Fast draw facts for kids

Fast draw, also known as quick draw, is a cool skill! It's all about how fast someone can pull out a handgun and shoot it accurately at a target. This skill became super popular because of exciting stories and movies about gunslingers in the Wild West. These stories were inspired by real-life gunfights from the American Old West.

Today, fast draw is both a sport and a skill taught in the military. The World Fast Draw Association (WFDA) is the main group for the sport. Unlike other shooting sports, fast draw uses special blanks or wax bullets. Some competitions are just about being the fastest. Others are head-to-head matches where one person wins and the other is out.

History of Fast Draw

The idea of fast draw as a sport comes from old stories. These stories are about duels and gunfights in the Wild West. Famous events like the Hickok–Tutt shootout and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral inspired many tales. These real events then inspired the exciting gunfights you see in Hollywood Western movies.

Some gunfighters like Jim Leavy and Tom Carberry were known for quick draw duels. Sometimes, a quick draw was needed if a gunman was surprised. A few people from the American frontier were known for being "fast." These included Wild Bill Hickok, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid.

What "Fast on the Draw" Meant

In the Old West, "fast on the draw" didn't always mean someone could pull a gun quickly. It often meant a person was very aggressive. They might pull out their weapon at the smallest problem. Duels back then were not always like the fancy ones in movies. They were often quick fights that happened because people were angry. The person who could draw, shoot, and hit first usually won. But being accurate and calm was also very important to real gunmen.

Holsters and How They Changed

In Western movies, you often see gun belts worn low on the hip. The holster might be cut away to make drawing the pistol easier and faster. But these types of holsters are mostly from Hollywood. They weren't common back then.

Old holsters were soft and comfortable for wearing all day. Gunfighters would often tie their guns to their leg. This stopped the pistol from getting stuck when they drew it. Many gunfighters actually hid their pistols in their pockets. This was often faster and more practical. Some used special Bridgeport rigs for a quicker draw.

Fast Draw as a Sport

Fast draw is one of the quickest sports in the world! Every action is measured in less than one second. This includes reacting to the signal, drawing the gun, and firing. The current World Fast Draw Association (WFDA) record is amazing. In an event called Standing Balloons, it's .208 seconds. That time includes reacting, drawing, shooting, and popping a balloon target eight feet away!

A top competitor can draw and shoot in under half a second. The average person takes about 0.2 to 0.25 seconds just to react. This means the shot is over before most people can even react! The best fast draw shooters react in about 0.145 seconds. This means they cock, draw, aim (from the hip), and fire in just over 0.06 seconds.

To set a WFDA record, a second shot must be fired. This shot can't be more than 0.30 seconds slower than the first. This rule stops someone from setting a record by guessing the start signal. In some competitions, two shots must be fired at different targets. The shots are often less than 0.10 seconds apart!

How Competitions Work

In "Open Class" fast draw, shooters start with their gun in the holster. Their hands cannot touch the gun. This is different from "Cowboy Fast Draw," where competitors start with a hand on the gun.

A signal, usually a sound and a light, tells the shooter to start. A timer begins when the signal is given. The shooter aims at a metal plate (for wax bullets) or a balloon (for blanks). The timer stops when the wax bullet hits the plate or the balloon pops. Different matches use one or more targets. Shooters can fire from a standing position. They can also walk towards or away from the targets.

Bob Munden (1942-2012) was a very famous exhibition shooter. The Guinness Book of World Records called him "the fastest man with a gun who ever lived." He could draw, fire a blank to break a balloon, and put his gun back in the holster faster than a blink! He was filmed shooting in just 0.16 seconds in an event called Walk and Draw Level.

Fast Draw in the Military

Fast draw and quick draw are also important in real-life combat. It's a key skill still taught to soldiers and police officers. Being able to draw a sidearm quickly is very important in dangerous situations. Soldiers are trained to draw their weapon and fire with both speed and accuracy.