AfterSHOT: Chronicle – Gunsite40 Evolution of Shooting (Part 1)

Competitive shooters are better than tactical shooters. No, wait. Tactical shooters are more realistic than competitors. No, wait. Up close, hand to hand trumps all. No wait….

The debates about which defensive discipline is superior have been going on since monkeys first grabbed clubs and rocks. Our guess is that there was a Primate and Secondary forum scrawled on cave walls that addressed each respective group (including one for best practices in throwing poop).

The way that the industry is moving, we are beginning to see ever more blurred lines. The distinction between the three areas becomes increasingly vague as shooters search for a more well rounded approach to skill building. Most folks take it upon themselves to attend classes where they feel they are deficient and struggle to find cross-training type classes mainly because they are just not offered anywhere.

Gunsite, widely regarded as “the place that started it all” when it comes to high end defensive instruction, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and it is setting out to create the ultimate instructional class for anyone looking to rocket their skills into the stratosphere.

From April 10-15, 2016, Gunsite is hosting the “Evolution of Shooting” – a 5 day masterclass taught by – get ready – Rob Leatham, Chief Chris White, and Steve Tarani. Yes, you read that right: three of the most skilled and lethal men on the planet will be teaching side by side over the course of five days to establish “the convergence of the worlds of tactical shooting, competition shooting and non-ballistic weapons.” Say what?! It's like the Justice League gathering in Arizona.

Leatham-Tarani-White-Gunsite

To call a training event like this unique would be to damn it with faint praise.

If you haven't heard of these men, clearly you don't train as hard as you should. Leatham is a 26 time USPSA National Champion. Tarani is a former CIA non-ballistics weapons expert (blades, impact, and flexible weapons). US Navy SEAL Chief White has served on three separate SEAL Teams and will focus on combative carbine skills. Each individual will present several hours of instructional blocks each day, all intertwining to develop the student into a faster shooter, better marksman, critical thinker, and fighter. The focus will be on distances from “bad breath range out to 200 yards.”

Steve Tarani (left), Rob Leatham (center), Chief Chris White (right)

With sponsors like 5.11, Devil Dog Arms, Aimpoint, and Safariland (and no doubt more to come), this concierge level event will send you home with what could possibly be the greatest swag bag ever assembled…but that will hardly be the main takeaway. Not with a knowledge dump like this in the offing.

The learning process won't be limited to instruction on the range. Evening events will include briefings from such heavyweights as former U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Dr. Steve Bucci and reactive shooting expert Bill Rogers (whose name should need no explanation here).

With just 40 slots available, we are sure this class will fill up incredibly fast. For more information, you can check out Gunsite40.com or BixPros.com for all of the details and to watch multiple videos for a taste of what's to come.

In Part 2 of this Chronicle, we will hear from each instructor individually and get their perspectives on what it means to train in all disciplines simultaneously. Stay tuned!

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  What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.
Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc.
View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show right here.
2016 SHOT Show
January 18 — Media on the Range (numerous shooting facilities in and around Las Vegas)
January 19–22, 2016
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours:
Tuesday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 22 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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