Old hands
- Thread starter drubin
- Start date
.308 Norma
Member
+1
I'm 75 and my wife is not all that far behind me. We each have our own (different) problems with the guns we have for home/self-protection. Maybe that's one of the reasons why we each have our own guns.
Col. Harrumph
Member
Exercise! (and ibuprofen)
Old Dog
Member
I feel you. Hand strength not only diminishes greatly with aging, but lifestyle, occupational practices and prior injuries make it worse. Some days I can't even open a jar right away.
My dominant (right) hand is riddled with arthritis, as is my wrist and that shoulder has torn labrum, rotator cuff and biceps tendonosis.
Recently, for good measure, I was just tested for, and diagnosed with, carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery on the horizon.
Was getting injections every few months, only temporary relief. I pop naproxen and ibuprophen like jellybeans (but am weaning off it).
My range trips are shorter now, and I've stopped shooting .44 Magnum and full-house .357.
In public, I carry strictly OWB at 3:00 and try to keep covering garments lightweight. Tending more often to carry a lightweight SIG P-365XL, no manual safety. And maintain situational awareness.
As my old Finnish granddad used to say, "Getting old ain't for ________ (word for weak/timid/faint of heart)"
We manage as best we can.
My dominant (right) hand is riddled with arthritis, as is my wrist and that shoulder has torn labrum, rotator cuff and biceps tendonosis.
Recently, for good measure, I was just tested for, and diagnosed with, carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery on the horizon.
Was getting injections every few months, only temporary relief. I pop naproxen and ibuprophen like jellybeans (but am weaning off it).
My range trips are shorter now, and I've stopped shooting .44 Magnum and full-house .357.
In public, I carry strictly OWB at 3:00 and try to keep covering garments lightweight. Tending more often to carry a lightweight SIG P-365XL, no manual safety. And maintain situational awareness.
As my old Finnish granddad used to say, "Getting old ain't for ________ (word for weak/timid/faint of heart)"
We manage as best we can.
.308 Norma
Member
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
My dad switched to revolvers from his 1911 as he got older. Had problems with hand strength after chemo, and shoulder issues from a life of hard work. Never complained. S&W 357.
Anchorite
Member
I carry one of those hand strength grip trainer do-hickies in my truck and routinely use it when driving. It’s a game changer.
1KPerDay
Member
Check out the smith and Wesson EZ in either 9mm or .380. I’ve been working with my uncle in law who has hand strength issues and a tremor and he can do all the manipulations and shoot it fine. Loading is a breeze with the tabs on the magazines.
If the spring based hand squeezers are too hard, the therapeutic hand putties - come in different resistances, are an easy way to sit and get some hand exercise. Used them after various OOPS with my hands. Some light weights for arm exercises are good. A good doc could recommend a PT rehab expert for such.
Bush Pilot
Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Messages
- 2,397
Plus 1000%. I have arthritis and recently purchased a Smith EZ in 9mm. I can't recommend this gun enough.
jar
Contributing Member
Depends on the day. On a good day I can still rack the slide on my Savage 1907 that has springs that could be used as suspension on a WWII Dodge WC series truck. But on other days one of my S&W revolvers is about my limit.
I just listen to my body and if it tells me to just hunker down, well then I hunker.
I just listen to my body and if it tells me to just hunker down, well then I hunker.
MrChicken
Member
Aside from the typical advice of reducing caliber, revolvers and light racking semiautomatics, you should also consider a laser. That will let you shoot accurately without forcing you into a shooting position that is now mechanically difficult for you.
We had a older gentleman customer that could not lift his arms to chest level easily and could not obtain even a two handed eye level grip.
He did very well dual revolvers equipped with lasers out to 10 yards going from the hip. Yes, both at the same time.
How did he get into such bad shape? He was shot in his living room by a home invader.
We had a older gentleman customer that could not lift his arms to chest level easily and could not obtain even a two handed eye level grip.
He did very well dual revolvers equipped with lasers out to 10 yards going from the hip. Yes, both at the same time.
How did he get into such bad shape? He was shot in his living room by a home invader.
PWC
Member
For home - Maybe a short barrel carbine in .45 with red dot; something requiring I 2 hand hold. Maybe shorten stock to tuck under arm against body for stability.
