Recoil starting to hurt more...older

J

jolly roger

New member
I am in my mid 50s and am starting to realize something...I don't like shooting full tilt 44 magnums much anymore for "plinking" much less a 45 Casull. Dang knuckles hurt afterwards...Rifle recoil still not an issue but the hands are starting to let me know they are not as young as they once were. John Taffin has spoken about this too in some writings. Anyone else feeling the pain? I fear I am heading toward my Dad's situation. He can barely shoot a 22 revolver anymore...but amazingly still shoots a Glock 9 OK. Less trigger pull?
 
i have extensive nerve damage in my hands and am pretty happy shooting 32 H&R and 32S&W Long. i have 9mm and .357 but im content with the 32's. They are a lot of fun to shoot and the 32 H&R has self defense applications.
 
Last year, I got a set of Captains of Crush Grip Trainers. No more strength/tendon issues. I fish more than I shoot, but I can report all day endurance with crank baits and 1200fs loads in a 42 ounce 44 Special are comfortable. BTW, I'm 63 next month.
 
I used to believe that recoil did not bother me, at 65 I now relies that it was storing up its effects. My hand strength is going away and the magnums are not fun to shoot any more. All so the hand guns with bigger grips are easier to shoot and 22s are great. This is just a part of getting old and we now have to pay for our youthful mistakes. Good luck, and enjoy shooting what doesn't hurt.:D
 
+1... I was going to suggest grip exercises. Or exercise in general.

Not sure if there are any yoga type exercises for hands, but they are great for shoulders, etc.
 
No different than shooting shotguns - just your hands and wrists instead of your shoulder

Heaviest gun you can handle with the lightest loads will produce the lowest recoil - that's simple physics

Using good grips help absorb felt recoil

Nerve damage is nothing to scoff at or believe it can't happen to you and only wanting to shoot "macho" hot loads with lots of recoil will back to haunt you later in life
 
Been there,done that.I am just turning 68 and old mr.arthritus is kicking in.I use to shoot and carry a .45,then dropped down to a 9,and now am thinking about going to a .380.I hope I never have to but I also have a .22 same size as the bersa 380.Rather that give up shooting completely I may have to go to it.But I still think 4,5 or 6 of either the 380 or 22 will ruin a bad guys whole day.Nobody wants to get shot.sj
 
Me too. Heavy guns, light loads, and good grips help.
I shoot much more .22 than anything else.

Strengthening your grip and forearms helps to a degree. But once the arthritis starts up your need to take aspirin before shooting and apply heat after.
I've also found that letting the weak hand do more work supporting the gun helps a lot.
 
+1 on what Heyjoe said. The .32s [H&R Magnum, for example] seem to be a good compromise between the .22 and the larger center-fire cartridges. That is, you still get decent ballistics without so much joint-jarring recoil.

Gloves and good grips may go a long ways towards helping as well.
 
Same goes for me .Will be 62 in September .CARPLE TUNNEL ,TRIGER FINGER ,ARTHURITS.Now it's just revolvers in 38 sp.My big boomer shooting day are over it was fun while it lasted.
 
Roger, understand that it does not get any better, but we can slow down the aging or effects of. Try some hand exercises, using a tennis or foam ball works wonders, also some lite free weights for forearm muscle build up. Perhaps a different set of grips may help. I finely decided to protect myself and my revolvers I shoot very little full charge Magnum ammo in my K frames, L and N frames yes, but K frames not so much.
 
Sold off all the big heavy autos and revolvers down to a RUGER SP101 2.1/4 357 . But shoot light 38 sp for fun :D.
 
Glad to know I'm in fine company. This getting old sucks. I was just telling the wife I wanted to trade my big heavy S&W 686 Plus, .357 mag. w/ 6" barrel for a lighter Ruger SP 101. Was trading up for a long time now I need to start trading down. Guess my 12 ga. over/under will be next for a .410 or .22 cal. :(

BTW. If anyone's interested in a trade for a Ruger SP 101 let me know.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=72904&d=1313544518
 
I'm thinking of making up some bumper stickers that say:IT TAKES GUTS TO GET OLD. As one poster said.It was fun while it lasted.I've owned and shot just about everything. sj:D
 
Now I have learned why all the old timers When I was young carried 25 autos , 32acp . 38 S&W, 32 long. It was old age . Its gets to you I no longer shoot much 44 mag now use 44 spl in my Smith 29. No more 357 38+p at most
Iam 65.
 
It dont get any better. Recoil is not near the thrill it used to be in my younger day. 44 spl and 45s are about my limit nowadays. 22 is my favorite now.
 
As I said I'm turning 68 and wondering what to do with all my guns when I go.My son is not into guns at all and his wife won't let any guns come into their house,not even mine.Needless to say I don't visit them very much.I do have a good friend I think I will leave them all to him.Boy will he be surprised as I haven't said anything to him about it.I have 12ga,ak47,22 auto rifle and muller scope,.22 revolver,p32,g19,30-30,357.Thats all I can think of right now.:D sj
 
am in my mid 50s and am starting to realize something...I don't like shooting full tilt 44 magnums much anymore for "plinking" much less a 45 Casull. Dang knuckles hurt afterwards
Click to expand...

Revolvers hurt a heck of a lot more than comparable caliber semiauto's I've tried.

A +p 38 Special is not enjoyable, but I can shoot my 9mm CZ all day long with no issues. My GF absolutely hated my older S&W M36 but loves the Glock 21SF 45ACP. Go figure.
 
I was gonna join ya'll in whining about getting old, but ya'll took all the good lines. And besides, I'm not sure what I was going to say anyway.

But I do remember to say that pistol recoil is still manageable, but it seems that every pistol and rifle I have are heavier than they were.
 
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