Old-Western Style Shooting with Colt S.A.A.?

[Crazyazn923]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum, and just started on shooting firearms. I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out.

Ever since I was a little kid, I was fascinated by western cowboy movies with how they did quick drawing on revolvers and did so many tricks with it, spinning them around and all...

I was wondering, is this just pure movie-goer stuff? Or are all of those stunts actually possible with a real revolver? If so, does anyone know where I could go learn how to do those? Thanks for your support!

 

[BigG]

It's pretty much movie-goer stuff. You can do some of the stunts but the fanning will put a gun out of action pronto, according to guys like Elmer Keith, who was an expert imho.

This book Triggernometry: A Gallery of Gunfighters gives a pretty good rundown on how the sixgun was handled by the real gunfighters. HTH

 

[Hutch]

Y'oughta check out the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). They don't permit such TV-show antics during the match, but they dress up, and a lot of 'em can really handle their shootin' irons. Cowboy action shooting is probably the most popular organized shooting sport in America.

Checkitout: http://www.sassnet.com/

 

[Old John]

S.A.S.S. spells fun.

Hi CrazyA & Y'all,

Yes, by all means check out S.A.S.S.
It is a really fun place to shoot. But, it is competetive.
They dress according to Historical characters or "B"westerns.
They use Single Action sixguns, pistol caliber carbines, and
shotguns to shoot scenarios, or "Stages".

There is NO TRICK shooting or Spinning revolvers.
The Attempt is made to keep it as authentic as possible.
But..........The FIRST Rule is Safety!

Check it out if you are up for the Shooting competition.
Yes they do shoot, for "Time" and Accuracy, on a timer.
Have Fun.........
Old John

 

[Father Knows Best]

Cowboy action shooting is the fastest growing shooting sport, but I don't think it's anywhere near the largest. Shotgun sports like trap are still far more popular overall.

Anyway, to answer the question -- that's all hollywood stuff. In the "real" Old West, a typical gunfight involved shooting someone in the back, probably while one or both people were drunk. It's fine if you want to learn to do that stuff, but understand that you're mimicking Hollywood, not history.

There are several organizations that sanction fast draw competitions. One uses black powder blanks and shoots at balloons (the embers and concussion from the blanks burst the balloons). The other uses wax bullets and steel targets. I don't remember the names right now, but they have "fast draw" in the name, or something like that. Clint Eastwood was a noted competitor in fast draw competitions back in the 50s and early 60s. Wins and losses are measured in hundredths or thousandths of a second. You can spend mucho dinero on a gun and leather (steel-lined, buscadero style holster) set up for fast draw competition. Note -- do NOT use an ummodified sixgun for fast draw. You will break the gun, or shoot yourself, or both.

As for gun spinning, that's an art form. You do it with replica guns that do not chamber or fire real ammo. There are videos out there that you can order, and start practicing in your own home.

Cowboy action shooting, as sanctioned by the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) or National Congress of Old West Shootists (NCOWS), is a sport something like IPSC/USPSA but with old west guns and costumes. "Fast draw" and gun spinning are specifically prohibited and will get you thrown out of a match pronto.

 

[Jim March]

There are gunsmiths who specially modify Rugers so that they can stand up to fanning, quickdraw and other such trickery.

Bob Munden has the best rep in that field as a gunsmith and ain't half bad as a shooter:

http://sixguns.com/range/munden.htm

http://www.bobmunden.com/option2.htm

You can usually find his videos at any decent gun show or better gun shop. Absolutely amazing stuff...he REALLY is that good.

 

[jacobtowne]

crazyA:
You might want to purchase a copy of Ed McGivern's Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting. It has been reprinted by New Win.
The man was a veritable gun turret with a DA revolver.
JT

 

[Crazyazn923]

Thanks for all of the information everyone. It really helped out a lot and corrected my misconceptions of western cowboy shooting.

I will look into everything that everyone has posted and I hope when I enter the range next time and start revolver shooting I keep in mind that movies are movies

 

[Harve Curry]

Those Colt SAA's balance and point so nice, and before that the '51 Navy models.
I don't know how we can be so sure that folks were'nt playing with them guns as we do now, maybe more so since they didn't have TV. They spin in your hand naturally. I'm not any good at it but some of my friends do it 2nd nature while galloping on horse back after a mounted shoot run down. Real stylish, but not with my Colt you don't.
Ed McGivern was born in the late 1800's and he learned alot from the old timers of his day.
Bat Masterson wrote of even using a 2 hand hold to take aim and shoot some guy. I read about once about a cavalry trooper who was awarded the MOH for saving some of his men with aimed two handed SAA shooting at Indians.