May is Upon Us!
Spring is well underway and Summer just around the corner. Nothing has slowed down at the Gunsite Ranch! Last week we had seven (7) classes underway here. Logistics becomes a crucial issue and staying on task and on the timeline is a challenge for the instructors.
This week is Team Tactics for 2, Shotgun 260, Shotgun Advanced Tactical Problems and the Jeff Cooper 250 Pistol Class. This 250 is all 1911 pistols with leather gear. Our “seasoned” instructors (Those of us that learned from and worked for Jeff Cooper) take the lead and it is a grand time. Lindy Cooper Wisdom is auditing the class and sharing great stories of her mom and dad and their time at Gunsite.
Next week Buz Mills, Shari LeGate and I will be attending the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in Dallas. (May 17-19) We hope to see many of you there. The slower pace of this show allows us more time to visit with our industry partners and the Gunsite Family members that attend. Please watch for us and come introduce (or re-introduce yourself) to us. This may be a very exciting NRA Annual Meeting as many of us hope for big positive changes in NRA Leadership. The results of the election of the new Board of Directors look very promising.
The GSSF Gunsite Glock Match is this weekend. Hundreds of shooters arrive and participate for prizes by Glock. I think this is our 3rd or 4th year of hosting this event. Always fun and we hope to gain some new students as a result.
Our industry partner Mossberg returns to Gunsite again this year with a group of lady writers and industry partners for private training. Always grand to see them and any new products Mossberg has lined up.
Industry partner Ruger also returns with their engineers. Many in our industry are now sending their staff, including engineers, to Gunsite to see how we actually use their products in fighting methodology. It has been interesting to see how it changes their perspectives on design.
The new (1 year old) Day Zero Pistol Classes have really taken off. These are designed for the novice shooter on the Sunday preceding a 250 Pistol. Our student evaluations confirm that it makes the new shooter much more comfortable on Monday and Tuesday and helps them learn more in class. With all the new Carbine shooters, we have also begun a Carbine Day Zero preceding a 223 Carbine Class.
If you have always wanted to get a small taste of Gunsite, we have recently opened Day Zero Classes to students to attend. As a warning, once you take that first course at Gunsite, you will be back!
Have you ever attended Pistol Range Day (or Shotgun or Carbine)? I think it is the biggest bargain at Gunsite. It is not an “open range day.” It is a full day of challenging training. You must be a graduate of a 3 day or more class of the respective weapon system to qualify. The most popular of the Range Days is the All-Steel Pistol Range Day. Bring a big package of ammo as there is no downtime taping your targets. Next one is scheduled for May 25.
Shooters World in Orlando (Near Universal Studios) class is happening! Myself, Vince Morgan and John Lawrence will be there teaching the inaugural 150 Pistol Class. It is about half-full, so don’t delay if you are considering attending. As Shooters World is a premier indoor range, the humidity is always low and the temperature just right for central Florida!
While we discuss off-site locations, Royal Range in Nashville is quite the place as well. Gunsite sends our instructors there for a Gunsite 5-day 250 Pistol, 350 Pistol and more. Beautiful facility in one of the nation’s favorite vacation venues.
In closing, do not forget that May 27 is Memorial Day. While many take this day to have friend and family gatherings and grilling as the unofficial first day of summer, it is a day to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It can be both joyous and solemn. Remember to take a moment and remember those who went before us, so we have the freedoms we do.
With Respect,
Ken
To read the newsletter in it’s entirety, visit: https://mailchi.mp/gunsite/march-2024-gunsite-newsletter-611462?e=55e9db27bf
