GunFighter Gulch

Fast Draw Champion and gun leather craftsman, Ernie Hill, was one of the first veterans who put up with the millions of questions I had when I got started in Fast Draw in 1997. He also built my first fast draw rig. I emailed him trying to understand the difference between all the draws I read or heard about. This is his response.

OK Greg, here are some answers………

RAM FANNING is the opposite of FANNING. RAM FANNING is when the the draw hand literally “rams” the gun forward into the stationary fanning hand to ram and fire. The draw hand is the initiator…… FANNING is when the draw hand moves the gun in an upward (not forward @ all) position and the fanning hand moves back into the gun to fan and fire. The fanning hand is the initiator………. It should be obvious to anyone that the excessive gun thrust and movement of the barrel in ram fanning renders it useless and really should not be classified as a draw technique period! It is that bad and unfortunately, is a method used by many a shooter. You can tell that just by looking @ the 15′ wax scores @ a match (accuracy event)…. FANNING is a correct and refined movement involving perfect timing of the fanning hand engaging the upward draw of the gun.

SLAP COCKING is the opposite as UP-FANNING. Slap cocking is when the fanning hand (actually fanning fingers, as the palm of the hand should not come in contact with the hammer, the fingers are the magic, more later) starts the “draw” by fanning (slapping) the hammer back while still in the holster, then firing by squeezing the trigger of course, when on target………..UP_FANNING as mentioned previously, is the gun being drawn up and the fanning hand firing the gun as it is moving in an upward motion……. FANNING is when the gun is drawn and positioned (precisely and “just in time” locked in) before the fanning hand fires the gun.
Fanning is covered by the above 3 techinques.

Thumbing has 2 basic techniques. The old “original” method of PALM THUMBING is when the draw hand (and only hand involved of course) starts from a distance and actually charges into the gun and methodically cocks the hammer back while simultaneously drawing the gun and squeezing the trigger and eventually firing when gun is on target….. This was the only way to thumb because of the original 6″ hand clearance rule that was the standard for early day fast draw……… The rule change from the 6″ standard to the current “obvious hand clearance” rule created a new method called SQUEEZE THUMBING. SQUEEZE THUMBING is positioning the draw hand very close to the gun in a “sort of cocked hand /wrist position. The gun is drawn and fired by the squeezing of the thumb on top and the 4 fingers on bottom, again timing is critical but when done correctly, is the most efficient, positive, (meaning no haunting half-cocks experienced by all the old way) accurate and fastest way to thumb.

In reference to which techniques yield the fastest times……..in generic terms…….open style TWIST FANNING is the fastest, then SLAP COCKING, then FANNING, then SQUEEZE THUMBING, then PALM THUMBING, then finally, well…….. RAM FANNING is last.

Just a few more comments for now.

SLAP COCKING is the most popular technique used. There are two basic reasons why. The main one is accuracy. The theory is, the initial impact of the gun is done prior to the draw, then the draw hand simply has to pull the trigger on target……..(of course this is why Mr. Ron Phillips is the best accuracy shooter ever is a fanner, so much for the theory, but it is true for most). It also is easier to slap-cock the hammer back when it is holstered upright when using a speed over the boot draw……. Fanning, the impact is @ the critical firing time, accurately impossible for most, but not for Ronnie, and also is tough to “reach” and successfully fan-cock the hammer back during a speed draw because the gun has been drawn over the boot which positions the hammer waaaaay back and well,,,,,, enough said. Only God can hit hit a 1 iron and only God can successfully fan the hammer back there.

I personally TWIST FANNED all through the open years of fast draw, successfully as the records indicate, because open was the standard. Traditional is now the standard of which I FAN MY INDEX DOUBLES, and SLAP COCK everything else.

Gary Tryon holds his annual match to start the SHOOTING year off in ARIZONA, which is an OPEN contest. I will TWIST FAN a 23.5 average on ALL STANDING BALLOONS, SLAP COCK a 32.0 average on ALL STANDING WAX EVENTS. ……….In the THUMBING CONTEST prior to the OPEN, I will SQUEEZE THUMB a 31.5 average in ALL BALLON EVENTS and a 32.5 average in ALL WAX EVENTS…………then I will wake up in the morning before the match depressed realizing it was a dream………… and try to make it come true!

In summation Greg, now that you understand everything, slap cock your way to index/accuracy fame, fan your way to speed/accuracy fame, thumb your way to all around shooter fame, then you will have “ARRIVED”!

Good night.
Ernie Hill

Ernie Hill was the Founder and President of Ernie Hill International. His innovative holster designs were used by many of the top competitiors in IPSC, Fast Draw and Cowboy Action shooting in the 80′s and 90′s. His presence in the sport of Fast Draw is missed by those who knew him and those who have had the opportunity to shoot out of one of his fine rigs.