The Official Beginning of Fall – The Gunsite GAS Match
The annual Gunsite Alumni Shoot (GAS) 2025 was a resounding success. Over 260 Shooters and about 100 Staff and Volunteers and the festive atmosphere of “a social engagement slightly interrupted by gunfire” celebrated Gunsite’s 49th Anniversary with the sounds of liberty.
Thanks to all the attendants for another safe Saturday of over 80,000 rounds down range of pistol, shotgun and rifle. All the numbers are not ready just yet, but monies were raised to support the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation.
The week or ten (10) days preceding GAS is always busy. While I receive many compliments as to how the match and Gunsite operates, the accolades all belong to the outstanding staff. I cannot say enough about the hard work the Gunsite Maintenance Staff do to keep the facilities up. From Jackie and Reagan keeping the campground and all other facilities spotless to the thirty-six (36) or so complete indoor and outdoor simulator changes, it is tremendous work. (All the while doing their GAS preparation work.)
While I’m complimenting staff, Dave Hartman, Rikki Newell, Michael Fahey, Sandi Nissel, Chris Duran, Lindy Walters, Shari Campbell, and Susan Davidson in the Administrative Office and Pro Shop also work many extra hours to make things appear seamless. It is like watching a duck going across the pond. It looks smooth and easy, but the paddling below water is furious.
GAS 2026 is firmly in the windshield. Preparations have been underway for a few months. Our planning revolves around four hundred (400) shooters. Nearly one hundred (100) are enrolled as I write this! If you plan on attending, we strongly suggest you get enrolled. Further, we also recommend you find hotel/B&B Reservations soonest. You can usually cancel with no penalty up to 30 days out both for GAS and most hotels.
During the organized chaos of GAS preparation, Gunsite staff also organized the “Armed and Elegant Fashion Show.” Partnering with Granite Mountain Distillery in Prescott and the Gunsite Chapter of Armed Women of America (AWA), a fun mid-day Saturday was spent sipping a favorite beverage (with $1 of each drink donated to our charity), and light hors d’oeuvres all the while watching various AWA ladies model a variety of concealed carry clothing and more available from the Gunsite Pro Shop. We anticipate delivering a check to a Northern Arizona Women’s Veteran’s Organization in excess of $1500. Well done all!
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need guns. Gunsite Family know this isn’t a perfect world. Beginning the week of October 12 we have a PR7 (Precision Rifle) with Walt Wilkinson, 260 Shotgun with Bill Halvorsen, a private pistol tutorial, a private 250 Pistol at our partner Royal Range in Nashville, and a Seasoned Citizen 250 Pistol with Gary Smith.
The weekend of October 18 is the ever-popular All-Steel Pistol Range Day. Bring a bunch of ammunition (Or buy some at the Gunsite Pro Shop, it’s on sale!) as there is no time spent taping any targets! Another 223 Carbine (Preceded by Day Zero Carbine) and the Ladies 150 Pistol and LP 2 with Verlin Rector is filling. The new Tactical Concealed Carry Combat Casualty Care Class with Dr. Temerlin and Eric Ingersoll begins on October 20. It is a full five (5) day course, including shooting alongside the medical components. October finishes with another double 250 Pistol and 350 Pistol. (Can you tell October is beautiful weather at Gunsite?)
November does not slow down.
If you are looking for a 250 Pistol with some extras, our industry partner Crimson Trace is back again. You will receive lasers for your pistols from Crimson Trace and the opportunity to train with them.
Gunsite is proud to partner with the National Rifle Association (NRA) for the America’s Rifle Challenge Carbine event. On November 8, there is a full day of Carbine Training with Gunsite Instructors Freddie Blish and Monte Gould. This is a good opportunity to get some quick basic training with your carbine and verify zero for the match the next day. November 9 is the actual event. Details are here for the event and for the add on training day. https://www.gunsite.com/the-gunsite-arc-summit/
The next big event is the annual Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Round-Up. We host this the Saturday-Monday preceding Thanksgiving. (November 22-24, 2025). Our limit has increased to 125 shooters, and we are currently at 116 enrolled. So . . . Time to get registered for this outstanding training event. It is a bargain to receive three (3) full days of training in a symposium atmosphere from several revolver experts.
There is much more in November, so look at gunsite.com for details.
The 2026 Gunsite Calendar is available here: https://gunsitestore.com/products/2026_gunsite_calendar
Finally, we failed to consider the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting when we scheduled the Arizona Armed Women of America (AWA) State Shoot and there was a conflict. (And we didn’t notice it until the 2026 calendar was sent to the printer!) So, the new date will be Saturday March 28, 2026 at Gunsite Academy. Gunsite is a proud partner of AWA and looks forward to their return for their annual event. AWA will be sending details to the membership soon.
Whew . . . and I thought I’d just send a short, quick newsletter this month . . .
Again, thanks to all for another successful GAS Match. We look forward to the next one.
When are you coming (back) to Gunsite?
Ken
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