📚 Book Summary: Six Guns by Elmer Keith

David T
Apr 13
2 min read

“A deliberate shot is better than a fast miss.” – Elmer Keith

Sixguns, written by legendary firearms expert Elmer Keith, is part memoir, part technical manual, and part no-nonsense philosophy on armed skill. First published in 1955, the book is a cornerstone for anyone serious about understanding revolvers, gunfighting history, and the fundamentals of shooting under pressure.

🔥 What’s Inside the Book?

Elmer Keith walks readers through:

The development of the sixgun — from percussion cap to cartridge
The ballistics of revolvers, ammo types, and Keith’s own innovations
Gunfighting tactics drawn from real-world experience, not Hollywood myths
Profiles of historic gunfighters like Wild Bill Hickok, whom Keith admired for his calm under pressure and emphasis on aimed fire

🎯 Wild Bill Hickok’s Legacy in

Sixguns

One of the most valuable parts of Sixguns is Keith’s retelling of how Wild Bill Hickok approached a gunfight:

“Wild Bill always shot deliberately, never fired from the hip, and always used his sights. He took no chances on a miss.”

Keith uses Hickok to destroy the myth of fast-draw, hip-shooting theatrics. According to Keith, what saved lives — and ended fights — was calm, sighted fire, even under extreme stress. It’s a principle that still holds true in modern gunfighting.

💬 Why It Matters for Today’s Shooters

Sixguns isn’t just a book about the past. It’s a reminder that discipline, fundamentals, and mindset win fights — not speed alone. For instructors, competitors, or armed citizens, Keith’s message is clear:

Accuracy and control matter more than flashy speed.

✅ Bottom Line

If you’re serious about handguns, you owe it to yourself to read Sixguns. It’s a classic that ties together technical knowledge, historical insight, and timeless fighting principles.

Want to train the way Hickok fought?

Defiance Tactical Shooting teaches modern gunfighters the same fundamentals: