Gunfighter shooting style

Wildcat Will · December 14, 2005, 05:43:03 PM

I have been shooting gunfighter 'bout a year and half ta maybe two years. I love it and cannot see shooting any other style. I am wondering what y'all think about why it is that gunfighter is the only style of shooting that can only be shot in its own category. Seems to me you should be able to shoot gunfighter style in any age category or in frontier cartridge. I forgot to mention I shoot gunfighter with some good BP 45 loads. I would like to be able to register and shoot in any category I feel like but SASS rules won't let me. What do y'all think?

Camille Eonich · December 14, 2005, 05:54:58 PM

Hey Will! Had fun shooting with you at Lost River. You may soon get your wish as far as being able to shoot gunfighter in any two handed category. B-Western has just become and official category and you can shoot gunfighter in it.

I personally think that there are three shooting styles and that it should remain that way. Two Handed, one handed and gunfighter. I don't like the idea of someone who is signed up in traditional all of a sudden deciding that the stage is gunfighter friendly and shooting it that way. It would be just fine if everybody were as accomplished as you are at shooting gunfighter but I think that it may lead someone who has not ever tried shooting gunfighter to break down in a match and give it a try for the first time. A match is not any place for someone who has never tried shooting gunfighter before to start. That's just my opinion though.

Wildcat Will · December 14, 2005, 06:25:30 PM

I agree it takes a bit of practice to work two pistols. I do not agree I do it very well....but I sure do have fun. I just think if I want to enter the frontier cartridge cat. I should be allowed to shoot it as a gunfighter. After all if you enter any of the age categories, 49er, senior or elderstatesman you can shoot either traditional or duelist. Why not gunfigher? I agree with you completely Camille that once to declare your category you need to shoot the whole match that way.

Marshal Will Wingam · December 14, 2005, 08:52:15 PM

You could always shoot double duelist in other categories. You just couldn't pull them out together.

Silver_Rings · December 15, 2005, 11:54:24 AM

Will, to answer your original question, when Gunfighter was first suggested a lot of people were against it as being too dangerous.

There were all kinds of perdictions of people shooting themself or dropping guns and such. After all everyone knew people just could not be capable of having a gun in each hand at the same time.

So it was deemed that there had to be a special category to put these potentaly dangerous people in.

That's us gunfighters.

Now that some time has gone by and the ranges are not running red with blood, we may be able to shoot gunfighter style in other categories also.

SR

Marshal Will Wingam · December 15, 2005, 03:21:43 PM

I may have to try that some day. I've switched back to shooting double duelist again and that's a short hop to gunfighter.

Wildcat Will · December 15, 2005, 05:07:00 PM

Silver Rings I hope you are right!

I would enjoy being able to shoot in categories that my pards are in. I am sure alot of people would wonder why the big deal. After all I can still see where I stand in comparison to my shootin' pards. I just would like to be able to join them in their category.

Marshall Will you should give it a try.

The skill jump really is a bit more than you might think. However, the thrill jump is HUGE

Marshal Will Wingam · December 15, 2005, 05:17:14 PM

Quote from: Wildcat Will on December 15, 2005, 05:07:00 PM
Silver Rings I hope you are right! ::)Marshall Will you should give it a try. The skill jump really is a bit more than you might think. However, the thrill jump is HUGE

I intent to give it a whirl, but after I get most provicient at DD. I still find myself aiming with both eyes but it's still a conscious decision which image to take. Usually, it's the one with the front sight in it. When that becomes natural, I'll start practicing pulling both and slowly alternating the pistol work. With that working the way I like, I'll start shooting for real and let the speed come from actual practice.

Camille Eonich · December 15, 2005, 05:20:58 PM

Marshal Will, does all that mean that you are p p p prac....practicin'?

Wildcat Will · December 15, 2005, 05:32:48 PM

Marshall I thought practice is what you do at the matches.

Marshal Will Wingam · December 15, 2005, 09:02:50 PM

Quote from: Camille Eonich on December 15, 2005, 05:20:58 PMMarshal Will, does all that mean that you are p p p prac....practicin'?

