My shooting has gone to pot

peternap · June 29, 2009, 05:54:05 AM

I've known I had developed a little palsy for a good while now. but I didn't know how bad it was until yesterday.

I took the new 1911 out for it's initial workout. I guess I should have eaten lunch first, because I was not doing well. My first two shots offhand went 8" wide. The next three 8 shot groups were 6" and 7"...this was at 25 yards and this is unacceptable for me.

I immediately blamed the new gun

But...I went to the bench and set up on sandbags. 7 shots in a ragged hole and a flier out an inch

Sooooo, it's not the gun, it's me!

I'm not sure what to do about it.

Redoverfarm · June 29, 2009, 06:02:05 AM

Eye exam Peter?

June 29, 2009, 07:22:44 AM

Quote from: Redoverfarm on June 29, 2009, 06:02:05 AM
Eye exam Peter?

Had one John. That is a possible contributor because he said my eyesight would fluctuate with my blood sugar. What makes me think it's the shakes is that I shot well off the bench.

I'm going to shoot my crossbow this week. That usually shows me what's going on with shooting problems.
I'm just afraid I'm going to have to go with a shotgun only at some point.

ScottA · June 29, 2009, 07:23:40 AM

Maybe time for a shotgun.

Phssthpok · June 29, 2009, 10:52:20 AM

I have seen some people's shakes INCREASE the more they try to steady their aim..... almost like a feedback loop... the harder they try, the worse the shakes become. Sometimes just a slight deliberate motion is enough to overcome 'palsy' shakes and more or less stabilize things. The minor 'active signal' corrections in the muscles to recover your sight picture override the 'noise' in the nervous system that causes the shakes.

You might try some 'rapid' fire drills, and no, I don't mean blasting wildly. Try getting used to firing the moment your sight picture is 'correct' while still in 'recovery'. While this isn't as good as deliberate 'aimed' fire, with practice you can come close. You'd essentially be combining 'aimed fire' with 'hip shootin'.

Obviously you're not going to get those 'one ragged hole' targets shooting off-hand, but even if you only close your group by 30% you're now within 5"...plaenty good for self defense IMHO.

June 30, 2009, 11:11:51 AM

Well, for starters, keeping your blood sugar well-regulated can help, as can eating before you go shooting. Sunday at my dad's house, I thought he'd developed a bit of palsy in his right hand, only later I realized he was just rolling a little ball around under his palm. I wouldn't have thought it if he hadn't told me he'd missed a coyote at 20 yards last week.

MountainDon · July 01, 2009, 02:46:57 PM

I know the feeling Peter; sort of. With me it's the eyes.

Feels bad when stuff like this happens.

cordwood · July 02, 2009, 12:59:42 PM

Quote from: Phssthpok on June 29, 2009, 10:52:20 AM
I have seen some people's shakes INCREASE the more they try to steady their aim..... almost like a feedback loop... the harder they try, the worse the shakes become. Sometimes just a slight deliberate motion is enough to overcome 'palsy' shakes and more or less stabilize things. The minor 'active signal' corrections in the muscles to recover your sight picture override the 'noise' in the nervous system that causes the shakes.

You might try some 'rapid' fire drills, and no, I don't mean blasting wildly. Try getting used to firing the moment your sight picture is 'correct' while still in 'recovery'. While this isn't as good as deliberate 'aimed' fire, with practice you can come close. You'd essentially be combining 'aimed fire' with 'hip shootin'.

Obviously you're not going to get those 'one ragged hole' targets shooting off-hand, but even if you only close your group by 30% you're now within 5"...plaenty good for self defense IMHO.

What he said; Between years of driving at night and the torch/welder flash burns I have little dots that prevent a perfectly clear target so I practice as much as I can afford and try to instinct/reflex shoot. With a scope I have to compensate by rolling the scope around and remembering where to shoot in the middle. I am not Bob Munden but those I shoot with are usually suprised if I get too far off. As physical ailments start out numbering physical attributes I have learned to evolve and adapt, And a Banana shortly before helps me

harry51 · July 03, 2009, 12:34:54 AM

Too much coffee? Gripping the gun too tight? Out of condition just enough/and/or/having a bad enough arthritis day to make the offhand position a bit of a physical strain? Suffering just enough from aches and pains to cause a bit of subconscious fear of the recoil, leading to a little flinch or trigger yank?

A very wise and dear old friend once told me "Old age ain't for sissies." I've now been around long enough to know what he meant. I guess we can take some comfort in the adage that says old age, experience and treachery will beat youth, ability and skill most of the time............

rick91351 · July 03, 2009, 11:07:40 AM

I think you will get use to it, and it will all come together. Every gun, every camera, every hand tool has it own feel. To me that is a very hard gun to shoot but then I sort of like wheel guns. My next door neighbor growing up severed in the Pacific in WWII and Korea. That guy could write his name with one. He would tell me, "Practice, practice, practice. There never has been a finer gun built than a military 45 other than maybe an M1."

rlr