Sixgun Sharpshooter

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posted on February 7, 2017
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Michael Ives

In the early 1900s, this sharpshooter was traveling the United States to teach marksmanship to federal, state and local law enforcement officers, including FBI agents. His specialty was use of the revolver by police, and he demonstrated how the .357 Magnum could be used on man-sized targets at ranges of up to 600 yards. His focus on accuracy and speed was legendary, and he spent untold hours researching and experimenting the angles and techniques that would lead to the most success. 

He was so well-versed in handguns that he wrote a book on them in 1938. To this day, it’s still revered as a must-read on revolvers. He also authored many articles for outdoor and shooting magazines. 

His expertise resulted in a surprising side job. Between 1914 and 1943, he was called to the stand more than three dozen times to testify as a firearms expert during trials. 

Just how good of a shooter was he? So brilliant that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had X-rays of his hand taken for analysis. 

Click here to learn more about this marksman and his revolver, shown here. It’s just one of the many fascinating treasures on display at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va.

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