[TonyB]

I recently bought a Colt Commander .45,I realized that because I have bad arthritis in my hands I can't comfortably shoot it.I just pounds the crap out of my hand.I guess I'm going to stick to 9mm's.I can shoot my SP101 w/ 357's all day w/ no ill effects,but for some reason the 45 is brutal.I also found out I can't shoot a pump shotgun anymore also.I can't twist my support hand to grip the slide.The arthritis has really effected my range of motion.
So I guess I'm off to trade in my 45 and 870....Arthritis SUCKS.:mad:

[aircarver]

The .45 deals with recoil well, by spreading it over time and arcing up, but there is still a lot of recoil energy to dissipate, as you found out. Problem is, you can't fool the laws of physics.

I sympathize on the arthritis, I am trying to head that off myself with Glucosamine tablets.
I shoot a number of 9s that are heavy enough to hardly be a problem at all with the recoil.

[Southern Raider]

The Commander recoil will be worse, and depending on how it is equipped, it can be horrible. When I traded for a LW commander, I was horrified at how it felt to shoot. The recoil was sharp and stinging. I added a beavertail safety, full length guide rod, shock buffer and nice rubber grips and it feels like a whole new gun.

[Sean Smith]

Is it an aluminum-framed or steel-framed commander? Really light .45 ACP guns typically suck for anybody to shoot. Having shot both, I can't imagine a steel commander kicking harder than a .357 of comparable size...

:confused:

[45auto]

You might try some real light "target" loads in 45 before you get rid of it, but, the 45 auto does have a "different" feel in recoil than a revolver.

[seeker_two]

If you're still enamored of the 1911 design, you could trade for one in 9mm or .38 Super. Less recoil w/o sacrificing much power.

Another option (though I'm loath to suggest it) would be to try some type of porting on your gun. I know that you can get add-on barrels, or you can have yours worked on by a gunsmith (better option).

Hope all goes well...

[10-Ring]

Arthritis really does suck! :banghead: I have found the 45 to be mild recoiling if you just find the right round to shoot! I've got arthritis in my shoulders & find that alot of rounds regardless of caliber is noticable. I just stick to practicing w/ a milder round & keep defensive ammo practice down to a minimum.

[CZF]

I agree about the 1911 design. I much prefer to shoot a P-35 Browning or
CZ75, making note of the soft recoil of the P-01. Does anyone here suffer from Fibromyalgia?

[Smoke]

Sell your pump and Commander because you can't shoot them? I think I'd cry.

I might be able to get over losing the 870 if I bought myself a nice Benelli auto loader, but the Commander too...although, there is that nice Hi-Power I've been wanting.....maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

My family has a history of arthritis, so far I've been lucky, I developed all the other bad genetic defects of my family, maybe I'll miss this one.

[Zeke Menuar]

I can't shoot a .45 either, but not for lack of trying.

I have a LW Commander. It is a little on the snappy side, but not as bad as my 686 loaded with heavy 357 loads.
I added some parts that made the LW Commander fit my hand better. A wedge shaped steel mainspring housing and a rubber fingergroove insert. As a result the gun weighs a little more, and since it fits better it is easier to handle the recoil.

You do have some options with the Commander. You can load some lightweight 45 ACP loads. A light load using a 185gr cast bullet. I used to load these a lot. Really soft and easy to shoot. Another option is the Sprinco recoil reducer. I had one on my late unlamented 1991A1. It cut down on the felt recoil quite a bit.
Maybe a S&W 625 or one of the new ported Taurus 45acp revolvers might be better on your hands and you don't have to go to a 9mm

I would hate to see anyone have to give up a Commander style 1911 or a decent 870. That just plain sucks. Period.

Good Luck to you

ZM

[Bainx]

Try changing the grips on the 45.

[larryw]

After I smashed my strong hand, I found I couldn't shoot a 1911 with one of the "palm swell" grip safetys. If you're getting beat at the bones near the web of your hand, you can try swapping that out. For me, it made a world of dirrerence.

CZF, my wife does and has a history of arthritis in her family (both sides). She shoots a USP 45C with nary a problem.

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

Second recommendation for Glucosamine/chondroitin. They make a world of difference for my 64-year old mother's half-wasted hip joint. It takes a while to realize the full benefits. She thought it wasn't doing much until she ran out once. Woke up of a morning basically unable to move for the pain. Now she swears by it. Can make a difference in the loss of flexibility due to cartiledge breakdown.

