Posted on 12/23/2019 7:26:58 AM PST by w1n1
In his own words, Wyatt is going to explain how he became one of the most feared and accurate gunslingers… even if he was about the slowest.
The most important lesson I learned from those proficient gunfighters was the winner of a gun play usually was the man who took his time. The second was that, if I hoped to live long on the frontier, I would shun flashy trick-shooting—grandstand play—as I would poison.
I was a fair hand with pistol, rifle, or shotgun, but I learned more about gunfighting from Tom Speer’s cronies during the summer of '71 than I had dreamed was in the book. Those old-timers took their gunplay seriously, which was natural under the conditions in which they lived. Shooting, to them, was considerably more than aiming at a mark and pulling a trigger.
Models of weapons, methods of wearing them, means of getting them into action and operating them, all to the one end of combining high speed with absolute accuracy, contributed to the frontiersman’s shooting skill.
The sought-after degree of proficiency was that which could turn to most effective account the split-second between life and death. Hours upon hours of practice, and wide experience in actualities supported their arguments over style. Read the rest of gunfight OK Corral.
He killed Curly Bill with a shotgun during his "vengeance ride" but used a handgun at the OK corral.
Wyatt survived all of his brothers, was never wounded, and died in his bed.
He was doin’ something right...
> getting into your opponents head is what won gunfights. That split second of indecision would cost you your life <
I’ve read that a common tactic was to hold something like a small rock in your non-drawing hand. Then just before you drew, you simply dropped the rock. That would distract your opponent just long enough.
Fast is fine but accuracy is final.
He had a gunfight with his sweetheart??? Bet she deserved it...
Wyatt Earp was never shot in all his days in law enforcement...
Wyatt Earp always plagiarized writings, pimped a blog, and spammed them on FreeRepublic.
Wait. No, that was you.
Yeah, he generally did everything he could to avoid gunfights. His preferred method was to buffalo someone (hit them over the head with the barrel of his gun) at the first sign of trouble. That's why he lived as long as he did. The OK corral and the vengeance ride were the only instances of Earp gunning to kill someone. And Curly Bill is the only one he took credit for actually killing himself.
I read an article many years ago by a 99 year old member of the 6th Cavalry who was stationed outside Tombstone and actually knew many of the characters.
He did not care for Wyatt Earp, considered him a pimp. Thought Doc Holliday was an insane killer tho a good dentist.
Rule #2, bring ammunition. 2a. Have some already in the gun. Rule 2b, Have your friends also bring and load ammunition.
Kid song - “Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp, he ate too much baloney and cheese.”
“He was still alive when it was over?”
Died in Los Angeles 1929
Interesting post. Thanks.
With a 1/2 ounce of lead, first.
“Wyatt is going to explain how he became one of the most feared and accurate gunslingers… even if he was about the slowest.”
Clearing leather with his 12” barrel Buntline Special took time. Drawing it took both hands & tended to distract his opponent.
As a kid I was appalled when I saw a photo of the real Wyatt Earp. “But, but...Hugh O’Brian is clean shaven!”
Can shot damage the rifling?
That was Good,
Thanks!
.
The Dukes
“The Big Trail”
Is My Favorite!
His friend Bat Masterson was the better gun fighter.
He knew most of the old west gunman and wrote magazine articles about many of them.
He said that Ben Thompson was the best and also said kind words about Wyatt and Luke Short. He didn’t think much of Doc Holiday.
He witnessed the Luke Short Vs Charlie Storms gunfight as well as the Luke Short Ben Thompson gunfight.
Most say no but shooing shot out of a rifled shotgun barrel creates a circular pattern ("ring around the rosey") and inhibits short range accuracy. However a rifled barrel definitely increases the range and accuracy when shooting slugs.
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