Who is Taran Butler and why is he important in three gun shooting?

Taran Butler is a renowned expert in three gun shooting, known for holding the longest winning streak and being the first USPSA multigun Triple Crown National Champion. He is respected for his methodical approach to deconstructing the sport.

What is the El Presidente drill?

The El Presidente drill is a classic shooting exercise designed to test skill levels. It involves starting with hands up, spinning to face targets, drawing a pistol, shooting multiple targets, and performing a magazine swap.

How does Taran Butler teach proper pistol grip and recoil control?

Butler emphasizes aligning the gun with the arm, being high on the gun for torque, and using a 'karate chop' from the support hand. Controlling recoil is key for faster follow-up shots.

What is the key to efficient movement in three gun shooting?

Efficiency of motion involves taking the shortest path between points and moving like a tank turret, using core rotation rather than extensive side-stepping to maintain a forward shooting posture.

What are the differences between birdshot, buckshot, and slugs for shotguns?

Birdshot spreads widely, making it forgiving but limited by distance. Buckshot forms a tighter pattern and reaches further, while slugs are single projectiles accurate at longer ranges with significant power.

What was the final challenge and outcome of the Tan Tactical Championship?

The championship involved timed stages with pistol, shotgun, and rifle. Tim Ferris and Kevin Rose competed, with Kevin Rose ultimately winning by a narrow margin after penalties for misses were factored in.

Key Moments

I Learned To Shoot Guns Like John Wick In 5 Days

Tim Ferriss

Howto & Style3 min read23 min video

Feb 29, 2024|26,973 views|831|47

tim ferriss 4 hour workweek 4 hour body 4 hour chef timothy ferriss entrepreneur author writer angel investor ferriss tim ferriss blog timothy ferriss speaker

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Tim Ferriss learns 3-gun shooting in 5 days, competing against Kevin Rose, and narrowly wins.

Key Insights

3-gun shooting is a fast-paced, action-packed sport involving pistol, rifle, and shotgun.

Efficiency of motion and minimizing wasted movement are crucial for speed and success.

Proper grip, stance, and recoil management are fundamental for accuracy with all firearms.

Different ammunition types (bird shot, buck shot, slugs) require varied aiming strategies.

Under pressure, fear of missing can lead to hesitation, impacting performance.

Learning from a competitor with similar skill levels accelerates skill acquisition.

INTRODUCTION TO THREE-GUN SHOOTING

Tim Ferriss embarks on "The Tim Ferriss Experiment" to deconstruct and master the rapidly growing sport of 3-gun shooting in just five days. Unlike static target practice, 3-gun is a dynamic competition that integrates a pistol, rifle, and shotgun across multiple stages, demanding speed, accuracy, and efficient movement. The ultimate goal for this experiment is to complete a complex course in under one minute, with Ferriss facing off against a competitive friend, Kevin Rose, to add an extra layer of pressure and motivation.

ASSESSING INITIAL SKILL LEVELS

To establish a baseline, both Ferriss and Rose undergo the "El Presidente" drill, a classic test requiring a quick draw, shooting multiple targets, and performing reloads. This drill, with historical benchmarks for good performance, reveals their current capabilities and areas needing immediate improvement. Taran Butler, a legendary 3-gun champion with an unparalleled winning streak, guides them. Butler's elite 3.85-second performance on the drill highlights the significant skill gap and the rigorous training ahead.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PISTOL MARKMANSHIP

Training begins with the pistol, focusing on fundamental techniques for speed and accuracy. Key principles include aligning the gun with the arm for better recoil control, a high grip for torque, and the 'karate chop' technique for the support hand to stabilize the firearm. Drills emphasize quick target transitions and developing a smooth firing cadence, moving from a 'bang bang bang' to a faster 'bang-bang'. The importance of the eyes leading the gun and tracking the sight accurately is stressed to avoid misses.

