Age and shooting

[irishlad]

My 20 year old grandson (who I raised and took shooting and hunting alot) was looking at some of my recent targets and made the comment that I use to be a more consistent shot. He is correct. My eyes and steadiness of my hands aren't what they use to be. I was curious if anyone got better in their late 60s or older. Thanks

 

[e rex]

I got better only in an old man's memory. No, my eyes water with a little breeze now and it takes both hands to drink a cup of coffee........of course I'm only 79 going on 80.

 

[Laphroaig]

I was curious if anyone got better in their late 60s or older.

I don't think that life works that way. Eyes, muscles, nervous system all get weaker to some degree around then. Some good shooters that I know continue to perform at a high level as they near retirement age but its only a matter of time for them too. I struggle to keep what few skills I have left. It's still fun to try though, as long as I can do it safely.

 

[nettlle]

I will be 70 in a couple of months. A 70 year old that practices once a week year 'round can out shoot a young pup that only shoots a couple of times a year. Use it or lose it.

 

[db_tanker]

As I am hitting 50 in a few months I am at a point where I wait a bit more between shots. I actually look through the scope with and without eyeglasses to make sure I'm on. I've also started using my lead-sled more and my regular bench rest less (except for my beloved 22's).

Yeah. Years aren't kind but they haven't, for me, taken away my love for this.

D

 

[I6turbo]

I was curious if anyone got better in their late 60s or older.

Pretty much the only way someone would get better in their 60s or older would be if they had poor technique or poor equipment earlier in life, and they improved it at an older age. Or if they had some disease or illness that got cured or treated later in life.

 

[wiscoaster]

... I was curious if anyone got better in their late 60s or older. ...

Depends on what you mean "got better". Relative to what?
I didn't get my first gun until I was over 65.
So, ya, I "got better" in my late 60s because because that's when I was still a gun newbie just learning to shoot.
Now that I'm my 70's I think I can for the most part shoot pretty damn good.
Thanks for reminding me that it's all downhill from here on out.
Frankly, let me remind you (and hope to convince you) that you're not too old to shoot until you no longer have the mental capacity to follow the safety rules and the physical strength to hold and shoulder the gun and to pull the trigger. Hitting the bullseye is secondary. May you be able to continue shooting until you're delivered to the undertaker.
Best wishes and good luck....

 

[nettlle]

It's not downhill for me. Although I still work full time still I have a little more time to shoot and reload. Still have 20/20 vision with glasses and still enjoy shooting and reloading very much.

 

[Jeff62]

My eyes have changed over these years. I am 60 now and used to need correction for distance at night, not now. My “up close” is so bad now I have trouble clearly seeing the front sight on a rifle.

 

[nettlle]

Granted over the years corrective eye ware is needed. I have adjusted. Or you can simply say you are blind.

 

[LaneP]

My problem is double cataract surgery and having to wear readers. Either (1) I have reader strength glasses on and the pistol front sight is clear and the target is a huge blur, or (2) I have regular non-magnifying safety glasses on and the target is clear but the front sight is a blur. Either way it makes shooting accurate groups a huge challenge. Will be knocking on age 60's door here in a few months.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm 55 next month. Due to the time and resources required (like ammunition) I will never get better than I once was- best I can hope for is to not get a lot worse in a hurry.

 

[nettlle]

......oh for heavens sake.

 

[wally]

About to turn 72 and forced to take RMD from my 401 plan, my shooting is reduced to little better than "I fart in your general direction" without optics on handguns and rifles.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I got better shooting rifles. Because i shoot more. And since i been shooting out to 300 yards. My closer rifle shots have improved greatly. But my son is better with handguns because he is more steady off hand shooting.

 

[Howland937]

I don't know anyone who can claim to have gotten better unless it was due to upgraded gear or guns, unless they just never shot much before. I'm 45, my dad is 67 and my brother just turned 30. Dad wears glasses full time, I have a corrective contact for astigmatism in my dominant eye, my brother still has perfect vision.

