November 20, 2014, 12:30 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 20, 2009
Posts: 1,102
|
Ready!
I've read that Hickock drew his revolver already ready to shoot and even kill an opponent. That second or so it takes to decide to shoot was NOT with 'Ol Wild Bill! He was comitted before his trained muscles and nerves strted movement! There was NO other thought in mind.
It sounds easy but really stop and ask yourself "am I THAT ready?" Most likely the honest answer is NO! I know that I have to come to some way of thinking Wild Bill had. I'm an average guy with average worries of what will happen to me if I shoot? Shedding those worries off is the main detriment to shooting like Wild Bill! He didn't worry as the shot was already fired in his mind. The Bad guys have it, they don't care and are coming up firing at you. No regrets, no thoughts of what'll happen to them or their families future, just firing as fast as possible at you! There is no safety vest or protection for you, just commitment of purpose on YOUR part! I know this will take a lot of pratice and I'm working on it, I gotta live through this thing! ZVP |
November 20, 2014, 01:32 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 15, 2006
Posts: 402
|
On one of Wild Bill's most famous shoot outs, he got in a gun fight at fairly long range for a pistol, and from what I remember reading, just took his time, deliberately aiming and firing while being shot at, and killed his adversary with a single shot to the heart at, seems like it was something like 75yds or so. That was a rare occurrence.
However, I would think that most gun fights are won by whoever makes up there mind first to kill the other at the close ranges involved, and backs it up with accurate enough and fast enough shooting for the day, all while not getting killed in the process. Sounds simple doesn't it. |
November 20, 2014, 03:11 AM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2005
Location: USA The Great State of California
Posts: 2,090
|
Quote:
__________________
Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides. |
|
November 20, 2014, 08:18 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2008
Location: Ft.Worth, Texas
Posts: 1,522
|
It takes nerves of steel to aim a gun while under fire.
IMHO this was the secret not speed of hand and steel.
__________________
Texas - Not just a state but an attitude! For monthly shooting events in DFW visit http://www.meetup.com/TexasGunOwner-DFW |
November 20, 2014, 10:44 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 24, 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 393
|
Madmo44mag got it right !
|
November 20, 2014, 11:05 AM | #6 | ||||
Staff
Join Date: June 8, 2008
Posts: 4,022
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The best way to keep on living uninjured by a violent criminal act is to avoid, de-escalate, and/or escape. |
||||
November 20, 2014, 11:20 AM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Location: midwest
Posts: 4,209
|
Hickok also shot his deputy and the mental anguish associated with this effectively ended his law enforcement days.
__________________
rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6 Quote:
|
|
November 20, 2014, 11:20 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 8, 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,787
|
In the process of developing your mindset, you need to consider that both the legal system and social mores have changed considerably since Hickock's day.
|
November 20, 2014, 11:34 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 28, 2008
Posts: 10,442
|
That was his most famous shoot out, but there was another one that portrays him probably better.
It took place inside a saloon against multiple opponents. He was wounded in one hand/arm and continued until victorious with the other one.
__________________
Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” |
November 20, 2014, 11:42 AM | #10 | |
Staff
Join Date: November 23, 2005
Location: California - San Francisco
Posts: 9,471
|
Quote:
We're [mostly] private citizens in the 21st Century United States interested in defending ourselves and our families from criminal threats. And we need to understand not only how to protect ourselves and families from the physical consequences of unlawful, criminal violence. We need to also understand how to protect ourselves and our families from the potentially devastating consequences in the aftermath of our possibly unlawful misuse of force. We need to understand when we would not be legally justified in intentionally hurting or killing another human, and when the law would excuse our intentional act of extreme violence. We need to understand such matters well enough to be able to assess a rapidly unfolding situation and make a decision in an instant. And we must be mentally prepared to act on our decision immediately and skillfully. That's a tall order, but in the 21st Century United States that is our challenge. So let's take a look at the basic legal reality of the use of force in self defense.
