From Wikipedia
Edward McGivern (October 20, 1874 – December 12, 1957) was a famous exhibition shooter, shooting instructor and author of the book Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting. McGivern performed extensive research into the art of handgun shooting, particularly with the double action revolver. He is renowned as one of the best handgunners that ever lived. His Guinness world record for “The greatest rapid-fire feat” (set on August 20, 1932 at the Lead Clube Range, South Dakota) still stands. He emptied two revolvers in less than 2 seconds. He set another record on September 13, 1932, shooting five rounds from a double action revolver at 15 feet in 2/5 of a second, and covering the group with his hand. Other accomplishments include “firing two times from 15 feet five shots which could be covered by a silver half-dollar piece in 45/100 of a second”. His shooting was so rapid, timing machines would malfunction in attempting to record his shooting speed.
Mr. McGivern was capable of many amazing shooting feats, most of them well documented in his book. To name just a few:
- He could break six simultaneously hand thrown clay pigeons (standard trap targets) in the air before they hit the ground.
- He could hit a tin can hand thrown 20 ft. in the air five times before it hit the ground.
- He could drive a tack or nail into wood by shooting it.
- He could shoot the spots out of playing cards at 18 feet, or even split a playing card edge on.
- He could shoot a dime on the fly.
All of these executed with either hand using a factory Smith & Wesson Model 10 double action revolver (purportedly his favorite handgun)
Notes on Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting
by Ed McGivern
Page 28 admonished reader to find a club and attend shooting events.
“When the average person wishes to learn to play any games or enter any line of sport is is generally the custom to look up someone prominent in that game, or in some manner leading in or promoting the particular line of sport in which he may be interested, and arrange for a course of instruction…
“With the person becoming interested in … shooting this course is not always followed, If is was it would be a much easier matter for the student to learn the proper method oh handling his gun, … thus avoiding the genera tendency to form bad habits at the start that usually prove quite difficult to correct later on.”
Page 33,
Section 4
Shooting Standard Regulation Stationary Targets
“When beginning your training the most effective plan is to try careful and very deliberate slow fire, at fairly large targets and at fairly short ranges, gradually working along and slightly increasing the range, until reaching the standard distances at which certain sized bull’s-eyes and targets are regularly used. It is best to stick to the standard targets and the standard distances that are very plainly stated in the regular target shooting rules…”
“[M]y education regarding aerial target shooting with revolvers was broadened and intensified in relation to group shooting and trigger squeezing, and the why, looming large and prominent, was made very clear to me…”
(emphasis in original)
Section 5
Training for Aerial Targets
Shooting marbles out of the air
“[P]rogress was really started towards becoming an aerial target shot with revolvers. How? Well, it can be quite easily explained in a very simple way: I had learned to “squeeze and control the trigger,” and also had learned to align the sights about even with the bottom of the marble, or any other target, letting it sort of rife on the top of the sights somewhat as military shooting (6 O’Clock hold) is done.
I had learned to use the sights quickly and accurately on moving targets and had learned to squeeze and control the trigger properly while also keeping the movements of the revolver under perfect control…”
(emphasis in original)
“The real secret of the whole matter was that I had developed enough skill to shoot close groups in relation to the point of aim, and in direct relation to the center of the small targets…”
McGivern advised the PowerPlinker to first develop enough group shooting ability on paper targets so that the aimed group is small enough such that an aerial target cannot slip though a “hole” in that group.
“The person who starts out to acquire sufficient skill to ‘put his bullets right on top of each other,’ has a false idea.”
At the distance from the muzzle the thrown target will be hit the shooter MUST have enough skill to group shots tight enough so there is no gap in the group large enough for the target to slip through.
“If a revolver shot, using the .38 Special cartridges, can shoot a group the size of a quarter, that is, keeping the bullets within the outline of the quarter, he can regularly hit three-eights inch marbles. When the revolver shooter can shoot a circular group where the width of the bullet on each side of the center will make the space between them slightly smaller than the object being shot at, then he will score all hits just so long as he doses not permit the group to open up enough to make this opening in the center of group large enough for the object that is used as the target to pass through without touching.”
