Hard to believe it is Holy Week and Easter is upon us. Time literally flies here at Gunsite with all the classes going on. Almost all the 250 Pistol classes between now and November have doubled. (Well, except for end of May and it has tripled.) Pistol Caliber Carbine, Close Quarters Pistol, Precision Rifle 7 (PR7) and Gun Stories are here this week. Last week Outdoor Life and Defensive Handguns were filming. Have you watched Guns and Ammo TV this year? They have featured Gunsite in nearly every episode. We greatly appreciate all our media partners and what they do to support … [Read more...]
January 2022 Newsletter
“New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” ― Mark Twain (Well, other than your resolution to make your first or next venture to Gunsite!) Another beautiful day at the Gunsite Ranch. The mornings start out cool (18 F this AM, but 53 F now.). Many things happening at Gunsite beyond classes. We have been here 46+ years and look forward to many, many more. Part of that is long-term capital improvements. When you visit over the next 12-18 months, new buildings will be underway. … [Read more...]
BRAVE Carbine Course
BRAVE (Ballistic Response Against Violent Encounters) is a family of classes developed to afford students a time and cost-effective way to receive training in a variety of topics related to everyday self-protection issues. While other BRAVE classes focus on pistol tactics, BRAVE Carbine provides information in a variety of topics related to the deployment of the modern sporting rifle platform. BRAVE Carbine has the prerequisite requirement of Gunsite 250 pistol and 223 carbine classes. The class begins, like all Gunsite classes, with a classroom presentation of general safety principles … [Read more...]
Gunsite August Newsletter
The Dog Days of Summer July has been a hot one and Gunsite finished July like a firecracker! Turmoil continues across the Republic. Gun sales (if you can find them and ammunition) are at record levels. Have you made this an opportunity to help your family, friends, and neighbors? More and more liberals are recognizing that they just might appreciate the Second Amendment after all. Do not let this be a divisive moment with these folks. Help train them, especially with the Four (4) Safety Rules. (Steer them to Gunsite!) Let this be an opportunity to help them continue to support or … [Read more...]
Precision Rifle 1.6 Mile Challenge Match
Tessa Wyrick, a graduate of many pistol, carbine, shotgun, and rifle classes and whom is also a guest instructor for PR7 and XLR has again demonstrated that the tactics and techniques she has learned at Gunsite has put her on the top. Tessa’s mastery of ballistic calculations and wind reading lead her to winning the 1.6 Mile Challenge Match held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM 29-30 June. As graduates of the Gunsite precision rifle courses know, the spotter is the most important member of the shooting team. They control the engagement from start to finish and count for more than … [Read more...]
Q&A with Dave Hartman, Director of Training at Gunsite Academy
Article by Scott Gara from guns.com May 29, 2020 Dave Hartman has over 30 years of dedicated service to this country through the Marine Corps and the Orange County Sheriff’s office. It was a natural fit to move from training police officers to training a wide mixture of people at Gunsite Academy in Paulden, AZ. For the past 5 years, he has worked as the Director of Training for the famed firearms training institute. We caught up with Hartman to talk about Lt. Col. Cooper, gun training during a pandemic, and Gunsite Academy. Guns.com: The first question is about the thing everyone is … [Read more...]
June Newsletter
The Gunsite family continues to grow as classes are again filling. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continued with smaller classes (Tutorial Experiences) and modified lesson plans to allow for “social distancing.” Now that things are beginning to return to normal, the classes at Gunsite are filling quickly. We closed out May with a doubled 250 Pistol Class and a near full PR7 and several private classes. June carries on strong beginning with a 270 Rifle and a near-full 350 Intermediate Pistol. The Nashville 250 at Royal Range is near full. (Remember it is always sunny and 70 … [Read more...]
Shoot Like A Girl Brings on Gunsite Alumni Christa Forrester
Gunsite Academy is proud of Gunsite Alumni Christa Forrester. Here is what Christa wrote about her experience at Gunsite. I can remember the day the envelope came in the mail. It was a day like any other day and the mail from the PO Box sat in the seat next to me. It stayed there for a few hours until I had the opportunity to open it. Inside was a Gunsite calendar and a letter from the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation that I had been accepted to the Gunsite 250 class through the scholarship program. I was giddy, excited and couldn’t wait to share the news with my husband. I am not sure … [Read more...]
