45 Colt, Some Wax Bullets, Shotgun Primers and a Pinch of Black Powder

Bryan Austin · January 14, 2012, 04:08:48 PM

edited

Steel Horse Bailey · January 16, 2012, 10:39:09 AM

Bryan Austin · January 20, 2012, 08:54:25 PM

here is some more. Wax bullets and an aluminum target. Safest place for the camera is in the bull's eye!

Steel Horse Bailey · January 21, 2012, 04:21:58 AM

Howdy, S.J.!

I once saw a TV special about a famous old lawman/writer/gun shooting showman. His name: Bill Jordan. What I remember was that like you, he was shooting wax bullets at a target with clear plexiglass protecting the lens. The round lens WAS his round target. For his first shot he drew fast and hit ... almost dead center, and at a VERY fast draw sspeed. (He was noted for his skill using a S&W revolver, as I recall.) For his next shot, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a roll of Lifesavers candy. He explained that he loved them and always carried some ... but he didn't much care for the orange ones. So, he picked out an orange one, licked it and stuck it on the clear plexiglass, right in the center. He then drew his pistol and hit (and shattered) the Lifesaver but using about HALF the time of his first draw. It was impressive! He then (after cleaning off the target so you could see clearly) explained that since he was such a lover of Lifesavers, he had contacted the company personally, explained who he was (being already VERY famous) and asked them the same thing he asked the "Viewers," via the camera.

"Did ya ever wonder what happens to the center they cut out when making the Lifesavers candy?"

He then explained that he had wondered about that, too and the company had shipped him a whole lot of Lifesavers center pieces, so he then picked one out of a full bag, (another orange one I might add) licked it, and stuck it on the clear lens covering. NOW, this target is smaller than a typical aspirin tablet. He is standing about 7 to 10 feet from the target, then - with lightning speed, he draws - shoots - and HITS his target! WOW!!!

Of course, 'thru the magic of TV, they show it at several angles on replay, including with a timer ticking away, so you, the viewer, can see his speed. I don't remember the exact time, but it was phenomenally fast - far less than a second, I'm sure!

Savvy Jack, your video reminds me of that program. I'm pretty sure his time was faster than yours, but he had MANY more years of practice than you, and you're gettin' closer with every practice session! Good on ya, pard!

Thanks for posting!

Bryan Austin · January 21, 2012, 06:25:05 AM

lol, thanks Steel Horse but I doubt it will get any better for me! I gotta take it easy with the revolvers I have so I don't break them. I could start trying the targets at 7-10 feet away instead of 21. My wax bullets start pulling curve balls outside so maybe I should get closer. I use the white ones instead of the red ones. I forget the manufacture name for the ones I have.

I would like to see that video, never heard of it before.

Steel Horse Bailey · January 21, 2012, 06:59:23 AM

Jack, I wish I could remember the details of the video. I saw it at least 7 or 8 years ago, on a PBS station. He was probably in his 60s or maybe older when it was filmed. He was still faster than 99.9% of us then, even as a Senior Citizen!

Sorry! A mind is a terrible thing to ... lose.

Here's a quick read about him courtesy of Wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Jordan_%28Marine%29

Bryan Austin · January 21, 2012, 04:21:54 PM

I made another one with a tad bit of a blooper.

Slow is slow but I am having a blast.

Slowhand Bob · January 22, 2012, 07:38:50 AM

Someone actually has some .45cal/12ga wax shooting supplies for sale over on the SASS Classifieds this morning, listed as enuff fer a 10-10-4 stage setup. Looked like four of the plastic 12 ga wax shooter shells and a box of the 4in1 hulls with a couple of bags of commercial wax bullets.

Bryan Austin · January 22, 2012, 08:24:36 AM

Quote from: Slowhand Bob on January 22, 2012, 07:38:50 AM
Someone actually has some .45cal/12ga wax shooting supplies for sale over on the SASS Classifieds this morning, listed as enuff fer a 10-10-4 stage setup. Looked like four of the plastic 12 ga wax shooter shells and a box of the 4in1 hulls with a couple of bags of commercial wax bullets.

already sold, thanks though

Forty Rod · January 22, 2012, 10:53:21 AM

I saw Bill Jordan shoot when I was a kid. He was very tall and so smooth that he didn't LOOK fast. The timer showed how wrong that impression was.