Contrary to popular myth, McGivern did all of his aerial shooting as aimed fire and with smooth trigger control, as learned on paper Bullseye targets. He advised aiming at the base of the target while airborne and to move your position (and the sights) in relation to the target as it moved. Don’t wait for the target to “pause” at the top of the movement, instead, keep the sights moving.
“[T]his “watchful waiting” attitude-while the target hesitates-is a very practical illustration of the familiar saying, “He who hesitates is lost.” Instead of waiting and trying to make still (or stopped) targets out of rapidly moving ones, just follow the outline of the methods described a short time ago in the account of the marble shooting. Bend the body forward for downward movement. Bend the body back for upward movement. Swing or twist body sideways for side movement, and hold arms and hands and revolver in direct relative position to the eye and in line with, and as near as possible at, the correct elevation of target…”
“That triggers are not squeezed and controlled in much the same way as for other shooting, is also quite the wrong idea. THEY ARE! The apparent difference lying in the fact that it is done much more quickly and with a longer sweep when using double-action methods, yet very evenly, very carefully, and quite smoothly, as a result of practice and practically experience which must be developed, of course, by persistent effort and sensible study of the subject and the principles involved.”
McGivern is probably best known for his rapid fire feats, such as placing six shots into a thrown gallon can before it hit the ground, and firing five shots in 0.40 seconds into a playing card group at 15 feet.
Once again, when learning rapid fire on stationary and aerial targets McGivern returned to group shooting on Bullseye targets.
“The training methods for preparing to fire six bullets into a tin can were entirely changed at this particular time, and practice for many weeks was confined to shooting six shots at certain sized portions of paper targets just as rapidly as it was possible to operate the revolvers by double-action method.”
McGivern got on target by using a “Slight Lifting Motion of Entire Gun.” He pointed in from just below the target and fired just as the gun (and the sights) paused.
“It consists of leveling the gun just slightly below the point where you want the bullet to strike, then while maintaining the proper sight alignment, raise the entire gun up to the correct elevation for the bullet to connect with the desire spot or object which constitutes the target. It will be found that gravity will greatly assist in arresting the motion of the gun momentarily while the shot is being fired.”
For quick follow up shots McGivern used what he termed “The Forward Poke.” Today, shooters call it “Timing the Gun” “Reset Drill” and “Post Ignition Push.” At some point in speed the shooter has to haul the gun back on target in order to obtain split times quickly enough.
“[T]he gun is pushed slightly forward the target, which brings the front sight down and in proper relation to the rear sight.”
Firearm User Network 
hubert townsend
Jan 25, 2015 @ 10:11:12
Oh nooooo!! Not the fundamentals AGAIN, Sergeant.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Jan 25, 2015 @ 11:28:40
I know. I’m like an MP3 player stuck on repeat (this is like a broken record for those old enough to remember.)
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dbmw
Jan 27, 2015 @ 12:04:49
John, even I will agree with you…LOL!
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John M. Buol Jr.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 13:12:01
@dbmw
Stranger things have happened! Of course, it’s obvious to anyone in the know that repeating simple facts is necessary as too many people will dispute indisputable truths.
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John Tate
Jan 27, 2015 @ 13:21:39
Regarding McGivern’s book:
ISBN-10: 1-60239-086-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-60239-086-7
I am an enthusiastic supporter! ESPECIALLY FOR HIS TRIGGER DRILLS.
Do this in the following sequence:
Single Action with Two Hands; then with Strong Hand, then Weak Hand
Now, we graduate to the hard stuff:
Double Action Two Hands; then only with Strong Hand; then, the master practice – only with the Weak Hand.
What is so important about dry firing, double action, with your weak hand? It’s hard to do! You must struggle!! And that’s important because we aren’t training your finger or your hand. We are training what controls your fingers and hands: your brain!
There are omissions and embellishments in my version. Better to read his directions.
For details, see pages 120 – 124, and, to a lesser degree pp 174-175.
See in particular the last line on page 122: “The trigger should be allowed to go forward as the same rate of speed as that at which it was drawn back, whether quickly or slowly.”
Also, I respectfully draw your attention to this quote from page 175: “Trigger control is the “mystery” underlying all of these seemingly marvelous performances, and nothing else can ever take its place for
successful results in double-action revolver shooting.”
