shoot first?

[singlestacksig]

BBC News - Today - The gunfighter's dilemma

Imagine the scene - you're standing in the deserted street of a ramshackle wild west town, Colt 45 strapped to your thigh, the music of Ennio Morricone floating on the air.

Somewhere off to the right a shutter bangs in the wind. Tumbleweed skitters by. Up ahead a grim-faced man dressed all in black (if it's a poncho you're in real trouble) stands ready to draw his six-shooter.

What happens next will decide whether you live or die. Should you go for your gun, or wait for him to make the first move?


Dr Andrew Welchman explains the laboratory gunfight
We all know Hollywood's answer: In the movies the hero always waits for the man in the black hat to move first, securing the moral high ground, before beating him with superior quick-fire skills.

But in the real world, logic dictates that the gunslinger who draws first has a clear advantage. In a duel to the death, where every second counts, a head start should make all the difference.

If only everything in life was so simple. New research from the University of Birmingham suggests the best strategy may actually be to wait for the other guy to make his move

 

[billyboyr6]

Make first draw. I think he who makes first draw will be left standing. call me a coward but i couldnt take that chance that i was indeed a faster shot. nice theread

 

[RelicHound]

I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets. but there are records of those duels you hear of "take 10 paces turn and shoot" but none of that quick draw stuff. I think the show was called "cowboy tech" or something like that

 

[evansvillethompsongunner]

I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets. but there are records of those duels you hear of "take 10 paces turn and shoot" but none of that quick draw stuff. I think the show was called "cowboy tech" or something like that

Hm. Interesting.

 

[RelicHound]

I guess alot of it is hollywood BS...but then again this article basically says

The Straight Dope: Did Western gunfighters really face off one-on-one?
sorry...I know this wasnt the point of the thread,Ill go away now

 

[Joe Williams]

I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets. but there are records of those duels you hear of "take 10 paces turn and shoot" but none of that quick draw stuff. I think the show was called "cowboy tech" or something like that

I think the OK Corral was pretty much a "classic" Western gun fight.

BTW... anybody know how long that fight lasted, start to finish?

 

[RelicHound]

I think the OK Corral was pretty much a "classic" Western gun fight.

BTW... anybody know how long that fight lasted, start to finish?

yep..Im sure there where quit a few shoot outs..but Im talking about the ones you see in the movies..2 guys standing 10' from each other ready for a battle of speed.

as far as long the fight at the OK corral lasted..I don think it lasted very long..maybe a couple of minutes?

 

[Scutter01]

Han shot first. Worked out pretty well for him.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkccifPmrk]YouTube - Han Shot First[/ame]

 

[RelicHound]

Han shot first. Worked out pretty well for him.

nu uh!!!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2PNCkyylhA]YouTube - Han Never Shot First #1[/ame]

 

[22lr]

Interesting study, but ya the western gunfight standoff in the streets has no historical background. Also I cant see how they would be different that today's average fights. 3-7 shots under 10 yards both people miss.

 

[huntall50]

I would not be standing in the middle of the street...I would draw while moving to cover! And also how much do I want to see this guy dead would be a motivation in how the fight goes down.

 

[cosermann]

Some about this doesn't smell right (especially coming from across the pond).

The way this is reported makes it sound like the second person to draw (who is already about .25 seconds behind at that point) can complete the draw stroke, making up that deficit and come out 21 ms ahead. Huh?

Even if it's true (and I'm skeptical), a 21 ms difference means you both just shot each other.

 

[Joe Williams]

yep..Im sure there where quit a few shoot outs..but Im talking about the ones you see in the movies..2 guys standing 10' from each other ready for a battle of speed.

as far as long the fight at the OK corral lasted..I don think it lasted very long..maybe a couple of minutes?

Believe one of those Discovery Channel or History Channel shows said witnesses reported it took about 30 seconds.

 

[snorko]

Neat article. Obviously the gunfight scenario is a simple example to illustrate what is actually being tested.

That being said, I am giggling over the picture of Niels Bohr, eminent Nobel winning physicist, having quick draw competitions with cap guns in the lab.

"It turns out that the celebrated Danish physicist and Nobel laureate, Niels Bohr, liked to take time off from figuring out the structure of the universe by watching westerns.

Bohr noticed that the man who drew first invariably got shot, and speculated that the intentional act of drawing and shooting was slower to execute than the action in response.

...with the aid of cap guns hastily purchased in a Copenhagen toyshop...In a series of mock gunfights with colleagues Bohr always drew second and always won.

 

[mcshaker]

I would not be standing in the middle of the street...I would draw while moving to cover! ....

Amen.

Take every advantage.
Leave the enemy none.

 

[Dawall]

CHEAT

 

[jmiller676]

"Speed without accuracy is wasted ammo, accuracy without speed is wasted time."

 

[rex soldier]

I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets. but there are records of those duels you hear of "take 10 paces turn and shoot" but none of that quick draw stuff. I think the show was called "cowboy tech" or something like that

i also think they said that they didn't open carry there hand gun on there hip either . they cc . i'm just saying

 

[BoilerGuy]

I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLnmvseCseI&feature=related]YouTube - Fastest gunman ever. Unbelievable Bob Munden[/ame]

Around 33 seconds talks a bit about it.

 

[Redskinsfan]

Originally Posted by RelicHound
I heard somewhere{maybe the history channel} that the whole "gun slinger" thing is a myth..nothing but hollywood BS. I think they said there is no record of such a "show down" in the streets. but there are records of those duels you hear of "take 10 paces turn and shoot" but none of that quick draw stuff. I think the show was called "cowboy tech" or something like that

You are right. This myth was busted is several venues. There is not one recorded instance of the classic high noon showdown, not one.

The violence in the Old West towns followed the same path as it very often does today, alcohol, drug abuse and gambiling.

I wouldn't stand in the street waiting for someone to shoot at me, it is really dumb thing to do.

Terry