The Shakes

[ChiefPilot]

So I'm at the range yesterday with my AR (.223), my 1911 (.45 ACP), and my Single Six (.22LR). I started out shooting my 1911 and was able to keep six of the first seven shots in the blank on an NRA 25 yd target at 25 yards. But it was downhill from there - I just couldn't hold the gun steady after that. I know it is psychological, since I did OK with the .22 (no shakes). But after a few shots with the .45., the shakes were back.

Any hints/tips/helpful information on how to get past this? Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[Swamprabbit]

I have the same problem and have found that what helps most is a routine of pushups and grip exercises. Also, cafeine and tobacco don't help any if you use either.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Sounds like you're uncomfortable shooting the bigger gun. Is it new to you? If so, you'll get used to it. Dry fire it alot. Also, next time you're at the range with a friend, have them load a snap cap in it, so you won't know about it. Then see how badly you flinch.

I've been shooting a long time, and I still will flinch occasionally and blow a shot. On a couple of my guns, I can get pretty bad with the flinches. So I take a break, then go back to it, really slowing down and focusing on the basics of trigger control, stance, etc.

You'll master it!

 

[k8ysv]

Tension will do this to me, but it's usually brought on by lack of food. If I don't eat well the morning before going shooting, I'm worthless on the range. Yep, caffeine too. No Mountain Dew before shooting

 

[R.H. Lee]

Are you gripping the pistol too tight? Try holding it in one hand, extended arm and relax your grip a little, and see if the shake stop.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Assuming no physical problems, nerve damage etc. some amount of shake is normal if only from the beating of your heart.

Lots of shake is not and may be for reasons others have posted above.

 

[WarMachine]

I get that shakes sometime too; not sure what causes it. On some days when I have consumed no caffeine whatsoever, I just cannot see to hit anything. Other days my hands are like that of Ben Carson

 

[M2 Carbine]

Same problem sometimes.

Mostly if I start off shooting something like a 40 S&W Kel Tec P-11.
I think your nerves/muscles sometimes "protest" at that kind of treatment.

So I shoot the rest of the day lefthanded.
It's surprising how good you can do.
It's good practice and should be done once in a while anyhow.


I tried an experiment on a friend without telling him.
I asked him to shoot a magazine load through the P-11.
He couldn't stop shaking after that and he's not normally recoil sensitive.

 

[sendec]

Couple of thoughts....

Are you on any medication? Tremor is a fairly common side effect. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something like propanolol to counteract it, Please note that I am not a pharmacist.

Have you had a recent physical to rule out any organic causes?

If nothing else applies, watch your diet, stay hydrated and avoid sugar, nicotine and caffeine. Keep in mind that some movement is inevitable and expected as part of the arc of motion. i would also recommend some dryfire. Then some more dryfire. On top of that I'd do some dryfire. It will train your muscles and nervous system what is expected of it.

Lastly, the best way to make the shakes worse will be to conciously try to stop them. Try some breathing and relation exercises. Mental focus on the task is critical, but if it is overdone to the point of muscular failure it has gone too far. Start with reasonable, obtainable goals, like 3 perfect presses, then gradually increase over time.

Shooting is a far more mental process than physical. Getting the two sytems to work harmoniously is the trick.

 

[ChiefPilot]

Thanks for all the feedback - at the least I have some things to try I hadn't thought of before!

Sounds like you're uncomfortable shooting the bigger gun. Is it new to you?

No, I've put about 1000+/- rounds through it since last fall, but the shakes only started last weekend. I go every sunday afternoon before evening church services have had the same schedule for at least four months. But since I could shoot my .22LR revolver without any problems whatsoever, this might be applicable.

Tension will do this to me, but it's usually brought on by lack of food. If I don't eat well the morning before going shooting, I'm worthless on the range. Yep, caffeine too. No Mountain Dew before shooting

Sounds familar, actually - both yesterday and last week I skipped both breakfast and lunch but had a couple of large diet cokes. Hmm. I'll definately look into this one!

Lastly, the best way to make the shakes worse will be to conciously try to stop them.

You got that right!

Thanks again - I will try these suggestions and report back next week!

-Brad

 

[BHPshooter]

I used to get the shakes a lot when shooting -- for about the first 6 months after getting my gun.

