One good arm, too many things to shoot.

[Dnaltrop]

10 years ago my left arm was put back in place with 3 pins. Since then, rifles have been mostly useless to me, as I have very limited strength or reach in the bad arm.

I've compensated where I can, and can still keep up a 6" group at 10 yards with my good arm with my .45.

This week, my soon-to-be brother in law has invited me deer hunting this year.

Unfortunately, my 30-06 looks like a one way ticket to shooting myself in the foot, and winding up as a ridicule news thread here when my left arm fails.

While looking for a decent field revolver, I found listings for 2 pistols that caught my curiosity. First being the Carbon 15, the second being the PLR-16.

While I have no doubt as to my ability to take a measured shot with a scoped revolver, the possibility of crossing a predator, or even a cranky moose has crossed my mind a few times.

I'm not normally a semi-auto-for-fun-guy, However, either of these two pistols would afford me the extra capacity to buffer the adrenaline surge with a decent magazine capacity if a situation arose.

Price- As much as I wish i could, the really NICE ones are out of my range, (sig sauer 556).

Caliber- The PLR-16 appears to only come in .223. The carbon 15 mostly in .223. but rare 7.62s too

No flame war, I have no intention on taking any long shots at a deer with a .223 pistol.

Realistically, varmint, plinking, small game, trail duty. My relative feeds himself on game, the hunt is his show...

However if that perfect buck comes, and the guys with the long guns are elsewhere...

The questions.

Anyone had experience with these two guns?

The PLR 16's main points in it's favor are price, (450-700) and the clean back end.

The nicer models of the Carbon 15 have the clean back end, but for more than I'm able to invest.

Both can mount similar rail setups.

heavy/hot loads in either?

Would I still be better off getting a solid, scoped pistol over either of these?

No single shot pistols, but any other good suggestions for a 1.5 armed man looking for a multi-tasker?

When going for accuracy, I typically shoot using my cane as a monopod, (bad hips too, but convenient for a gun rest you never leave behind)

Thanks for the brain power folks, if I had my choice I'd already have the 30-06 out of storage.

 

[Cosmoline]

Have you tried shooting sticks? I mean the type that unfold into an "X" shape. They're quite a bit more stable than a monopod. I have two good arms and I have a hard time getting a monopod with a "Y" top to stabilize.

There's also those really great portable shooting seats the British like to use.

http://www.avalon-guns.com/

I know there are one-armed guys out there who shoot competitively with the scatterguns. I wouldn't give up on the possibility of using the 30'06 yet.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Not as yet, but a good thought. I'm 6'5" and it's difficult to find walking aids that match my size.

The current rest is a leather thong to keep the recoil off of the wood of the cane.

If nothing else I should probably find a short folding bipod somewhere, but keeping weight down is also an issue.

Another part of why rifles are taboo for me, the recoil impact against my one functional shoulder is... Unpleasant.

edit- "Unpleasant" means even the whack of my Kid's Red Ryder BB gun on my shoulder capsule hurts... but i'm apparently able to absorb the impact well enough with pistols to not get the same pain.

 

[Fremmer]

If you're going to use a handgun, I think I'd be inclined to use a .44 magnum revolver rather than a handgun chambered in .223 (or some other caliber).

But I would still try a .243 rifle with shooting sticks. Even better if in a semi-auto (like the BAR) to further reduce felt recoil.

 

[NelsErik]

First, we have a range at the house and my brother lost the use of his leg while serving in Afghanistan. My dad has four pins in his elbow from Vietnam. My other brother just left for Iraq. We have a lot of guys from various military organizations, probably 6-10 a week, come to shoot at our range (up to 2 miles long now). It's become almost like therapy for some of the guys now.

My brother has had several guys over the to the house from his old unit who in one way or another have lost the full usage of their bodies. One of the guys is missing his entire arm, clavicle, and shoulder blade. I have only seen him shoot a .308 Savage at 400 yards from a tri-pod, but I have heard he can hit all the targets at our range. He uses a Evopod from Do-All Outdoors. I think we have every Do-All product made.

Anyhow, I would suggest trying a tri-pod...

Do-All Outdoors

Article from Gun Blast about Shooting Aids

 

[kanook]

How about one in 6.8spc.

I have shoulder trouble also. The 6.8 is a very low recoil and with all the clothing you will be wearing it helps. My current bolt is a Ruger Compact in 308 with a recoil pad, mercury reducer, and a recoil reducing muzzle break. this is a very soft shooter now and i'm gonna get my booger hookers on a 6.8 bolt gun to do the same with.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Yea, once you screw your arms up...

I'm just glad to be getting out again, a tripod from a blind would be easy enough, but I'm not going to just sit in a tree if they've gone to the trouble of inviting me this year. ^^ I'll drag myself around the woods by my lips if need be.

My original plan was to get an overengineered .45 or .454 and load appropriately softer rounds, it's that siren's song of more than 5 rounds that keeps turning my head to the odd gun.

Still, even going with plan A pre-hunt (good field grade revolver) afterwards, the pistol AR platform intrigues me for the more normal gopher and coyote use , or as a easier to carry plinker.

any owners of any of the variants out there?