Janelle Cooper Memorial Service Saturday September 28
A memorial service for Janelle Cooper will be held on September 28th at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Prescott. A reception will follow. All who wish to attend are welcome. Come and help us celebrate a wonderful life well-lived. In lieu of flowers, Mom would most appreciate a donation to The Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation. Jane Ellen “Janelle” (Marks) Cooper, age 99, of Paulden, AZ passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28th, 2019. She died with as much grace as she lived, surrounded by family and dear friends. Janelle was born May 31, 1920 in Los Angeles, CA to Jasper Glenn … [Read more...]
July Newsletter
INDEPENDENCE DAY! On July 2, 1776, Congress votes unanimously for independence. “Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” Ben Franklin As my friend Dave Workman said: “We have a Constitutional Republic. Some have said that it is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others. I’m inclined to agree with that.” “The Constitution belongs to the people and not the people to the Constitution.” Theodore Roosevelt Independence Day is upon us. Remember that we celebrate our independence on July 4. The holiday is Independence Day. You need to think of all … [Read more...]
June Newsletter
The summer weather has finally arrived at Gunsite. We have had a wonderfully cool and damp Spring, but the heat is on now. June is a great month at Gunsite. The mornings are still a bit cool but quickly warm up. The Summer monsoon rains are not upon us yet, so the days are full of training time. Father’s Day is this Sunday. Peruse the newsletter and see the items Susan and Shari have put on sale for Dad! New items include the return of the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife and the new Zippo Lighter with the retro Gunsite logo. We are hosting the 3rd annual Stephanie Calams Scholarship … [Read more...]
April Newsletter
April Fools Day! That’s what we see in much of the halls of Congress every day! But here at the Gunsite Ranch we are ringing in April 1 with 40+ students in the two (2) 250 Pistol courses, a dozen or so in the Close Quarters Pistol with Steve Tarani, about a dozen in the XLR with Cory and Walt . . . As I say, other than that we are sitting in the office shopping on Ebay. We also are continuing our capital projects with maintenance of the paved road coming to Gunsite and the roads here on the Ranch. So, if you get delayed a few minutes, please be patient and remember what the old dirt … [Read more...]
January Newsletter
And the Attacks Resume! The New Year rings in with the renewed, strengthened attacks on our unalienable rights. No surprise to those of us who support our Constitution and way of life. What have you done to support the Bill of Rights? Sitting at your keyboard typing away on social media is just a beginning and not enough. Take time to write/contact your Senators and Congressional Representatives at the Federal level. While we hold the Senate, they need to know we expect them to stand strong. Let them know you watch their voting record and will vote accordingly. Join the … [Read more...]
November Newsletter
October was a grand month at the Gunsite Ranch. Classes of all types were not deterred by the unusual rains. (We are grateful for the moisture.) Rather, they now know that they can fight in the rain and not just when it is sunny and 70 degrees. Another mass murder has occurred in the Republic, in a house of worship. The liberals are again blaming the tool as opposed to the operator. You must understand, YOU ARE THE FIRST RESPONDER. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Gun free zones are easy targets for the miscreants. Do not go unarmed. Wear your carry pistol. Carry reloads. Think about an … [Read more...]
Gunsite Alumni Shoot 2018
Click for the Results of the 2018 Gunsite Alumni Shoot! If you did not complete all of the stages you will not be in the list of eligible shooters for a complete score. Your scores will be at the end of the score sheet and the stages you did not shoot will be highlighted in red. Please send an email to our sponsors and tell them thank you for their participation. Alexander Arms - james@alexanderarms.com Aimpoint – andrea.cerwinske@aimpoint.com Allegra Marketing, Print & Mail – info@allegraprescott.com Doubletap Ammunition - … [Read more...]
The Fifty Caliber Shooters Association World Championships
The 4th of July holiday proved to be a great weekend for one of our instructors Walter Wilkinson. The Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (FCSA) World Championships (50 BMG) were held at the NRA Whittington center in Raton, NM 5-7 July. There were shooters from Australia, Great Britain, Spain and the US in attendance. The FCSA 1000 yard matches have four classes; Light Gun, Heavy Gun, Unlimited and Hunter. In the first 3 classes, the rifles are normally shot from a machine rest off the bench. Hunter class requires the shooter to fire from the ground with a bipod. The match is broken down … [Read more...]