LOL, that's like a 4-letter word, huh? Actually I practice something new 5 minutes a day for a week to develop some muscle memory before trying it with live ammo. Keeps from punching holes in things unintentionally.

Yeah, WW, that's what the matches are all about but hopefully in a safe manner.

Silver_Rings · December 16, 2005, 12:32:30 PM

Now folks don't go pickin on the Marshall for tryin to better himself.

SR

Camille Eonich · December 16, 2005, 01:37:00 PM

Quote from: Silver_Rings on December 16, 2005, 12:32:30 PM
Now folks don't go pickin on the Marshall for tryin to better himself.

SR

Me? I wouldn't pick on nobody!

Marshal Will Wingam · December 16, 2005, 05:34:23 PM

Quote from: Camille Eonich on December 16, 2005, 01:37:00 PMMe? I wouldn't pick on nobody!

Uh-huh.

Wildcat Will · December 16, 2005, 06:19:24 PM

As long as the lead is going down range and ya got a smile on your face

it's all good!!!!

Fannie Kikinshoot · December 18, 2005, 11:54:39 PM

Wildcat, I understand your desire to shoot gunfighter in another category. At my home range we can shoot BP gunfighter as long as we sign up that way and shoot GF the entire match. I shoot GF now and I really enjoy it. I have shot BP GF on 2 occasions and it was great! Actually, the first match that I ever shot clean as a gunfighter was the Southeastern Regional Black Powder Championship at Mule Camp last year. I was the only Lady Gunfighter in the BP match...there were other gunfighters, but I was the only lady GF.
Check with your local club and see if they have a problem with you shooting BP GF....local matches can run things a little differently from the "big" matches. At our local club, if you have shot GF for a while, they don't have a problem with it if you want to shoot BP GF!!
Have Fun!!!

Dick Dastardly · December 27, 2005, 08:14:22 PM

The Allmighty saw fit to give me two hands, two eyes and a two sided brain. So, for me the natural way to shoot is with a gun in each hand. Yup, it takes extra concentration and attention to detail to stay safe. It also offers some interesting mental challenges.

Just cuz I never knew any better, I've always shot the same. Warthog BP loads in my 44 Mag 7.5" RVs and Browning 92s and strong square loads in my scatterguns. Some over a year after I started shootn' SASS matches I learned that I was supposed to have a years experience at main match shootn' before I even tried Gunfighter. Whups, here I was a year early and still grinnin'.

When I pull my irons I have a very clear plan of engagement. Some are actually a real joy to improvise. I especially enjoy a two man stage where we shoot hunt 'n cover. They're quick and demand keen attention.

I'd be less happy if I had to shoot any other style. . .

DD-DLoS

Marvin Hughes · December 28, 2005, 05:20:20 PM

I have a question about Gunfighter

When the Gunfighter category first began, the shooter would pull both guns and alternate shots, right and left handed. I've heard that has now changed, and while you still pull both guns, the shooter no longer has to alternate shots, but can shoot all shots from one gun, then the other. Did I hear this correctly? And isn't this basically a "double duelist?"

Thanks.

Marvin Hughes
Marshal of Three-mile Creek

Silver_Rings · December 29, 2005, 09:33:50 AM

Marvin, you heard correct, as of last year (I think) the rules changed to allow a gunfighter to shoot his pistols in any order he wants. The only requirement is that the pistols must be drawn at the same time if the stage allows this.

Double duelist can only draw one pistol at a time.

SR

LazyK Pejay · December 29, 2005, 10:53:53 AM

Hey all,

While shooting my Cattleman this week I thought about trying "gunfighter" draws. To be honest getting used to carrying a SAA with no real saftey still makes me a bit cautious. Riding around on the ranch with (5) rounds and the hammer on empty was fine. However, the thought of dropping it after a quick draw (real laugh here) on my second shot with a live one, made me think things over. Time will tell when I start shooting at the local SASS events this Spring. I hope ya'll had a great Christmas!

LazyK Pejay