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I have found in recent years people have found it fashionable to attack or degrade the teachings of Jeff Cooper and the organization that Gunsite was and has become. As someone who trained at Gunsite in the 90s, and has since trained with many other trainers and organizations (a few now defunct), I have found that their training even in its oldest form can be considered quite relevant. The reason why is that is taught people to shoot quickly and accurately from the holster. Their course graduates could get hits quickly and in the end it doesn’t matter as much how they looked doing it and what they were doing it with.

I was actually taught the weaver stance and took all my classes with a Colt 70 Series 1911 that Ted Yost worked over while he was still in their shop. I later was politely teased while at Blackwater in the early 2000’s about my stance and choice of carry, that is until I beat everyone in a king of the hill type competition. Then they didn’t mention my gun or style after that. They made fun of my choice of shoes though.

I don’t carry a 45 ACP 1911 in a strong side leather holster anymore. I carry 9mm Px4 Compact Carry in a kydex appendix holster. I don’t shoot modified weaver anymore, but I don’t shoot a true isosceles stance either. I shoot something in between that works with how my body has aged overtime. The overall lessons I learned in my first five days at Gunsite though have lasted the test of time.

I think that many people who question things like compressed surprise break as a method of explaining trigger press may be missing out on how Col Cooper explained things and would benefit from watching him talk through it. Is it the only way to explain pressing the trigger, no. But it is a way that might help someone who is completely uninitiated understand the importance of avoiding recoil anticipation and flinching.

Gunsite had the need and the ability to take the uninitiated and in 5 days make them a rather competent shooter. In addition they encouraged shooters to go home and practice both live and dry so that they could continue to build on the foundation they developed.

People do not realize that he was in his 70s when the Glocks really hit the scene. Light weight concealed carry was not really that reliable and you were wearing a boat anchor on your hip one way of the other. Cops were still carrying revolvers. In addition people do not realize that many of the modifications they hold so dear come from ideas he pushed or postulated. Now a days you can walk into almost any gunshop or big box sporting goods store and find a reliable service pistol with a good trigger. They can find self defense ammo that elite units would have been jealous of back in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

It’s a brave new world out there and a lot of that has to do with Cooper and Gunsite.

I appreciate your research into this and that someone is telling this story.

I recently discovered your blog and look forward to reading it more often.

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Thanks for sharing these thoughts. In my post tomorrow I address the issue of “mindset.” Will be interested to know what you think!

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