If we all 3 shoot the same rifle off the same rest with the same ammo, none of you would be able to tell who's target is who's.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I find 1 power readers work good for me. I can see the sights well and the target.

 

[kidneyboy]

I'm 66. SInce I retired 11 years ago most of my shooting has improved but especially rifle. However I have been shooting twice a week for most of that time. I didn't shoot rifle much pre-retirement. Practice, practice.

ETA, my golf game has improved a ton since turning 60. My guitar playing hasn't improved much but I can build an amplifier from a pile of parts.

 

[Remington1911]

I went out with the kid and his wife to be the other day, I can't shoot a hand gun anyomre. End of story don't pass go dont collect $200.

I found out I need to crank my head way back to get the sights to focus, then crank a little more to get the front site to focus, then the back is out of focus, there is no knotch, and the target is nothing but an orange fuzzy thing down there.

Sucks to get old, all I did was make noise.

 

[I6turbo]

A couple of thoughts for those who have problems seeing both the sights and the target clearly at the same time.
- Depending upon the nature of your vision problems, you might be able to find the right magnification reading glasses (for me it's 1.5) that allow you to see both. (Dollar Tree has reading glasses for $1.25, and they are perfectly serviceable, lens-quality wise.)
- If you can see the target clearly but not the sights, try a Green laser, such as the Crimson Trace CMR-206. This is a better solution for handgun distances than the typical rifle distances, but pretty good up to 50 yards or more, depending upon the ambient lighting. I can shoot a laser-equipped gun more accurately than with open sights, even though I can see the target and the open sights clearly while wearing reading glasses. Here's a target that I shot with my CZ P-01 at 11 yards. My iron sights target would be perhaps a 2x larger "group," if not more.

 

[doubleh]

I got better only in an old man's memory. No, my eyes water with a little breeze now and it takes both hands to drink a cup of coffee........of course I'm only 79 going on 80.

Try being 84 going on 85. Everything just degrades more with every passing year. I have watery eyes and shaky hands also. There is medical help for the shaky hands and watery eyes. I am a far cry from even 10 years ago strength wise but I can still shoot the 11 pound rifle I just built off hand. I just can't do it for very many shots at a time. I got rid of cataracts in December of '19 and my vision is the best it has been since my early 50's when I had to start wearing reading glasses. Yes, I have lost quite a bit in the accuracy game offhand and even some off a rest but I will continue shooting as long as I can lift a firearm and take it to a safe place to shoot it.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

When it comes to shooting I've been chasing mediocrity my entire life and I am about as inept as ever right now.

My eyesight took a big hit around age 45, but that's what Rx glasses are for.

Things that have improved with time include my selection process for adding firearms to the collection, the breadth of my library and reloading tool collection, and my basic enjoyment of the time I spend with my favorite hobby. The patience of aging, the free time that came with early retirement and the recognition that I have maybe another twenty good years before I'll need to pass my stuff along to the next generation have forced me to focus on the here-and-now. While I can't shoot any better than when I was 30, I definitely enjoy the experience more deeply.

 

[I6turbo]

While I can't shoot any better than when I was 30, I definitely enjoy the experience more deeply.

They say youth is wasted on the young. I'm not yet sure if I wasted too much of mine, or not, but I'd sure like to have some of it back.

 

[d2wing]

I have had ups and downs due to recurring motorcycle accidents and damaged shoulders. I have had corrective surgery on both shoulders in the past year. I also had cataract surgery in both eyes so at 74 I expect to improve this year. I notice I am a little shakier but as I regain strength I expect to be steadier. I am not what I used to be but I think I am still competitive. I started shooting pellet guns in my garage and since it's still snowing here I won't get to the range for another week but I expect to get some practice an compete some this year. Ask me next year how it went.

 

[d2wing]

I am good now but that day isn't real far away for me. I talked to my son yesterday about it. He said he will buy another safe and not to worry. LOL. A rifle or two might get to my daughters and sons-in-law. None of them are very interested.