__________________
"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper Last edited by Frank Ettin; November 20, 2014 at 12:14 PM. Reason: correct typo |
|
November 20, 2014, 01:26 PM | #11 |
Junior Member
Join Date: November 17, 2014
Posts: 6
|
Learn this line:
I didn't shoot to kill, I shot to live. |
November 20, 2014, 02:57 PM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: October 16, 2009
Posts: 64
|
I have often questioned the "nerves of steel" description of what is required in a life and death situation. I can think of 2 instances in my life that I could describe as life and death, one was a close-call vehicle accident that was narrowly avoided by my reactions and those of the other car. The second one was a dangerous situation that occured during a recreational activity [funny story now but under pain of divorce and genital mutilation I promised my wife I wouldn't speak of it]
Both instances required quick reaction with no time to analyze a situation and I distinctly remember the moments passing with clarity and a certain sureness in my actions (right, wrong or lucky). After the fact is a whole different story, I was a nervous wreck. I am curious to know if this is in anyway similar to what it's like when you find yourself in an armed self-defense scenario. |
November 23, 2014, 01:50 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2004
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,568
|
My worst encounter came in the military, . . . it followed the exact scenario I had figured it would, . . . if it occurred, . . .
I had a plan, . . . the plan worked, . . . I'm still alive, . . . I really do not believe in pure "luck", . . . but rather put my trust in the Lord to orchestrate things to my best advantage. Part of that is to be ready, able, proficient, learned, loaded, proper mind set, and a few other attributes that make following through much easier. May God bless, Dwight
__________________
www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran! |
November 24, 2014, 11:29 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2008
Posts: 2,199
|
If you draw down on someone in a public place, it is generally advisable to only do so if you are ready to use lethal force to defend yourself or others. Depending on your location, some places require some high standards to legally threaten the use of deadly force (and pointing a loaded gun at someone certainly fits that definition!) I won't attempt to speak to all situations, but the idea of "if you draw a gun, be justified in using it" seems broadly applicable. (That said, if your drawing of said gun results in the bad guy stopping immediately, you are no longer justified to shoot them!)
|
November 24, 2014, 12:19 PM | #15 | |
Staff
Join Date: June 8, 2008
Posts: 4,022
|
Posted by raimius:
Quote:
|
|
November 24, 2014, 12:21 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 7, 2014
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 543
|
The will to use violence , its not a bad thing if for a good cause like protecting the inocent . Some have it and know when to use it some don't , some develope it when faced with the need to make that decision . Despite what some will say punching holes in papper will help . When stressed you tend to fall back on training .
|
November 24, 2014, 01:46 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2004
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,568
|
Raimius said: (That said, if your drawing of said gun results in the bad guy stopping immediately, you are no longer justified to shoot them!)
If it would make any difference, . . . I would say you were 1000% correct, . . . and I do totally agree with you. I just don't see many cases where the perp could relay different intentions prior to a 1.4 second "sweep/draw/fire" motion. I truly hope it never gets to that situation, . . . May God bless, Dwight
__________________
www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran! |
November 25, 2014, 04:02 AM | #18 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2008
Posts: 2,199
|
Indeed, it can be hard for the other party to react and you to process that before you are on target and squeezing the trigger. One would hope the jury/grand jury/DA/police would find your reaction and brain power under stress to be that of a "reasonable person."
I've seen people shoot plenty of "no shoot" targets under much less stress. Mistakes happen. We are not as aware as we would like. Reaction times are longer than we sometimes think. I've definitely shot paper targets that had a badge at the waistline. (obscured from my vantage) I've also flipped off the safety and had my finger on the trigger before registering that a paper target was a "no shoot." 4lbs of pressure away from sending a round into what would be a good guy's chest if it had been real...that was a bit humbling! My takeaway is that you need to be as sure as humanly possible that you are shooting the right target and for the right reasons. The world is an uncertain and sometimes unpredictable place, so train right and use the best judgement you have! Quote:
Personally, if I'm not ready to kill someone, I don't want to point a gun at them. Drawing to a ready position isn't necessarily pointing at them. "Never muzzle anything you are not willing to destroy." (I realize that certain situations can be resolved by threatening force, and in some situations it may work and be justified morally and legally.) Last edited by raimius; November 25, 2014 at 04:15 AM. |
|
|
|