I’ve been in the industry for a pretty long time at this point. Regardless of that fact, my time spent receiving handgun training from professionals (or practicing in general) has been extremely limited. I’m proud to say that every single one of my bad habits are self-taught, and I’ve developed handgun shooting techniques entirely on my own that can make the most seasoned instructors scratch their heads and throw up their hands in frustration. “How are you so consistently missing?” “Who taught you to draw that way?” “I’ve…. Never seen anyone do that.” are just a few of the reactions that my particular skill set has garnered.
But just recently, this past week to be exact, I got to attend an event at Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. If you haven’t heard, Gunsite is an extremely well-known and prestigious training facility for any (and I do mean any) manner of firearms training. If you have heard of it, you may be wondering how I managed to skip over any more modest training ventures and head three quarters of the way across the country, straight to Gunsite, and that is a story for another day (which I will happily tell you as soon as I’m able). Either way, if you’re thinking about doing the same, no matter your skill level, I’m here to encourage you to do just that, because after just a few short days, I can feel the value of the collective decades of experience and insight that was presented to me, and have nothing but good things to say about the facility and its staff.
Let’s do a bit of history. Through my years in the shooting industry, I’d heard quite a bit about Gunsite, but until I arrived and got a presentation from CEO Ken Campbell, I didn’t quite realize what it was that made the academy so significant. Lt Col Jeff Cooper founded Gunsite in 1976 with a goal of spreading his modern pistol techniques. I’ll spare the details, as there are plenty of incredible writers and historians that can (and have) hash out Cooper’s contributions to shooting as a craft. What this means to you, is that a huge part of the knowledge-base that defines modern gunplay was innovated, tweaked, and tested here, and passed down through the instructors.
But what’s it like? Why should you go? What makes it worth the trip? So far, I haven’t really told you anything that you couldn’t learn from a quick Google search or Youtube video, so what else is there? What makes the experience so great? Let’s get into that.
This entryway is followed immediately by the four rules of firearms safety… a Gunsite creation in itself.
The arrival was incredible. I got off a plane in Phoenix, Arizona and took a ride up I-17 to Prescott, which is apparently pronounced “presskit.” Which, someone actually told me before I went, and I thought they were messing with me, but after listening to the locals for 4 days say it that way, I’ll concede that they know better than I. Plus, we’re based out of a town called “Fuquay Varina” so I don’t really have room to talk. Anyway, after passing through “Presskit”, you veer off to the west and head out through Chino Valley to Paulsen. On this trip, in just a few short hours, you’ll experience three different biomes and a temperature fluctuation of 30+ degrees. It’s actually incredible, and the views were amazing. Arizona is a beautiful state and you’ll see some of the best it has to offer heading through the mountains to Gunsite.
Once I started heading back down the actual access roads to Gunsite, I started to see just how expansive the property was. It’s a bit more than 3200 acres in all, which for a property that’s devoted entirely to shooting, is one of the things that makes it a wonderland. Passing through the gate, I felt accomplished, like I’d already done something. Just to have come all this way and be entering a facility that has contributed so much to my profession was an awesome feeling. You really can feel the history. Furthermore, you’re greeted by pristine grounds, buildings, campsites, and clearly marked signs. The property integrates with the scenery of the surrounding area beautifully.
This is your typical view from anywhere off the access roads all over the property, big sky and beautiful mountains.
First order of business was a meet and greet with CEO, Ken Cambell, and the instructors that would be handling us during our course. We were lucky, and got three, Lew Gosnell, Dan Bilodeau, and Schylar Cloudt. One of the very first things that Ken said to us, and something that he would repeat several times through the week was that Gunsite relies on it’s instructors for it’s success, and if I do say so myself, that’s really good news for the academy, because these instructors are absolutely phenomenal. Throughout our time with Gunsite, I’ve never seen such a balance of professionalism and personal touch that immediately makes you feel welcome, like you belong there. Firearms instruction for the general public is a balancing act, on one hand, you need a firm touch in order to prioritize safety, something that should (and, at Gunsite does) always come first. Easy enough on its own, but its really something special to have a group of instructors that can keep the highest safety standards while making a student feel welcome and relaxed. Let’s face it, I’m a goofball that can’t shoot handguns well, and at Gunsite I encountered nothing but patience and persistence from every staff member that dealt with me. The pointers and advice that I received… just made sense. You can tell that the instructors not only have experience with the art of shooting, but also the art of instruction, which is something that I’ve seen other training programs miss in a big way. There wasn’t one second that I was in the care of Lew, Dan, and Schylar that I felt rushed or patronized. They were more than happy to adapt to my own (lack of) skill level and revert to basics while keeping me up to speed with the rest of the class. I felt, the entire time, like I was a regular student at Gunsite, even though it was my first and only visit so far.
Of course, the facilities and tools these instructors have available to them are really second to none. Every range I had the privilege to walk onto was state of the art, not necessarily in a flashy way (although everything was clean enough to eat off of), but in a purely utilitarian way. Now, my time at Gunsite was a bit more limited than the standard length of a class, but I still was lucky enough to see a few of the flat ranges for basic instructions, and got to run a couple of the mixed simulator ranges available on the property. The fact that I got so much value out of the small part of the 3200 available acres, makes me realize that I could probably go back to Gunsite twice a year, and never complete all the courses the academy has to offer. It’s here that I’ll also note that if I did choose to do so, in addition to the knowledge gained, I would be rewarded for the effort by being able to participate in some of the academy’s special traditions, something that you’ll have to visit to experience…
While firearms safety is first and foremost, there are other things to consider out in the desert…
In the world of shooting, Gunsite is a big name. We know that. We’ve all heard of the big names and big squads of really cool guys that have and will continue to train there. You might be aware of the expanse of knowledge that is held in the doctrine and by the instructors that staff the place. Maybe, on a certain level, these things intimidate you, and you’ve been feeling that you’re not “ready” to make the trip out to Arizona. But I can assure you that you are. Having had the experience I did, in a mixed group with skill levels from across the board, I can tell you, with confidence, that as long as you show up with an open mind and ready to learn, you’re going to leave with the tools you need to get to your next level, whatever that is.
So the next time you’re browsing flights, thinking of an interesting vacation, or just feeling like you want to SHOOT, don’t let Gunsite be a wishful thought. If you’re able, make the trip! You won’t regret it.
We’re not done with the Gunsite adventure, as it may occur to you guys that there was a very specific reason I was invited out there. They certainly weren’t interested in bringing me and my “Waco Kid” pistol skills for an instructor’s position, so keep up with us here in the InfoBlasts and on our Youtube channel to hear the whole story, and see ALL the content I can’t quite show you yet. Thanks for reading!
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