Bob Munden

[PegLeg45]

He was a shooting legend and heck of a sixgun tuner.

Sad day.



From the Bob Munden FB Page:

Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Butte, Montana, USA

Bob Munden Has Died

Bob Munden, known perhaps equally as a fierce Fast-Draw competitor who was recognized by Guinness World Records as The Fastest Man with a Gun Who Ever Lived, as an exhibition shooter of the highest order with all kinds of firearms; an entertainer as well as a master gun smith who developed groundbreaking methods of customizing to perfection the beloved .45 caliber single action revolver and other guns, died Monday of heart failure.

Munden’s wife and performance partner Becky said Tuesday she was driving home with Bob after treatment at a Missoula hospital for what doctors described as a mild heart attack. At some point between Missoula and their home of Butte, Bob mentioned he was experiencing chest pains, told Becky to keep on driving, and died.

The 70-year-old shooting sports superstar was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. James Heathcare in Butte.

Born February 8, 1942 in Kansas City, Mo, Bob began his professional shooting career at age 11 in Big Bear Lake, Calif. While still in high school, Bob placed 2nd in a competition known as the Leatherslap. After years of competing in Fast Draw, Bob and Becky performed together beginning in 1968, emphasizing the importance of gun safety when they went on tour in 1969 for the National School Assembly Program. Depending on the venue, Bob and Becky continued to perform together shooting blanks or with live ammunition across the United States, in New Zealand and London, England. As recently as 2011 the Mundens put on their live-ammunition exhibition at locations in California and Kansas.

Over the years Bob, often with Becky who is also a champion shooter, appeared on many television shows, most famously American Shooter, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Shooting USA, and Shooting USA’s Impossible Shots. Munden can be found all over YouTube and appears in entertaining and instructional DVDs including Bob Munden: Outrageous Shooting and Bob Munden: The Collector’s Edition.

At age 68 Munden appeared on Stan Lee's Superhumans on the History Channel. The episode shows a scientist reporting that Munden’s hand withstands 10 Gs of force when he draws and fires his gun from the holster. Viewers learn that as a comparison, jet pilots are trained to withstand 9 Gs, and that Bob is “faster than a rattlesnake.” In a demo during the same show, Munden draws and shoots two balloons six feet apart with two shots that sound virtually like one.
Just eight weeks ago today, at the Butte Gun Club range for Midland Radio Corporation, Munden did exhibition shooting with a .45 caliber single action and Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol. Bob Munden & Midland XTC High Definition Action Camera – YouTube

Registered as members #118 and #119 respectively, Bob and Becky entertained at the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) End of Trail World Championships of Cowboy Action Shooting 30 times with what Becky proudly said was the most complex presentation ever offered at an exhibition shooting show. She added that Bob was Cowboy Action Shooting’s first gunsmith.

Becky said, “We had an incredible, memorable life together.”

She also said that of all the inarguably amazing shots Bob achieved during his lifetime of speed shooting, precision shooting and showmanship with handguns, rifles and shotguns; his opening a safety pin, hitting a target 600 yards away, throwing a knife with a bullet and others all accomplished with handguns and practiced mostly in his imagination rather than at the range, Bob was definite that splitting a playing card in he threw into the air was most difficult.

Bob is survived by his wife Becky, his daughters Natalie and Mitzi; grandson Levi, granddaughter Kaycee, his mother; three brothers and a sister; nieces, nephews, friends and millions of fans.

According to Bob’s wishes his remains will be cremated. A memorial and celebration of life is to be scheduled during warmer weather in 2013. A small event for local neighbors and friends will take place in Butte in the near future. Information about both events will be posted at bobmunden.com and the official fan page. www.Facebook.com/BobMundenFanPage

Thanks to all you wonderful fans.

Bob loved you and worked for you. -- The Munden Family

[sledgemeister]

I know he wasn't a member here, but Bob was a top notch entertainer and advocate for our sports and rights.

Bob Munden died Monday evening, December 10, 2012.  Becky was with him at the time.

Last year during an interview when he thought he wasn't being taped or on the record he spoke of his kidney issues and needing a transplant.  He publicly stated later that he had not intended that to be public, but chose to not have it removed.

I will miss his showmanship and sense of humor - mostly making fun of his own ego and humility.

Poor bugger I would have thought dialysis would have been available?

Those of you who I have on facebook will probably have twigged I have been making regular trips to the hospital, the reason being my kidneys are failing, currently working at only 6% (poly cystic kidney disease - thanks mum) . Doctors are a little amazed how well I still function.
I am going into hospital on Friday oz time to have a fistula made for my left arm, to facilitate dialysis.
After that heals and I can begin dialysis then I will need to have one of my kidneys removed in order to receive a transplant, other wise the new one would be crushed by the size of my other kidneys. The average kidney is approx 4" (10cm) long mine are 10" long. (PS this explanation is not to facilitate sympathy but my way of saying I can empathise what Bob went through)

Farewell Bob I loved watching your vids.

[BAC]

Robert,

I had no idea why, but wondered what all the hospital visits were for (I left Facebook right after the election).  Best of luck.  You're in my prayers.

Brian

P.S.  Bob died of a heart attack.

[PABLO DEL NORTE]

PRAYERS & CONDOLENCES TO THE MUNDEN FAMILY.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE  HIM & HIS WIFE AT THE END OF THE TRAIL, BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE. 

RIP, MR. MUNDEN A.K.A. THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE.

[billt]

I just noticed this. Really sad. I liked his personality as much as I did watching his phenomenal shooting ability. I don't think he will ever be equalled.

[Sponsor]

[jnevis]

P.S.  Bob died of a heart attack.

For those that are unaware, kidney issues bad enough to warrant dialysis have other side effects besides waste removal.  PTH, a hormone that controls some levels of heart function are controlled by the kidneys.  There is a good possibility that the heart attack could have been caused by the elevation of PTH and the regular shock to the system of dialysis itself.  The body tries to compensate for the increased toxins but then has to readjust after a treatment to the "clean" blood.  A co-worker's son reacted badly the first time he was given a full treatment because of it.  Luckily it wasn't fatal, or permenant but was a serious setback for him and he got a transplant from his sister shortly after that.

More people die on dialysis, then get transplants.