The 7th Annual A Girl & A Gun (AG&AG) National Conference Impact 2019, recently took place in the beautiful Texas Hill Country at the Reveille Peak Ranch from April 11 through April 14, 2019.
Sponsored by CZ-USA Field Sports
Facilitators arrived a few days early for their specific training sessions. On the 10th, members began arriving and had the opportunity to attend 6 early-bird lectures. For those wanting to add a bit of a thrill to the event, Heligunner offered helicopter aerial gunner sessions.
On Thursday, numerous vendors set up in the pavilion’s retail village and in the shooting bays for range demos. Here, the attendees had opportunities to shoot various guns, get their hands on other gear and even buy some goodies to take home.
In my bay, I showcased the CZ-USA P-10 polymer striker fired guns. Available in 3 sizes, there is at least one (or more) to fit everyone’s needs. The P-10 C (compact), P-10 F (full-size) and P-10 S (subcompact) are all chambered in 9mm.
On the other end of the ranch, the rest of the CZ-USA team gave the ladies opportunities to shoot a collection of CZ shotguns with Aguila ammunition. Let’s just say, by the end of the day, with tons of hulls on the ground, it appeared that the shooters had experience and no doubt, success.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday consisted of morning and afternoon training sessions. AG&AG members (450 in all) registered for their classes months in advance. The event sold out (again) this year.
I ran 2 different classes throughout the weekend, “Becoming a Gunslinger” and “Get Your Hits.” In both classes, I stressed the importance of learning and applying the fundamentals of shooting. While the ladies performed drills, I made adjustments to their grips and trigger presses. This allowed them to control their shot placements and learn what it felt like to make good shots. I also got a few to acknowledge they were peaking, causing low shots and how to fix it. By the conclusion of each session, many of the ladies knew exactly what they needed to do to correct their errors and make better shots.
David Miller, the Shotgun Product Manager and Pro-Shooter for CZ-USA, taught a class, “Smack Down on Clays, from a Duck Blind.” For this session, he simulated a fun day in the duck blind with multi-target presentations. He even had special color clays to represent hens (which you don’t want to shoot.) The ladies learned about patterning shot shells, as well as discussed chokes and shot sizes.
Craig McMichael, another member of CZ-USA Pro Staff, taught the class, “Crush’n Clays.” In it, Craig presented techniques needed to consistently crush clay targets. From gun handling skills and safety, to target preparations and creating a game plan, he covered it all.
The third instructor for shotgun skills was John Francis, also a CZ-USA Pro Staff member. He taught “Upland Wing Shooting” to help build confidence in the field. In his class the ladies learned gun fit, body and foot position, balance, point of aim, timing and more.
Throughout the weekend, more than 50 instructors taught a group of women who were eager to learn and understand. Attendees went to classes on the topics of pistol, rifle, shotgun, first aid, non-lethal self-defense, low light, improvised weapons and more. They arrived with a willingness to learn and left with a wealth of knowledge.
Next year, AG&AG National Conference Elevate 2020 will take place in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex from April 30 through May 4. Mark your calendar now. Registration begins at Midnight ET on 9/1/19.
Visit A Girl & A Gun here.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