Gunsite is looking for new T’Shirt Ideas
May Newsletter
May has come with blessed rains at Gunsite. We are in drought conditions and the .35” of rain we received yesterday was a welcome sight. Some of the folks in Seasoned Citizen Carbine, Concealed Carry Pistol and two (2) tutorials may not have appreciated it as much though! May is a grand month in the high desert, with cool mornings and warm afternoons sprinkled with the sound of freedom (Gunfire) across the many Gunsite ranges. Two (2) 250 Pistol classes begin next week as well as additional tutorials. We also have another 250 Pistol Course at the beautiful Colonial Shooting Academy … [Read more...]
Frontsite by Mike Foley
This is a great article written for the USPSA Magazine by Mike Foley, President of USPSA. If you ever find yourself in a position to train at Gunsite, don’t hesitate to go. If you think you don’t need training like this, and carry a pistol, I urge you to go. If you think it is too basic for you, I dare you to go. Over the years, I’ve heard people say things like “they are stuck in 1976…” or “they only teach the Weaver stance…” or “that’s just a basic course…”. I can report that none of this is true. In retrospect, none of the people who said that to me have taken a class there, and I now … [Read more...]
January Newsletter
January is the beginning of the doldrums of winter for many parts of the Republic, looking forward to grey skies, snow and cold weather. Not so at the Gunsite Ranch. At Gunsite, we know it is the beginning of the training year. The weather in the high desert is not as cold as Flagstaff (nor is it as warm as Phoenix!), but it is good training weather. We may get a bit of cold or some rain or snow, but the sun will be out the next day melting and drying and warming into the 40’s and 50’s. If you are in need of a “sun fix,” another good reason to come to Gunsite. SHOT Show is near … [Read more...]
Gunsite Alumni Shoot 2017
The Gunsite Alumni Shoot has come and gone and a great time was had by all. The results of the match are as follows. 2017 Over All GAS Score Sheets 2017 Masters Results 2017 Ladies GAS 2017 Junior GAS 2017 Senior Match Results The Cooper Cup was won by John Montenegro with a score of 125. … [Read more...]
June Gunsite Newsletter
My agenda for this morning was to write the June Gunsite Newsletter and wax on eloquently about Memorial Day and how we need to remember the sacrifices of all our veterans these last 200+ years. Then discuss the many training opportunities we have across the country and the happenings at the Gunsite Ranch. However, another Terrorist incident in Europe is at the forefront of my thoughts. We could also throw in Mind Set training and again discuss the Principles of Personal Defense book (from last month’s column). Posting memes of the British Flag with kind words, offering thoughts and … [Read more...]
May Gunsite Newsletter
“When the flag flies” (As Col. Cooper would say), will you be ready? The old photo of a young SWAT Captain, after the successful capture of a murderer, is a grand example. A young woman was brutally beaten and left in a pond to drown. A day or so later, a tip was received as to where the miscreant was located. There was not time to get the “special teams” gathered. Rather, it was grab who you had and rely on your training and experience. We did not need to develop a plan, but modify a plan based upon those experiences and training. As a result, this murderer was captured with no injury … [Read more...]
April Gunsite Newsletter
Another Double 250 Pistol Class is underway this week at Gunsite. I tell the students, “I can’t sit in my office and listen to gunfire on the ranges without coming to visit.” And what a pleasure it is to have so many good people, recognizing their unalienable right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and seeking great training. Seeing the smiles on their faces, watching their improvement from day-to-day, helps us remember the grand work Gunsite has been doing the last forty one (41) years. If you have been considering taking a Gunsite class (or returning for a refresher or new … [Read more...]
Scout Rifle Study
Richard Mann is a Gunsite Graduate and has been seriously studying the 'Scout Rifle Concept' for a number of years. He has developed a book that can be viewed online at the following link: Scout Rifle Study Press Release LR … [Read more...]
Full Auto for Citizens
By: Cory Trapp, Rangemaster, Gunsite Academy The National Firearms Act of 1936 and Gun Control Act of 1968 set out the definitions, rules and procedures for dealing with firearms other than Title 1 conventional rifles, shotguns and handguns. title II covers machine guns, short barreled shotguns and rifles, silencers, destructive devices and a catchall category called "Any Other Weapon" (pen guns, smooth bore pistols, disguised firearms and other oddballs). When the NFA was originally conceived, the legislators understood that they could not simply ban given categories of weapons, so … [Read more...]
