When I first got into shooting, (1980s), I read everything I could find of his ...
He seemed very wise and educated. I learned a lot from reading his stuff. I also began to realize that he was something of a pompous ass, and seemed incapable of even conceiving that his way might not always be "The One True Way".
It's OK. I learned a lot from him. For that I'm grateful.
I continue to learn a lot from others, as well.
Cooper was a little well a lot, overboard about the .45 auto. The fact that it was and still is a great gun helped.
He clearly was smart tho. He had one of the best comebacks I have ever seen when a CBS reporter asked him if violence doesn’t beget violence? Cooper’s reply was “I sure hope so”.
I do think he was capable of learning even if not admitting he was wrong. When I first started reading him, I think in the 60’s he used to say a hit with a .45 auto would stop a person 98% of the time. I later saw him call it 95%, then in his later years, I never saw him claim that again.
Yeah, but he was OUR pompous ass, and we love him;o)
His books still figure prominently on my Kindle, even if I do consider the 1911 to be a gloriously sublime anachronism.
To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth: could there be anything more quintessentially American?