my target shooting days appear to be over

[rodent.22]

Well guys, after double catarac surgery in my late 40's, I thought that my shooting problems were over, LOL. Then the retina detachments started, laser surgery in your eyes is MOST unpleasant. I finally get over THAT eye problem, go to red dots so I can spray and pray. Now at almost 60 I've developed a tremor in my right arm from the elbow down. Imagine raising a fork to your mouth while eating, and the shake starting when your hand is about halfway to your mouth. I'm sure this does not bode well for the future of my olympic shooting,LOL. The doctor seems to think it's related to reconstructive surgery I had on my rt shoulder about 4 years ago....Oh well, at least there's 10 acres around the house to shoot at, no bull's eyes necessary! And I'll watch the grandson and nephews shoot when they come.....

[Hoss]

Geez, guy, you're not cheering me up, as I'm getting into that age range as well.  Maybe you can go left handed?

[Longitude Zero]

Man, that sucks.  Praying for better shooting days ahead for ya.

[bdavison]

There are some things that might help you.

1. Aspirin....improves circulation and may help your muscles relax.

2. Cardio training. Blood flow to muscles tends to help a lot with calming the shakes

3. Working on your body positioning. Elbows down, use your frame to stabilize the shot.

4. Take a few deep breaths before shooting and get some O2 to your blood flow.

5. Stretch those muscles to get them to relax.

6. Keep your head up straight. It improves blood flow to your brain, eyes, and makes your inner ear work better for balance. You move the rifle to your head to get sight picture, not your head to the rifle.

7. Lay off the caffeine. Soda,Coffee,Tea, etc, its all bad for the shakes.

8. Make sure you are properly hydrated.

And heres another little tip for those shaky limbs.

Fill up a old sock with dirt, or something heavy like shot.

Put it in your elbow, and let your arm rest under its weight while shooting.

We used weighted jackets to accomplish the same thing, but the idea is the same.

[rodent.22]

Thanks fellas....I ain't dead yet LOL

[imschur]

I hear explosives are fun too ;D

[lmao_37]

sorry to hear it but there are ways you could shoot you had any thought of bench rest target shooting ?

[Microgunner]

That's a complete suckfest. I see from your first photo it appears you haven't lost ability to grin.  ;D

[rodent.22]

You know guys being around those boys does make me grin. The 2 boys in the pictures are my grandnephews. Their father is a sorry shiftless sob who dumped them and their mother. I never saw a boy that wanted and needed attention from a man, doing guy stuff, like the oldest boy, 11 years old. I invited him to shoot Easter of last year, I thought the boy was going to pass out from excitement. He was so anxious to please and do exactly as I wanted him to do while shooting.....He lives about 50 miles from us, can't get a ride over because of family finances so I'm gonna go over and take a few .22's and have a shootfest. Believe me- I'm the one getting the greatest benefit from him shooting. If you REALLY want to have a great time shooting, take a kid shooting with you.  :thumb:

[asmurff]

Have you tried a tennis elbow wrap?

[447MSGT]

What your doing for them boys ROCKS....planting the seeds of discipline and responsibility.  Mentoring them with such a skill as shooting is how we can keep our heritage alive.  I am doing it with my oldest son who is 7, as my dad did for me.  I believe it makes a HUGE difference.  I also watched my dad (who is a retired cop in which I followed in proffession) take kids without dads, hunting.  He and several of his co-workers did this.  Anyhow keep up the passing of the torch and I hope all goes well for you healthwise.  Take care.

[lmao_37]

Thats a really great thing your doing and he will remember for the rest of his life, I cant wait till my kids get a little older and i will teach them to shoot.

[bdavison]

I remember the first time my dad put a gun in my hands. It was a Crossman 1077 pump pellet gun on Christmas day. He wouldnt let me go shoot it until he could set up "the range" in the backyard. He made this target stand with little metal rings that would spin when hit.

Once I got good hitting them, he would put matchsticks out there, and tell me to shoot them in half....or light one.

I did manage to light a few, but most of the time I just blew the heads off the matches.

And so began a lifelong passion for shooting. I think I've fired just about every round out there at one time or another, and Im not done yet.