February Newsletter
February . . . In some of the Republic, the depth of winter, grey skies, snow that no longer is “fun” and pristine white. Col. Cooper chose wisely when he selected this area for “The American Pistol Institute.” (Now Gunsite Academy.) In the high desert of Arizona at the Gunsite Ranch, we are well into the beginning of the new year training season. Our first 250 Pistol Course a week or so ago was a challenge with rain, wind, snow, warm temperatures and back to snow. But in typical Gunsite Family fashion, the students stepped up and performed well. They especially enjoyed the visit with … [Read more...]
How I See It
I'll never forget my college sociology professor, Dr. Cooper, who once said there were two kinds of bipeds (folks); homo sapiens and human beings. Human beings were also homo sapiens, but not necessarily visa versa. As Dr. Cooper explained it, a homo sapien is a product of fornication, whereas a human being is a product of a culture of love, nurturing, family ties, a religious upbringing, education and etc., a process requiring years and perhaps a lifetime of reinforcement. A true human being cares about other human beings and even about homo sapiens. After a certain age a mere homo sapien … [Read more...]
October News Letter
The first sign of Fall in the High Desert is upon us . . . . The Gunsite Alumni Shoot! Saturday October 1 was a record day for Gunsite and the Gunsite Family. Not only was it the celebration of our 40th Anniversary, but also a record crowd of Gunsite Family Members celebrating our inalienable rights. Over 230 shooters and other friends and family descended on the Gunsite Ranch beginning Friday afternoon for Registration and then the Knucklehead Steak fry. Early Saturday morning shooters arrived and we began with the welcome at 0730 (“Welcome back to Gunsite you deplorables!”) and we … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper and Gunsite Academy – 40 Years of Freedom
This article by Frank Winn writing for America's First Freedom. If you consider only the lowest-hanging fruit, there are still about six ways to come at an “Exercise Your Freedom” column about Gunsite Academy. Choosing the most proximate topic, you’d have to observe how close to the 40th anniversary of the original school of “The Modern Technique” of pistol craft we are. The first week in October will mark the actual occasion, but don’t gloss over those 40 years: No other remotely similar institution comes close to that longevity, or the pervasiveness of its influence. Photo by … [Read more...]
Not an Assault Weapon
Written by Gunsite instructor Lew Gosnell Eight men and women, aged from late twenties, to early seventies, follow the Gunsite command to "Make ready!" The weapon in their hands, some variant of theubiquitous semi-automatic AR-15, mostly a carbine length version, bearing a modernelectronic red dot sight, or variable power scope. Taught from the first moment in the classroom that the training will be about fighting with a firearm; weaponry manipulation, accuracy and tactics are stressed. Often erroneously called an "Assault Weapon", the classic civilian version of the military M-16, … [Read more...]
June Newsletter
We are near half through 2016 and there is so much happening in the Gunsite world it is challenging to know where to begin. As we continue to prepare for the 40th Anniversary celebration, Panteao Productions was here for seven (7) days filming a special DVD. They interviewed “seasoned staff members” Ed Stock and Jerry McCown and others. We also spent the afternoon at the Sconce with Mrs. Cooper. Her interview was the highlight of the filming day. The DVD should be available in September. Another pleasure has been the watching of hours and hours of old VHS recordings of various … [Read more...]
CIVILIAN COUNTER-TERROR/RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER
During the week of May 16 through 20, we presented the second evolution of the Gunsite CIVILIAN COUNTER-TERROR/RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER class. Eight students, all with previous Gunsite experience, attended the event. This evolution included a number of refinements decided on during the March CCTRAS class. The class is intended to provide students with the information and skills necessary to manage a critical incident related to an active killer/mass attack event. In addition, the class provides information on international and domestic terror groups. The information regarding terror … [Read more...]
May Gunsite Newsletter
Last Friday I posted on our Social Media (You do follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram don’t you?) that one of the great pleasures of my job at Gunsite is taking the recent 250 Course Graduates to visit Mrs. Cooper at the Sconce for her legendary tea, lemonade (Arnold Palmers) and brownies. It is wonderful to see her brighten up as she greets each new Gunsite Family Member, welcoming them to her home and listen as she explains Gunsite history, the design of the Sconce and a tour of her home, including Col. Cooper’s library and Armory. If you have not had the pleasure, it is just … [Read more...]