Here are a few more excerpts:
“These .22 guns mentioned will do all of the things that the larger guns can do in the way of speed and accuracy, and will give entire satisfaction as to durability and service.” p.29
“These .22 caliber guns are not in any way play things or toys. They are very effective guns, and when the student learns to handle one of these well, he can also handle the regular .38 guns about equally well, and easily develop into mastering all of the larger calibers also. [ … ] The saving on ammunition, by using these instead of the larger bores at the beginning, will enable the student to have a lot of practice, by actually shooting, until he masters the principles of the game, at a very reasonable outlay.” p.29
“Adapt a position that is suitable and comfortable for you – never mind the other fellow.” p.30.
“In my estimation, there is no one best position that is suitable for everybody. The main object to be considered is steadiness and comfort, freedom from muscular strain, discomfiture or fatigue.” p. 30
“No two persons are alike mentally or physically; no two persons eat, talk, sing, dance, act, work, or play alike. No two persons (except identical twins) even look or measure up alike. Why, then, should we try to make them all stand, pose, breathe, reach, hold, and see alike – let alone think and act alike as regards revolver shooting.” p.30
“Care should be taken not to submerge this individuality under too many general rules and regulations.” p.32
“The danger of “the rule of the dead men,” “tradition,” custom, habit, inherent prejudice, and a hundred and one or more quirks and angles [ … ] all of which enters into the game and adds angles and obstacles that should be given serious consideration for the reason that they react, in no small measure, either for or against success.” p.31
“Consistent production of quality results in individuals is dependent entirely and exactly on specialize effort. ‘Positive movements, properly controlled, correctly timed and accurately directed’ form the necessary basis for success in this field of endeavor.” p.31
“Unless the student has had considerable shooting experience, I recommend starting and continuing to practice with empty guns for some time.” p.114
“[I]t is the writer’s opinion that proper training in slow fire stationary target shooting, which develops steady holding, sure hitting, and good grouping, cannot possibly be and is not – as some have claimed – a detriment to later development in rapid fire or to superspeed group shooting either, or to flying and other aerial target shooting, or sure hit quick-draw shooting, or fast sure hitting after the draw. All of these latter stunts are dependent for success on – sure hits.” p.35
“Any practice, or any system of training or method of procedure that will guarantee sure hits, is a most important part of a proper foundation on which to build for future success, in any branch of any shooting game, where regular hitting is the all-important point to be considered and achieved.” p. 35
“When slow fire becomes fairly accurate in results, and sure hits on the standard targets at the standard distances become pretty regular occurrences, and giving reasonable average scores, it is a good idea to try timed and rapid fire in compliance with the governing rules, on a basis of five shots in 20 seconds, five shots in 15 seconds, and five shots in 10 seconds.” p.33
“Next, after rapid fire on standard targets has been learned well, the shooter can start his training towards hitting various sized objects quickly, placed at various distances; large objects placed fairly close to the shooter first, then gradually increasing the distance and varying the size of the objects used as targets; later increasing the distances, say 5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, etc.; if targets are of medium size this practice will develop distance judgment also.” p. 33
“The real purpose of target shooting in all branches, from the simplest to the most complicated, is to build up an ability to actually hit things, in certain predetermined places or spots, and do it regularly with reasonable certainty, whenever we shoot at them.” p. 34
“Shooting in competition with crooks and other enemies of the law requires entirely different methods of procedure and different technique, but still requires almost equal accuracy with a very active time limit – the more accuracy the better; and the less time required to secure said accuracy makes it still better.” p.34
“Persistent study and practice.” p.37.
