Geriatric Gunnery?

[dairycreek]

The problems associated with growing older and shooting.........

are also found among those who are younger but have some sort of handicap. Vision problems, orthopedic problems, debilitation or handicapping injury, loss of strength, etc. are not necessarily associated with us "older Americans". These conditions also effect many younger people as well. So, for those who might have problems shooting such a forum could be of great utility - regardless of age. Good shooting

 

[bigmtnman]

Guess I'm an example

dairyman,

Guess I'm an example of what you're saying. Not all that old at 58 but I was paralyzed from the armpits down four and a half years ago. Due to a rock climbing accident I crushed my spinal cord and wiped out #3 to #7 cervical vertebrae. After some amazing carpentry work by my surgeon and pure determination, I'm not stuck in a wheelchair. Took months of rehab to be able to walk again - I can, but not too terribly far and with a support cane. I used to love to target shoot with rifles, but having six inches of titanium in my neck limits head motion enough that I can't use the scope unless I set the stock on my shoulder!!

So.....I took up handguns in order to enjoy shooting. I still have partial paralysis in my left arm and leg, but the right side is fine.
My biggest problem is that I can't walk any great distance or stand for any length of time. When I go up in the hills shooting I take a folding lawn chair in my trunk. Now I can relax and shoot like a gentleman! I need to somehow rig a sunshade umbrella to my chair. Then I'd really be stylin'!!!

bigmtnman

 

[bigmtnman]

Guess I'm an example

By the way, I voted yes. I'd like to see how others are overcoming their own physical barriers to still enjoy the shooting sports.

bigmtnman

 

[sm]

Ironbar, change my vote to yes--if you haven't already.
My own last post...well...convinced me

 

[Ledbetter]

Shooting with back pain

I know an offhand .22 rifle shooter (Ansheutz) who knows when his stance is perfect because of the precise location of the pain in his back.

 

[Ironbarr]

re1973...

I can't change the vote - but, since the staff is monitoring this thread, I'm sure they will note your change of mind.

We seem to be gathering some steam, but the overall replies vs visits is low so I don't know the effect of this re staff requirements.

The problem might be my Subject title. Like headlines in the media, we try to make the Subject line eye-catching and interesting enough to get a read. Guess I'm not a headline guru. I hope we can get more input.

Again, I really don't see this as a forum just for "old folks". As we read this thread through (so far), there is a mix of folks who are interested in learning the techniques of others to combat physical inadequacies so they can restart or continue their shooting sports. The more I read, the more I believe we'd have a valuable database for the now, and for the future. If you know of anyone who hasn't visited this thread, please ask them to drop by.

Blackhawk recently provided me with this link re carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). It makes good reading.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144525

Many of us have quite an investment in our "hobby"; it'd be a shame to waste that if we could find a work-around. I recently Blue Booked a gun cabinet inventory of roughly $4000 for a widow friend. Husband, avid hunter and teacher of neighborhood young men had Altheimers. Not that this potential forum would have helped him, but...

Thanks for your support.

-Andy

 

[sm]

Ironbar

Thanks.
I, as I stated, re-read my post and a lightbulb clicked on.

Cick--in a dedicated forum one may also read of preventative, causes, symptoms and cures/relief. Instead of after the need, perhaps this may prevent, lessen a problem. Blackhawk's CTS link is a good example.

Age in itself requires us to change/modify. Disease and accidents also, mix all of this and we really have to change and modify.

I have always said one learns from mistakes--just a whole bunch less painful and expensive if learned from someone elses.

Guess that parallels sharing experience ,strength and hope.


Tip: never use a wife's big heavy purse as a weight after Knee surgery, to do your leg strength excercises to build up quadraceps. They don't have a sense of humor...red heads especially get angry.

 

[Ironbarr]

Here are some TFL links using the keyword "vision":

In the interest of giving this a chance for success (rather than just BTT-ing), here are some "vision" links:

Eye Dominance:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=138845&highlight=vision

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=119293

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125354&highlight=vision

Two Eyes Aiming: Blackhawk, remember this?
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124733&highlight=vision

Color Blind - with test links:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=129756&highlight=vision

LAZIK Surgery:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=119689&highlight=vision

There's a lot more... but there's a "wading through it" to do.

The name of the game though is to build in The High Road, a base of current and future events and experiences. Links to older information are great, but technologies - and people - march on.

-Andy

 

[TexasVet]

And I shy away from "disabled" and words that tend to diminish folks.
---------------------------------------------------------------

You're worried about "disabled"?? Heck, most of us just call ourselves "cripples" (personally, I'm a "60% Govt. certified cripple") and only hate it when someone liberal calls us "otherly abled". Don't go PC on us, now, or I'll hit you with my cane!

Frankly, though, I don't think a seperate forum is needed. After all, all I want to know is ..what the heck do you do with your cane when you're in a Weaver stance? Hooking it in a pocket is too bloody slow!

 

[Monkeyleg]

TexasVet, thanks for the no-confidence vote on PC language.

The other night on "60 Minutes" a Disabled Advocate objected to Ed Bradley's use of the term "physically challenged." He said the term implied that his folks somehow weren't trying hard enough.

Enough said?

 

[Uncle Ethan]

I vote no

Instead, lets have a general forum for non-gun discussions where this subject, as well as a million others could be discussed by us [ mostly] conservative gun-owners. The idea of discussing disabilities might attract too many hungry attorneys. Sort of like "Forum Chasing."

 

[telewinz]

I would vote and express an opinion in your favor but I don't want to jinx you. My ideas have been shot down so often that I have started wearing a parachute before I log on.