Customer Reviews

Ed McGivern's Book of Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

McGivern's Book of Fast and Fancy is almost misleading in its title. It's more than a "show-off-my-gun" book, it's hands-down some of the best shooting advice ever penned. I'm not a revolver guy too much and that, too, is just fine because this book is also about shooting in general and not revolver-ONLY although I found myself wishing I had a revolver after finishing it (and I'm gonna get me one!). For today's carry, I STRONGLY advise pairing this book with Guns Galore! How to Buy and Sell Guns, Knives, and Ammo in Online Auctions Easily Without eBay! A Libertarian Dream! (I bought both) because it's sort of like the old and the new combined into one - you get superb shooting advice in the McGivern book and the Perry brings it up to date by showing you how amazingly simple it is to add to your growing collection of arms in a humorous way. I couldn't believe how simple it is (and legal) to buy guns online. Listen, if you shoot and don't have McGivern's techniques at least in your practice bag of tricks, especially his speed tips, you are simply slower than you otherwise would be.

A very interesting book. I grew up in Lewistown, Montana and often saw Ed shoot at and break ie 6 dinner plates, shoot through washers thrown in the air etc etc. He was a sign painter and had a shop in Lewistown. He fascinated me with his revolver prowess. I was 13 years old at the time and now 80 plus.

For those of you interested in shooting pistols I recommend reading this book Bob Hudson

The amount of information in this book covers from the basics to very advanced shooting. Mall Ninjas and Wannabes will be disappointed at the lack of "cool factor" and dismiss it. Anybody seriously interested in learning or advancing in their knowledge, shooting and manipulation of handguns will appreciate the knowledge that Ed McGivern put down in these pages. It is a methodically written and very explicative book.

As stated by other reviewers the writing is dated.Plus Mr. McGivern did not have a college degree in English so he tends to have a wandering style of composition. I rather doubt Mr. McGivern had much more then an eight grade formal education. He was born in 1874 and standards of education were different.Try not to judge him by 21st Century standards.

Much of what McGivern put in his book is still applicable for today's shooter. Advice on trigger control, proper grip, sights, ammunition, holsters and more still work. Yes shooters now use some techniques that McGivern wouldn't have though of back in the 1930's (the Weaver stance and the Isocoles Stance for example). Yes much of the technology that he spends so much time on (electric timer etc.) is obsolete. Much of what is in the book is basic,but all shooters can stand to review the basics. I was also surprised to see that some of his techniques are not only still being used but have actually been brought back into vogue by the current crop of "tactical" handgun shooters.

Yet, what I really like about the book is in regards to it's historical worth. The book was written in the late thirties and is a wealth of old photographs, information and is rich in it's overall atmospheric feeling that it invokes of the Depression era and the shooting culture as it existed during that time. It's great. There are also photos that are a real hoot. The Montana State Trooper standing behind a pane of bulletproof glass while McGivern shoots the glass with a .357 magnum or the photo of McGivern's assistant holding clay pigeons in his hands while McGivern shoots them. The caption to the photograph states that adding the Human element to target shooting can really spice things up. That stuff is terrific and hilarious.

So in closing the practical value that one will obtain from the book is still there, but it will require patience on the part of the modern reader. However as a historical artifact it's worth is tremendous. If you are a proud member of the American (and international) "Gun Culture" and are curious about those who came before you give Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting a look. You might enjoy it.

Good for a historian. Many (too many, imho) pages are dedicated to a history of aerial shooting with historic photographs.

The author offers much proof of his accoplishments in the field of exhibition shooting.

The instructional advice could be condensed down to 10 or so pages. It is worth it for the insights offered though.

The author is a bit flowery and old fashioned in his language. McGivern also states his opinion about the value of highly trained LE officers in our society. All in all a nice read.

Mr. Mcgivern puts into a book what many pro shooters today find difficult to put into a video. Ed obviously loved shooting, and became one of the best pistol shots ever. Louis L'amour recommended this book in an audio interview, and I am recomending it myself.

This is a reprint of a book which was originally published in 1938. The author, Ed McGivern, is well known to shooters even in 2007. He was the best handgunner the world has ever seen and he did his shooting with factory revolvers, not highly customized "race guns" like competitors tend to use today.

McGivern set records because of his shooting abilities, not because of his equipment. FAST AND FANCY is his book and it's well worth having if you're interested in shooting, law enforcement, or history.

McGivern could break six clay pigeons thrown up simultaneously before they hit the ground. And, he did this with a revolver, not a shotgun.He could shoot a dime on the fly and drive a tack or nail into a piece of wood.

Although he was primarily an exhibition shooter, McGivern was a civic minded individual and often worked closely with law enforcement to improve their training and shooting skills. On p.76 of this edition, for example, McGivern demonstrates how it is possible for a handcuffed individual to grab a gun out of a peace officer's holster and use it against him. He also stressed shooting with the weak hand, in case the strong hand was injured, use of cover, and firing from prone positions.

Generations later, this would be called "Officer Safety," but Ed McGivern was teaching it in the late 1920s and 30s. Although there are no statistics on this point, I would be willing to bet that more than one peace officer survived a deadly confrontation because of McGivern's advice and training.

McGivern's style is typical for his period. It strikes modern readers and florid and affected, but nobody ever claimed that Ed McGivern was going to replace Shakespeare.

I think a good introduction explaining Ed McGivern and his significance to shooters would enhance this book's appeal to readers who aren't already acquainted with him. It's a great book by the best handgunner who ever lived. I gave it five stars.

If you are buying this book to learn about revolver shooting, you will be disappointed. The book is 478 pages, but the actual meat and potatoes of the book could have been done in less than 200 pages. The writing kind of reminds me of the way Casey Stangle spoke to the reporters, he would talk for 2 or 3 minutes non stop and you couldn't understand what he said. If you are interested in the historical aspect of revolver shooting then this is a good book, but if you want to learn something about revolver shooting then you should buy the dvd Advanced revolver shooting by Jerry Miculek.

This book is full of great information. Even though this book was written along time ago. The info can still be related to today. I would definitly recommend this book to anyone interested in not only revolvers, but handgun shooting in general.