Regarding shooting at aerial targets: “That triggers are not squeezed and controlled in much the same way as for other shooting, is also quite a wrong idea. THEY ARE! The apparent difference lying in the fact that it is done much more quickly and with a longer sweep when using double-action methods, yet very evenly, very carefully, and quite smoothly, as a result of practice and practical experience which must be developed, of course, by persistent effort and sensible study of the subject and the principles involved.” p. 43
“My pet scheme for this sort of double-action “dry shooting” training is to place a spot on a looking-glass and then have the student keep the muzzle of the revolver (unloaded of course) pointed at it while he follows instructions to slowly and carefully squeeze the trigger back the full distance of its travel, which is necessary to operate the gun double action and cause the hammer to rise and fall. When the trigger is released forward, which is also necessary in each case, one should try to let it forward slowly, holding the tension of the spring with the finger, so that it releases at about the same rate of speed as that at which it is backward when raising the hammer. It is well to keep up this training until these motions can be repeated fifty times or so without much wabbling around of the muzzle of the gun from the spot on the mirror. This can be clearly noted by the person who is standing in front of the glass while practicing, and which is the real reason for using the glass as a background for what we will call the training target. If a mirror is not readily available the student may try using a spot on the wall or other convenient location. Any convenient short distance is satisfactory for this practice; long distances are not at all necessary. [ … ]
When reasonable steadiness has been developed (the student can be his own judge), the actual shooting can be properly started somewhat along the following lines: Stand, say six to ten feet away from a fair sized target, or any object that a person may wish to use for a target, line the gun up in the usual way in which the shooter has been accustomed to lining it up for single action-shooting. Take careful aim, squeeze the trigger back slowly, the full distance of travel. this is quite necessary and important at first, in order to maintain a steady hold until you get the shot away. Note the result of the show without making any changes whatever. Now with the hammer down – not raised by hand – again point the revolver at the spot you desire the bullet t hit, take careful aim as before, and while striving to maintain the aim by steady holding, start again to squeeze the trigger back the full distance of travel, steady, careful squeezing till the shot gets away.
Now – don’t let the trigger jump forward; instead, let it move slowly forward, hold the tension. Why? Because it is on the forward movement that all superspeed double-action group shooting is balked by not learning properly the smooth, but full, forward movement of the trigger finger in the beginning. The balks never occur on the backward movement. Try to keep this important point constantly in mind. The balks always occur on the forward movement. [ … ] While learning to get the trigger back smoothly and evenly, you should also try to learn to let it forward smoothly at about the same rate of speed as that at which you are able to bring it back without wabbling. In this way you train your finger to take care of the spring tension evenly and correctly.” p.122
“The trigger should be allowed to go forward a the same rate of speed as that at which it was drawn back, whether quickly or slowly. About five groups of five shots each should be fired this way for practice, making a determined effort to group the entire string of of twenty-five shots as closely as possible. When fair control over the trigger movement has been acquired by this method, it will be quite all right to increase the speed of the squeezing movements gradually, and in that way develop the muscles of the fingers particularly, and of the whole hand generally, for fast group shooting, which later will be used for aerial target shooting, quick-draw shooting and the continued rapid firing and sure hitting after the draw.” pp.123 – 124
“The experienced target shot knows that his success, both in practice and in competition, depends more on his ability to squeeze the trigger evenly, steadily, and, what is still more important, to control these trigger squeezing manipulations correctly, than on any other combination of factors connected with revolver shooting, or any other shooting for that matter. Shooting form may be excellent, steady holding ability, taken separately, may be amazing to self and friends and so on, but if a shooter is unable to control the trigger properly during the entire time required for getting the shot away, all other accompanying effort has been only ‘wasted effort’ [ …. ]” p.172
“A little intensive study of the subject will quite readily make the fact apparent that this trigger control idea is the concentrated essence of success in every branch of revolver shooting.” p.172
“Perfect trigger control is, due to average physical conditions, an almost impossible thing to master, but we should try to get as close to it as possible and make an earnest effort to master such conditions to the greatest extent that we are mentally and physically able to, for the specific reason that the ‘trigger control’ is the absolute master-key to all control you may ever hope to have over the results of branches of the game in which you may engage. It is really the most important thing connected with revolver shooting, and the greatest factor connected with any and all angles of the game.”
“Trigger control must first be learned by slow, careful shooting, while using the single-action method of operating the gun and of squeezing the trigger., When this point has been reached and reasonable certainty of control has been acquired by this method, the double-action method of operating the revolver should be taken up and studied, so as to develop a similar control over the much linger and heavier trigger movement required, and of course, in consequence thereof also controlling the movement of the hammer.” p.174
“Triggernometry.” p.177.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 13:22:55
A great addition. Thanks!
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Trigger Exercises with John Tate | Firearm User Network
Aug 22, 2015 @ 07:38:52