Announcement! We are very proud to announce that Thunderbird Firearms Academy has been selected to be the Central States Satellite for Gunsite Academy! We will be offering the 250 Handgun class later this fall! We are excited to be part of the Gunsite family and help continue their legacy. Please share this post to help spread the word that Gunsite training is coming to Kansas! … [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...]
Raven Protects and Defends
Sue and I were driving to dinner after a long day running our Regional NRA Championship match. We were stopped at a light, when suddenly our vehicle was rear ended. We were uninjured and the damage to our vehicle was minor. The other vehicle sustained major front end damage with both front airbags deploying. We believe our rear hitch "Raven" from Gunsite, absorbed the majority of the collision, protecting us and our vehicle and caused significant damage to the other vehicle. The driver was taken to the "ER", but has been released. The "Raven" suffered some minor scratches and has a … [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...]
Stripping, Lubricating, and Re-Assembling a 1911 Pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55by_AO2MOs … [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...]
Ruger SilentSR
Are you surprised Ruger has gotten into the silencer business? While admitting they caught me by surprise when I was shown the new Silent-SR – silencer/silentsr, get it? – I should have seen it coming. After all, Ruger has been producing rifles and pistols with threaded barrels for several years, silencers are growing in popularity and there is a growing movement to take them off the federal registry that requires a $200 tax stamp. To continue reading this article click here. … [Read more...]
January Newsletter
The new year is well upon us and Spring must be around the corner. We know this because we are about to make the trek to the Shooting, Hunting Outdoor Show (SHOT SHOW) in las Vegas. The Gunsite staff walks miles and miles of the aisles to meet with vendors of our various product lines, meet media to schedule their events at Gunsite, and of course meeting with Gunsite family members. We hope to see some of you there. The Citizen Response to Active Shooter course in the spring is full and the Fall class nears full. Thus, we have added another in the late Spring. It is disheartening to … [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...]
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...]
A Thanksgiving Mindset
With Thanksgiving upon us, many Gunsite family members will be travelling throughout the Republic for family festivities. We recognize the state of the world and the threats by our enemies to strike the homeland. As a result, we try to travel prepared. (Read: Armed!) We also need to remember that your Mental Awareness is something you can always improve upon. (Recall your Mindset Lecture and the Color Code. If not, time to re-read Principles of Personal Defense.) It would be incumbent upon you to review the laws of where you are travelling (and those states you transit through) to … [Read more...]
Left Handed Pistol Manipulation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gZVz03lGc … [Read more...]
Gunsite Welcomes Eric Ingersoll on Staff
Eric is a retired Lieutenant with the Stockton Ca Police Department. During his career as an officer he worked the Street Crimes Unit, Traffic Unit, and the Problem Oriented Policing Team. His duties included Department FBI Terrorism Liaison Coordinator, FBI and ATF Task Force coordinator, Mobile Field Force Commander and Narcotics, Vice, and Gang Unit Commander. Eric was also a SWAT Officer, SWAT Sniper, SWAT Sergeant, and SWAT Commander. Eric is an instructor for pistol and carbine. … [Read more...]
Gun Sales Set Record for Sixth Month in a Row
AP BY: Stephen Gutowski Follow @@StephenGutowski November 4, 2015 10:30 am The Federal Bureau of Investigation processed a record number of background checks in the month of October, indicating that gun sales were at an all time high for the sixth month in a row. The FBI’s National Instant Background Check System processed 1,976,759 firearms related checks in October. That is a 373,290 increase in checks over last year and a new record for the month. It also makes October the sixth consecutive month to see arecord number of checks. Since every purchase of a new gun in the United … [Read more...]
Cooper’s Corner
It seems we are always fighting the same battles. This excerpt was taken from Gargantuan Gossip II in December of 1994. Of course not all pundits are our enemies. Joe Sobran is a strong warrior on our side. Consider the following, extracted from his column appearing on 12 December in the Washington Times. “Because the state can no longer protect us from crime, it wants to take away from us the means of protecting ourselves. This is the logic of gun control.” “In short, we – or our rulers, at any rate – now make law lawlessly. Bill Clinton wants to license all handguns in the United … [Read more...]
