Skeeter Skelton wasn’t just another gun guy with a badge – he was a voice for generations of handgun enthusiasts, a storyteller who mixed cowboy wisdom with gritty law enforcement tales, and a man whose love for the six-shooter never wavered. Whether writing about his favorite loads or spinning yarns about colorful characters, Skeeter Skelton carved out a place in firearms history that no one has filled since.
A Texas Start and a Colt Woodsman
Born in 1928 in the Texas Panhandle town of Hereford, Charles A. “Skeeter” Skelton grew up during the Great Depression. That era shaped his outlook, values, and much of his writing, infusing it with a tone of quiet perseverance and rough-edged humor. His first encounter with a handgun came early – at age five, shooting a .22 Colt Woodsman from the passenger window of his father’s car, aiming at jackrabbits along the roadside. By age 12, after working summer jobs on farms, he earned enough to buy his first Colt Single Action Army. That revolver sparked a lifelong affection for wheelguns, especially the big-bore six-shooters of the American West.
Marines, Police Work, and the Making of a Marksman
Skeeter’s journey continued with service in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he carried the 1911 chambered in .45 ACP. He sharpened his shooting skills in those post-war years, alternating between Colt single actions and snub-nosed .38 Specials for hunting and training. In 1949, he joined the Amarillo Police Department, patrolling with none other than his trusty Colt Single Action in .45 Colt. While the sight of such an “old-timey” revolver earned a few chuckles, his marksmanship quickly silenced any doubters.
On Horseback with the Border Patrol
In the early 1950s, Skeeter signed on with the U.S. Border Patrol and joined the last of the horseback patrol units, riding through the deserts of Arizona. Here, his affinity for handguns deepened. He became a competitive shooter with the sector pistol team, firing thousands of rounds in practice and competition. He won numerous shooting matches during these years – each medal reinforcing his status as a genuine handgunner.
From Sheriff to Storyteller
By 1956, Skeeter was back in his hometown, this time elected sheriff of Deaf Smith County. He continued to experiment with handloads and revolvers while patrolling the rural county. But Skeeter’s real turning point came in 1959 when he noticed gun magazines weren’t covering the topics he cared about – police firearms, handgun hunting, and revolver history. So, he wrote an article on hideout guns for plainclothes officers and sold it. Then another. By 1960, he’d opted not to seek re-election and tried his hand at ranching, which ended in financial disaster when beef prices collapsed. That loss pushed him back into federal service – this time with U.S. Customs.
Burning the Candle at Both Ends
From Eagle Pass, Texas, Skeeter worked as a narcotics investigator, often logging 60- to 70-hour workweeks. Despite the grueling hours, he never stopped writing. In 1966, he submitted a feature on the 9mm cartridge to a major gun magazine, which ran in the July issue. The very next month, his article on the .44 Special dropped – and readers took notice. Within a year, Skeeter was named handgun editor, a position he held until his death in 1988. Even while employed by the DEA, Skeeter made time to write, until retiring in 1974 to focus on it full-time.
Bringing Back the .44 Special
Though Skeeter had a deep respect for the .357 Magnum, it was the .44 Special that became his signature round. His 1966 feature article helped reintroduce the cartridge to a new generation of shooters. Ironically, both Colt and Smith & Wesson had ceased production of .44 Special revolvers that same year. With the rise of the .44 Magnum, the Special had fallen out of favor – until shooters realized just how punishing full-house Magnums could be.
Skeeter developed what became known as the “Skeeter Load”: a 250-grain hard-cast Lyman bullet over 7.5 grains of Unique powder, pushing about 1,000 feet per second. It was accurate, powerful enough for big game, and more pleasant to shoot than any magnum load. That combination won over countless revolver fans, and the Skeeter Load remains a favorite among handloaders today.
Champion of the Everyman
Skeeter Skelton’s genius wasn’t just in his knowledge of ballistics or his insights into police tactics – it was in the way he wrote. His columns weren’t dry technical treatises; they were stories. He introduced readers to unforgettable characters like Jug Johnson, a fictional Texan who’d inherited a mystery six-shooter and wanted answers. Jug’s letters were witty, self-deprecating, and just plausible enough to make some readers wonder if he was real. Then there was Do Grant, a composite of four different men Skeeter had known – crusty, old-school gun nuts with a heart of gold and more stories than years.
These columns felt like front-porch conversations or tales swapped around a campfire. They pulled readers in and made them feel like they knew Skeeter personally. In a world of polished, lifeless gun writing, his work had soul.
A Rugged Influence That Still Echoes
Skeeter’s influence wasn’t limited to the printed page. He shaped what shooters valued in a revolver – balance, shootability, and real-world power. His writings nudged manufacturers back into .44 Special territory. Even Bill Ruger, initially resistant to producing a dedicated .44 Special, eventually gave in – thanks in no small part to Skeeter’s advocacy. Today, Ruger remains the only company producing runs of .44 Special single-action revolvers, a quiet tribute to the man who never stopped believing in the old round.
Books That Preserve a Legacy
Though Skeeter never published a formal book during his lifetime, two hardback collections of his work preserve his legacy: Good Friends, Good Guns, Good Whiskey (1988) and Hoglegs, Hipshots, and Jalapeños (1991). Both are prized collector’s items today. A third book, I Remember Skeeter, compiled by his wife Sally and son Jim, includes tributes and personal letters from friends and readers who knew and admired him.
Even a 1980 magazine special titled Skelton on Handguns is still sought out by fans who want to experience his insights in their original format. These volumes serve as time capsules, capturing the dry wit, sharp eye, and warm heart that made Skeeter Skelton one of the most beloved gunwriters America ever produced.
Skeeter’s Enduring Spirit
Despite a relatively short writing career compared to some contemporaries, Skeeter left behind a deep, indelible impression on American gun culture. His work reminds us that handgunning isn’t just about performance – it’s about people. About where you were when you shot your first single action. About that handload you’ve been tweaking for years. About the old-timer who taught you how to shoot, or the buddy who passed you a box of .44s at the range. Skeeter wrote about handguns, yes, but what he really wrote about was life.
A Handgun Man, Through and Through
Skeeter Skelton once said, “If I had known early on what a fascinating path handguns were going to lead me along… I might have hurried. But I’m not prone to hurry, and I’ve been able to savor every shot I’ve fired and every friendship I’ve made.” That’s as fitting an epitaph as any. Skelton didn’t just shape the gun world – he savored it, celebrated it, and helped all of us do the same. In his stories, his loads, and his legends, Skeeter Skelton lives on.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.