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

2026 Golden Bullseye Awards
2026 Golden Bullseye Awards

Best of the Best: American Rifleman's 2026 Golden Bullseye Award Winners

From firearms to accessories to optics to ammo and suppressors, we’ve determined these to be the stand-out products from the last year, providing firearm enthusiasts with innovation, value, utility and performance.

Review: Diamondback 9 mm SDR

Folks might be a bit surprised that Diamondback would choose 9 mm as the second caliber for its SDR revolver, but a closer look reveals why 9 mm is a solid caliber option for the platform.

Port Authority Doubles Down on Constitution-Free Zone with High-Profile Arrest

There exists a zone within the New York City metropolitan area where law-abiding gun owners are not just imperiled but specifically targeted for exercising their rights. It is an outrage that has continued for far too long.

Wilson Combat Acquires Guncrafter Industries

Wilson Combat has acquired the Guncrafter Industries brand and assets, uniting two of America’s foremost custom firearm manufacturers.

Bill Bachenberg Unanimously Reelected NRA President; Doug Hamlin Unanimously Reelected as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO In Houston

Today, the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), unanimously reelected Bill Bachenberg of Pennsylvania as President of the NRA, and Doug Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO.

Heirloom Accuracy: The Springfield Armory Garrison Target

Springfield Armory expanded its "heirloom-quality" line of Garrison 1911s with an all-new target model chambered in either 9 mm or .45 ACP.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.