I shot better when I was 7

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  • Last Post 19 September 2014
onondaga posted this 12 August 2014

Have any of you members rehabilitated after a stroke and been able to regain your shooting skill? Please let me know how you did it, what exercises and physical therapy methods worked for you?

Today was my first trip to the range with serious effort since my stroke last November. I took my favorite rifle and shot with a very well proven load. My 50 yard groups with this load had been consistently well under 1” at 50 yards before my stroke. Groups were 6-7” today. I asked another member to shoot my rifle and he shot a just over 1” group. Of course this made me feel worse but did verify the rifle and ammo were fine and that my large groups were really real.

I have been a marksman my whole life and easily shot better when I was 7 yeas old with a flintlock and fixed sights. My groups today were marginal for deer size game at 50 yards and I am concerned about hunting ethically this fall. Next time to the range I will take my best squirrel rifle in .22 RF that always groups less than 1/2 inch at 50 yards. Maybe just handling it again will help.

I have been exercising my hand with stretching exercises and squeezing therapy putty. I have significant weakness, neuropathy and altered sense of touch on the complete left side of my body. Mostly, I have been trying to be able to play my guitar again and have just started to play a couple weeks ago. My hand articulation for fine movements and strength is degraded.

There has got to be members here in their mid 60s like me that have had strokes and are still shooting. How did you do it? I am asking for your advise.

Gary

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gpidaho posted this 12 August 2014

Gary:  While I cant say that it was a stroke that changed things for me, it was stage four throat cancer thankfully in remission due to great doctors, my old momas prayers and the grace of our Lord. After Chemo, radiation and neck surgery Im left numb on the right side. My shooting groups aren't what they once were either.  Im still able to enjoy the shooting sports and all the tinkering with guns and loads. Helping the younger ones along and just another day at the range are much more important to me than one MOA. Be thankful for what we still have and don't regret the loss.  This is still a lot of fun.  Good luck my friend.  GP

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Wineman posted this 12 August 2014

Back in the 1970's my Grandfather had a stroke. He had one of those yards and garages that was heaven to a kid: lots of junk. Not the you don't want him as a neighbor yard, just the right amount. His Doctor told him to get out, take a hammer and beat on some of the scrap metal. I think this was his way of telling him to do what he did all of his life as a working man: get exercise. He did great until his heart gave out 10 years later at 85. Remember, he had Scarlet Fever, was Chlorine gassed in training accident for WWI, was almost choked to death in a water powered sawmill in New Hampshire (loose clothing), and got lucky on a pile of logs in a winter river. He said recovering was like learning to walk again, literally. My Mom's stroke was worse. She could get around but only just, and needed a wheelchair for out of the house. Her mind was still sharp, and she got a Red Cross Citation for all the volunteer nursing work she did post stroke. Gary, I don't know if any of this helps, but it can not hurt. I don't run as fast or as far as I did 25 years ago and that is just getting older. Your body has to find a way to get around the damaged parts of your brain. Shooting is a big part of your life, you may just have to find other ways to express it other than the smallest group. Best wishes.

Dave

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onondaga posted this 12 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=893>Wineman  “.... and that is just getting older"

 I  try to find the humor in getting older and had a good laugh last night. I take 2 blood pressure pills in the morning and one before bed.  Last nite I put the pill on my tongue and lit my Bic lighter in front of my mouth. I stopped before trying to swallow the pill with fire and cracked up laughing.

Gary

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John Alexander posted this 12 August 2014

Gary, I have never had a stroke and can't offer any suggestions about things that would help with recovery but would switching your shooting to the other shoulder give you the use of your better hand for trigger control?  It isn't as difficult as people believe.  I am not talking about shotgun shooting or shooting at running game which would probably be pretty hard but deliberate rifle shooting from the bench, sitting, or standing with a tree or post to rest the hand holding the forearm.

