Great thread, guys! I was 15 years old when Arvo Ojala launched the quick draw craze that would last at least ten years and spawn the reactive and starkly real competitive combat shooting science. My buddy and I used to hang out at our local gunsmith shop for an occasional drooling session over an original single action or c&b colt that might show up in his display case. On one magic afternoon during our summer break, Arvo showed up to collect a pair of single action Colts that Fred had timed. In a brilliant act of compassion for a pair of almost-comatose teenagers he offered to test Fred's work right on the spot and loaded up one of the shiny 4 3/4" Colts with a handful of 4-in-1 blanks. He extended his gunhand per the quick draw protocol and my buddy called it. The roar that came out of that Colt in the small enclosed shop was stunning. He turned to me and asked how many shots. I knew the report was, 'long', so I smiled and said, "Two". He grinned and knocked three empties out; then he thanked Fred and left. I always thought that my eyes were so big that he was too embarrassed to hang around. Yeah; movies count. From that day I have been in love with 4 3/4" SAs. Nowadays, though, my eyesight at 75 is only good for twenty five yard shooting with a pistol and a longer sight radius is useless. The shorter barrel fits my philosphy pretty well; if you can't knock it on its can at 50 yards, get a rifle.
