For those who focus on the mainstream action shooting sports, the world of Run and Guns is full of completely outlaw events that vary by location. I first heard about them in 2019 from a 3 gunner in Texas who traveled to Oklahoma and Kansas almost monthly in 2019. He shot the 3 gun matches as 2 gun matches and seemed to me to be a pretty solid shooter. At the time I dismissed the events. Fast forward to 2022 and I was much deeper into the shooting sports. When I heard about them on Dave Hartman’s 3 Gun Show (now Prep and Press), they were sold as a much more exciting event. I decided to give the 17 South Sweat N’ Bullets in August of 2022 a chance.
Background
Run and gun is born from the spirit that 3 gun likely originated from. It is a bunch of Americans out there seeing how they would fare if a fight ever came to our shores. When I describe them to my military friends I call them a 5k stress shoot. When I describe them to civilian friends I call them a cross between a 5k, a Tough Mudder, and a 2 gun shooting competition. There are other events across the country with many more variables. Some are much longer, some require a ruck and become more of a walk than a run. I think there are even some that require land navigation and orienteering to find some of the stages (at least that is the way Facebook makes them sound). There are also some that occur at night under NVDs (Night Vision Devices).
Key to this event is that you only have what you carry with you. That means there is no going back to the car or truck to reload magazines. When you start, everything you plan to use must be on your person. Want to carry a bipod? No problem, but you are carrying it the entire way. Do you want a snack or maybe you want some water? Again, no problem but you only have what you carry in. This leads to a variety of load outs. So far, I have carried everything on my battle belt with a camel back for water. I have a very nice Ronin battle belt that supports a lot of weight. From what I have seen in person and on Facebook, most competitors rely on some type of chest rig to spread the weight to their shoulders.
The other major difference between these events and other action shooting sports is the scoring. At its base it is simple. There is a fastest runner and fastest shooter. They each get 100% in their respective events and everyone else gets a percentage as well. The two percentages are averaged together for your overall score. The major difference comes in the scoring of the shooting. If a shooter fails to successfully engage all targets on a stage, the shooter gets a DNF (Did Not Finish) which is essentially a zero for the stage. Simply getting a score on each stage is key to being competitive in the sport if that is your goal. However, you will meet many at these matches who are there to test themselves more than see a score in Practiscore.
The Facility
The 17 South Rod and Run Club is a top-notch sportsman’s facility nestled between Savannah, GA and Fort Stewart, GA. They offer most popular types of shooting from USPSA style pistol bays, to what looks like a 600-yard rifle range with steel from 200-600 yards. As I ran past I saw what I believe were skeet and trap set ups and we ran along the Sporting Clays course as well. There is almost always someone fishing on the lake when I arrive and if you are not feeling sorry for yourself you will see the hunting stands along the course. The club house is not the largest but looks to seat about 100 and has a small pro shop.
There is also a local firearms support network including Daniel Defense and Blue Force Gear who are significant sponsors of the match every year. Vortex also sponsored it like they do most matches along with NightForce and Alpha Echo Tango Ammunition. Hoist replenishment drinks also chipped in a drink for everyone when we were complete with the course. I know there were many more sponsors but those are the ones that stuck out to me.
Last year I showed up too early not knowing what to expect. I drove 4 hours from Columbus, GA the morning of the event. My two largest after-action considerations were slowing down my run to shoot better and managing my eye pro better. At that event I had a run time that put me in the top 10 of the competitors. However, I only completed two of the stages putting me in the bottom of that pack. Overall, this put me in the middle of the pack for scoring. It was not until after the match that I learned about the need to engage all targets to get a score. Early in that match I stopped two stages voluntarily to conserve ammunition.
Stage 1
The course started in front of the clubhouse with empty chamber checks of your rifle and pistol. For this race I used my Daniel Defense DD4V7 with a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 First Focal Plane LVPO. I really like FFP optics even though there are many out there who prefer a second focal plane LVPO. For my pistol I carried a custom Sig Sauer P320 that is essentially a AXG variant with a Leupold Delta Point Pro on top. The run begins with a ½ to ¾ mile run around their lake to a small pistol bay. I fell down sloshing through puddles on my way there, so I was already wet. For the nimbler footed competitors, the match director ensured we were all wet by forcing us into the water about 3 feet deep. I was nervous about the dot on my pistol, so I pulled the holster off my belt using my QLS clip and carried it high and dry.
