Rapid Firing a revolver/Ed McGivern

[Doug.38PR]

As I understand it, in 193# (think it was '36) Ed McGivern proved that a revolver can be fired faster than a semi auto if the shooter is skilled enough. I believe his favorite gun was a S&W M&P .38 Spl. 6 inch as seen throughout his book Fast and Fancy Shooting.
I've seen youtube clips and learning channel clips of guys buzzing through a cylinder full.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-tFQ1H4Awg


How is this done WITHOUT being abusive to the revolver's cylinder notches, bolt head and hand?

 

[Doug.38PR]

As I understand it, in 193# (think it was '36) Ed McGivern proved that a revolver can be fired faster than a semi auto if the shooter is skilled enough. I believe his favorite gun was a S&W M&P .38 Spl. 6 inch as seen throughout his book Fast and Fancy Shooting.
I've seen youtube clips and learning channel clips of guys buzzing through a cylinder full.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-tFQ1H4Awg


How is this done WITHOUT being abusive to the revolver's cylinder notches, bolt head and hand?

 

[DanChamberlain]

Technically, it is abusive. The rotation of the cylinder is not the issue. It's the inertia of the rotation that must be overcome by the locking mechanisms and they take the beating. The faster the cylinder turns, the more abuse will be taken by the locking bolt. The trigger mechanism will also see increased wear. These are all small parts that can be replaced. The bolt-stop cuts in the cylinder can be dressed and an oversized bolt can be installed to tighten things up again, but there is no doubt, guns fired that quickly will have increased wear.

Dan

 

[Doug.38PR]

geez, then you are basically showing off how well you can beat up your gun.

 

[38-44HD45]

If only I could abuse a revolver as well as Jerry Miculek does...

 

[Buford57]

Guys like McGivern and Miculek demonstrate what a revolver can do, not necessarily what every revolver owner should do regularly. Sort of like the car commercials with the disclaimer "Professional driver on closed track. Don't try this at home".

But it does raise confidence in your equipment, doesn't it?

 

[cgt4570]

Plus exhibition shooters like this usually have sponsors and their custom guns are expendable. They aren't concerned about wearing one out in a matter of months. Just like police officers of days past using their gun barrels as night sticks. To cops, soldiers and trick shooters, the gun is merely a tool of the trade and is replaced as needed. If it gets used up, it's turned back in for a new one.

 

[TSQUARED]

I believe that Jerry Miculek regularly shoots a revolver faster than a semi-auto pistol will function.

 

[Doug.38PR]

sounds like the solution is to get a cheap knock down drag out gun to use and abuse to practice rapid firing with and save your favorite gun for carry in case you ever do have to rapid fire it.

 

[Doug.38PR]

IOW, practice spraying with your Ruger and leave your Colt or S&W for the holster and target practice

 

[mikepriwer]

If it gets used up, it's turned back in for a new one.

This is a very true statement, but it needs clarification. McGiverns first record-
setting gun was given to Doug Wesson after the "5 shots in 4/10's second" was set , and
Wesson gave him another gun. This second gun also became a record-setter.

On the other hand, one of McGiverns 22's was used extensively for a number of years.
In his book, he comments about putting more than 200,000 rounds through it.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Bat Guano]

I guess I must have been "abusing" my personal Security Sixes when I was an instructor, then. I just thought I was using them as intended and building a fair skills set I could rely on--so I could do stuff like go home to my kids at night, retire, and so forth.

Fortunately the factory didn't mind and would rebuild whatever needed rebuilding for a pretty nominal charge. Just like dropping a new long block into the old Chevy pickup.

BTW I am still abusing the same gun(s) to this day.

 

[Doug.38PR]

bat,
has your trigger spring every broken? Mine did about a month ago, and it's been a devil of a time trying to get them to send me the right part. Finally I just sent the gun to them. Apparently SS have two different kinds of trigger springs depending on what year they were made

 

[Bat Guano]

Never had the trigger return spring break on any of the "Sixes", including the ones used most. I do seem to recall that the earlier springs were slightly different (made from square wire stock?).

Took the armorer's course on, among other things, the GP-100. The instructor also gave us the manual on the older "Sixes" and in time we were sent neat little packages of all the possible parts we might ever need to repair agency guns. No doubt I have a few of those trigger return springs squirrelled away yet.

My agency had about 50 Speed Sixes in inventory. The only time I ever had a problem with any Ruger was a thumb latch screw backing out, un-noticed, and eventually it gave trouble with the latch interfering with cylinder opening.

I did send in two of my own guns for new barrels, due to forcing cone erosion from 125 JHPs. They were working fine, just spitting more than I liked.

 

[Texas Star]

Bat Guano-

Did any of the Rugers (other than the GP-100, which has a special frame lock) ever show loose cranes, or more than usual fore-and-aft motion in the cylinder? I've seen Rugers that dragged the cylinder face on the rear of the barrel!

Manurhin put that crane pin or lock on their Ruger-derived guns for SOME reason.

T-Star