After serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1945–1946 he began a law enforcement career which included service with the United States Border Patrol, a term as Sheriff of Deaf Smith County, Texas, and investigator with both the US Customs Service and Special Agent in Charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
After his first nationally published article hit newsstands in September 1959, Skelton began writing part-time for firearms periodicals.
His "Me and Joe" stories of his Depression-era youth, while including references to period firearms, were character-oriented rather than technical pieces.
His 'Dobe Grant' and 'Jug Johnson' short stories were perhaps the only fiction routinely published by a popular shooting magazine.
Skelton is credited by firearms writer John Taffin with the revival of the .44 Special round.