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  • Texas1911

    TGT Addict
    May 29, 2017
    10,596
    46
    Austin, TX
    Why isn't fanning allowed? The guys I work with that do Cowboy Action say they don't allow it.

    Doesn't seem dangerous, but I suppose there's a rule for a reason.
    DK Firearms
     

    Bullseye Shooter

    Active Member
    Apr 28, 2008
    510
    1
    Texas Panhandle
    It works real well in the movies, but not real life. I tried it with a single action that was specifically designed for fanning (longer hammer, etc.) and it is not accurate and it's hard to control where the gun will be when it goes off. The gun was modified for use in one of those western reinactment shows and was never meant for live ammo, just blanks.
     

    Texas1911

    TGT Addict
    May 29, 2017
    10,596
    46
    Austin, TX
    It works real well in the movies, but not real life. I tried it with a single action that was specifically designed for fanning (longer hammer, etc.) and it is not accurate and it's hard to control where the gun will be when it goes off. The gun was modified for use in one of those western reinactment shows and was never meant for live ammo, just blanks.

    Ah ok, so basically it's worthless and just a waste of ammo. It seems like it'd be fun to do at least once.
     

    Bullseye Shooter

    Active Member
    Apr 28, 2008
    510
    1
    Texas Panhandle
    I was watching a documentary on Hollywood movies and as the story goes, fanning started in the movies in the late 1940s to make gunfights more exciting since all the kids were watching war movies with machine guns, etc. No "Real West" pistolero ever fanned his revolver to shoot something. The earliest movie I remember watching where someone fanned a single action was in My Darling Clementine where Ward Bond guns down Walter Brennan at the end. And then there's the corral scene in Shane where he's showing Brandon DeWilde how to shoot. Of course, there may be earlier examples.
     

    Texas1911

    TGT Addict
    May 29, 2017
    10,596
    46
    Austin, TX
    I see, I've shot a SAA pattern pistol and it wasn't the most accurate gun in the world in my hands. I had a hard time with the trench sight and I'm not used to shooting revolvers in general. Recoil was non-existant, it was like shooting a .25 Auto (Cowboy reloads).

    I can see how people get into it. I also shot his .38-55 lever gun which also was pretty light recoiling. Accuracy wasn't too bad either.
     

    Roscoe

    Active Member
    Apr 27, 2009
    436
    46
    Magnolia
    Ed McGivern a professional exhibition shooter in the early 20th century was probably the best (or at least the best known) pistol fanner ever. In his book "Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting" he had photos of several groups he had fired while fanning a Colt single action. McGivern performed his shooting in front of large crowds. Elmer Keith also wrote about pistol fanning. He claimed it wasn't an accurate way to fire a single-action revolver, but added the caveat that McGivern was an expert at fanning. I guess in a crowded room where you had no friends it was a quick way of emptying your revolver - any hit would be a good one.
     

    MadMo44Mag

    TGT Addict
    Jan 23, 2009
    3,053
    21
    Ft.Worth
    I spent a weekend once with a Ruger trying to teach myself how to fan just for the cool factor.
    I have to say first it's not accurate,and very unsafe as rounds go everywhere but where you think you are aiming and secondly its hell on the hand.
    I'm sure if you had a hammer made and down loaded the ammo and spent countless hours practicing that you would get fairly good at it, but I don't see the cool factor out weighing the expense.
     

    Roscoe

    Active Member
    Apr 27, 2009
    436
    46
    Magnolia
    That and trying to fan that Ruger hammer is like rubbing you hand against a rasp. Easy to lose a couple layers of skin.
     

    Oso

    New Member
    Aug 15, 2009
    3
    1
    Arlington
    So there's your answer. In Cowboy Action Shooting (Especially operating under the Single Action Shooting Society's rules) SAFETY is rule #1. Fanning is NOT safe. Therefore it is not allowed.

    If, while competing in a CAS match under SASS rules, you drop an UNloaded gun, or, in the course of fire, an UNloaded gun "sweeps" (or points at) someone, you get a SDQ (Stage Disqualification).

    If any of the above happen with a LOADED gun, you get a MATCH DQ.

    Heck, if there is an empty hull left in a shotgun at the end of your string, or an empty shell on the carrier of your rifle, you get a 10 second penalty.

    Those are just a few examples of how seriously CAS & SASS take safety.

    I hope this helps.

    Best Wishes!
    Oso
     

    Fisherman777

    Well-Known
    Jan 15, 2009
    1,211
    31
    45R
    I remember fanning my Super Blackhawk 44 mag in 1980. I have a permanent scar on the edge of my left palm from the rear sight. Not smart with a hot loaded 44 mag. LOL
     

    Texas42

    TGT Addict
    Nov 21, 2008
    4,752
    66
    Texas
    So there's your answer. In Cowboy Action Shooting (Especially operating under the Single Action Shooting Society's rules) SAFETY is rule #1. Fanning is NOT safe. Therefore it is not allowed.

