Knee replaced today,gonna catch up on gun stuff.What do you do when your cooped up in house.

I’m 74 years old, long-time retired, my guns are clean, and I don’t need to build/reload any ammunition to add to the stash right now. Besides that, there’s 3 feet of snow in the yard. And that means our “shooting range” (a county gravel pit about 2 miles south of the house) is full of snow. Not that we’re complaining about all of the snow we’re getting this winter - if you haven’t heard, the west has been in a drought, and the snow in the hills is going to help refill our lakes and reservoirs come spring. So, bring it on!
At any rate, what do I do that’s gun related to take up my spare time? Well, for one thing I spend a lot of time on THR. That, and my other pass-time is visiting one doctor or another almost once a week, every week - ever since deer season last October. There’s something going on with my heart (probably not real serious whatever it is) and the cardiologists, as well as my regular doctor haven’t got it figured out yet.
BTW, I lock my gun in the truck before I go into the hospital or clinic. I’d leave it home if it wasn’t for the fact we usually have other errands to run while we’re in town for my almost weekly doctor visit lately.
Oh, the other thing I do in my spare time that’s gun related is “regenerate” (bake in the oven) the desiccant packs we have in our gun safes about once a month. I usually do that while watching TV.

My favorite cooped-up shooting hobby: indoor air rifle or air pistol shooting.

You can get into it cheap with a Beeman P17 pistol. It's an extremely accurate one-pump pneumatic with an incredible trigger. It will literally put the pellets in one ragged hole at 10 meters. (Beeman claims they're capable of a .20" group and it's very true in the case of the two P17s I have.)

The best part? They cost about fifty bucks. They were thirty when I bought mine. I use one with the open sights that came on it and have a 2x scope on the other one.

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

I have had a few episodes of being completely laid up. First was 2004 when I had a major bypass surgery to both legs. Hospital for 9 days, home bound for 2 weeks, completely off work for 3 months. After two weeks I was able to actually walk far enough to go outside to the mailbox and back. Took another 2 weeks to be able to walk to the end of the street and back, about a city block.
Last trip was 5 years ago for a triple heart bypass. Took about 6 weeks before I was strong and stable enough to go shoot pistols. First couple times were tough with the recoil.

I am pretty certain you will find more than enough things to occupy your time and speed along the recovery. Don't forget when you get bored there is always Here on the Forum! Plenty of folks here to pass gas with.

Along with reloading, I’ve started dry fire practice with snap caps. It helps scratch the itch when I can’t make a range day.

Well as someone who had similar surgery last summer I can tell you guns will be the last thing on your mind.

I started out high hopes of shooting and reloading until walking to other locations proved difficult and PAINFUL.

I did the therapy to the T and that's all the effort I wanted to use.

I am 100% now in regards to mobility

My advice is forget about guns and do the physical therapy, being crippled up in the battle for freedom to come will do nothing to help you or your family.

Howland937 said:

I dunno. I had neck surgery a couple months back. Disc fusion or whatever the official name is.
3 new pieces of bone in place of damaged material, titanium plate and 8 screws. I was only off for 2 weeks but ready to be back at work after about 3 days...and I don't even like my job that much. I spent my short period of down time shooting rimfires and restocking ammo.

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Did you use cadaver bone or your own? I asked for cadaver bone, because a family member had it, and my surgeon recommended using my own, then kind of changed the subject. I found out after he'd indeed gone ahead and taken bone from my hip, which resulted in a slower healing in the neck, and sepsis in my hip, for which I was on some strong antibiotics, including Rocephin IV once a week.
I had been on Dammitall (Tramadol) for almost two years at that point, and they continued that and added Percocet for a while, then switched to MSContin. Heed the stool softener advice, with water! I was on MSContin four four years, I will never go on another opioid again. Not Fun.

entropy said:

Did you use cadaver bone or your own?

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They used cadaver bone in mine. I was at a point where they coulda used cut up pieces of Dr. Scholl's inserts for all I cared. I was on pain meds for about 3 days, then switched to Tylenol. Just got all restrictions lifted 2 weeks ago so I'm cleared to shoot anything I please.

Ks5shooter said:

So knee was replaced.Limted movement and cooped up for a week or so.No work for weeks after that,so free time it is.
Gonna inspect ,lube wipe down all firearms. Gonna try to prep all brass that needs it.Reload lots of pistol ammo for spring.Load up my hunting ammo for next year.Going through gun gear,loading supplies etc.Gonna weed out what I dont need or use and list them on THR and give you guys first crack at it.
Also doing some gunsmithing for freinds.
Question is what do you do or have you done gun related when your down and have time on your hands.

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That's pretty much what I have done following past surgeries.

On another note. Don't push. Doctors have a good handle on surgeries like this. I always jokingly ask just before surgery "so doc you went to school for this right"? Take the time needed to allow correct healing, don't push. Follow therapy to the letter just like when you load. Finally best wishes for a speedy and good recovery. Good things come to those who wait.

Ron

@Ks5shooter, haven't had to go through that; just want to wish you well in your recovery. If in your situation, I'd give priority to PT, then focus on fully reorganizing my reloading area and inventory of components.

Best wishes on your recovery.
My current favorite time killer is YouTube.
My current favorite YouTube: search for
*Modern Day Mountain Man. Alaskan hunting.
*Lost Lakes. Remote Canadian canoe trips.
* Jim Shockey Yukon adventures. Hunting
* Simple Living Alaska. Young couple Living off-grid Alaska
These are in order of favoritism.

I'd do like you, but might also look at any accessories I always thought about, but never have the time. Scopes, red dots, compensators, reloading gadgets ... I'd be picking up or ordering a few things to entertain myself and messing with how they work. If you order online you also get the fun of knowing what day something might arrive and that is something to look forward to during the process.

Armored farmer said:

Best wishes on your recovery.
My current favorite time killer is YouTube.
My current favorite YouTube: search for
*Modern Day Mountain Man. Alaskan hunting.
*Lost Lakes. Remote Canadian canoe trips.
* Jim Shockey Yukon adventures. Hunting
* Simple Living Alaska. Young couple Living off-grid Alaska
These are in order of favoritism.

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Looks like you are dreaming about going to the North North Woods

CoalCrackerAl said:

After i had my thigh muscle reconnected. I puttered around in my cave. Loading some and cleaning my guns. My leg is still not 100%. It's been over 2 years. Sometimes it will sorta give out. Like when a someone or a dog hits the back of your leg. But not enough that i fall.

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Is that the same thing as a ruptured quad tendon? If so i had that surgery on both legs 10 years apart, no fun.

Yes mine disconnected at my knee. I was coming down the steps. And my left ankle gave out. When i caught myself. The right quad disconnected. I thought i dislocated me knee at 1st. I was on an antibiotic that can make tendons weak. I now do calf raises to keep my ankles strong.

I might be having hernia surgery soon so I am following this thread... It shouldn't be near as involved as knee surgery though! I'm getting referred to an imaging specialist to get an ultrasound and will go from there...
I do agree with some other other posts on here saying to binge watch Dirty Harry and other gun related tv shows/movies!

CoalCrackerAl said:

Yes mine disconnected at my knee. I was coming down the steps. And my left ankle gave out. When i caught myself. The right quad disconnected. I thought i dislocated me knee at 1st. I was on an antibiotic that can make tendons weak. I now do calf raises to keep my ankles strong.

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That's how mine came apart, going down steps, No reason, the second one, just gave out. first one in 1999 second in 2009. Thats 13 years now . Hope i dont wreck the third leg, but its near useless now anyway.

Sharpen knives
Inspect and clean mags (as necessary)
Load mags
Organize/clean gear room
Check for loose screws on guns known for loosening.



After that we get silly

Ks5shooter said:

So knee was replaced.Limted movement and cooped up for a week or so.No work for weeks after that,so free time it is.
Gonna inspect ,lube wipe down all firearms. Gonna try to prep all brass that needs it.Reload lots of pistol ammo for spring.Load up my hunting ammo for next year.Going through gun gear,loading supplies etc.Gonna weed out what I dont need or use and list them on THR and give you guys first crack at it.
Also doing some gunsmithing for freinds.
Question is what do you do or have you done gun related when your down and have time on your hands.

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I've been on the sidelines with Covid and will be for a few more days. My gun interactions have been watching Matt Dillon shoot people that needed shooting for whatever reason.

Hope your surgery went well.

Put on a favorite action movie and dryfire at the bad guys. (My wife just shakes her head now when she sees snap caps and a Die Hard DVD).

"What's your favorite practice target? NRA 25 yard slow fire? B27?"

"Hans Gruber."

Ks5shooter said:

Question is what do you do or have you done gun related when your down and have time on your hands.

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I haven't yet had down time due to an injury or such, but I've enjoyed refinishing the wood on a lot of my guns. I like to remove the factory finish that usually obscures the natural grain, and replace the finish with something that lets it show through. Like the before and after below.

Ks5shooter said:

So knee was replaced.Limted movement and cooped up for a week or so.No work for weeks after that,so free time it is.
Gonna inspect ,lube wipe down all firearms. Gonna try to prep all brass that needs it.Reload lots of pistol ammo for spring.Load up my hunting ammo for next year.Going through gun gear,loading supplies etc.Gonna weed out what I dont need or use and list them on THR and give you guys first crack at it.
Also doing some gunsmithing for freinds.
Question is what do you do or have you done gun related when your down and have time on your hands.

Click to expand...

Reload a lot mate

Thewelshm