Back home in rural north GA, there’s a mom and pop convenience store. It closed down years ago. I remember when I was a young boy, my dad who was a cop, would take me there on one of his few days off. He’d buy me a Coca Cola in a glass bottle and I’d sit on a stool at the bar, while the old man’s wife would feed me biscuits and gravy. Dad would talk with some of the local older gentlemen that would come to the store and bs for an hour or two. Blacksmiths, farmers, truck drivers, cops, etc. would all come and just chat. I paid attention to all their stories. I swell up with pride thinking about those days. Andy reminds me of those older guys that would give their two cents to a younger generation and tell the grandest stories ever. Thanks for the video, the great stories, and the fond memories Mr. Yeager.
Man I love listening to Andy talk. Very grateful I had the pleasure to meet him and talk a little bit. Thank you James for bringing this to us all. I can't wait to see what Andy puts out.
Andy Stanford should talk to Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. Clint Smith was also a student and aStaff Instructor at Gunsite I think in the 1980's another great legend in the firearms world. I'm sure Clint Smith has some great stories about Jeff Cooper and Gunsite.
If it wasn't for Tom Acre's name being misspelled and a new certificate being printed for him, I would have the very last Surgical Speed Shooting certificate that Andy ever signed.
I’m about to head to the range to shoot a couple hundred rounds and practice reloads now because of this video. I start hearing about it and I get the itch. James is no doubt a legend as much as he probably doesn’t like hearing it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take a class from Andy & James so maybe that means a little bit of Jeff Cooper? Either way I enjoyed both classes immensely and would love to get to Gunsight on day. Thanks for the conversation. Loved it. 🇺🇸
I met Andy at SOF in Vegas in 1993, I trained with Andy in 95 at China Lake. I wondered what happened to him, its like he dropped off the earth. Good to see he's still alive an kicking, at least as of 2020.
@@TacticalResponseCrew Tell him the two Army Rangers that he taught in Ridgecrest CA in July 1995 wearing full kit to include helmets and body armor say hello.
@@TacticalResponseCrew PS-Andy was the first training I had ever been through that wasn’t Military or Law Enforcement. It was a real moment of revelation for me that there were instructors out there who weren’t on an Army Base or Police Academy.
@@TacticalResponseCrew PSS-what sticks out in my mind most from this training is not any specific technique, but a mindset. At the end of the training, we were hanging around the range, and Andy wanted to show us a 20 ga. Remington 1100 he had built for his wife, I guess ex-wife now. This was before anybody was making “tactical” pattern shotguns in 20 ga., and the gun was a “work in progress”. Andy engaged a “Dossier Drill” steel target array with the 20 ga. and had a stoppage after 2-3 rounds. He quite smoothly transitioned to his 1911, and fired off two more rounds…slidelock. He very smoothly executed an emergency reload…except the mag in his pouch was empty, he discarded that mag and pulled out another, also empty. this was taking place at the end of training and he hadn’t topped off his mags yet. Andy then charged down range and butt-stroked the remaining targets using the 20 ga. Rem 1100 as a club. This always stuck with me as a perfect example of proper combat mindset on the training range.
I would like to go there, but cannot afford it. If they had not purchased all the surrounding land in that county, maybe the "tuition" would not be so high.
Jeff Cooper DID NOT found Gunsight, he had nothing to do with it, he founded the American Pistol Institution, of which I am a graduate. Gunsight did away with everything Jeff Cooper ever taught and became a joke of place.
Halfway correct. Cooper founded The American Pistol Institute at Gunsite Ranch (my 3 certificates signed by Cooper are from API, though they also say "Gunsite"), which was bought by Rich Jee and renamed Gunsite Training Center, then sold to Buz Mills and renamed Gunsite Academy. I also don't think it is accurate to say that either Jee or Mills "did away with everything Jeff Cooper ever taught." And while some Cooper loyalists have nothing good to say about Rich Jee's time at the helm (Jee banned Cooper from the ranges), I would not characterize the school as "a joke of a place" at any time in its history. Your mileage may vary.
Back home in rural north GA, there’s a mom and pop convenience store. It closed down years ago. I remember when I was a young boy, my dad who was a cop, would take me there on one of his few days off. He’d buy me a Coca Cola in a glass bottle and I’d sit on a stool at the bar, while the old man’s wife would feed me biscuits and gravy. Dad would talk with some of the local older gentlemen that would come to the store and bs for an hour or two. Blacksmiths, farmers, truck drivers, cops, etc. would all come and just chat. I paid attention to all their stories. I swell up with pride thinking about those days. Andy reminds me of those older guys that would give their two cents to a younger generation and tell the grandest stories ever. Thanks for the video, the great stories, and the fond memories Mr. Yeager.