For carry - Maybe Bersa Firestorm or Thunder in .380.
You say problem is "hand strength for accurate shooting"; maybe practice different 2 hand holds.
For carry - Maybe Bersa Firestorm or Thunder in .380.
You say problem is "hand strength for accurate shooting"; maybe practice different 2 hand holds.
Old hands, but still strong because I keep using them. However, carpal tunnel surgery in two days. That will sideline my dominant hand for a few weeks. This only means I will carry revolvers exclusively for the duration. Revolver will be .357 mag or bigger. Since I reload I made up some lighter loads for this time. They’ll make good practice rounds for later.
doubleh
Member
With age comes infirmaries. For some more quickly than others and there is no cure. Age will get you in the end, like it or not. Exercise, medication, and doctors can extend the time it takes for age to do you in so take advantage of each,
Nature provides us with fat in our hands and feet to cushion the stress on them but it reduces as we age. That is one reason why old people's hands resemble chicken feet and their feet hurt so much and it will happen if you live long enough. I can speak from experience.
Nature provides us with fat in our hands and feet to cushion the stress on them but it reduces as we age. That is one reason why old people's hands resemble chicken feet and their feet hurt so much and it will happen if you live long enough. I can speak from experience.
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DustyGmt
Member
Man that sucks. I am probably not going to have to worry about that during this decade or perhaps the next, but we will all face this question one day. I carry and have a G19 with me always, sucks even thinking about having to change is vs wanting to just try something new, but I guess the first thing I would be thinking is S&W combat magnum with .38spl 125gr-158gr +P or a managed recoil .357 loads.
Not sure how you view other less common cartridges like 5.7 but the FN, Ruger and now a few others are making good reliable affordable guns in that caliber. It's potent and has very minimal recoil, inherently accurate. I don't have one but have shot em, they also come with flush fit magazines that can hold 20+ rds. It's very potent and easy to shoot imo. But the ammo isn't as commonly available as others.
Not sure how you view other less common cartridges like 5.7 but the FN, Ruger and now a few others are making good reliable affordable guns in that caliber. It's potent and has very minimal recoil, inherently accurate. I don't have one but have shot em, they also come with flush fit magazines that can hold 20+ rds. It's very potent and easy to shoot imo. But the ammo isn't as commonly available as others.
Remington1911
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2022
- Messages
- 1,513
I hear you, mine is a little of nerve damage, and the old issue that bothered old Fred so much:
Some of the suggestions made just make me want to throat punch someone through the screen. Just wait it will hit you. And before I ignore most of the "well I have X and know what I am talking about".
OP,
Try to figure out what is the "main" issue. Is it the recoil, is it the weight of the gun itself, likely a little bit of both. If you are having issues shooting a 357 revolver try shooting 38's through it. If it is a larger framed revolver that will really calm down the recoil.
If it is just the weight of the gun that is getting you shaky try some "cowboy" loads in something you have, they make 38 cowboy loads and they are not much more then 22's IMHO. You can shoot those pretty comfortable in some very light modern 38's. I have only shot them in an old Police Positive but it is not that heavy.
If you are in the automatic world you have a rougher issue. If it is weight you can try to move down to a smaller framed and lighter gun, but then it gets to the point where I don't find it "fun" to shoot. Sure save my life if need be, but I am not going to enjoy a day at the range and 100 rounds in one of those little guns.
If you reload, (fun retirement hobby) you can work on downloading them yourself. Stick to the manual, I have found 9mm loads listed in a manual that will not cycle the gun, you might need to play a bit.
Lastly there is always a rest. I am mainly a rifle shooter, and my left side is just shot. No strength there. Some things just are what they are, you are not going to get any stronger. Joys of getting old, another joy of getting old is listening to people that have no clue what they are talking about, but it is the internet.
bangswitch
Member
I've had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, about 10 years ago. I still have tingling and decreased grip strength, and now I'm getting arthritic fingers, but I still manage both revolvers and semiautos. I primarily carry a revolver now, so I don't have to worry with racking a slide or fumbling with magazine changes. Speed loaders aren't as much of an issue.
I use the Force
, and keep BULS on my belt (backup light saber, known around this quadrant of the galaxy as a .357 snub nose).