Beware the Ides of April (Or, it is 1040 Day!)
As I always say to the graduating students (when speaking of all staff reading the student evaluations: “I guarantee three (3) things in life – We read the Evaluations, Death . . . and Taxes!
Winter never really arrived in the high desert. However, we did receive an overnight of rain this week. We appreciate every drop. Now we watch the weather prognosticators as to the various El Nino’s and El Nina’s for the summer monsoons.
Newsletter is a week or so late this month, but we are blessedly busy here at Gunsite. I know the capital improvements are something mentioned every month, but it is so exciting to see the next phase of construction nearing completion. The old “Mess Deck” is gone off the Maintenance Barn, the new Warehouse and Maintenance Barn is up and running and the old Maintenance Barn will soon disappear. The old “Car Port” building between the Maintenance Barn and Gunsmithy is gone. The old Classroom (pre 2000)/Pro Shop is near completion back to classroom. Engineers will be here very soon to do the appropriate grade for rain run-off and then new chip seal . . . You truly won’t recognize the campus when you return.
Classes continue to fill. One of my annual favorites is the Jeff Cooper Classic offered during the week of Jeff’s birthday. This year it doubled, and both are almost full! “Seasoned” Rangemasters Dave Harris and Mario Marchman will respectively lead their team of Coaches in the proper use of a 1911! Remember: If Jeff wouldn’t shoot it or use it for a holster, why did you bring it? We will allow a 9mm 1911 platform, but prepare to suffer a bit . . . https://www.gunsite.com/classes/jeff-cooper-anniversary-1911-250-pistol/
Plans for the 50th Anniversary Gunsite Alumni Shoot (GAS Match) continue at apace. We are near 300 enrolled as of last Friday. As it is 50th Anniversary, instead of those new-fangled shot timers, we will be using the tried-and-true whistles and stop watches for each stage. (And let me say that the stages are devious as usual.) Get enrolled and get your hotel reservations!
The label for the “Gunsite Rangemaster Reserve Rye” is off for approval to ATF. (Yes, they must approve it!) Gunsite RM Chris Currie is the Master Distiller with Granite Mountain Distillery with the special blend. We believe it will be a limited run of five hundred (500) bottles. They will be available at GAS through Granite Mountain Distillery. The cigar label and cigars are underway as well. More on that in next newsletter.
As Gary and his crew have been moving out of the old Maintenance Barn, they keep finding some great memorabilia for the GAS Match Auction. I’ll be teasing with some photos starting next month. Bring cash, credit cards, check books or use the ATM in the Gunsite Pro Shop!
April and May and June are always popular months at the Ranch with cool mornings and warm afternoons. This week is 250 and 350 Pistol, Seasoned Citizen Close Quarters Pistol (3 Day) and Precision Rifle 7. This weekend is the Precision Rifle Handloading Class that precedes the Extreme Long Range Rifle Class. We also have a Tactical Concealed Carry Pistol Class, and a private company/family group in Pistol, Carbine and Advanced Pistol. (They have been doing this annually for 30+ years.) April closes out with the new two (2) day Transition to Pistol Mounted Optics, 250 Pistol, 270 General Rifle and private courses.
May roars in with the two (2) day Pistol Carbine Range Day, the doubled Jeff Cooper Classic 250 classes, Ladies 150 Pistol and Ladies Pistol 2, 370 Advanced General Rifle and additional 250 classes.
The annual Gunsite Summer Camp for the Young Americans nears. Youth 250 is the week of July 6, Youth 350 is July 13, Youth 499 is July 20 and Youth 270 Rifle is July 27.
What better way to teach responsibility to your young American than a week at Gunsite learning with their peers?
Looking for a fun shoot? The annual Calams Combat Competition is June 13. It is always a fun time with great awards and auction items. All the monies stay to support scholarships for needy young residents of Yavapai County. https://www.gunsite.com/classes/calams-combat-competition/
Are you a law enforcement retiree? If so, to stay legal with the LEOSA, you must qualify annually. Gunsite offers this opportunity: https://www.gunsite.com/classes/leosa-classes/
Another Gunsite Staff Member stepped up to help a citizen. Our crew was eating dinner at a local restaurant when Jason Lovett noticed a young girl choking on food. He jumped and quickly and forcefully did a Heimlich on her, dislodging the food across the table. (This is the second time a Gunsite Staff Member has done this.) Well done Jason!
I took the weekend and enrolled in the Gunsite Performance Center 101 Class with Steve Tarani, Clint Achziger and Lew Gosnell. My Gunsite Fink Double Stack 1911 9mm ran almost 1000 rounds with one (1) failure to feed. The course really hones your quickness and accuracy. Now the question is, do I take 101 again or take 202?
Whew . . . Enough for now. I’ve got to finish packing as I head off to Houston for the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting tomorrow. Hope to see many Gunsite Family Members as I walk the aisles, visit with vendors (We need GAS Match Prizes!) and attend the Members Meeting. Please stop me if you see me!
As always: “When are you coming (back) to Gunsite?
DVC,
Ken
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