Running the Single Action Army in a USPSA Style Fun Match (vid)

[Malamute]

Holding the thumb up (just far enough away to not obscure the sights) is better when you're running fast at short range. The position pictured above would be better for finer work.

Thats exactly how I do it.

I pull my thumbs down farther than you in your pictures, but otherwise similar basic concepts.

Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

I am not sure I understand the difference.

Thanks!

Not Craig,...but

If taking more time, I pull the left hand thumb farther down onto the firing hand thumb. If shooting faster and a bit less deliberate, just leaving it sort of hanging out standing up ready to cock the next round involves less movement. I think my brain just does it as a matter of expediency when shooting faster.

 

[CraigC]

Yep. In the pic above, I'm pressing my thumb against the recoil shield. A technique I learned from somebody a lot better than I am. Were I running it fast, up close, my thumb would be basically sticking straight up. Just far enough to the side to stay out of the line of sight. So all I have to do is flick it down to cock the hammer. Make sense?

Other than that, the rest of my grip is the same. It's always the same. I never alter my grip for different guns (except no pinky under for long grip frames like the Bisley or 1860) or a different "course of fire". Whether it's a .22LR or a .500, I grip them the same. Consistency is key.

 

[the Black Spot]

You might try this on your reloading:
Last shot fired, tip gun so loading gate is up, use left thumb to open gate.
Right thumb put gun in half cock.
Put right pointer finger on cylinder flute(to me they are not just for weight reduction). The pointer is used to turn cylinder.
Hold gun across your chest like you are pointing it at your left shoulder.
Use your left thumb and pointer finger to push out the empties(pushing down toward your right hip). Use right pointer to rotate cylinder.
Once emty,Now put gun so loading gate is up, take shell(s) in left hand and load, using right pointer to rotate cylinder.

Hope this makes sense. This way gun never leaves gunhand(if right handed).

 

[Red Cent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaYqd9Pjlg

 

[Red Cent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Sy3-KKrqc

 

[g.willikers]

You're definitely on to something.
At a club where I used to participate in USPSA matches, we'd do stuff like that, just to add some spice to life.
Like we'd form squads where everyone would shoot one handed, or use effective cover.
Made an otherwise ordinary match very interested and challenging.
Oddball guns, not usually used, would fit right in.
Bet there are others who would happily join you in a sixgun squad if you asked.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

You're definitely on to something.
At a club where I used to participate in USPSA matches, we'd do stuff like that, just to add some spice to life.
Like we'd form squads where everyone would shoot one handed, or use effective cover.
Made an otherwise ordinary match very interested and challenging.
Oddball guns, not usually used, would fit right in.
Bet there are others who would happily join you in a sixgun squad if you asked.

Yes, that could be fun! at an IDPA match not too long ago, some friends and I decided to do nothing but headshots for fun. It was a fun change.

I wonder if I could overrun an ICORE match with SAA's. That could be pretty cool.

I really like he Reload on the clock idea.

Thats pretty fun and challenging.

 

[dvnv]

Fun video, thanks for posting.

Regarding reloading:

One can also index the cylinder with the heel of the left hand after each ejector stroke. Not sure it would be as fast as indexing with the right index finger as per the Black Spot, but it can be done pretty fast. For sure tip the barrel upright.

Are there magazines that you could modify to hold six 45 colts? That could save lots of time.

I think with enough practice, someone could get ok times with a single action.

 

[RMc]

You mentioned how hot your sixgun became with smokeless factory ammo.

Should you choose to go 19th century and use Black Powder cartridges, that single action may well get too hot to handle after the first reload.