Gunsite Academy Feedback

[LMT4ME]

I've been thinking of taking a 5 day carbine & possibly pistol course (223 carbine & 250 pistol). Want to go out of state for the carbine and wanted to check out Prescott as a possible future location to live (both reasons are the same). Any feedback would be appreciated. One puzzling thing is the recommended round count for both courses seems low for a 5 day course (1000 for pistol & 1200 for carbine). Other courses I've seen average 400-600 rnds a day. A typical 3 hr stint at the range chews up 200 ends of pistol.

[fiddletown]

I've taken 250 (in 2002), 270 (General Rifle, in 2006) and 350 (Intermediate Handgun, in 2011). Needless to say, I like Gunsite and the Prescott area very much. The instruction has always been first class, as are the facilities.

I wouldn't be concerned about the round count. These are five day classes. Many of the high daily round count classes I've seen were shorter. You'll do plenty of shooting. And in 250 you'll be doing a lot of dry fire practice as well.

I started this thread at forum.m1911.org about my 270 class. I believe guests have access to the thread, but you will need to register to see the photos (although there are only a very few at the end).

I wrote this article on my 350 class.

[LMT4ME]

Thanks for the info. Very well written review of Gunsite.

[9mmepiphany]

Don't worry about the round count...although when I took the 1911 Centennial course (250) earlier this year, I thought the round count was 1200. The last day throws the count off a bit because we only shot about 100 rounds that day between the final exam, the Shoot House and the Man-vs-man shoot off

There are classes, not at Gunsite, which believe round count equals quality of instruction...needless to say it doesn't. If you are shooting more than much more than 300 rounds in a day...you aren't learning much from them...it might be fun and might make you feel like you're getting something out of it, but you're really not.

You shoot even fewer rounds with quality 1:1 instruction, because there is instruction after every 3-5 rounds

When you attend a more advanced class, where everyone has a certain proven shooting ability, the rounds fired go up dramatically...because you're working on skills which require longer strings of fire

[gschoelles]

You can't loose with going to Gunsite, where top instruction is first and round count happens!

[rsmorgan]

Not a lot of knowledge about Gunsite, but Prescott is a very interesting town. If you have time, the short trip north to Sedona is quite worthwhile. Just take a large bag of salt to deal with the need to take the ideas of the New Age / UFO / Native American / Etc. with a grain of salt each.

RSM

[LMT4ME]

Not a lot of knowledge about Gunsite, but Prescott is a very interesting town. If you have time, the short trip north to Sedona is quite worthwhile. Just take a large bag of salt to deal with the need to take the ideas of the New Age / UFO / Native American / Etc. with a grain of salt each.

RSM

Friends live in Sedona and we spent 3-4 days a year ago last April. A great place and amazing scenery. You didn't mention the magic crystals.

[LMT4ME]

gschoelles, 9mmepiphany & fiddletown thanks for the feedback and I'm hearing a common theme: round quantity does not equal quality of instruction. Given the location & recommendations I'm strongly thinking of signing up for the Carbine 223. Any suggestions as to time of year - it's offered in Mar, May, & Sep next year. I'm thinking May might be good.

[fiddletown]

I'd go for May -- best chances for decent weather. But weather is funny in Prescott. Last time I was there in May, we had hail.

[G-Solutions]

I've been to Prescott to train with Suarez International (and hence can't comment on Gunsite). It's a great area and if I were by myself, i would likely consider relocating there. Friends of mine moved to Cottonwood recently, needless to say, there's a bit of jealousy here....

[BUSAChief]

Gunsite is Great

At Gunsite right now taking their 260 Shotgun class. (In my hotel room in Chino Valley typing this...)

260 Shotgun is my third class with Gunsite. Challenged into 350 Pistol as my first course, took 223 AR/Carbine as my second. (Proud to have earned E-tickets in both.)

The feeling you get driving through the Raven Gate for the first time onto Col. Cooper's crowning achievement is a life-memorable moment for most shooters.

And they have been around since 1976. As such, they have some of the most knowledgeable, experienced and talented instructors in the business. They have trained and still train SEALS, Delta, Force Recon, foreign teams, celebs, dignitaries, royalty, and responsible citizens from beginner to real experts. The facitilies are excellent, the Pro-Shop is well-stocked, and their on-site Gunsmith Corey Trapp is incredible. (Ted Yost is their former on-site 'smith.)

You can drive from CA in about 12-14 hours, or fly into Phoenix and rent a car. The drive from the Phoenix Airport is less than 2 hours through some really gorgeous high-desert scenery. The local towns of Prescott and Chino Valley have plenty of good places to stay and good restaurants.

I've had the opportunity to train with some great instructors at some great facilities over the years, but I keep coming back to Gunsite because they are one the best and the original. (Thunder Ranch and Frontsite pretty much teach the Gunsite/Cooper methodology. Both of their founders received a significant portion of their training and Instructor development at Gunsite. Not slamming either. Haven't been. Heard good about both.)

Gunsite, like Thunder Ranch, is not cheap. But you really do get what you pay for.