He did one trick where he had an "opponent" who held a cocked pistol and was told to pull the trigger when he saw Jordan start to draw. The opponent averaged getting his shot off about the time Jordan's third shot hit the target. He could beat the drop and kill you before you could shoot.

joec · January 22, 2012, 11:23:59 AM

Quote from: Forty Rod on January 22, 2012, 10:53:21 AM
I saw Bill Jordan shoot when I was a kid. He was very tall and so smooth that he didn't LOOK fast. The timer showed how wrong that impression was.

He did one trick where he had an "opponent" who held a cocked pistol and was told to pull the trigger when he saw Jordan start to draw. The opponent averaged getting his shot off about the time Jordan's third shot hit the target. He could beat the drop and kill you before you could shoot.

I actually got interested in quick draw as a kid because of the same thing as you mentioned seeing. I got hooked up with the Gator Gunfighters in the 60's due to a Fair where they was one of the attractions. It was the same thing, gave you a double action pistol loaded with blanks and they had single action guns in a holster. The start to move you fire. I spent about $6 trying to beat them before giving up and getting hooked on learning it. I spent about a year with them and it had a lot to me getting interested today in it though not so much fast draw since I'm in NCOWS now.

Slowhand Bob · January 22, 2012, 12:36:50 PM

Some many years back I read something by one of the then famous gun writer/ super shooters who done this same deal as part of his performance, Gaylord, Jordan, Keith, etc and so on, just not sure which/who but they called it a trick. Even a good shooter who has been instructed to put his brain on lock, even with gun in hand, will lose to the super fast draw individual who starts his draw as the go signal for the other. Our fast draw restraints (SASS) can cause or best to lose a half second or more to the 'Fast Draw' competition champions and that half second can mean ones shot is over before the other has laid finger to trigger.

Bryan Austin · January 22, 2012, 01:33:23 PM

Quote from: Slowhand Bob on January 22, 2012, 12:36:50 PM
Some many years back I read something by one of the then famous gun writer/ super shooters who done this same deal as part of his performance, Gaylord, Jordan, Keith, etc and so on, just not sure which/who but they called it a trick. Even a good shooter who has been instructed to put his brain on lock, even with gun in hand, will lose to the super fast draw individual who starts his draw as the go signal for the other. Our fast draw restraints (SASS) can cause or best to lose a half second or more to the 'Fast Draw' competition champions and that half second can mean ones shot is over before the other has laid finger to trigger.

Watch this;
Bob Graham 4 time World Fast Draw Champion was on the show called I've Got A Secret in 1966.

Forty Rod · January 22, 2012, 02:14:51 PM

Dee Woolems, Thell Reed Jr. Rodd Redwing, Chick Gaylord, Bill Jordan, and Sammy Davis Jr. were all fast draw guys when I got interested. I never saw Sammy draw but met him while an extra on Sergeants Three.

I was never fast, but I used to be very accurate with a rifle and shotgun, and moderately capable with most hand-guns.

I likely would have been famous as a back-shooter.

Bryan Austin · January 22, 2012, 03:04:25 PM

Quote from: Forty Rod on January 22, 2012, 02:14:51 PM
Dee Woolems, Thell Reed Jr. Rodd Redwing, Chick Gaylord, Bill Jordan, and Sammy Davis Jr. were all fast draw guys when I got interested. I never saw Sammy draw but met him while an extra on Sergeants Three.

I was never fast, but I used to be very accurate with a rifle and shotgun, and moderately capable with most hand-guns.

I likely would have been famous as a back-shooter.

joec · January 22, 2012, 04:08:06 PM

Quote from: Slowhand Bob on January 22, 2012, 12:36:50 PM
Some many years back I read something by one of the then famous gun writer/ super shooters who done this same deal as part of his performance, Gaylord, Jordan, Keith, etc and so on, just not sure which/who but they called it a trick. Even a good shooter who has been instructed to put his brain on lock, even with gun in hand, will lose to the super fast draw individual who starts his draw as the go signal for the other. Our fast draw restraints (SASS) can cause or best to lose a half second or more to the 'Fast Draw' competition champions and that half second can mean ones shot is over before the other has laid finger to trigger.

You are correct on that, hence we don't tail gate in cars on the highway. It amounts to reaction time which is the time it takes for our eyes to see it and the mind to react to it. Some are faster than others but the trick is rarely beaten when attempted.