I had a short wait time while the shooter in front of me reset the stage. (That is another difference in these events, the shooter does the majority of the resetting.) The course of fire was fun but simple. After completing five pushups, the shooter approached a VTAC barrier with five playing cards stapled above an opening. The shooter had to engage the corresponding steel shaped target through the opening. For example, there was a heart steel for the Ace of Hearts and so on. The Joker required the engagement of a circle. From there the shooter moved to a stand where you engaged five falling steel strong hand only then to another VTAC to repeat another five targets.
This stage was fun. I will admit I was a little worried about shooting the barrier, so I took a little extra time looking at my bore at a few of the locations. My pistol has a light on it, so I was able to push the light into the barrier, see the target through my dot and engage successfully. I had specifically practiced strong and week hand only in dry fire after the previous year so that part went well also. The final VTAC had a very low port. I was able to drop my butt between my heels to engage. I saw the shooter before me lay on his side to engage. All stages had a 90 second par time and I finished in 67.85, 15 pistol rounds were required.
Stage 2
The run to stage 2 is largely through the woods. It was generally the same path as last year. I am 6’5” so I did a lot of ducking as the trail was only trimmed to about 5 and a half feet. I also passed the gentleman who started two spots ahead of me in the rucking division. The trail was pretty wet due to the rain the week prior. I am guessing it was about another ½ mile to stage 2. Coming out of the woods there was an odd obstacle that was not really part of the course. I had to pause again and wait for reset.
In this stage you had to conduct a high crawl through a path made by barrels on their side with wood laying across the top. Then you climbed an 8-10 foot cargo net and came down the other side on 4x4s before moving to the start point for the course of fire. The course of fire required the shooter to engage 5x steel targets left to right with one hit each twice (10 total hits) while in a modified kneeling position on a tire that represented a wounded comrade. Once complete with pistol, hot holster and drag your buddy, ie two tires, about 25 yards before moving to rifle. You moved another short distance to stacked barrels where you engaged three static steel with four hits each from your weak shoulder before transitioning to the other side of the barrels and shooting the same three targets with four hits each from the strong side.
This stage only had one person complete it within the 90 second par time. He shot it in 76 seconds. I successfully engaged the pistol steel targets despite the sun being in my face, causing a lot of glare on my pistol dot. I dragged the tires a little different than the RO was expecting. I pulled the drag handle between my legs so I could walk straight. My forearms were resting on my hips. I did this to tax my body equally and save some grip strength. I moved to the rifle portion and took a little time to get comfortable before engaging targets. I think I took around 6-8 shots to get my hits on the first 2 targets and had 1-2 hits on the 3rd target before I reached the par time.
This stage ended up being the deciding factor in the match. The only person to finish it won the match. He had the top time on 5 of 7 stages but a mediocre run time. There was some grumbling about this stage and others on Facebook following the match. It also required a bit of reset as the shooter had to reset the casualty after completing the course of fire. The match director had warned us in the safety brief there was a high probability that we would DNF one of the early stages.
Stage 3
I got a little confused about the directions to stage 3. After about 30 seconds of looking lost coming out of stage 2 I got it figured out and headed to my next obstacle. It was a short run of around ¼ mile to a newly built rock-climbing wall that was 6-8 feet tall. From there it was a short 50 yard run to stage 3.
This is the only stage name I vaguely remember because it had a fun theme. I think it was called Miami Nights and all the ROs were rocking their best South Florida attire. The course of fire required you to load a package of “cocaine” into a suitcase then engage a single static steel with three rifle hits. You repeated the process again placing your rifle on a table while loading your package. After the third package you dropped your magazine and engaged the same steel with your final round for some type of bonus. You placed your rifle on the table and picked up a “boom box” that was an empty ammo can.
You had to carry this on your non-firing shoulder and move through a hallway engaging silhouettes on both sides with two A Zone hits or three hits anywhere. At the end of the hallway you placed your boom box on a table and engaged 5 static steel about 10 yards away. This was a quick and fun stage. I really took my time and finished the stage in just over 50 seconds. I did hear after the match that there were several DNFs due to people failing to engage the paper sufficiently. They either forgot the target on the left or did not have enough holes in the target.