Man I love listening to Andy talk. Very grateful I had the pleasure to meet him and talk a little bit. Thank you James for bringing this to us all. I can't wait to see what Andy puts out.
Andy Stanford should talk to Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. Clint Smith was also a student and aStaff Instructor at Gunsite I think in the 1980's another great legend in the firearms world. I'm sure Clint Smith has some great stories about Jeff Cooper and Gunsite.
Great video James.
If it wasn't for Tom Acre's name being misspelled and a new certificate being printed for him, I would have the very last Surgical Speed Shooting certificate that Andy ever signed.
Thanks for posting this. Please give my regards to Andy.
Thanks for this James! Could you please put up your interview with Ken Hackathorn, been trying to meet him for years
Its a podcast you can hear on Spotify or Itunes.
I’m about to head to the range to shoot a couple hundred rounds and practice reloads now because of this video. I start hearing about it and I get the itch. James is no doubt a legend as much as he probably doesn’t like hearing it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take a class from Andy & James so maybe that means a little bit of Jeff Cooper? Either way I enjoyed both classes immensely and would love to get to Gunsight on day. Thanks for the conversation. Loved it. 🇺🇸
And I’ve sang to Gringo Pistolero!
I met Andy at SOF in Vegas in 1993, I trained with Andy in 95 at China Lake. I wondered what happened to him, its like he dropped off the earth. Good to see he's still alive an kicking, at least as of 2020.
I will be having dinner with him Friday evening.
@@TacticalResponseCrew Tell him the two Army Rangers that he taught in Ridgecrest CA in July 1995 wearing full kit to include helmets and body armor say hello.
@@TacticalResponseCrew PS-Andy was the first training I had ever been through that wasn’t Military or Law Enforcement. It was a real moment of revelation for me that there were instructors out there who weren’t on an Army Base or Police Academy.
@@TacticalResponseCrew PSS-what sticks out in my mind most from this training is not any specific technique, but a mindset. At the end of the training, we were hanging around the range, and Andy wanted to show us a 20 ga. Remington 1100 he had built for his wife, I guess ex-wife now. This was before anybody was making “tactical” pattern shotguns in 20 ga., and the gun was a “work in progress”. Andy engaged a “Dossier Drill” steel target array with the 20 ga. and had a stoppage after 2-3 rounds. He quite smoothly transitioned to his 1911, and fired off two more rounds…slidelock. He very smoothly executed an emergency reload…except the mag in his pouch was empty, he discarded that mag and pulled out another, also empty. this was taking place at the end of training and he hadn’t topped off his mags yet. Andy then charged down range and butt-stroked the remaining targets using the 20 ga. Rem 1100 as a club. This always stuck with me as a perfect example of proper combat mindset on the training range.
This video was wholesome AF.
Wow that was humbling. Couldn’t imagine having the pleasure of being there for that.
Oh.. yeah... Thanks for the video too!!!
OPS throwback! Nice!
I have not seen Andy in 8 or 9 years I would not have recognised him.
I would like to go there, but cannot afford it. If they had not purchased all the surrounding land in that county, maybe the "tuition" would not be so high.
Two of the greats in Camelot.
Nice info bro
Wow, to think Andy, Gunsight, and the other og instructors he mentioned are like less than 2 hours away from where I am.
I live about 2 mile as the crow flies from gunsight!
I’ve taken a class from Andy at James’ Tennessee location.😎
Yes indeed!
James do you drive to all these classes?
Yes
Well if it isn't the return of the Gringo Pistolero! Chico Cana is running for the hills. 🔫
Jeff Cooper DID NOT found Gunsight, he had nothing to do with it, he founded the American Pistol Institution, of which I am a graduate. Gunsight did away with everything Jeff Cooper ever taught and became a joke of place.
Halfway correct. Cooper founded The American Pistol Institute at Gunsite Ranch (my 3 certificates signed by Cooper are from API, though they also say "Gunsite"), which was bought by Rich Jee and renamed Gunsite Training Center, then sold to Buz Mills and renamed Gunsite Academy.
I also don't think it is accurate to say that either Jee or Mills "did away with everything Jeff Cooper ever taught." And while some Cooper loyalists have nothing good to say about Rich Jee's time at the helm (Jee banned Cooper from the ranges), I would not characterize the school as "a joke of a place" at any time in its history. Your mileage may vary.
@@AndyStanfordOPS That's interesting, the Certificate I received in '86 doesn't say "Gunsight" anywhere on it.
@@dalecrummie5818 Certificates from 1991 and 1992. (Pause video at 25:45). Must've changed since you got yours.
Dale - You are wrong.