.30 caliber Scout Carbine
NEW Inland M1 Scout Carbine A new black gun MKS Supply, LLC, Dayton OH April 2015- Inland Manufacturing's new highly functional and cool-looking .30 caliber Scout Carbine is being marketed by MKS Supply, LLC. This new, all-American-made carbine incorporates design elements and benefits of the popular scout rifle popularized by Jeff Cooper in the 1980s. Inland's .30 caliber Scout Carbine is fitted with a military-style conical flash hider. The barrel thread is 1/2-half-inch x 28 so the flash hider may be removed to fit a (legally registered) aftermarket sound suppressor or silencer if … [Read more...]
April Newsletter
Hope Springs Eternal While pondering the monthly newsletter, so many thoughts came to mind: the state of the world, Presidential Politics, Terrorism, And the price of gas . . . Some of the thoughts were near depressing. But yesterday’s client changed the tone for me. During a Ladies’ Pistol Class, a woman with a debilitating illness was back for another Gunsite Course. Her illness has progressed and she travels about in a mobility scooter. This did not deter her from enrolling again. However, she learned that her challenges were a bit more than she anticipated and it worried her … [Read more...]
And now you know the rest of the story…
Posted by friend and Gunsite Staff Member and Robar Exec. Freddie Blish: "One of the reasons given by people skeptical of attending Gunsite is that they think they will be forced to shoot only the Weaver position. Gunsite has always taught a fighting stance that consists of balance, stability, and mobility. Students are not forced to shoot a handgun with a bent support elbow. Here are LtCol Jeff Cooper's own words from a November 2005 Guns & Ammo Coopers Corner:" “There is a great deal of foolish discussion bouncing around concerning the proper arm position for serious pistol work. … [Read more...]
NRA Opposes Nomination of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 Fairfax, Va. - The executive director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, Chris W. Cox, released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court of the United States: With Justice Scalia's tragic passing, there is no longer a majority of support among the justices for the fundamental, individual right to own a firearm for self-defense. Four justices believe law-abiding Americans have that right - and four justices do not. President Obama has nothing but contempt for … [Read more...]
Gunsite Zombie Drill
There are a handful of places in this world where I feel truly content. At home with my wife and kids. In a tree stand in the fall woods as dawn approaches. On a sailboat ripping through small waves on a steady salt breeze… and in the high desert of Paulden, Arizona, at Gunsite Academy. Last week I took part in the inaugural Defense Against Street Crimes course, one of several new specialized classes that have been under development at Gunsite Academy to help students adapt to a changing threat environment. I’ll be talking more about the class over the course of the next week as I … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper — The Founding Father of Firearms Martial Arts
Although you may have never considered it, the use of the defensive handgun is a martial art. Martial arts are the codified systems and traditions of combat practices. The term is derived from Latin and means “arts of Mars,” the Roman god of war. The handgun evolved into a true fighting tool about the time of the American Civil War, but it would be another hundred years before anyone truly elevated its application to true martial art status. That man was Jeff Cooper. Jeff Cooper was a Stanford graduate and a Marine Corps officer who served in WWII and in the Korean War. Between 1957 and 1976, … [Read more...]
New Gunsite Training Videos
Coming soon to a tv near you! … [Read more...]
What To Do When Your Pistol Doesn’t Fire
There you are practicing at the range, committed to your marksmanship basics, peering intently at the front sight as you control your trigger press....anddddd.....CLICK. How can this be? You've done everything right. You're shooting factory loaded ammunition. Your firearm is squeaky clean and minty fresh. Get over it. In fact, accept it. As with any mechanical device, things can go wrong with your pistol, and they will. Your acceptance of this will allow you to stay calm and fix the issue to your best ability. Your job is to know which problems you can solve-and how. That click you … [Read more...]
March Newsletter
“Super Tuesday” is upon us and other elections to follow. It is always significant for a citizen to exercise their right to vote, but more so this year. Do your due diligence and determine which candidate will support what your belief is. As a Gunsite Family Member, we feel confident that you support our Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Republic. Study hard and make an informed decision. It is also important for you to realize that by not voting now (or in the General Election if your candidate does not prevail) that the way of life as we know it will soon be gone. Clearly there … [Read more...]