Stage 4
From there it was another short run to stage 4, the long-range stage. I have been really working on my long-range shooting by shooting PRS so this was a frustrating stage to DNF for me. It was a simple course of fire. To start you had to throw a 20 pound kettlebell about 40 yards before carrying it back to a start point. The shooter had three firing positions: a sloped board, a large tire, and an elevated, swinging platform. There was a full E-Type steel target at the 200m berm and the 300m berm. The shooter had to engage 200-300-200 with one hit each before moving positions. No part of the shooter’s body could be on the ground while shooting.
I specifically tried to keep my heart rate down with this one. I chose to throw the kettlebell hard getting it there in three throws and then walked it back. I asked the RO and he let me take off my eye pro for this course of fire. I failed to wipe off my optic so it was not as clear as it could be. This range also looked directly into the sun. The targets were painted red and very difficult to see in the shadows. I think this was on purpose. I also chose to shoot this on 8x power. If I were to shoot it again, I would dial down to the 5x-6x range. I knew my dope. When I broke the shot on target I hit. I struggled to get stable using the magazine as a rest. This is a skill I use at work for rifle qualification, but my heart rate is not up over 130 when I shoot that. I think I was either shooting at or had just hit the 300 from the tire when I hit the time limit.
This stage had a less than 50% successful completion rate. I think it was aggressive but manageable in this time period. I wish the targets had been easier to see. I am guessing the MD painted them red to make them stand out from the other white targets on the range. With most illuminated reticles being red it may not have been the best color choice, or maybe it was on purpose. Either way, my goal in December is to conquer the long range course of fire.
Stage 5
The movement between stage 4 and 5 is the longest movement of the course. My guess is that it is close to a mile. It takes you past the 5-stand shotgun area and the clubhouse before going out to the end of the sporting clay course. This is a place where you can take a wrong turn if you are not paying attention and do not know what you are looking for. You handrail a canal on your way out before conducting the “moat crossing.” This canal is apparently tidal in nature. Both times I have crossed it the water with mud is around four feet deep but some say it is only mud at times. This year a pine tree had fallen across the canal giving the runner the option. I spent 10-15 seconds contemplating the tree before deciding to deal with the mud. If I was a person shorter in stature, I may have attempted the tree. This water was described as brackish during the safety brief meaning it is a mix of salt and fresh water.
Once on the other side of the canal you are immediately at stage 5. This stage consisted of a duffle bag carry followed by a rifle only stage. The duffle bag was around 60-80 pounds I would guess, and you carried it out and back maybe 20 yards. When the duffle hit the ground the shooting clock started. You had to engage three steel targets with two hits each from three positions. The stage brief also called for a mandatory magazine change at the shooter’s location of choice. Two of the positions had white pieces of wood that had to be shot underneath.
Once again, I took my time with the physical challenge. I pulled the bag up onto my shoulders and carried it there to save arm strength. The first shooting position was on the back slope of a small berm and called for the prone position in my opinion. The targets were ½ IPSC steel at less than 50 yards. I did have to work the rifle a bit as the magazine was not seated well enough for the first round to get picked up. I moved to the second position which was to the right and in front of the small berm. For this I used a modified kneeling with my left knee up, my butt on the ground, and my left arms supported by the knee. I changed magazines after this position and noticed how dirty the moat had made my magazine well. I had to pull the magazine to make room for the new one so it took the entire movement. The standing shots were simple at that distance, but I think I still had to make 1-2 make up shots standing. I finished that stage in 72 seconds feeling like that was slow. It was my worst stage finish at 45/106 shooters.
Stage 6
At this point I was starting to get worried about my round count. I took my time heading to stage 6 and did a good inventory of my rounds and magazines. I thought I positioned everything where I wanted it but failed to see a few details in how my set up was running. When I arrived at stage 6, I waited again but was excited because this was the stage with a stage gun. I think stage guns are fun but this one kicked my butt. For this course of fire, you had to drag a skedco with weight about 15 yards out and back before beginning the course of fire. Once the shooter crossed the line returning the shooting clock stated. The stage gun was a pump action shotgun staged with the safety on and the action pulled in (ie open). There was one small popper for the shotgun then an immediate transition to pistol for two Mozambique drills. From there move forward and engage steel with rifle.
