Mr. Cunningham grew up in his family's jewelry business, working as an apprentice under a Master Watch and Clockmaker. Eventually he took these talents and began applying them to revolvers. In addition to being a superb gunsmith, who performs all work himself, he is a well known and respected firearms instructor and author. http://grantcunningham.com/>grantcunningham.com
Between the two books Mr. Cunningham covers revolver use in detail. He discusses the advantages of the revolver, such as their efficient and simple operation, their ability to shoot a wide variety of ammo, and how to select the proper stocks - "grips" - to fit your size hand. He also covers the disadvantages of revolvers. The heavy trigger weight is too much for the hand strength of some. The additional recoil of the revolver is a problem for some. And, this one is important, while revolvers are simple to shoot, they are as Cunningham states, "the most difficult to shoot well." Pay close attention to his thoughts on trigger manipulation, which is completely different from working a semi-auto trigger.
Reloading and malfunctions are covered. I really appreciated his thoughts on reloading and his distinction between reloading during a fight and the reload one may use in competition. His "Universal Revolver Reload" uses "large muscle groups and coarse motor movements." The "competition" reload, where the only factor is time, is slightly quicker but relies on fine motor skills. Under the stress associated with a life-threatening problem there's a high possibility of fumbling the competition reload technique. That's not a big deal in a match. For fighting the more reliable method is the best choice.
The various methods of carrying additional ammo are reviewed in detail, along with specific techniques required for using each type carrier. How do you reload with only one hand? It's in there. What about modifications to the revolver? Ditto. He also discusses various holster designs and carry methods, again detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
The "Defensive" book has sections on self-defense applications, which apply to any type firearm. One would do well to study the chapters on the difference between speed and efficiency, focusing, as he suggests on "efficiency, because that's the best path to effectiveness."
A lot of people think of revolvers as relics, pistols old men carry, the perfect pistol for women - "just point it an' shoot 'em - or, useless when compared to high capacity semi-autos available today. The fact is revolvers are ideal weapons for self-defense, as long as you understand how they work and learn the skills to use them properly. Studying Mr. Cunningham's books will help you reach these goals.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns," writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html Website: www.shootrite.org
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