Fear the Donga
This article contributed by Bob Owens of Bearing Arms. It’s relatively easy to build up a false sense of confidence in your defensive firearm skills on a square range shooting at stationary targets from a fixed position. Things get a bit more interesting, however, when we start incorporating movement, and encountering targets hidden in rugged real-world terrain. At the Gunsite Academy 350 Intermediate Pistol course we had the opportunity to put our skills to the test not just on square range, but in indoor simulators both during the day and at night, in force-on-force training against … [Read more...]
Defensive Vehicle Class Paid Off
After spending a week at Gunsite Academy for the Alumni Shoot and a five-day class, I was heading home tired but happy. I pulled off the interstate at a truck stop to get a cup of coffee and find my iPad (gotta have music to keep me awake.) Because I needed to open car doors to rummage through my gear, I parked nose-in at the side of the main building where there was space and no activity. Behind my car was a large open paved area with no vehicles. It was morning and I casually scanned the area as I went through my gear. I mean, after a week at Gunsite who would not be in condition … [Read more...]
Back to Gunfighter School – 350 Pistol
This article posted on the Bearing Arms website by Bob Owens. Gunsite Academy has been dubbed the “Harvard of Handguns,” and with good reason. Founded by Col. Jeff Cooper as the American Pistol Institute in 1976 to teach the Modern Technique of the Pistol, this shooting school in the high desert outside Paulden, Arizona is home to a cadre of incredibly-talented firearms instructors. Gunsite teaches everyone from first-time shooters, to hard-core competitors, to law enforcement and military special operations forces… and even royalty. Gunsite’s signature course is 250 Pistol, which for … [Read more...]
Experts Pick Concealed Carry Weapon of Choice
Tactical-Life chose Gunsite's President Buz Mills as one of their experts weighing in on their concealed carry weapon of choice and it's setup. Buz Mills Affiliation: Gunsite Academy Position: Owner and CEO CCW Of Choice: .45 ACP 1911, G19 9mm Modifications: Novak sights Ammo: Remington Golden Saber Holster: C. Rusty Sherrick horsehide leather Why? I work and travel a lot. I carry that which is readily available in the environment in which I have to work. I am comfortable with both calibers and both weapons. Both will get the job done if you will. To see more expert … [Read more...]
NSSF First Shots Sweepstakes
Gunsite is sponsoring the NSSF FirstShots Sweepstakes and we are the GRAND PRIZE - a $6,000 package! Grand Prize: Gunsite Academy Handgun Training Prize Package for one (1) person Click here to sign up today! Package includes: 5 days defensive pistol training at Gunsite Academy (for one (1) person) 6 nights standard lodging Reimbursement of roundtrip coach airfare, economy rental car, and meals Firearms and equipment rental Ammunition American Tactical Imports $150 Gift Card Jason Winnie Leathergoods 1911 Holster BLACKHAWK! Range Bag Hornady Gift Assortment – … [Read more...]
October Newsletter
Fall is well upon us in the High Desert at Gunsite. We know that because the mornings are wonderfully cool, the days are bright, the sunsets are beautiful and we have completed another Gunsite Alumni Shoot (GAS)! What a great week it was preceding GAS: The “Knuckleheads” (An affectionate term for a raucous group of Gunsite alumni, some with 30 classes under their belts.) taking a special designed class for them were here for Pistol and Shotgun (heavily laden with simulators); a Long Range Rifle Tutorial for a great group of Hoosiers; and a 250 and 350 pistol class all helped us warm up … [Read more...]
Death in the Office
Force on Force training at Gunsite. There are over 100 million Americans gun owners, and of those, there are almost 13 million with concealed carry permits. Many others practice open carry, and/or live in a state where permitting is not required. While not everyone who has the option to carry a firearm with them in their daily lives opts to do so all the time for a wide range of reasons, it is probably reasonable to suggest that on any given day there are probably at least a million lawfully-armed citizens walking down our streets with a firearm in their possession. To continue reading … [Read more...]