I normally try to put myself inside the drag strap of a skedco and use my hips to pull it. This saves grip strength and in combat means my rifle is still ready. The strap was too short for that so I pulled out with my right hand and back with my left. I moved to the shotgun and had issues. Running the action was easy but it was a cross bolt safety. I spent a few seconds confirming the safety status before shouldering the weapon. I then missed a 5-yard shotgun target high. That flustered me a little. I drew and loaded my pistol and dropped the target on the first shot. The Mozambiques were also a frustrating point. My rifle was covering the pistol magazine I had intended to load so I grabbed a light magazine. I had to reload on this stage which was a silly time waste. I shot the pistol clean.
I remember struggling a little to find the steel in the shade, but the shots were not difficult. I think they were ½ ISPCs at about 25 yards. I also struggle remember the hit count, but I think it was three each, non-consecutive. Despite my failure with the shotgun, I finished the stage in just over 61 seconds.
Stage 7
It was at least a quarter mile to the final shooting stage. I knew I had a lot of rifle ammo left so I walked most of this movement. I spent my time putting rifle and pistol ammo in the magazines I wanted to use and learned my lesson on my last stage about which magazine I was likely to pull. When I arrived, there was already someone waiting so I had time. This stage had 2x 20-pound kettle bells that had to be carried about 20 yards out and back. When the kettlebells dropped the time started. The shooter had to engage a shotgun spinner with five hits each top and bottom before moving to a truck to engage 3 static steel with four hits each. The shooter could attempt to spin the spinner for a 5-minute run time deduction, but it must be done on the clock.
Once again, I think technique matters on the physical challenge. I racked the kettlebells on my chest just as you would for a kettle bell clean. This allowed me to relax my grip and use as little energy as possible to move the weight. I had the spinner in mind as I started shooting. The shooter in front of me struggled with his pistol so I could not tell how much it was going to move. I hit the bottom with a pretty quick 5 shots and it barely moved. I simply moved to the top of the spinner and moved on. That apparatus is not made to spin with 115 grain 9mm.
I took a quick jog swimming out of my sling and getting the rifle ready to work. They had marked the shooting lane with tape, but the targets had lost their paint and were in the shade again. While loading the rifle I took a little extra time seating the magazine to make sure it seated well. I took up a kneeling position using the truck bed rail for support. I cannot remember if I reverse kneeled to just regular. The target was a steel circle 8-10 inches in diameter around 50 yards or less. I lost track of my round count and hit the first one five times before transitioning. The second went quick. The RO was nice and gave me the clue to slide left to identify the third target. It was still hard to see but he communicated well and I had confidence I was on target before sending the round.
I think a dropped a few rifle shots that I should have hit, but the targets were generous. I finished this stage in 74 seconds with my best individual stage finish at 14 out of 106. From there it was a short run back to the start point with one more moat crossing. This portion of the moat had very little water and is just one last obstacle before finishing. The sides in and out were muddy but with smart use of the guide rope and vegetation it was not too hard.
Closing Thoughts
I ran my Apple Watch in the Run mode during the race. It got confused every time I stopped to shoot and was difficult to navigate when wet and sweaty. I remember thinking last year that a normal watch would be better. (you have to time your wait time if the stage is not available when you arrive) Despite that my watch said I covered 4.13 miles in 1 hour and 38 minutes with an average heart rate of 171 beats per minute (I don’t trust that). I averaged around 22 minutes per mile covered and burned over 1000 calories. This was a tough race due to the heat. My app does not show the temperature, but the heat index was well above 90 degrees when I started at 9 that morning.
I really like this event and the team that puts it on. I am planning to go back in December to run their Jingle Balls event. This is probably the shooting sport I am best at, but I do not see it becoming my main competitive outlet. I did not go back that night for the awards ceremony because my wife and girls were with me. We turned this into a weekend in Savannah. We spent that afternoon on the beach on Tybee Island and then meandered around the Savannah Historic District for the rest of the evening. I checked out the prize table before I left. It looked like everyone would leave with something if you stuck around for the prize table. There was an additional raffle going on to support the Sua Sponte Foundation with Daniel Defense chipping in a bolt gun and at least one more bolt gun chassis.