A Difficult Question for Some

W

WETSU

New member
The other day at the store I was in line behind an elderly gentlemen who was suffering from parkinsons or some kind of palsy. His hands were trembling a lot as he counted out change and put it into the clerk's hand. Most of you have seen this guy. I was struck with the thought that there has to be lifelong shooting enthusiasts out there who also have this disease. How terrible to see the skills you've developed over a lifetime of shooting being slowly taken away.

My question is this, and it is an uncomfortable one. Has anyone had experience with a similar condition and how do you compensate? Can you still shoot well?

My thoughts are that I would just get a Destructive Device License and go to the range and practice with hand grenades-close enough. Kidding.
 
Shoot from a tripod?

Many people I know have no eyesight left: they use scopes OR stick to close-range shooting. adapt to limitations.
 
A machine rest is popular with many folks with handicaps... If you can rig a stable tripod - that works too.
Thats the key right there - whatever works.

I have seen several handicap shooters who could quite easily shame many a TFL member in skill.
 
I realize that some disabled shooters do very well with aids or not.I've seen one armed shooters, shooters with no legs, blind in one eye etc, but the shaking hand seems to be a real hinderance to good shooting. Keep the answers coming.
 
Shotguns come in handy for someone whose sight is somewhat weaker, and whose hands are less steady, but still need personal protection.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WETSU:
My question is this, and it is an uncomfortable one. Has anyone had experience with a similar condition and how do you compensate? Can you still shoot well?[/quote]

WETSU,

I can speak to your question. I don't see your question as uncomfortable at all.

Back in 1983 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). For those that don't know, MS is a chronic, usually progressive, neurological disease. It's not certain what causes it and there is no cure.

At the time (1983) I was paralyzed on the right side of my body (just short of needing a wheelchair), was experiencing double vision, and a whole lot of other stuff that would just take way too long to list. Slowly, over the following six months, my vision cleared and the paralysis remitted. HOWEVER, some of the residual effects of the MS are the ones that have taken the toll.

I was left with a tremor on the right side of my body, extremely weak, and very easily fatiqued by simple exertion and the south Texas heat. I was able to continue full-time employment for five more years, then part-time until 1997. By then the tremor and fatique forced me to stop working. Now, I'm experiencing difficulty with walking, occasionaly stumbling (lost two front teeth one time).

I had taken up handguns in 1991. I never was a good shot, probably because of the tremor. The tremor did not keep me from qualifying for a CCW permit in 1996, but it has gotten worse. I'm sure I will be able to qualify for the renewal of my permit, but it will not be pretty.

I go to the range at least once a month. At seven yards I can keep 90% of my shots in a 5 inch group, plenty good enough for CCW qualification.

How do I compensate? I quit using the outdoor ranges and use an indoor one (it's cooler). I don't fret over accuracy after about 100 rounds (the fatique factor). When I aim, the tremor in my hand is VERY noticable to even the most casual observer. I've learned to pull the trigger as the sights cross over the target. It ain't very elegant, but it works for me.

I'll never be able to shoot competitively, but I do have fun. Life is what you make it, not what it makes of you.

Joe

------------------
"Suppose you are an idiot. And suppose you are a member of congress.
But I repeat myself."
-- Mark Twain
 
Numbers. You are an inspiration. Thank you for your reply. You are 100% right, it's not the hand that you were dealt, it's how you play those cards that matter. God Bless you and keep them in the 10 ring. Good luck on your next CCW qualifications!
 
At the LHI course Mas had us do an exercise to demonstrate to ourselves that badly shaking hands don't necessarily mean you can't shoot effectively. At four yards we were instructed to shake and vibrate our hands while shooting. My groups were still all in the nine and ten ring as were almost everybody else's. The point of the exercise was to demonstrate that even during an adrenalin dump you can still shoot effectively and to not despair. Numbers is right, all you have to do is press the trigger as the sight picture crosses the target. Rock steady hands are not necessary.
 
I have what's called famial tremor. It is aggravated by caffeine, fatigue, etc. I compensate in handgun shooting by careful sight picture. It did not bother me when taking my CCW proficiency test. I'm never going to be much of a pin shooter, although I still enjoy that pastime.