Gunsite Alumni Shoot 2015
[envira-gallery id="6787"]The 2015 GAS Match is in the books!. Thanks to all the Gunsite Family Members who attended to shoot and to visit and to share Gunsite memories. If you haven't heard, 2016 is the 40th Anniversary of Gunsite! Make your plans now so you can see your name on the 2016 GAS Roster! Call Karen @ (928)636-4565 to get registered. Thanks all! Ken Click here to see the GAS 2015 Final Score. Click here to see the final scores for those who shot the Cooper Cup 2015. Only Evil Need Fear Me Raven - Thank you to Ida Kendall of the 'Frame and I' art Gallery in … [Read more...]
Day 4 – Gunsite 250 and 350 Classes
Yes this is the week before the Gunsite Alumni Shoot (aka GAS Match) and the simulators are brimming with excited students. Here are some pictures from the North Draw and the Play House. … [Read more...]
In Remembrance of Our Founder Col Jeff Cooper
On September 25, 2006 the world-renowned firearms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of Gunsite Academy in October 1976 passed away. Jeff Cooper was 86 and had been battling several health problems. To this day his presence at Gunsite is everywhere and his doctrine is upheld. Born on May 10, 1920, in Los Angeles, as John Dean Cooper, Cooper who always went by "Jeff" earned a master's degree in history and taught history. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II as well as in Southeast Asia and Korea. In the 1960s, he organized a group called the Bear Valley Gunslingers and … [Read more...]
Taking Cover
Practicing at the range is one thing. Training to prevail in a life-or-death struggle is another thing entirely. One tactic that distinguishes the two is the use of cover; specifically getting to and properly using cover. Sheriff Jim Wilson and Richard Mann run through some drills incorporating cover into a training regimen at Gunsite Academy. See the video at Shooting Illustrated.com … [Read more...]
Stripping, Lubricating and Reassembling a 1911 Pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55by_AO2MOs This was taken by Gunblast.com. It is a very good video of our Instructor Cory Trap stripping, lubricating and reassembling a 1911 pistol. … [Read more...]
September Newsletter
This was copied from a social media site I follow attributed to a fellow Sheriff in Illinois. It claims that it is in the Sheriff’s handwriting and is posted on the door so all his staff members can see as they come and go from the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff: Well said sir and please pardon me for sharing it with all. However, it is wise, sage and sound advice; not only for those brothers and sisters in public safety, but for all good Americans. We have lost too many of our brave law enforcement Officers in the Republic. It seems that miscreants in our society have publicly declared … [Read more...]
September Gunsmith Corner
Hunting season is upon us. It is time to get those rifles and shotguns and muzzleloaders ready to go. There are some things that really should be done early whether it is the hunt of a lifetime or a normal hunting season. Rifles should be cleaned. Action screws checked for proper torque. Scope mounts checked. One thing often overlooked is to make sure your sling swivel studs are tight. These often become loose and as the rifle gets bounced around they eventually strip out the hole and there goes the rifle. I’m sure everyone has heard of that mysterious cold bore shot being different than … [Read more...]
Developing a Defensive Mindset
In case you aren’t familiar with the late Col. John Dean “Jeff” Cooper—which probably means you’re new to defensive shooting—allow me to introduce you. Born in 1920, Cooper earned a political science degree from Stanford before receiving a commission from the United States Marine Corps, and he fought in the Pacific in World War II and later in Korea before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Cooper went on to earn his master’s degree and taught high school and college classes before he opened American Pistol Institute (API), now known as Gunsite, one of the nation’s top training destinations for … [Read more...]
Gunsite Instructor – 2015 World Police Fire Games
Gunsite Instructor Jarod Baugh added to the medal count for Team USA at the 2015 World Police and Fire Games in Fairfax Virginia. Baugh earned a Gold medal in 3D Archery Traditional, a Silver in Field Archery and a Bronze in Target Archery. He also competed in Police Action Pistol and was pleased with my performance at 45 YOA. I finished 6th out of 124 police officers from around the world. Third in USA police officers, just behind two young LAPD officers from their Shooting Team. … [Read more...]