Gun school stresses self-confidence
Article taken from 'The Dallas Morning News' Sunday June 23, 1985 by Terese Greene David Keith is tense. Scanning the dusty clay banks of the gully, he tries to figure where his enemies hide. He knows they are somewhere in the ditch waiting to attack. He must stop them first. Breathing rapidly, Keith descends into the wash and draws his .45 caliber (semi) automatic pistol from its leather holster. His two-handed grip is firm. Pointing the gun down at the ground in front of him, he starts walking. Within seconds, Keith spots an assailant camouflaged behind a juniper bush and fires two … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper Pearls of Wisdom
Battle Sabre: As you know, the British subject is effectively forbidden the use of firearms in defense of his life. So now we read in the English press of one retired army officer who overcame this problem by repelling boarders with his sword. When three goblins broke into his house with knives, he produced his regimental sabre and gave battle. He ran those birds out of his house and well down the street, though the account does not say that he damaged any of them severely. Swordsmanship is effectively a lost art, but I doubt if the world’s miscreants are fully aware of that. - See more at: … [Read more...]
February Newsletter
Winter in the High Desert Our first 250 Pistol Class for 2016 as we begin Gunsite’s 40th Year is complete! It seems so appropriate that this group was all NEW to Gunsite. During their greeting on Monday morning I said: “You’ll be back!” True to that, more than one has enrolled for their next Gunsite experience. Gunsite is always a fun and exciting place to visit and train, but even more during this year as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary, Plan the grand celebration during the Gunsite Alumni Shoot on October 1, and begin our many new classes. We also have the new 250 Pistol classes … [Read more...]
Part 3 – Two in the belly, one in the head
This is part three of an article taken from the ‘Tucson Citizen’ May 1981 by Thom Walker At the moment, he is testing a new laser-aimed pistol. He aims and a red laser beam cuts through the dusky-lighted gun room. Rifles hang on the knotty-pine paneling, walnut stocks gleaming. Think about how far lasers have come since 1981. It does not surprise Cooper to hear law enforcement officials admit that crime is out of control. Police have never been able to stop crime, he said. "They take care of problems afterwards." But he is concerned that the breakdown of law and order seems to be … [Read more...]
Part 2 – Two in the belly, one in the head
This article taken from the ‘Tucson Citizen’ May 1981 by Thom Walker The 'modern technique" of training that Cooper helped develop is based on "open, unrestricted, unlimited, realistic, diversified competition," he said. Two handed Weaver stance, flash=sight technique, "kinesthetic" presentation - an approach that makes "this fairly inefficient hand weapon" an effective instrument. In terms of learning objectives, the goal of the general pistol course is to "place a student in command of an environment," Cooper explained. "That's it - he controls. When he leaves here as an expert of … [Read more...]
Two in the belly, one in the head
This article taken from the 'Tucson Citizen' May 1981 by Thom Walker A golden eagle guarded a freshly killed jackrabbit under a juniper tree beside a rutted-out road that twisted back into the foothills above Chino Valley. A buzzard waited nearby, hoping for leftovers. Welcome to Gunsite Ranch. A world of black and white, good guys and bad guys, survival of the fittest. Jeff Cooper country. Gunsite, located 25 miles north of Prescott, is the home of the American Pistol Institute, an internationally known school with a unique specialty. If you want to learn law, you go to Harvard. … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper Shoots from the Hip
From Personal Defense World Throwing Stones As we have long known, a man’s weapon is less important than the man. Up in Littleton, Colorado, recently some creep went on a rampage and started shooting people. Since no firearm was ready to hand, a local construction worker terminated the action cleanly with a rock. The article did not say what caliber the rock was. Sleep Safe In going back over some of the hunting adventures from the English colonial period I discovered the custom of sleeping with a pistol under one’s pillow. This was presumably because field accommodations were pretty … [Read more...]
Gunfighting is a Thinking Man’s Game
From a post by Bob Owens of BearingArms.com I just stumbled across a video of a Gunsite Academy client—quite obviously, a member of the U.S. military—running through one of the shoothouses in the 223 Carbine Class. Roughly the first have of the video is the student’s run through the shoothouse, and that’s followed by the most important part for the student, the instructor’s critique. It’s here where you discover just how badly you’ve screwed up. You learn from “dying” here (often repeatedly) so you don’t end up dying in the real world when it matters. This serviceman was “killed” by … [Read more...]
