How the Legendary Bob Munden Became the Fastest Gunslinger in the World

Some people are good at one specific thing — and then there are those who are so unbelievably good at that one thing, they’re considered to be a human anomaly. Bob Munden, the world’s fastest gunslinger, was one of those special few.

Munden was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but his family later moved to Southern California to be closer to his father after he suffered from a life-altering injury during World War II. During his childhood, Munden was given his first BB gun for Christmas and was inspired by the Hollywood Westerns on TV. When he was just 11 years old, he began his shooting career, competing in fast-draw competitions in California.

By 1980, Munden was named “the fastest man with a gun who ever lived” by the Guinness Book of World Records. He was He was known for his ability to draw, shoot, and holster a gun in a fraction of a single second. But it was his accuracy that put him in a league above the rest: It was claimed he could draw his weapon, shoot two different targets with precision, and holster his gun in a mere .02 seconds.

Though, while he held several world records for his fast-draw — which some might consider impossible to beat — there is some controversy around his purported records, according to a 1989 article in Sports Illustrated. One of his records, for example, was recorded at a used car dealership, suggesting there’s no concrete proof that all of his recorded times were accurate.

Contemporary quick-draw champions doubt his records, but his natural ability was likely the result of fast-twitching muscle fiber in his arm, resulting in his near-impossible speeds.

Most can probably agree, though: Even if his scores were a fraction of a second off, watching him work his magic is a sight to behold.

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