It wasn't the noise, it wasn't the recoil, it wasn't caffeine, and it wasn't aerobic exercise. It was sheer excitement of A) having my own gun, and B) going shooting. Not until I handled my gun every minute I was home, and took up serious dry-firing did I get control of myself.

I've also got essential palsic tremor which didn't make things fun either, but I've found that after doing the 2 things above (again: handle the gun A LOT and dry fire A LOT) I can work around my tremor.

One more thing to say: Make sure you dry-fire safely.

Wes

 

[Tman]

"I skipped both breakfast and lunch but had a couple of large diet cokes."

Sounds slightly hypoglycemic. Didn't eat....sometimes blood sugars drop, body's response in adrenalin to raise blood glucose levels (get fast heart beats and shaking). Diet cokes give you caffeine, makes the shaking worse. I usually make sure I eat a little bit (not a lot) before I go to the range.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Gun Control is

I just go off my Thorazine a few days before I go to the range. If I time it right, I'm out of ammo before the voices start in on me again.

 

[Soap]

My cure for livefire jitters:

Shoot a few live rounds. Then dryfire maybe about 10 times. Shoot a magazine, if the shakes are back, dryfire about twice to every one livefire round. After a few minutes of this, any kind of jumpiness or shakes that I have are generally gone.

 

[Waitone]

Was your hearing protection up to your usual snuff?

Were you wearing different eye protection?

Were you using hot ammo vs your standard fare?

Large diet cokes? Caffine makes me calm compared to diet cokes.

When I get the shakes in the middle of a session I shift to supported shooting, usually off my range bag.

 

[George Hill]

All these suggestions are good... but if you can do fine with a .22 and not a .45 then you have a mental conditioning issue here.

Go back to the .22 and then build up from there. Get a .32, then a .32 Magnum, then a 9mm... step it up once you overcome the shakes.

 

[Kurt S.]

Hand Tremor

I have something similar to what Fumigator has; in my case it's called "familial tremor"- my grandfather had to a very slight extent, my father has it quite pronounced, and I'm about in the middle. I could take a beta blocker like propranol but since I don't have high blood pressure it has some side effects. I have also been told about taking some anti-epilitic drugs but I'm not a big fan of medications anyway.

Basically, I just go light on the caffeine and alcohol, and pay a lot of attention to sight picture. I have not had any problems with the Texas CHL proficiency test and I shoot a lot, but I'm never going to be an IDPA or IPSC champ anyway, so....

 

[gbran]

Kava Kava

I'm not into herbs as a rule, but Kava Kava is said to be an herbal tranqualizer. When I go hunting or shooting, I'll still have one small cup of coffee first thing in the morning, but then I'll take two to three Kava Kava and this works really well. It's kinda like shooting pool. I'm really bad sober. I find my sweet spot after 1-2 beers. Then I get bad again after 5-6 beers. Ya gotta take the edge off.

 

[ChiefPilot]

They're gone!

So I ate a good lunch, skipped the caffeine, and started out with my .22 today instead of the .45. Problem solved!

I think the problem was likely a combination of things, but the above did the trick. What's more, I shot my rifle better today than I have for a while, so I guess the no caffeine trick is something to remember.

Thanks to everybody for their helpful suggestions!

 

[Sven]

Dry fire your 1911 before each firing session, and also at the end or when you start shaking. Just unload and practice "rap, tap... click". Then load a round and I believe you will find it easier to relax.

Remember: the gun will not hurt you if you are holding it right.

 

[faustulus]

lay off the crack pipe

 

[Brad Johnson]

Definitely go light on the caffeine. It's a good idea to go easy on the groceries too. Eating too much will affect you as bad as not eating at all. Get something light like a small sandwich or some cheese & crackers (where would the world be without Velveeta?). Ditto sugary soft drinks, even non-caffeinated ones.

I am a coffee-aholic (I drink about two pots a day) and have to be careful with the java on range day. If I really lay into the Folger's that morning my reaction time is great but my accuracy goes all to heck. It also causes a sympathetic tremor in my thumb that just gets worse the more I try to control it.

Brad

 

[El Tejon]

1. Eat right

2. Dry practice.

You'll do great.

 

[HiWayMan]

ChiefPilot-

You used the S-word. I shot my NRA quals last night and I didn't want to jinx myself by reading this thread yesterday. In fact I about crapped when I saw the title. Its kinda like talking about the "shanks" around golfers.

Glad you got your problem fixed though.