Dealing With Injuries That Keep You From Shooting

[D-Man]

Today I learned that I injured the tendons in my ring finger on my left hand, and this will basically require my finger to be in a cast for 6 weeks (actually will be a little longer as the finger needs to stabilize and heal before getting into the cast).

Anyways, what do people do when they have injuries like this that keeps them from shooting. I could go to the range and try to practice one hand (my right is my strong one) shooting, but honestly I'm not that great of a two hand shot yet, and I wouldn't want to get worse with one hand.

 

[jfountain2]

I think you should practice one hand shooting. It might come in handy one day (no pun intended). What happens if you are at home one day with a bad hand and a bad guy breaks in with the intent of hurting your family? Do you tell him "Come back when my shooting hand is better" or do you grab your gun with whatever hand you can use? It couldn't hurt to have some practice using the other hand...

 

[ZeSpectre]

I'm a strong advocate for learning to shoot all four ways.

Strong-two handed
Strong-single handed
Weak-two handed
Weak-single handed

You should see me go with twin CZ-52 pistols <grin>.

 

[D-Man]

I think the both of you are right - I need to practice one hand shooting anyway.....so might as well do it now when I am pretty much forced to.

 

[David N]

Be Sure To Practice With Weak Hand Only

I make it a point to practice with only my weak hand in case my strong hand gets hurt. This is also a good reason to learn Fairbairn-Applegate-Sykes point shooting.

+1 to what ZeSprectre said!

 

[rjohnson4405]

I found that before I could shoot well two handed I shot better one handed. I guess there was just less things to mess up with only one hand. It's not as hard as you think. I was taught to stand sideways, perpendicular to the target while I shot one handed by the way.

 

[D-Man]

^ The stance comment is interesting - I can see how that could add more balance. Is that the proper way? Or as usual are there multiple one-hand stances to use and I just need to find the most comfortable (and safe) for me?

 

[tank mechanic]

Anyways, what do people do when they have injuries like this that keeps them from shooting.

I have been dealing with the lamest wrist injury on the planet for well over a year and a half now. So I shoot weak handed at the range. I shoot air soft and pellet guns in the back yard. I also load up the black plastic bullets in the 38 special plastic cases and shoot them from my GP100 in the garage.

 

[brokencowboy]

Medical problems

In 2003, I fell at work & broke my back & was qualified for permanent disability. I am very limited in my movement & my balance is bud enough that I have to use a motorized chair just to get around. Along with that I have arthritis in my neck & shoulders that is so severe that I had to give up CAS events due to having to use a shotgun. I have had several DVT's & have to take coumidin as a precaution against further clots.

I carry everywhere I am allowed to do so & an NRA instructor helped me devise Some techniques I could use with my cane. However, my situation is such, that if threatened and/or attacked, I can't run, I can't fight which leaves me with only one option. A doctor once called me suicidal for wanting to carry, but I refuse to be the target of some BG who sees me as an easy target.

 

[Kingcreek]

A friend of mine had his right forearm nearly severed midway between the wrist and elbow in an industrial accident. besides the extensive professional therapy, he started his own home therapy. He loaded .45s on a single stage press everyday and then went out into his rural backyard and shot his reloads at steel targets with a 1911 govt model. both hands, weak side and weaker side, etc. He repeated this every day for months. He really amazed me when he showed up at the range one day. He asked me to hand him my .45 loaded with 1 in the chamber, cocked, and safety on, then he picked up his .45 with the other hand and dropped 6 plates- 3 and 3 with 2 guns at the same time starting with the outside plates and working in to center. might have looked kinda hollywood but dang good PT I say.

 

[s2brutus]

I've got a nagging shoulder injury that keeps me a little shy of shooting anything with any significant kick to it. My 7mm mag. is out except for the occasional shot at a deer during season. I even have to be careful how much I shoot during dove season shooting relatively light field loads.

I guess that's why I like my .223 bull barrel Handi-rifle so much. With that much weight and factory ammo the kick is barely more than a .22 magnum.

I've tried a little practice shooting long guns off my other shoulder, but can't get into it. It just feels SO unnatural.

Anyways.....

 

[MTMilitiaman]

One time my brother got "no balls'd" into jumping his bike off the dirt mound. He mastered the jump fine, but not the landing. He ended up nose driving straight into the ground from 15+ feet, front wheel first, pitched over the handlebars, right onto his head and right shoulder. A friend took him home, and my mom had him rushed to the hospital, which life-flighted him to another hospital with better facilities for dealing with head trauma. He had a severe concussion and a broken clavicle. When he finally came to enough to know where and who he was, the first question he asked the doctor was "will I be okay for hunting season." The doc just grinned and said, "only in Montana..."

He cut it close, but he was able to use his new .300 Win that hunting season. In the process, he got really good shooting rifles weak hand. He got so good at it in fact that he qualifies expert in the Army shooting weak hand (left) with his M4, just because the qualification is so simple and routine for him shooting strong hand.

So anyways, best of luck with your injuries--hope the healing process is fast. Until then, keep the faith and do what you can

 

[qajaq59]

but I refuse to be the target of some BG who sees me as an easy target.

I'm somewhat in the same situation. But while I may too old to fight, and too broken to run, I can certainly hit what I aim at.

 

[bigfoot311]

i have a torn labrum (sp?) (carteledge under the rotator cuff) in botjh shoulders and a ruptured disk in my back. i cant shoot a shotgun or large cal. rifles as much as i like, but i try not to let it stop me.