An Armed Society is a Polite Society
This article taken from the Sacramento Union Monday March 2, 1981 by Peter Arnett AP Special Correspondent PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - In circles where the gun is king, Jeff Cooper is a crown prince. "An Armed society is a polite society," he tells his subjects and in his company people are very polite indeed. The former U.S. marine colonel, a tanned, fit 60, entertains visitors by cocking his Colt .45 automatic pistol and shooting berries off the juniper bushes in his 200 acre backyard. "THERE ARE PEOPLE in America who have never seen a real gun," he complained. "This is the first time … [Read more...]
Shooting in the Desert
The basic safety rules for shooting are: Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Be sure of your target and what is beyond. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. Regardless of where you shoot, these rules remain constant. But if you’re shooting in the desert at a competition, training school or just shooting rocks, you also have to consider the constant threat of dehydration and the nasty sunburns caused by not having enough protection from the sun. Searing summer temperatures, dry air and the lack of shade … [Read more...]
Part 2 – Weapons for readiness, not violence
Part 2 - Weapons for readiness, not violence. Houseaux, a native of France, grew up in the shadow of his father, a commander in the French air force. The French military trains its personnel in the handling of guns, but strict gun control laws in Europe prohibit private ownership of handguns, he said. "People don't realize that all over Europe, only the bad guys have guns," he said. "For me, owning a handgun is a symbol of freedom. "But if you do't know anything about a gun, then you shouldn't own one. There's nothing more dangerous than somebody having a gun and not knowing how to … [Read more...]
Weapons for readiness, not violence
This excerpt taken from the Sunday Tribune, Mesa AZ. September 27, 1981 by Mike Padgett A dozen people stand shoulder to shoulder in ad deadly gauntlet. A tough-looking ex-Marine shouts: "Ready o the right. Ready on the left. Fire!" Jeff Cooper watches carefully as his proteges unholster their weapons and open fire on human shaped paper targets, trying to put every bullet through the heart. When the gunfire stops about half-minute later, Cooper walks along the targets, inspecting them and dishing out compliments or criticism to the shootists. Twice a month the rapid gunfire … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper Shoots from the Hip
Throwing Stones As we have long known, a man’s weapon is less important than the man. Up in Littleton, Colorado, recently some creep went on a rampage and started shooting people. Since no firearm was ready to hand, a local construction worker terminated the action cleanly with a rock. The article did not say what caliber the rock was. Check out these classic snippets from Jeff Cooper's Gunsite Gargantuan Gossip - See more at: http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2015/12/gunsite-gossip-jeff-cooper-shoots-from-the-hip/#jeff-cooper-gunsite-1 … [Read more...]
Guns for the Good Guys…part 3 continued
Excerpt taken from an article in the ‘Telegraph Sunday Magazine’ London, November 1981 After asserting that a man who preys on society has "signed his own release", the Colonel raised a giggle amoung the students with what Americans like to call typical British understatement. "When a man is trying to shoot you, he gets your attention", he said, adding: "Fortunately, the creeps of this world are generally bad shots". At the mid-morning break the students strolled out to their cars and tents udner the juniper trees. Some started practicing the "compressed surprise break" (the Colonel's … [Read more...]
Guns for the Good Guys…part 2 continued
Continued from... Excerpt taken from an article in the 'Telegraph Sunday Magazine' London, November 1981 After a course with the FBI he became engrossed in what he likes to call "pistolcraft". He was to be seen wherever marksmen gathered - at Bisley and across the world. Over the years Col. Cooper has taught gunhandling in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Germany, Sweden, Southwest Africa, South Africa and Rhodesia. He has published books about guns and has written numerous articles for gun magazines. For someone so obsessed, running a gun school was a natural progression. … [Read more...]
Guns for the Good Guys
Excerpt taken from an article in the 'Telegraph Sunday Magazine' London, November 1981 The boss of Gunsite Ranch, Colonel Jeff Cooper, trains ordinary Americans to shoot to kill. He believes private citizens must defend themselves - preferably with a Colt .45. "Are guns to shoot people? Of course!...The fact is there are people who must be shot in order to stop their dreadful acts. Thank God there is an effective way to stop them". So says a tract issued by the Doctrinal Bible Church of Richardson, Texas. "The U.S. government has neither the wit nor the muscle to carry out … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Shooting
Gunsite Academy, in conjunction with Bix Pros, offers an unprecedented opportunity at the world’s leading firearms training academy. As Gunsite has been the leader in firearms training, we continue to do so by hosting an opportunity previously unavailable anywhere. For more information or to sign up for this week long event go to GUNSITE40.COM … [Read more...]
