Slip Hammering ? ? ? ? ?

[The Arapaho Kid]

I just received the latest issue (January 2005) of the SASS handbook.  There's been a few changes made.  In reading through it I came across (in the safety part) a short writeup about "fanning".  Ok...This is understand.  But there is something in there about "slip hammering".  That I don't understand.  Just what is that?  Is this something I should learn?  Is there any danger in this?  Can I benefit from learning how to do this?  Or is this one of those things that's SASS legal, but no one does it?

[Ozarks Ranger]

If you shoot traditionalist style and are right handed pistol pointed at target, trigger pulled, left thumb cocks pistol and slips off( Slip hammering) not dangerous as muzzle is pointed downrange and shooter has two hands on the pistol

Snake Eyes

[Camille Eonich]

Snake Eyes is telling you right.  With slip hammering your figger doesn't come off of the trigger.  The gun is fired by cocking and releasing the hammer.

Most of the top shooters will tell you that they don't do it.  It's difficult to maintain enough control over the gun to avoid misses. 

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[Book Miser]

Whether or not your accuracy is affected by slip-hammering depends on how much you practice.

Same is true for shooting duelist: how far your point of aim changes between rounds depends upon how much your hand moves when cocking. Which depends on the fit between your revolver and your hand, and PRACTICE.

FANNING would be difficult to do, except in a hip-shooting position. Have a look at the photos of Ed McGivern and you'll not see him fanning in an isoceles position.

[Arcey]

Really fought with myself over this 'n maybe I ought ta keep my mouth shut, but it's sincere.  Prolly gonna be sorry.

Kid, forget ya read anything about slip-hammerin'.  Work on the basics 'n get yer speed up, safely, while yer havin' fun.

..

[Camille Eonich]

Arcey I think that's excellent advice.  Slip hammering CAN really mess you up.

[Arcey]

Just hope it's took right, Cammy.

I'll use it dependin' on the target set 'n sequence.  But - last stage at Thunder in the Brush was just dumpin' two pistols on two targets.  A miss would have killed ya so I used the trigger 'n made sher I hit 'em each time.  Kindah embarrassin' when the RO sang out '9.38 - Clean' but that wuz a pile better'n seein' a 17.38 on the sheet if I'd ah shot quicker 'n missed a couple.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Ok...lemme see if I got this right.  Slip hammering is basically when you shoot with your off hand supporting the shooting hand...on other words a two handed grip?  You pull the trigger back, then you use your left thumb (for a right handed shooter) and you pull the hammer back, then release it and the gun fires?  Right?  I can see where this method would speed one up on a pistol stage.  I have done this in a match, but I didn't have the trigger pulled back.  I did the two handed grip, cocked the pistol with my left thumb, then pulled the trigger.  Nobody told me about pulling the trigger back before cocking!

But...now I shoot in Gunfighter class, so I won't be doing any slip hammering there, but I do thank you folks for the briefing on this.

[Camille Eonich]

Arcey, thing that I have seen happen to people is that they decided to try out slip hammering and then it gets to be habit and they forget how to actually squeeze the trigger when they need to.


Works the other way too.  We have a very fast shooter here that does nothing but slip hammer.  He wouldn't even shoot pistols in the team match at Star City because the targets were so small and you needed to be squeezin off shots.  It was the afternoon of the first day of the match and he didn't want to get hisself out of sync in the middle of the match.  

[The Arapaho Kid]

Really fought with myself over this 'n maybe I ought ta keep my mouth shut, but it's sincere.  Prolly gonna be sorry.

Kid, forget ya read anything about slip-hammerin'.  Work on the basics 'n get yer speed up, safely, while yer havin' fun.

..

I thank you, sir for your advice here.  You talk....I listen!

[Camille Eonich]

Good topic Arapaho. 

[Arcey]

Arcey, thing that I have seen happen to people is that they decided to try out slip hammering and then it gets to be habit and they forget how to actually squeeze the trigger when they need to.


Works the other way too.  We have a very fast shooter here that does nothing but slip hammer.  He wouldn't even shoot pistols in the team match at Star City because the targets were so small and you needed to be squeezin off shots.  It was the afternoon of the first day of the match and he didn't want to get hisself out of sync in the middle of the match.  

Darlin', I n'er wanna git that specialized.......  rather be a General Practitioner.



Kid, it wuz my pleasure.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Well now that I know what slip hammering is...I don't think I'll need to learn to do it properly because I shoot in Gunflinger....oooops!....Gunfighter Class now.  I chose Gunfighter because of the challenge of shooting with both hands.  I also figure that there are less people shooting in that class and maybe, just maybe in my next shoot there'll be a new guy shooting there and I might just be a little faster on the stages than he is?  Then I can get my backside off the bottom of the barrel!

At my last shoot in Colorado...I shot in Gunfighter and took first place.  My one, very brief moment of glory!  I was the only one shooting in that class, so first place was a shoe in! 

[Stump Water]

Truth be known, "Slip hammerin'" is when ya miss tha nail and bust yer thumb.

Profanity usually follows.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Truth be known, "Slip hammerin'" is when ya miss tha nail and bust yer thumb.

Profanity usually follows.

LOL!     

[Book Miser]

Arapaho, there's a pard called Walker Colt who shoots gunfighter, and he usually beats the backside off everyone else in the match. He is the current MD state champion.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Book:  Up until this past September I always shot Classic Cowboy, but at the shoot in Colorado I decided to shoot Gunfighter...just to try it out and see if I liked it.  Well....I took first in it, but then...I was the only one shooting in that class!  My one, very brief, moment of glory!     I liked shooting Gunfighter because of the challange of shooting with both hands and I will continue to shoot Gunfighter.  Being at that "ripe old age" I can shoot Senior Gunfighter.  Here again...less competition and the possibility of someone being slower than me.

[E.R.Beaumont]

Greetings and Salutations to one and all.

'Rap, Pard the other Pards/Pardettes have told you just about right.  It is a valid technique, but probably an advanced one.  If one has practiced, and is comfortable with the technique it can be deadly fast on big close dump targets.  However, it has more risk of a miss, or other fumble.

I am of the opinion that it can be one more tool in your kit.You may never use it as a shooting technique, but it is good to know how.  Yup if you shoot gunfighter you will never use it in a match.

Elmer Kieth discribes a different hold, and then tells about a real gunfighter he knew in his youth who won a gunfight with it.  I think it is in "Hell I Was There." But it might be "Six Guns"  It is a "Period Correct" way to do it, the old timers did it, I just don't know if it was the winners.

Just my two bits in the kitty.
Regards, Beaumont