CZf, she's got Fibromyalgia, too. And Migraines, which I have inherited. There's a possibility they're connected. She's all about pain management, and is a remarkable survivor.

Another thought is a wrist brace, and counterweighted shooting gloves. Additional mass can go a long way towards absorbing recoil. You might could sew a small bag of lead shot to a wrist brace, for instance. I read about weighted gloves as a technique for shooting heavy-recoiling SA revolvers in the .454 Casull-class. I think they're available commercially, but I can't remember who made 'em.

Maybe you could switch to an autoloading shoptgun. Otherwise the only suggestion is the abve-mentioned pills as a flexibility aid.

[Jerry Morris]

Check your recoil sring for wieght. If it is at spec, you might want to go up a couple of lbs..

Jerry

[Mad Man]

Discvovered I can't shoot a 45....

The 1911 in .45 ACP is the be-all/end-all of handguns, which everybody must be able to shoot. Anything else is a waste of time.

Grow stronger.

[George Hill]

:rolleyes:

Instead of trying to make it work... find a gun that you really enjoy shooting.

Some people tend to forget THAT is what it is all about. Springfield has a nice 1911 in 9MM that you could get cheap. But there are other nice shooting options.
BHP
Glock
Beretta
HK USP
CZ's all over the place
Steyr
SW99
Walther P99
SIG P226 , 228, 225, 239
XD
Lot's of other options.

[Soap]

What George said, but I would also add that I would recommend cocked and locked carry for the simple reason that a DA trigger is much harder to pull.

[45R]

Several things to consider for the arthritis and shooting the .45
1. Change the grips
2. Wear Gloves
3. Try a recoil reducer from Harts
4. Shock Buff
5. Lighter Target Loads
6. Add a compensator
7. Trade the Commander for a full size 1911

Supplement with Glucosamine Chondrotin to help rebuild joints, pineapples and pomogrants(SP?) have enzymes in them that help reduce pain. They must be fresh though.

[Dr.Rob]

BHP (though you'll be suprised the slide is stiffer than a 1911)

Glucosamine

Sand bag to work/exercise the figers/wrists.

[Ankeny]

I too have arthritis really bad in my hands and back. I am on a regular diet of NSAIDs in one form or another. I eat Celebrex like candy. I also have cortisone injections in my right elbow a couple of times a year for tendonitis and the joint needs to be scoped again for deposits.

Still, shooting is my thing and the discomfort just becomes part of the gane. Before you sell your 1911 you might want to try some 200 grain bullets with a fast powder like N320 or WST loaded at a power factor of 165 (like for IPSC or IDPA). Add a tungsten guide rod and drop down to a 15 lb. spring and add a shock buffer. The IPSC guys in your area can get your set up tuned so it "shoots soft".

If you have a neutral grip and good kinematics, the recoil should just wash right through your hands, up your arms, and right on down through the soles of your feet and into the ground. If the lighter loads don't do it and you still want to shoot a 1911 style gun, try one in .38 Super loaded to 125 power factor. Good luck.

[bigolddeerhunter]

You might get your doc. to give you some of the new Cox 2 inhibitor drugs like Bextra or Vioxx. Takes about 2 weeks to notice the difference. It made a difference for me.

Good luck.

[tac17]

I can sympathize completely with you. I had surgery at the end of last year and I can no longer take .45's anymore either.

[caz223]

If shooting's your game like it is mine, you would find a way to keep at least the .45
There are ways of making them shoot softer, shooting lighter loads, changing to a lighter recoil spring to ease racking the slide.
I shoot 200 grain XTP hornadys loaded very light with unique, and they seem to shoot very soft, and still cycle the slide and perforate anything in their path.
I can't hit anything with 9mm, I don't know why, but the light .45 is just as accurate as the full-power item, if not moreso.
My tendonitis barely notices what's going on.

[TonyB]

I'm not really too bumbed about this.I can shoot my 9mm excelently,my 357 pretty good.I just don't think the 1911 is for me.At the risk of sounding unAmerican.
As for Mad Man,you clearly don't understand arthritis...it's not about "growing stronger",it's a deteriorating disease.With lots of medication,I've slowed the progression down considerably,but "a man's got to know his limitations."
1911's a great guns,but not for me I guess.
After all if I can put my shots where I want them(and I can w/ my 9mm)I think I'll be ok.I want to have fun,not be hurting for a week.
As for the pump gun,I'm thinking about an over/under or auto.
I've considered trying the Glocosamine,but I have high suger too, so that's out.I have heard people have great results w/ it though.
Thanks all....:cool: