How to Win a Gunfight

Follow these six steps and you’ll soon be a crack shot with a six-shooter

By Ken Amorosano

It was a skill—even a trade—that went by many names: gunslinging, throwing lead, leather slapping, gunplay, makin’ the town smoky. By whatever name, in its Old West heyday it was a high-stakes affair that could make a man a legend or cause him to lose everything in a fraction of a second. As a sport practiced by the likes of Cowboy Action Shooters and other devotees today, gunslinging is markedly less lethal, yet the fundamentals remain the same.

The lingering image of the fast-draw, shoot-from-the-hip gunslinger is a misleading one. For old-time shootists, it was about speed, but only secondarily. As the legendary Wyatt Earp is quoted as saying, the key to winning a gunfight is to “take your time... in a hurry!” As Earp quoted his old friend Jack Gallagher, “the gunfanner and hip-shooter stood small chance to live against a man who took his time and pulled the trigger once.”

A modern-day traditional gunfighter will use two hands on his six-gun and train his eye through the rear sight notch at the back of the pistol, lining that notch up with the front sight blade so that the two points are in a direct line with the center of his target. In today’s Cowboy Action Shooting scenarios, there are categories called Gunfighter and Duelist in which the shooter uses only one hand to balance and aim his pistol, but even so he will still train his eye down the barrel and through the sights, if only to bang steel targets while being timed.

Guns & Knives

“take your time... in a hurry!”

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The "fast draw" is a

nighthawksh — Fri, 2010-04-23 07:13

The "fast draw" is a Hollywood invention. Some of those old timers were quick to pull a pistol and get it into action, but noting like the "quick-draw" artist of today. For one thing they did not have the quality of equipment; holsters and revolvers. For another, they were facing a lethal situation. There is a whole lot of difference between shooting at a target and shooting at someone shooting back.

This is the same as the discussion about carrying a concealed weapon. If you ain't ready to take a life, leave the guns at home.

Gunfights

Ron65 — Thu, 2010-04-22 19:32

I would do everything possible to avoid a gunfight. If push comes to shove, pulling a weapon is a split second decision. It's certain to end up badly, for one or the other, or both. In the heat of the moment, unless a shooter has developed muscle memory through training and practice, you might freeze up. When pulling your weapon you are going to place as many rounds as needed center of mass. If you are not ready to use deadly force, you're going to get yourself shot.

Gunfighting is not romantic, it's serious business. I would not carry a firearm unless it was legal and permitted. Good for us, about 38 states have "shall issue" laws and some states permit open carry, loaded.
Best thing you can do is remain aware of where you are, what's going on around you, and to recognize threats to you and those with you.

Agree with Ron on GUNFIGHTS

South Texas Cowboy — Fri, 2010-04-23 00:28

Sometimes, one can believe everything around them seems normal and that no danger can come their way. Then as your eating a Sunday brunch at a local cafeteria, a truck comes flying through the glass windows and I guy jumps out wheeling a gun killing 24 people. This only happens in the movies....right?

Well, it happen in Killeen, Texas Oct 1991. A witness Suzanna Gratia Hupp was there. She wish the gun she left in her car was allowed in her purse. She now lobby's about Gun Control. Her New Book Now Available "From Luby’s to the Legislature, One Woman’s Fight Against Gun Control". speaks about what she witness and why she is for concealment of guns. She became a Congress-woman and got the Texas concealed handgun law past when George W. Bush was Texas governor....but the is the only thing he did as Governor.....

Stats show, the more guns in the hands of people, the greater the risk of hand gun crimes. However, there are equal debates for the pro's and the con's. I have mixed feelings on this subject. I love guns, but know half the guns on the streets need to be off the streets. Guns made by several companies are nothing more than cheap, use once throw down guns. Tec-9 pistol, such junk. But it sells and looks cool. I think I'll keep my AR-15 along with and array of other guns I have.

Many bills for gun control want to go after the assault rifle. Most gun crimes are from pistols. Class 3 weapons makes up less than 1% of all gun crimes in the USA....maybe we should all have class III weapons. I really do not want more guns on the streets, However, the criminal will build a zip gun if they can't find a hand gun. No guns, well then I need a good baseball bat.

Bottom line, most of us truly do not need a gun. However, we do have that right in our constitution and my comprehension is not just guns, but the same type our military has....likely the concealed hand gun laws have enabled others to stop some criminals. Furthermore, normal people in rage do very abnormal things too. That creates my mix feelings. I don't trust the judgments of others because sometimes we see only one image which makes us react and that reaction must be correct because center mass is fatal....most people who own guns have no clue about the field of fire, range of fire....and even in the military, one of the greatest dangers is friendly fire. Nothing seems friendly if your being shot at.

If any recall history, most western towns controlled guns. No pistols worn inside city limits be it Dodge City, Abilene or one of the many other frontier towns with Saloons, Cowboys, and Whiskey. Nevertheless, the gun also tamed the west....so once more, we have the pro's and con's. There is no wrong answer on either side and I'll still have my guns....but I don't think I'd run my mouth and state that quote from a bumper sticker that says, "They can have my guns when they pry them from my fingers".

Roger Edison

http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/

Guns

Tex Expatriate — Thu, 2010-05-13 10:27

The more guns in the hands of honest people, the lower the gun crime rate. The definitive studies on handguns are those by John Lott, PhD economist. In every case where concealed carry has passed, handgun crime has dropped.

'Guns'

Sonora Rebel — Tue, 2010-09-14 14:38

'Guns'

I got a gun… ‘more ‘n one
‘Can’t hardly have too many
Yet there’s still some folks around
Who don’t have one… or any

I reckon if they had their way
We’d all be left defenseless
With all the crime that’s goin’ around
That kind’a thinkin’s senseless

These politicians jump on this
As if they know what it’s about
“We don’t need guns out in our streets”
Is mostly, what they shout

It’s the actions of the criminals
Guns are pretty much inert
Somebody’s gotta point ‘em
‘Pull them triggers, ‘fore they’ll hurt

Then they’ll jump on the aesthetics
‘Bout how some of these guns look
Especially them with pistol grips
‘Round which yer thumb can hook

‘Never heard of egonomics
Or the progress of the tools
All such stuff’s ‘assault guns’
In the jargon of these fools

It’s plain ol’ hoplophobia
The fear of any gun
They know nuthin’ about ‘em
A clue, they don’t have one

They think we’ll all be safer
If none of us are armed
When anyone defends themselves
These morons get alarmed

Worst of all these anti’s
Is that moonbat Sarah Brady
Beyond all rhyme or reason
Somethin’s wrong with that ol’ lady

If all the guns are outlawed
Only outlaws will have guns
I reckon’ I’m no outlaw yet
But that’ll damn sure make me one

‘Til then I’ll have my pistol
There holstered on my hip
I will not be a victim
‘Cause of some gun-grabbers snit

There in my gun locker
My silent weapons stand
Sure, I’ll give ’em up alright
When they’re pulled from my dead hand

We have the Right to self defense
Free men don’t need permission
The Constitution spells it out
Defendin' THAT's my mission

The same who'll holler 'civil rights'
Would gladly, take that right away
They've done that many places now
No matter what the 'people' say

D.C., Maryland, Illinois
New Jersey, New York state
Hawaii, Minnesota
'n California ain't that great

'Reckon that the people there
Live with these lies disguised as law
Infringing on an actual Right
Or denying it at all

Even when in courts of law
This tyranny is tested
They'll maintain the same ol' quid pro quo
They all should be arrested

They think that taking all our guns
Will be a fine solution
The final cure for all of that
Is the Second 'Revolution'

I reckon that's a comer
Altho I dunno when
To kick these neo-commies out
'n take our country back again

Lining up the sights... Weaver stance 'n all that will get you killed in a self defense situation. You must learn instinctive point-shooting. You may not be nail drivin' accurate... but several shots in quick succession to center-of-mass will defeat most threats. Shootin' paper 'n shootin' people is a whole 'nuther thing.

A round downrange cannot be recalled.