MASTERING RIFLE ACCURACY AND MOVEMENT

The experiment progresses to the rifle, introducing the challenges of longer distances and scope usage. Ferriss learns to utilize a variable power scope, switching magnification and employing a modified shooting position with the elbow on the knee for stability. An unconventional technique involves using the naked eye for target acquisition between shots to speed up transitions. Efficient movement, akin to a tank turret rather than sideways steps, is practiced to maintain shooting stability while advancing, minimizing wasted motion on the course.

DECONSTRUCTING THE SHOTGUN

The shotgun proves to be a significant challenge for Ferriss, marked by struggles with recoil management and accuracy. The core focus is maintaining an aggressive forward lean to control the muzzle and aim precisely. Understanding different ammunition types—bird shot (wide spread, short range), buck shot (medium range, tighter pattern), and slugs (long range, single projectile)—is critical for choosing the right aim point. Practicing efficient reloading techniques, broken down into minimal movements, is also a key component.

THE FINAL CHALLENGE AND COMPETITION

The culmination of the five-day experiment is the "Tan Tactical Championship," a three-stage competition testing all learned skills under intense pressure. The course includes multiple targets for each firearm type, with penalties for misses. Both Ferriss and Rose exhibit strengths in different areas; Rose performs well with the shotgun and pistol, while Ferriss excels with the rifle. Despite a single miss costing a time penalty, Ferriss ultimately wins the championship by a narrow margin of 2.5 seconds, concluding the challenge.

REFLECTIONS AND FURTHER LEARNING

Ferriss reflects on the intensity and fun of 3-gun shooting, likening it to real-life action movie scenarios. He acknowledges the difficult process of condensing extensive footage into a short TV episode and directs viewers to supplementary content on his website, including extended scenes and interviews from the training. He also promotes his podcast, "The Tim Ferriss Show," which features in-depth interviews with various experts, further emphasizing his dedication to deconstructing complex skills.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Tools

●People Referenced

Three Gun Shooting: Dos and Don'ts

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Line the gun up with your arm and be high on the gun for better torque.

Point both thumbs at the targets as you draw.

Use the 'karate chop' with your support hand to torque the gun forward and down.

Control recoil to get shots off faster.

Let your eyes track to the next target, and the gun will follow.

Develop a 'B-bam' cadence for faster transitions.

Adopt a more aggressive forward stance when shooting.

Move like a tank turret: turn your core while keeping your feet pointing forward.

Take the shortest path between points to increase efficiency.

When shooting long-range rifle, use your naked eye to find the next target cluster after taking your eye out of the scope.

Keep the muzzle down when managing shotgun recoil.

Aim for the middle of the target with birdshot and buckshot, remembering slugs are like bullets.

Practice the efficient shotgun reload technique: run trigger finger up the inside wall of the caddy, snatch, guide, and shove.

Prioritize accuracy on slug shots in the shotgun stage.

Focus on consistent shooting and posture to contend with recoil.

Avoid This

Don't dwell on a target after shooting.

Don't get ahead of your sights when transitioning between targets.

Don't side-step extensively; utilize core rotation instead.

Don't waste movement by taking the longest path between points.

Don't shoot over the top of targets when using shotgun.

Don't hesitate due to fear of missing, as it causes hesitation.

Don't forget to take safety off when transitioning to rifle.

Don't drop shotgun shells during a reload.

Ammunition Comparison

Data extracted from this episode

Type	Effective Range (approx.)	Pattern/Accuracy	Notes
Bird shot	Limited by distance	Widest area, most forgiving	Wad separates, BBs spread quickly
Buck shot	Up to 50 yards	More clustered spray than birdshot, requires careful aim	Buffer keeps pattern consistent
Slugs	Up to 100 yards	Like a bullet, requires accuracy	High stopping power, 1200 ft/sec velocity

Common Questions

Three gun shooting is a fast-paced, reality-based sport that utilizes three different types of firearms: a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun. It involves timed courses with various targets and requires speed, accuracy, and composure under pressure.