Tactical/Limited ammunition shall be common full power type loads.

f.       Maximum rounds for shotgun are 8+1.

g.       Competitors will start with 4+1 for shotgun stages.

h.       Competitors should bring the following ammunition.

(1)  Shotgun:  Actual-39

(2)  Pistol:  Actual-70

(3)  Rifle:  Actual-89

 

 

4.  Firearms     Back to Top

     a.  All firearms used by competitors shall be serviceable and safe.

     b.  Firearm (definition): A firearm constitutes a specific caliber, receiver design, barrel length, and sighting system configuration.

     c.  The same firearm, of each type (rifle, pistol, and shotgun) shall be used during the entire match. 

     d.  If a competitor's firearm becomes unserviceable during competition, that competitor may replace       his/her firearm with another of the same model, caliber and sighting system approved by the Match Director or his designee (If you are competing in the Open class you can replace an unserviceable firearm with a limited firearm as long as it is of the same action type).

     e.  Competitors shall not reconfigure any firearm during the course of a match.  (i.e. change of caliber, barrel length, sighting systems).

 

5.  Firearms Classifications    Back to Top

     a.  Handgun - Limited Class and Tactical Class

(1)  Iron sights only.

(2)   140 mm mags - OK in all pistols (170 allowed in single stack 1911 type.)

(3)   Night sights are acceptable.

            (4)  Magazine length may not exceed 6.7 inches/170 millimeters.

            (5)  Firearms must be of a factory configuration.                   

(6)   Internal modifications are allowed providing they do not alter the original factory          

configuration of the handgun.

            (7) Firearms with custom or factory installed electronic sights, optical sights, extended sights, compensators or barrel porting are NOT allowed in this class.

            (8)  Magazines used shall not exceed 6.70 inches/170 mm OAL for single stacks, and shall not exceed 5.52 inches/140 mm OAL for staggered magazines.

     b.  Handgun- Open Class

(1)  No limitations on accessories.

            (2)  Magazine length may not exceed 6.7 inches/170 millimeters.

     c.  Rifle - Limited Class

(1)    Same as Tactical class except iron sights only

     d.  Rifle - Tactical Class

            (1)  Firearms must be of a factory configuration.

            (2)  Caliber or barrel length shall not be changed for the duration of the match.

            (3)  Internal modifications are allowed providing the modifications do not alter the original factory configuration of the rifle

            (4)  Rifle supporting devices (i.e. bipods, etc.) are not allowed in this class.

            (5)  No attached spare ammunition carriers are allowed in this class.

            (6)  No devices that attach two or more magazines together are allowed in this class.

(7)   Only one optic is allowed per rifle in Tactical.  AimPoints, ACOGs, Elcans, C-Mores and the

like are OPTICS. Rifles with optics may have iron sights.  Optics may not be swapped between stages.

(8)   The same rifle must be used throughout the match.

     e.  Rifle – Open Class

(1)  No limitations on accessories.

(2)     Barrel length shall not be changed for the duration of the match.

     e.  Shotgun - Limited Class

            (1)  Same as Tactical class except no electronic or optical sights are allowed on shotguns in this class.

     f.  Shotgun - Tactical Class

            (1)  Shotguns must be of a factory configuration.

            (2)  Barrel length may not be changed for the duration of the match.

            (3)  Internal modification are allowed providing the modifications do not alter the original factory configuration of the shotgun.

            (4)  No shotgun supporting devices (i.e. bipods, etc.) are allowed in this class.

            (6)  No compensators or porting of barrels allowed in this class.

            (7)  Magazine tubes may not extend more than one inch (1.00 inch) past the muzzle and/or contain more than nine rounds of spare ammunition.

            (8)  No shotgun speedloaders are allowed in this class.

      g.  Shotgun – Open Class

(1)  No limitations on accessories.  See Special Note below about speed loaders.

            (2)  Barrel length shall not be changed for the duration of the match.

            (3)  Magazine tube length shall not be changed for the duration of the match.

            (4)  Shotgun speedloaders are allowed in Open Class.  

                        (a) Shotgun speedloaders must be the new type, or modified old style with the

primer relief cut.                     

                        (b)  Use of old style shotgun speedloaders without the primer relief cut will result in Match disqualification.

6. Holsters & Equipment     Back to Top

     a.  Handgun holsters and equipment – All Classes

            (1)  Holsters must be able to safely retain the       

handgun.  A loaded or unloaded gun falling out of holster will result in a match DQ.

            (2)  The holster material must completely cover the trigger on all semi-automatic pistols.      

            (3)  The belt upon which the holster and magazine/speedloader pouches are attached must be worn at waist level.

            (4)  Female competitors may wear their belt at hip level.

            (5)  Due to safety concerns, shoulder holsters, fanny packs, small of the back (SOB), or crossdraw holsters are not allowed.

(6)    Competitors will need at least three 15 round magazines and carriers or the number

of magazines to hold 30 rounds. Holster must retain gun securely throughout match.

(7)    Sidesaddle, speed-feed stocks, wristbands and bandoliers or chest rigs are OK.

b.      Rifle.

(1) Competitors will need magazine carriers capable of holding three rifle magazines and at least forty-five rounds.

 

7.  Classes    Back to Top

     a.  Any Open Class gun or Open Class equipment puts the competitor in Open Class for

the entire match (all 3 guns).

     b.  Limited Class competitor will shoot a Tactical handgun, Tactical shotgun and a Tactical Class Rifle with iron sights.

    c.   Tactical class

8.  Scoring    Back to Top

     a.  Scoring will be the same as standard IDPA with the following changes:

(1)  Card board targets used in the match will be IDPA targets.                                                           (2)  Knock down style targets (i.e. poppers or military pop up targets) must fall to score.  Poppers will be calibrated to “minor” with a 9mm pistol shooting factory ammunition.  Military pop up targets will be scored electronically.  These scores may not be disputed.

            (3)  Frangible targets must break to score.  (One BB hole or chip is a break).

            (4)  Failure to engage a frangible, knock down or swinging style target will result in an

10-second penalty.  (5 sec. for not making the hit and 3 sec. procedural).                 

            (5)  Procedural penalties, 3 seconds per shot, may be assessed for failing to follow the stage directions as written in the stage description.

            (6)  Failure to hit a swinging type, or knock down a knock down target that does not fall, or a frangible target that is not broken will only be assessed a 5 second penalty as long as a reasonable attempt was made at engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Back to Top

Will you provide meals? No, however you will be able purchase food at our concession stand or in Highland Falls.

Are there any hotels around the area? Yes, however it will be nearly impossible to stay within 30 minutes of West Point due to Plebe Parent Weekend.  Your best bet is a hotel in Newburgh , Middletown or Poughkeepsie .

Can I visit West Point and can I get on post?  Yes, we highly encourage you to take some time to visit West Point all you need is a valid id; however, you cannot bring weapons on to post.

What are the prizes?  Prizes will be 1st, and 2nd place trophies for each division and a prize table to be determined.

What else can we do? During lunch, participants will be able to fire automatic weapons for a small fee.  These weapons include Uzi, MP-5, UMP-45, M4, and the AK-47.

How do I get there?  Strip map to be published.

Where can I park?  All participants will park at Range 4/5 for the shooters meeting and then will be moved to various ranges on HMMWVs.

Will I be contacted prior to the event?  Yes, we will mail out a confirmation letter, strip map and any updated information at least 7 days prior to the event.