Thell Reed (Shooter)

Thell Reed is an exhibition shooter, specializing in fast draw, who is a consultant to the movie industry, stuntman, armorer and extra. Thell Reed began his shooting career at seven years of age when his father presented him with a pair of Colt pistols and built for him an indoor range in which to practice. [cite web |url=http://www.thellreed.com/ |title="Beginnings" Thell Reed]

As a teenager Thell Reed competed in Jeff Cooper's Big Bear "Leatherslaps" shooting competitions at Big Bear Lake, California. The Leatherslaps became the "South Western Combat Pistol League" or "SWCPL". Thell Reed competed so successfully that he became one of the six "Combat Masters", so called because they would almost always take the first six places in the competition. [cite book |last=Cooper |first=Jeff |title=Shotluck |publisher=Wisdom Publishing |isbn=0965540960 |year=2006 |pages=51] Of the six Combat Masters, Thell Reed had the quickest draw. [cite web |url=http://www.thesconce.com/ |title=Jeff Cooper's Commentaries Vol 4 No 11 September 1996 paragraph 23]

The Combat Masters were:

* Jack Weaver
* John Plähn
* Elden Carl
* Ray Chapman
* Thell Reed
* Jeff Cooper

After the SWCPL matches Thell Reed went on to compete in fast draw competitions in which he achieved fame. His celebrity gained him entry into the movie industry and he became an advisor to the movie industry on the use of firearms. He trained actors such as Russell Crowe and Brad Pitt for acting rôles involving the use of pistols.

See also

Weapons Master

Fast Draw

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.thellreed.com/ Thell Reed's website]

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0715715/ Thell Reed at IMDB]

* [http://www.uspsa2.org/swp_past.htm The SWPCL competitions]