I am strongly left handed, and not at all ambidextrous.  As a kid living near good gray and fox squirrel hunting woods I loved to hunt them but the clever little devils often appeared on my wrong side no matter how I sat.  Not knowing that it was supposed to be hard I decided to shoot them right handed to minimize my movement.  I then shot my tin practice sessions right handed for awhile and found it wasn't so hard as long as there wasn't any hurry.  When I practice offhand shooting I still shoot half the shots right handed to fight getting tired and there isn't much difference in how well I shoot -- pretty lousy from either side.  It might be worth a try.

John 

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Goatwhiskers posted this 12 August 2014

Gary, I haven't had a stroke so can't directly address that. Did have a 3 yr round with melanoma, totally clear now but the chemo left me with a severe neuropathy, can't walk worth a hoot. Also let 'em cut on my back a year ago, biggest mistake I ever made. What I did was give my troubles to the Lord, get up and give thanks every morning for a new day, and start moving. I do what I can and don't worry about the rest, also try things to see if I can do them. Got in trouble with SWMBO when I bought a tripod stand last year, told me when I fall out to call 911, not her. Getting older is tough, your parents didn't tell you about that part. Hang in, life is good. GW

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Brodie posted this 12 August 2014

When I practice offhand shooting I still shoot half the shots right handed to fight getting tired and there isn't much difference in how well I shoot -- pretty lousy from either side.  It might be worth a try.

Gary;  I would take John Alexander's advise.  Years ago when I was having trouble shooting 25 yd slow fire the range master ( a former marine who spent the last 10 yrs of his 30 yr hitch on the rifle and p;istol team)  told me to shoot  left handed.  When I shot a 92 he said; ” your left hand hasn't learned all the bad habits that your right has.".  I think you should try using your left side until such time as you regain better control of your right.  Since the stroke your right hand has “forgotten” how to make the gun go off when the sights are in the right place.  Shooting with an untrained off side is going to feel clumsy, but will probably be easier and more accurate than using the hand that has forgotten how to work.  I realize that it will be a long and frustrating process, but I am also sure that you can learn to do it. Brodie

B.E.Brickey

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onondaga posted this 12 August 2014

My stroke is on my left side and I am right handed.  Settling my rifle in with my left hand hold to equalize cant of a rifle grip has always been a key part of my shooting style. Body core strength is also a key part of rifle hold I am lacking core body strength on my complete left side now.

I don't have pistols anymore, but I bet I could shoot a pistol with my right hand just fine. I gave up my permit and sold my handguns years ago when mine were stolen and used in a horrible murder. Getting a new permit in my state of New York is a brutal hassle.

Gary

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 12 August 2014

hi gary

first:: patience, lots of patience.

for the forend stabilizer thing, install a slider plate as i mentioned a week or so ago in some post here. remove in 10 seconds.

also, you might consider moving to ... iowa, for instance. we are a shall-issue state, lots of carry here .. i think it is something like 17 per cent; we have too many whitetails, a handgun season for them.

oh, being 200 miles south of you, we have a ( slightly ) milder winter. oh, move to south half, it's all brush.

i should mention i have spent time in your area, up to montreal ... and love that part of ny. maybe you could secede; leave the cesspool part to sink by itself .

when you move here, let me know ... buy you a beer, would even bring some guns y ammo along.

patience. ken

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onondaga posted this 13 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=40>Ken Campbell Iowa

Do you mean something like this hand stop? My Mossberg 144LSB has this. Maybe I should put the hand stop block back on my rifle and give it a try.

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/144lsb_zpsa7e3a8ad.jpg.html>

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tomme boy posted this 13 August 2014

How are your eyes sense you had your stroke? Could be part of the problem.

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onondaga posted this 13 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6494>tomme boy

My vision seems unchanged but I plan to get eye exam soon.

