And So It Begins!

One third of the way through January!  We hope you and yours celebrated the holidays and the ringing in of the new year appropriately.

“And So It Begins” means the beginning of Gunsite’s 50th Anniversary!

So many things happening.

• The annual Jeff Cooper Classic 250 Pistol Class has filled and we are opening and staffing a concurrent class.  (Remember – If Jeff Cooper wouldn’t carry it or wear it, there will be great disdain for you doing it.)  Some “seasoned and senior” Gunsite staff will be teaching it.  If you are interested in it, I’d get enrolled.  https://www.gunsite.com/classes/jeff-cooper-anniversary-1911-250-pistol/
• The coming announcements of some 50th Anniversary specialty firearms!  They will be officially announced and viewed at the Gunsite Press Conference at the SHOT Show on January 21, 2026.
  • Steyr is producing a 50th Anniversary Steyr Scout with the butter knife bolt handle, JC logo and our 50th logo and Cooper’s signature lasered under the bipod.
  • Aero Precision and Gunsite collaborated for a 50th Anniversary fighting carbine with an Aimpoint Duty RDS MR with sling and SureFire light.
  • Gunsite Gunsmith Dave Fink is producing a high-end single stack 1911 50th Anniversary Gunsite Service Pistol.
  • And, as the Aimpoint COA will be available for other than Glock on January 20, there will be a limited edition Gunsite fighting pistol with the COA.  Details are restricted until the press conference.
• Of course, the Pro Shop has many other 50th Anniversary items.  Watch the web page for updates.  https://gunsitestore.com/
• GAS 2026!  That will be the official celebration of the 50th Anniversary.  We anticipate 400 shooters and about 100 staff and volunteers.  Registration might be a good thing sooner rather than later.  https://www.gunsite.com/classes/gunsite-alumni-shoot/  Remember that accommodations often fill quickly, so you might look to lodging.  https://www.gunsite.com/about-us/lodging-near-gunsite-academy/

The construction continues here as we try to get as much done as possible during the quieter months.  The Mess Deck has been up and running for a couple of months, with just some punch list items left to complete.  The new warehouse/maintenance barn is nearing completion.  The old mess deck is gone and we hope to have the roofing from there in place for shade covers on the Dozier Bays on Hanneken, South and North Ranges yet this Spring.  (The Gunsite Maintenance Staff are the best!)  Once the new barn is usable, the old barn will go away as well as the “car port” storage area, making a clean campus and additional parking. Much more refit, repaint and refurbish is also underway.

First class to receive the 50th Anniversary graduation certificate is a private family 250 this week.  They have experienced sun, rain, grapple, snow, wind . . .  Perfect training environment.  Next week is the first official 250 Pistol Class with Jim Owens and Joe Avila.

Royal Range in Nashville hosts Gunsite again for a three (3) day 150 Pistol January 16-18, 2026.  Come train indoors with Jeff Dooley and Jason Lovett.

January closes out with another 250 Pistol Class with Guy Coursey, Lew Gosnell, and Verlin Rector.

The pace picks up in February with 260 Shotgun and Shotgun ATP, Gunsite Performance Center 101 with Steve Tarani, Guy Coursey and Lew Gosnell (https://www.gunsite.com/classes/gunsite-performance-pistol-symposium/), the first Royal Range (Nashville) 250 Pistol Class, the Advanced 1911 Armorers Build Class and an AR-15 Build Class, Scoped Carbine, a private 250 Pistol, Battle Rifle and another 250 Pistol and 350 Pistol with Optics.  Whew . . .

Gunsite Performance Center continues to grow.  I hope to announce in the next few weeks who the lead instructor will be for the next Gunsite Performance Center 303 Class in October.  Stand by to stand by!

Gunsite will also be attending SHOT Show January 20-23 in Las Vegas.  Look for instructors, myself, Buz Mills, Pro Shop Staff Lindy Walters and Shari Campbell and Marketing Director Chris Duran.  You know we are apt to have some Gunsite stickers and pins in our pockets!  And I love to get candid photos with Gunsite Family for our social media.  We walk miles and miles with appointments with industry partners and vendors.  Busy times!

After about 25 years of the gratis Vets 250 and 223 classes for overseas veterans of the Global War on Terror, we are making a change.  We now offer a 10% discount to all veterans and first responders.  I believe there will be a link on the web page soon with details.  In the interim, Rikki can make the adjustment if you complete you application correctly.

The Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Round-Up dates have been moved to November 14-15, 2026, reduced to two (2) days and are limiting enrollment to one hundred (100) shooters at request of the American Fighting Revolver folks.  https://www.gunsite.com/classes/pat-rogers-memorial-revolver-round-up/

We then moved the Gunsite 150 Revolver Class https://www.gunsite.com/classes/150-basic-revolver/ to November 11-13, 2026.  Both enrollments will fill quickly.

Enough for today other than this:

As I write this on National Law Enforcement Day, Gunsite continues to support our Republic’s first responders every day, but certainly recognize them today.  Challenging times in the Republic.  Please take a moment to let your local, state and federal officers know you support them.

Hope to see some of you at SHOT wearing your Gunsite Ravens!

When are you coming (back) to Gunsite?

DVC,

Ken

 

To read the newsletter in its entirety, please click the following link below:

January Newsletter 2026