Gunsite Celebrates Cooper's 100th Birthday With 1911 Memorial Shoot

by
posted on March 1, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
jeff-cooper-1911-memorial-shoot-gunsite-academy-final.jpg
Gunsite Academy founder Col. Jeff Cooper would have turned 100 years old in May 2020, along with his wife, Janelle, who passed away last year at the age of 99. To honor and celebrate the memory of the couple, Gunsite will host a one-day match called the Jeff Cooper Memorial Shoot. The match will be held on May 24, 2020.

In keeping with the event's title character, the shoot will be a retro-style match that incorporates several of Col. Cooper's old courses of fire. The match will not exceed 100 shooters, and the final 16 shooters will participate in a shoot-off in the famous "J Ladder" course of fire.

Fitting for an event that honors the memory of Col. Cooper, the only style of gun allowed for use in the competition is a single-stack 1911 chambered in .45 ACP. No revolvers, DA/SA semi-automatics, striker-fired guns are allowed, and extended single-stack magazines are not allowed either, and no race holsters or slide-mounted optics will be permitted. This is a classic, retro shoot performed with Cooper's favorite semi-automatic handgun structured as Saint John Moses Browning intended.

Awards will be presented to those who place in the event, and a special retro-style T-shirt is provided to each participant. Lunch is provided as well. A separate contest will be judged based on the best "BBQ" rig of a gun-holster combination. Participants can bring any gun or holster outfitted with custom stocks or grips. Winners are judged solely on looks alone.

For more information on the Jeff Cooper Memorial Shoot, stay tuned to the Gunsite Academy web and social-media pages. Some of the proceeds gathered from the shoot will benefit the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation. Registration for the event is now open, and interested individuals can sign up at gunsite.com.




Latest

Guns Ai F
Guns Ai F

Does AI Pose a Threat to the 2nd Amendment?

Several recent studies highlighted AI's propensity to dispense anti-Second Amendment propaganda, and more alarmingly, AI also seems willing to sacrifice human lives to avoid being taken offline.

I Have This Old Gun: Winchester 1886 Saddle-Ring Carbine

As our country was celebrating its centennial 150 years ago, Oliver Winchester dominated the lever-action market with his Models 1866 and 1873 and was just introducing the Model 1876.

First Look: Gunsmoke Arsenal Tactical Cigar Protection

Looking for a smoke after smoking some targets? The Tactical Cigar Protection case from Gunsmoke Arsenal keeps your stogie secured until you're ready to relax.

Making a Match-Ready M1 Garand

For decades, fans of the M1 Garand have gone to Camp Perry to shoot the John C. Garand match, a test of their shooting skills and rifles. Here, one M1 Garand enthusiast prepares his rifle and ammo for the shoot.

Will the USPS Allow Handguns to Be Mailed?

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on April 2, 2026, published a proposed rule that would permit the mailing of lawful handguns through the U.S. mail for the first time in nearly a century.

The Trijicon AccuPoint 1-8x24 mm: A Flexible Optic for Dangerous Game Hunting

Trijicon is probably best known for its military and law-enforcement optics, but the company is also serious about its commercial line of riflescopes designed for hunting.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.