DefenseReview Goes Shooting with 3-Gun Tactical Champion Shooter Taran Butler

By David Crane

defrev@gmail.com

April 8, 2007

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of doing some advanced pistol training with (i.e. receiving some professional pistol instruction from) my friend Taran Butler. Taran is one of the best professional shooters (competitive shooters) in the world, and currently the number 1 (i.e. the best) 3-Gun Tactical shooter in the world. In the coming weeks, I’ll try to follow-up on the training I received, which consisted of shooting drills in the form of tactical match-style shooting "stages".

Anyway, while I was at Taran’s training facility, I…

took some photos of his latest tactical 3-Gun Tactical AR (AR-15) rifle/carbine setups, which incorporate a number of top notch tactical AR components (uppers, lowers, forends/forend rail tubes) and accessories, including, but not necessarily limited to, a Vltor VIS-3 “monolithic” rail platform, a Noveske Rifleworks stainless steel 17R barrel, PRI (Precision Reflex, Inc. ) carbon fiber forend/handguard, Tripp Research 42-round and 52-round mags (4179 STANAG NATO 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Rem. AR-15/M16 mags), a MSTN QC (Quiet Contol) Brake 5.56mm (Taran Butler signature muzzle compensator/muzzle brake), a LaRue Tactical scope mount, and a Trijicon AccuPoint 1.25-4 Advanced Dual-Illuminated Riflescope Optimum.

DefenseReview plans to interview Taran about his various 3-Gun Tactical AR setups and choice of components and accessories (uppers and lowers, accessories, etc.). We’ll publish the interview, along with the photos we took, in a follow-up article. Just FYI, MSTN (Mid-South Tactical Network) builds all of Taran’s custom tactical 3-Gun competition AR’s. MSTN is owned and operated by Wes Grant and Paul Ertsgaard.

Speaking of components and accessories, Taran and his friend Alec Wolf have developed a very cool drop-in Glock trigger group specifically geared towards competition shooting. We’ll tell you more about it, soon, including where you can buy one.

By the way, you may remember me quoting Taran in my article on the Nighthawk Custom GRP (Global Response Pistol). I would highly advise that you check this article out if you have any interest in custom or semi-custom tactical 1911 pistols (a.k.a. tactical M1911 pistols).

If you or your team would like to schedule a pistol, rifle, or shotgun (or 3-Gun Tactical) shooting class with Taran Butler, you can do so through DefenseReview. Just email us at defrev at gmail dot com.

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Custom MSTN Rifles, Carbines and Subcarbines for Mil SPECOPS, SWAT, and PMC’s

Precision Reflex Inc. (PRI) 6.8x43mm REM SPC Upper Receivers