I can take medication for the condition. They prescribe beta blockers, which are actually for high blood pressure, which I don't have. The side effects for me are drowsiness and I find it difficult to get angry, it acts like a tranquilizer, which I really don't like. Also affects something else I'd rather not go into in a public forum :o . I'll just deal with the shakes, thank you.
 
I have a visual condition called macular degeneration that destroys 'center vision'. It's taken one eye, but thank god the other is stable.

I've done some practice with my blind eye (perhiperal vision only) and I'm quite pleased to be able to place all my shots on an 8.5/11 paper target at 15 feet or so! I've only tried it twice, but I did get six inch groups.

The technique is weird...I locate the target out of 'the corner of my eye' then focus on it until it's obscured by the 'black fog' of the eye's macula, then fire. If the other eye goes, I'll give up CCW for liability reasons, but I don't think I'd have to give up shooting or home defense.
 
You guys are a great inspiration for many shooters out there in TFL land. Especially the ones who complain if they're not getting 3" groups @ 50 yards with their pistols. I realize you don't want sympathy or accolades but hell, you deserve the praise for overcoming a handicap in the joy of shooting. Thanks for making my day :)
 
Svt, ever heard the expression "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is a king' ?
:) Sheeple are the only true blind among us.
 
"I'm sure I will be able to qualify for the renewal of my permit, but it will not be pretty."

Personally, I think this qualification crap is...crap.

Tell me that DESPITE your condition you couldn't put a round into COM at bad breath distance...which statisically is when you'll need to do it.

The 2nd. says nothing about passing government-mandated tests.


[This message has been edited by jeffelkins (edited March 08, 2000).]
 
You guys are great! Have you ever seen a quadriplegic turkey hunt or shoot highpower.
I have! Lots of high tech and low tech plus more willpower than I can imagine. A member at our range can do this because of his inner strength. He requires some help but with Mini 14 mounted to headgear, suspended by fiberglass poles and shockcord and servo actuated trigger via blow tube on wheel chair
he can do very well.
Hank
 
Ditto,
Like Svt. said, you guys are a source of inspiration. God bless, and keep 'em in the paper...
Cowboy
 
WETSU,
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>How terrible to see the skills you've developed over a lifetime of shooting being slowly taken away. [/quote]Ahem, skills are forever. Only the goals change, and the rewards increase. My satisfaction is in direct proportion to the immediate measure of difficulty.
In answer to your question "Can I still shoot well?". Better than you could possibly imagine.

[This message has been edited by RAE (edited March 09, 2000).]
 
When Grandma was in her 70s,her neighborhood started to change, and for the worse. My cousin, who lived 2 doors down from her was robbed in broad daylight in front of his house. Gram and her Sister decided they needed to be able to defend themselves. Both had the tremors common to old age even w/o conditions like Parkinson's.

So, being,uh, frugal, she resurrected her father's nickle plated,MOP handled, top break, 5 shot 32. She asked me to teach her and my great aunt to use it. Despite my protests, she didn't want a better firearm, tho I did talk her into some new ammo. The old stuff was turning green and had to be forced out of the chambers.

BTW, the piece was checked over by a smith I trusted and found OK.

Practice was simple,and close. After some lessons,including large amounts of safety training, both ladies could hit a large grapefruit across the room with that little pimp gun. They weren't fast, but the little 32 round didn't overwhelm them, the piece was not too heavy and it worked out OK.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jeffelkins:
Tell me that DESPITE your condition you couldn't put a round into COM at bad breath distance...which statisically is when you'll need to do it.[/quote]

jeffelkins,

Of course I have a lot of fun shooting, but I'm very cognizant of the fundamental reason that I shoot at the range; to be able to defend myself if need be. And yes, I feel certain that I'll be able to do that in spite of the tremor and the rest of what goes along with the MS.

I suspect you feel confident that you could do the same. I imagine that you've done like me (and countless others); if a bump on the highway of life is a little big, there is always a way around it or under it. It just takes a little extra study to find that detour.

Joe
 
Back in the 70’s I got into hiking, camping, guns and all sorts of outdoor stuff. I was also born with a bone disorder in my legs, never let it stop me until 1996. The condition got to the point I had to stop working. I can still get to the range sometimes and that's a big plus for me. The hiking, camping days might be over but the shooting is better than ever (weather providing). Thanks for having this forum and all the info on it.
 
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