5 New Courses for 2016
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Executive Offices August 2015 Gunsite Ranch Paulden AZ GUNSITE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES 5 EXCITING NEW COURSES FOR 2016! It seems like every day the headlines read: Active shooter! Terrorist alert! Home invasion! Natural disaster! Stories about riots, carjacking, armed robbery etc. are at the top of the news feeds. These types of things are happening all across our country with more and more frequency. The odds are increasing that each of us may face any one of these incidents on any given day. Gunsite Academy, the world’s premier and longest … [Read more...]
The Picture … The Men … The Story
Story by Elden Carl (Second from the left.) There were five pistoleros who are credited with developing the modern technique of the combat pistol. Jeff Cooper, practical pistol shooting’s founder and driving force, arrived first in the mid 1950’s followed closely by Jack Weaver. I arrived on the scene in 1960, with Thell Reed and Ray Chapman joining the fray the following year. By the end of 1961 all of the important techniques of the craft had been developed. At a later time I will discuss the developmental process that led to the modern technique of the pistol, but for now I’d like to … [Read more...]
August Newsletter
July has come and gone . . . . . Many of the young Americans are already headed back to school. Where did the summer go? We know where two (2) weeks of the summer went: Our two (2) Youth 250 “Summer Camp” courses were grand events! Having these young Americans here was outstanding. At Gunsite, Summer continues with the (recently updated) Team Tactics for Two, Defensive Three Gun, 250 Pistol, several media events, the Tennessee Close Quarters Pistol and Tutorials. Whew . . . . While the Gunsite Instructors and Staff are teaching these courses, their devious minds are also putting the … [Read more...]
Jeff Cooper’s Gunsite Gargantuan Gossip
The editorial staff of the Southwest Pistol League magazine has come up with a curious debate about what may be the purpose of the Southwest Pistol League. Well, I do not know what the purpose is now, but I do know what it was when the league was founded, because I founded it. The purpose of the league, when founded, was to discover, by means of open, unrestricted, diversified competition with the heavy-duty sidearm, just what weapons, what tactics, what principles and what general equipment would serve best in a fight. I remember that on one occasion the late, great John Plähn exclaimed … [Read more...]
Sheep or Sheepdog
Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Colonel Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. I suspect you will receive many angry emails from conservative people like me. You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen, on whose shoulders you and your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naiveté. It may be that you are simply a sheep. There’s no dishonor in being a sheep, as long as you know and accept what you are. William J. Bennett, in a … [Read more...]
July Newsletter
So many good sources come to mind to consider for an Independence Day Newsletter: Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan and more. But with pondering, it came to me that my best consideration of topic and source was here at Gunsite last week. As the United States celebrates our 239th birthday, honoring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, what should we look to as a source of excitement and hope for the future? Does it come from the writings and wisdom of our founding fathers, from review of our Constitution, from reading Teddy Roosevelt? That answer was on the Gunsite … [Read more...]
June Newsletter
As we tell the students on Monday morning as their Gunsite class begins, “blink and it will be Friday.” That seems to be what has happened here in May. We blinked and Mother’s Day, Jeff Cooper’s Birthday, The Yavapai Friends of the NRA Banquet, Armed Forces Day, John Wayne’s birthday and Memorial Day has passed us by. Not to mention 250 and 350 pistol classes, 223 Carbine, Edged Weapons, Close Quarters Pistol, Defensive 3 Gun, Defensive Vehicle Tactics, many tutorials and several media events happened. Whew . . . . . We start all over again in June with 250, 350 and 499 pistol, 223 … [Read more...]
May Newsletter
Garland Texas . . . . . Are you ready when the fight comes to your community? It appears that Garland Texas was exercising their God given rights to express themselves when alleged Jihadists “took offense” and appeared with rifles and other weapons and equipment to stop the exercise of Constitutional Rights. Fortunately, Garland was prepared and took the fight to the miscreants. While an unarmed security guard was injured, a police officer returned fire with his pistol and stopped the thugs in their tracks. The best art displayed at this art event was the chalk outline of the evil-doers … [Read more...]
