It’s no secret Gunsite Academy is celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year. In October, it’s holding a 50th Anniversary Alumni Shoot to celebrate five decades of training excellence, tradition and community. Enthusiasts are encouraged register for the gathering, which will take place at the famed facility’s 3,200-acre site in Paulden, Ariz.
Founded in 1976 by Jeff Cooper, Gunsite Academy has trained generations of responsible armed citizens, law enforcement professionals and military personnel in the principles of marksmanship, gun handling and mindset. The 50th Anniversary Alumni Shoot honors that legacy and looks ahead to the next era of training and performance.
The event will feature a dynamic shooting match experience designed specifically for Gunsite alumni, interactive vendor exhibitions, community gatherings and commemorative activities. Participants will have the opportunity to reconnect with fellow graduates, revisit the principles of the Gunsite doctrine, and test their skills in a challenging and celebratory environment.
Additional Highlights include:
- Shooting stages designed to test application of foundational skills
- Vendor row featuring industry partners and supporting manufacturers
- Community social events and commemorative anniversary programming
- Special recognition moments honoring Gunsite’s instructors, legacy and founding principles
For 50 years, Gunsite has been defined by its graduates. The Alumni Shoot is an opportunity to bring that community back together, celebrate what has been built, and continue pushing forward in skill, knowledge, and responsibility.
Gunsite History
Col. Jeff Cooper—the father of handgun shooting’s “modern technique”—established what would become Gunsite Academy in 1976. It was a modest 162 acres at the time.
In the early 1990s, he sold the school, and the new owner quickly modified training. Cooper was not content with the changes and disassociated himself from the facility.
His concern that training quality was no longer acceptable was reflected in a significant drop in enrollment. Student volume declined, then maintenance piled onto the problems.
In 1999, Buz Mills purchased Gunsite Academy and returned it to Cooper’s original doctrine. The father of the “modern technique,” who died in 2006, returned to teaching. Combined with Mills’ business savvy, attendance grew, operations expanded and it is now widely recognized as one of the premier firearm-training schools on the planet.
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