October is always a grand month at Gunsite. The Fall weather has arrived, temps are cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. The sky is bright with stars all the way to the Milky Way. Gunsite Family, new and old, are hustling and bustling in their courses. And there is the first real sign of Fall: the Gunsite Alumni Shoot.
The Gunsite Alumni Shoot is a great event. To quote our late friend, instructor and staff member Chris Dwiggens: “A social engagement slightly interrupted by gunfire.” GAS 2017 was another grand event. Over 150 shooters competed all day in the ten (10) stages and multiple side matches and Cooper Cup. The stages and side matches were once again deviously put together by the Instructors and Staff to make the competitors work hard. For the first time, we had a “Masters Class” for those prior winners of the GAS and the Cooper Cup. Several former winners were in attendance and were strong competitors. (The score sheet can be found on the Gunsite website. https://www.gunsite.com/gunsite-alumni-shoot-2017/)
Let me offer a personal huge “Thank You” to Buz and Sonja, the Gunsite Staff, Instructors and Volunteers. This is an enormous endeavor and this ran about as smoothly as it could. Without the hard work by this Team of folks, it wouldn’t have happened. Also our thanks to the many sponsors of the match. Please remember to look to your program and send them an email thanking them for their support.
Our first meeting for GAS 2018 (Oct. 6, 2018) was Tuesday morning. Great suggestions were offered up from competitors and staff to make next year run even stronger. Put it on your calendar now. If you want a class the week preceding GAS (250 or 350), do not wait to enroll. These are almost always the first courses to sell out, especially the 350. (The 350 is half full as I write this.)
A change we will must make for GAS 2018 has to do with cancellations. As we must purchase hats, shirts and order meals well in advance, our cancellation policy is changing. If you cancel GAS within ten (10) days of the event, we will send you your match shirt, hat and “goody bag,” but cannot refund the match fee. Apologies for this, but it comes down to managing our expenses properly for this charity event.
Once all bills are in, we will be posting how much we made for the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation. The Auction of unique Gunsite items raised about $6,400 alone! If you could only see the look on Mrs. Cooper’s face during the auction as we raise monies for the Foundation…Her smile is beautiful.
We had our day of rest on Sunday following GAS and jumped right back at it with classes. A 250 Pistol, Defensive 3 Gun and Ballistic Response Against Violent Encounters (BRAVE) all began Monday morning. Next week is a double “Seasoned Citizen 250” and a Long Range Rifle. October carries on with a three (3) day Ladies’ Pistol, Shotgun, Carbine Range Day, another 250 Pistol and again hosting of world famous man-tracker David Scott-Donelan with Tactical Tracking.
One of the 250 Pistol Courses this month is special as it is a family event. It is a private 250 pistol course including Grandfather, fathers and mothers and (grand) children. We cannot express how honored we are when we are asked to train the most precious people in your lives. Thank you for the opportunity.
If you are looking for a tune up, or an introduction to Gunsite Doctrine, we will be back with our friends C2 Tactical in Phoenix in late October for a two (2) day Pistol course.
As we look to November, a three (3) day 150 Pistol is in the Nashville TN area as well as multiple courses here at the Gunsite Ranch, including the ever popular Pistol Range Day, 223 Carbine and media events.
Our partners in Richmond VA have another (indoor) 250 Pistol Course at the Colonial Shooting Academy the week of November 13. We are also working again with Crimson Trace Laser for this course. You do not have to own a laser for your pistol for this course, but if you want to learn about them and their benefits, this is the course to attend!
We share our on-going prayers for our Gunsite family members injured at the terrible shooting in Las Vegas. Reports are that the wife was treated and released with a slight head wound. The husband was shot in the abdomen and has a lengthy recovery. (We had a card for all to sign at GAS.) Today’s report from friends is that he has had a few surgeries, but is off the ventilator and is taking short walks. We have been told that he credits his Gunsite training and Mind Set for helping them survive and escape.
On-going prayers for our Gunsite family in the terrible wildfires in CA. (Last year a family member lost his home in a Washington wild fire.) We have many family members and some staff living there. So many people have lost their homes and all contents.
Gunsite and The Modern Technique continue to grow and evolve. If you haven’t been to a course in several years, it may be time for a tune up. That can be as simple as a Range Day here at the Ranch, a three (3) day off-site course across the country, or another course at Gunsite. Watch the news (Fox of course) and see what is happening around you. Whether it is escaping from a wild fire or hurricane or a gun battle, you need to be prepared. That preparation begins today . . . .
DVC,
Ken
