March comes in like a lamb at Gunsite. Sunny and 55 degrees this afternoon for the Shotgun 260 and Seasoned Citizen 250 classes. This is some of the best time of the year as it starts our very cool but warms to the 50’s and 60’s. (Usually!)
Classes are at a near record pace at Gunsite for 2021. Those that postponed training a year ago when the Covid 19 issues began are back at it along with our fair share of the 7M plus new gun owners getting training. If you are one of the new owners, come see us at Gunsite (or at one of our off-site locations) and get proper training before you get those bad habits we must break.
Something we are seeing in our 250 classes is folks coming with the micro or subcompact pistols. While a Sig 365 may be your everyday carry gun, it is not the best choice to learn with. There are also safety issues when new learners use the micro pistols such as hands near the muzzle and they may tend to point the pistols in an unsafe direction during manipulations. They are a greater challenge to shoot accurately.
The principles you learn with a larger pistol will apply to the smaller pistols once you have them established. If you do not have a larger pistol, we have many of the popular brands that we rent. (The rent for the equipment is very reasonable.)
We also strongly suggest you read all the information we send prior to class. These include your Monday morning reporting instructions as well as recommended gear and minimum gear requirements. For example, do not follow your GPS to Gunsite. For reasons unknown to us, some brands take you to our back gate. (Use the highway signs!) Some folks arrive with gear we prohibit or without gear we require. We know magazines/speed-loaders are expensive but having three (3) or more) for your pistol really make your time on the firing line and reloading time much better. Some holsters are prohibited due to documented safety issues. Yes, you really need to wear pants with belt loops that fit the holster and belt you are using. Having a gun belt over your pants (Like some western gun fighters) is not optimal, sans LEO with belt keepers. Comfortable closed toe shoes are a necessity. Standing a great deal or having rocks in your loose-fitting shoes is not only uncomfortable but becomes a safety issue when you lose your concentration.
Ammunition continues to be a challenge. While our industry partner Doubletap Ammunition is doing their best to keep Gunsite with ammo, it is not plentiful. We strive to keep ammunition packages available and at a reasonable price, but it is not all within our span of control. If our ammunition prices increase, we are forced to increase our prices. If you have your own ammunition, please consider bringing it so that those who do not have any are able to purchase the ammunition packages. Like you, we hope this will begin to come to an end. If some would just not hoard any ammo they can find, that would help bring the price back to normal.
March may have come in like a lamb in weather, the training schedule comes in like a Lion and goes out the same way. March is packed full of four (4) 250 Pistol classes, 350 Intermediate Pistol, Pistol Range Days (the best bargain at Gunsite), Tactical Medicine, Battle Rifle, CCW, Long Range Precision Rifle, 499 Advance Defensive Pistol, Ballistic Response Against Violent Encounters, Night Vision Pistol-Carbine, many private courses and more.
April follows with an equally aggressive training schedule. This includes the ever-popular Ladies’ Pistol and Ladies’ Pistol 2, Pistol Caliber Carbine, our first Ladies’ 123 three day Carbine, Concealed Carry Pistol, South Carolina 150 Pistol and more. May proves to be more of the same.
What does this ever-increasing training schedule tell you? It makes us think that these millions of new gun owners as well as the multi-million other gun owners recognize they need training, need refresher training, or need advanced training. Regardless of the reason, they are doing the smart thing and following up on that. Do not wait too long. Do not wait for “it” to happen for you to get training.
Do you have a spare tire in your car? A fire extinguisher in your house? Life insurance? If so, you know that you need to plan for emergencies. Gunsite training is some of the best life insurance you can obtain.
Time for me to head down range and visit with the students. A bit too cool yet for my ever-popular Otter Pops, but always grand to step out of the office and see how far the students have advanced.
As I like to say at the conclusion of Facebook Live . . . “When are you coming to Gunsite?”
Ken
