Big Bore Cartridges And Their Long Term Effects On Your Body

[bearman49709]

By the time I reached 60 I had three operations on my right hand and seven on my left. I have arthritis in every joint on every finger and both thumbs along with both wrist.
whughett is right, not all is from shooting guns.
We use and abuse our hands daily sometimes without even thinking about what we're doing.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Right now I have a sprained wrist (unrelated to shooting) and it concerns me a bit...

Don't be discouraged.....!
Happened to me about 10 - 12 years ago. Sprain so bad I was convinced that something was broke.
You probably already know this, but physical therapy will get you back in shape!
Took me a while but am now back in the game.
You WILL be fine!

Edit to add:
Did not take 10 - 12 years to heal

 

[Zendude]

By the time I reached 60 I had three operations on my right hand and seven on my left. I have arthritis in every joint on every finger and both thumbs along with both wrist.
whughett is right, not all is from shooting guns.
We use and abuse our hands daily sometimes without even thinking about what we're doing.

Just driving a computer keyboard several hours a day is causing a carpal tunnel epidemic.

 

[Kleanbore]

You probably already know this, but physical therapy will get you back in shape!

Won't help nerve damage, arthritis, or joint injuries.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Won't help nerve damage, arthritis, or joint injuries.

I am not a smart person. Just passing along what may help. Encouragement can't hurt...........

 

[mjsdwash]

I don't know exactly, but I bought a 9mm 1911 for this exact reason. I then developed the lightest load that will cycle it 223 cal rifles are becoming the most common, and will probably never give you medical problems beyond hearing. I shoot mostly light 38spl, and 9mm now. Hot 45 doesn't bother me, but I bet in 20 years it will.

 

[jhb]

I'm no medical researcher so have no idear, but I do know range shooting even a lighter load like .357 mag in a shorter barrel repetitively, hurts my hands after awhile. regardless of grip material or ammo used. did when was young, still does. so I don't shoot many anymore.

most auto loader rounds I find easy and never hurts no matter how many I shoot.


I'd guess a few rounds of the big stuff once in ahwile, ones body can handle. range shooting 100s at a time in a short window every few days, cant be good for anyone, but what do I know.

 

[Gordon]

Would be as much a question as what do you do the rest of the time with your hands and wrist. Few are earning a living shooting, mechs, as mentioned driving heavy wrenches or impact tools for hours a day, picture a guy running a demolition hammer 8 hours a day 40 hours a week, for thirty years, a carpenter who swings a framing hammer, me ,I used my hands for multi tasking, some heavy some not and I have arthritis in fingers and wrists back and shoulders. The only thing I’d blame on shooting is my deafness. Say What!!!

Exactly ! Ad then when you get older and have the conditions those careers cause you can hurt your self with heavy hitting magnums.

 

[silvermane_1]

This is another reason I own a 480 Ruger, the recoil isn't as bad other big bore magnum class and heavier recoiling big bores.

 

[whughett]

Exactly ! Ad then when you get older and have the conditions those careers cause you can hurt your self with heavy hitting magnums.

Not to mention Not everyone can shoot them as well as softer recoil loads, including yours truly.

 

[bdickens]

Won't help nerve damage, arthritis, or joint injuries.

Au contraire:
https://arthritis.org/health-wellne...ical-therapies/physical-therapy-for-arthritis

 

[Kleanbore]

Au contraire:
https://arthritis.org/health-wellne...ical-therapies/physical-therapy-for-arthritis

I spoke imprecisely.

Physical therapy can help people cope with arthritis, so "won't help" was a poor choice of words.

But it will not cure it.

I have arthritis, spinal stenosis, weak tendons, recurrent tendonitis, and a host of other things. I cannot take anti-inflammatory drugs. I have been undergoing physical therapy for almost three years, off and on.

The "cure" for the arthritis in my hands is to use strap wrenches, electric can openers, etc, and to otherwise avoid using my hands.

The problem did not result from shooting.

 

[whughett]

Us lucky ones live long enough to have to endure these maladies of the aging process and yes PT helps a bunch. Thank you Medicare.

 

[CraigC]

Only issues I have are unrelated to shooting. Broke my right wrist at age 10 and it's never been right since but doesn't really give me too much trouble. It's the tendinitis in my elbows from sitting behind a desk for 15yrs that gives me fits. Enough so that I had to get a sewing machine to continue doing leatherwork. It's why the slow push of a heavy, full sized big bore is more comfortable than the quick snap of something like a .357 J-frame.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

I once shot an entire 50-round box of factory 240 grain JHP 44 Magnums with a Ruger Vaquero & hurt the skin & fingernail of my my right hand pinky finger.
I don't know if I was holding it wrong or what but from the stories Ive heard I would definitely not want do the same with more powerful rounds like the 454 Casull.
I intend to continue shooting my 44 Magnum but the next time I try hot loads I plan on trying a thin leather golf glove for my right hand.

 

[Kleanbore]

I intend to continue shooting my 44 Magnum but the next time I try hot loads I plan on trying a thin leather golf glove for my right hand.

That should help with abrasion, but I doubt whether it will help with stress and strain.

I would load down to .44 Special.

The only .357 magnum loads I have ever fired were in a 6 1/2 inch N-frame. It didn't bother me a the time.

I don't mess with hands, knees, elbows, or my back.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Had an extraordinarily severe slice to my wrist and forearm several years back. Buddy and I decided to practice our fencing. Forgot our sparring blades, so we used broomsticks. Docs said another millimeter and I'd of bled out in 5 minutes. Severed several ligaments, a few tendons, and damaged a few nerves (paraphrasing here). The tendons and ligaments healed. The nerves... did not. Every now and then, I'll lose feeling in my right hand for no discernable reason. Pin and needles. Still have complete control, capable of fine and deft movement (playing piano and machine work). Doc said it might fix itself, or it may never go away. Is why I prefer revolvers, DA and SA. I indulge myself with 1911's; but I'd prefer not to lose feeling with a light trigger in my grasp.

 

[BMF500]

Probably less than the 25 years of power lifting and 20 years of roughnecking have done. Honestly I don't think much depending on the shooter's size and physical condition.