    If, while competing in a CAS match under SASS rules, you drop an UNloaded gun, or, in the course of fire, an UNloaded gun "sweeps" (or points at) someone, you get a SDQ (Stage Disqualification).

    If any of the above happen with a LOADED gun, you get a MATCH DQ.

    Heck, if there is an empty hull left in a shotgun at the end of your string, or an empty shell on the carrier of your rifle, you get a 10 second penalty.

    Those are just a few examples of how seriously CAS & SASS take safety.

    I hope this helps.

    Best Wishes!
    Oso


    Interesting, how they differentiate between a loaded gun and an unloaded gun.

    I wouldn't.
     

    TexasRedneck

    1911 Nut
    Lifetime Member
    Jan 23, 2009
    14,560
    96
    New Braunfels, TX
    Well now....an ol' man taught me some stuff many, many moons ago that made fanning into a different perspective. He even had some little things he taught me that made it interestingly accurate out to about 5-7 yards. Like he told me - "generally, you don't want to shoot this way, but if you're ever up against more than one man, you may not have a choice if you want to live!" He was a retired Sheriff of the old school (this was back in the late 60's, and he was in his 70's by then) who'd been involved in his share of "SHTF" stuff, including run-ins w/smugglers.
    As to the skin abrasions.....gloves will fix that. A good trigger job and proper technique will go a long way in diminishing the effect of the physical forces involved in the fanning tending to move the gun. IF you can find a range that'll let you do it (you'll likely have better luck w/doing it on private property), use an old sheet to allow you to better judge your impact points. Mark your desired impact points, stand back an start practicing. It CAN be done - but you gotta practice and know some of the "tricks" involved. None of 'em are all that special - most you'll pick up as you practice and evaluate what's happening.
     

    Dcav

    TGT Addict
    Oct 31, 2009
    3,461
    21
    Converse
    Soon as I saw this post first thing I thought of was Bob Munden. Can't recall the name of the show, but there was a shooting program he used to make regular trick shots on, he used to quick draw, empty the six shooter by fanning, and reholstering it in a second or too. Did some card cutting and aerial shots too. Damn wish I could remember the show, the white guy wih the mustache was the host. I know he is still in the guiness book of world records for fastest shot. Anyone else remember him?
     

    Fisherman777

    Well-Known
    Jan 15, 2009
    1,211
    31
    45R
    Soon as I saw this post first thing I thought of was Bob Munden. Can't recall the name of the show, but there was a shooting program he used to make regular trick shots on, he used to quick draw, empty the six shooter by fanning, and reholstering it in a second or too. Did some card cutting and aerial shots too. Damn wish I could remember the show, the white guy wih the mustache was the host. I know he is still in the guiness book of world records for fastest shot. Anyone else remember him?

    Bob Munden is something else for sure. He's also a heck of a gunsmith. Check out his website. [url]http://www.bobmunden.com[/URL]
     

    Big country

    TGT Addict
    Mar 6, 2009
    4,318
    21
    Cedar Park,TX
    Soon as I saw this post first thing I thought of was Bob Munden. Can't recall the name of the show, but there was a shooting program he used to make regular trick shots on, he used to quick draw, empty the six shooter by fanning, and reholstering it in a second or too. Did some card cutting and aerial shots too. Damn wish I could remember the show, the white guy wih the mustache was the host. I know he is still in the guiness book of world records for fastest shot. Anyone else remember him?
    Isn't that the guy that would use an ole Henry 22 to shoot silhouette's of people into pieces of tin like a drawing? Before my time for sure but if that's him I've seen some film.
     

    TexasRedneck

    1911 Nut
    Lifetime Member
    Jan 23, 2009
    14,560
    96
    New Braunfels, TX
    That would've been Adolph "Ad" Toepperwein. I honestly don't recall the gun he used, but if you google him, I'm sure you'll find a lot of info about him. One of his "Indian Head" sillouettes can be found at Nagle's gun shop - old man Nagle was a contemporary of Ad, as were my grandparents. I vaguely remember him from some of the gatherings I attended at his place w/my grandfather - those were some crusty ol' men that could shoot! His wife was likely on par w/him - but she passed before I was born. My grandmother had many fond memories of the two of them, though - said she was a lady, but she could put down a target in a heartbeat!
     

    Dcav

    TGT Addict
    Oct 31, 2009
    3,461
    21
    Converse
    Man whatever the show was called I remember Bob Munden, and Byron Ferguson (the archery guy) doing those crazy trick shots. Nostalgia.
     
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