Western-style gunfighting has carved itself a solid niche.
The shoot-out epidemic began in 1854 and rampaged for the next 70 years. Texas, the quintessential pioneer, blazed the trail with the first recorded kill. California, looking for a fresh lifestyle, exploited the trend with 5 kills in 1856. 1878 was the most violent year, with 36 gunfights in New Mexico, Texas and Kansas. By 1924 gunslinging was a sport of the past.
In terms of numbers, Texas, always the pacesetter, led the pack with 160 shoots. California, having realized "laid-back" is preferable to lying face down, trailed with 20. Utah had a handful, and Bolivia, location of Butch Cassidy’s cinematic face-off with South America’s entire militia, had the least.
The most famous dust-up was O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, where the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday took on the Clantons and McLaurys. The back-story for this shoot-em-up is loaded with lore, myth and factoids, such as how long did it last? Two and half minutes, apparently. See video at 2:32 mark when Will Patton pastes a 44-calibre slug in the middle of McLaury’s noggin.
Slingers prime inquiring minds. What quick draw had the quickest draw? When is the ideal time for a gunfight? What was the top gun model? Tarnation! We’re going ballistic with statistics!