Gary

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Brodie posted this 13 August 2014

Gary;  I apologize for the misunderstanding on my part.  Strokes seem to usually hit on the dominant side.  I think that Caldwell makes a long W shaped bag meant to support the forearm of the rifle.  I have one and it works quite well even steadying light round forearms. Have you tried one of these? I got mine from 'Sportsmans Guide dot Com' and it was very reasonably priced. Brodie

B.E.Brickey

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onondaga posted this 13 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=1118>Old Coot

Thanks I have looked at them but not tried one.

Gary

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Wineman posted this 14 August 2014

Gary,

Hopefully your laughter was genuine. Of course I was not trying to equate my age and your Stroke. Glad you are here to talk about it. All of the bad stuff sucks, but getting through it and making a difference is what it is all about. You have made a great contribution to this site and I am sure to the world you can reach out and touch. My earlier advice still stands: get your strength back. I have had an injury or two and sitting around thinking it will get better on its own, is not a good plan. Exercise, physical therapy, and grit are the only things that will let you see a change in the circumstances. My Mother in Law, Nancy Fox (RIP) was from Kenmore and my wife's brothers and sisters were born there. I know the kind of people from that part of NY and they are hard nosed get it done folks. It is an honor to read your posts. Keep at it and remember all the good you have done.

Dave

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onondaga posted this 14 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=893>Wineman,

I'm confident I will be able to live with this at least a little better soon. My Neurologist has tried 6 different meds on me for relief of the pain aspect of the Neuropathy. None have worked and 3 of them had psychological side effects  that were horrible...nightmares , hallucinations, etc.

I noticed that one of the meds I take for occasional acute tinnitis attacks (Roaring in the ears) also lowered the Neuropathy pain and the Doctor said ..go with it, it is a harmless, non habit forming drug with no bad side effects except drowsiness. The plus side is that I can get a really good  night sleep when the Neuropathy pain is bad. This definitely helps quality of life for me. He says we will likely find some medication that even works better if I am willing to try more trial runs.

Gary

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tomme boy posted this 15 August 2014

Are you diabetic? I am. I have really bad neuropathy in my legs, feet and hands. I have been on and off about 15 different pills. Cymbalta is the only one that has actually done anything.

I know that my vision goes in and out throughout the day as my sugars go up and down. Evenings are bad for me to shoot.

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onondaga posted this 15 August 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6494>tomme boy

Not Diabetic, Neuropathy has many causes, and it is a symptom of nerve damage, mine is from stroke. You are fortunate Cymbalta works for you. I did a trial with Cymbalta. It did not work for me and I had severe side effects from that one when I tried it for 5 weeks.

 I get pain, hypersensitive touch that alternates with numbness and a dead annoying sensation like I have somebody else's dead kidney on the left side. My left forearm, hand, left lower leg and foot are the worst with pain. My entire left side from neck down is effected and  the different areas flare up and down in severity changing from numbness to hypersensitive sense of touch, to deep pain like a broken bone. The most annoying is .....MY LEFT NUT !!!!! When that acts up, I'd rather not have one.

Gary

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tomme boy posted this 15 August 2014

So you are saying you would give your left Nut.........

Just joshing!

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ericp posted this 04 September 2014

My grandfather had a nasty stroke when he was about 75 on his dominant side, mostly effecting his hand. My dad made him a grip strength exerciser like those used by rock climbers except that it had very mild spings; I think the first one was just a tempered hacksaw blade. As he regained strength dad would make stiffer springs. For dexterity he just did what he always did, load ammo. He started out handling large bullets and worked his way down to 222s. He spilled alot of powder and fumbled alot of bullets for a while but within 3 years he was back to normal. He kept on shooting and hunting until he died at 92. Best of luck facing this challenge,

Eric

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onondaga posted this 04 September 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=8059>ericp Thanks Eric, I am having some progress. My Guitar playing is a little better and I have cast bullets a couple times and been shooting at my club twice. My shooting is horrible but I have hope.

Gary

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