3-gun matches are events where each of the stages require the competitor to use a combination of handguns, rifles, and/or shotguns. These kinds of matches have a lot in common with ordinary IPSC/ USPSA single gun matches, and matches generally have courses of fire where the shooter must move through different stages and engage targets in a variety of different positions.

Shooters may face stages in which only handguns are used, or handgun and shotgun, or handgun and rifle, etc., or all three, making that stage a true 3-gun effort.