Learning to shoot again

[jnyork]

Being an avid lever action silhouette shooter, I have been struggling to get to the point where I can hit some of the steel critters again.

Had the covid last winter, lost 2 months of my life and dang near died of it, the issue was in doubt for a few days. Have been SLOWLY recovering, Doc sent me to physical therapy/rehab as almost all of my strength had gone away, have been doing some simple exercises and seems to be helping. Still very short-winded and weak. Anyway, talking with the PT guy a few days ago, lamented to him that I had lost almost all my ability to shoot due to weakness, etc, he told me to go shoot anyway in hopes that it would come back.

I have a regulation 10 meter airgun range in my basement along with an FWB300s target gun, iron sights, and a Beeman R-8 sporter with a Beeman 3x9 scope set at 9x. Shot for the 4th times this evening and saw a little improvement. With the FWB, it is just about too heavy right now , a little over 12 pounds, but I will keep trying. Being short winded, I can only hold my breath for about 6 seconds before the target disappears out of the front sight and everything goes grey, even though I have the largest aperture in. It's from my eye running out of oxygen. Also , pretty shakey, I can only get a decent sight picture for 2-3 seconds and it drifts out into left field.

With the Beeman , I can do fairly well as it is a lighter rifle and has the scope.

My goal so far is to be able to reliably put 10 shots in the black on the 10 meter target, tonight I got 8 with the FWB and the Beeman both, which is progress as I was only getting 3-4 when I started.

Being 80 years old doesn't help, I'm sure. Beats the alternative. Glad our club has a weekly .22 benchrest shoot, I'll do a lot better at that.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm so sorry to hear about you struggling with this. God bless you.

[gamekeeper]

What a bummer.. I would continue to practice with the air rifles, I find them more tiring to use than my rimfires, so continued practice should strengthen your shooting muscles. Wishing you all the best for a FULL recovery.

[GunnyMack]

Well improvement is good! Might I suggest an exercise of just mounting the gun. It will help regrow muscle and improve muscle memory. Just stand and mount the gun as you would to shoot, then lower it- repeat, 10 times? Less or more depending on how you feel, slowly increase the amount as you get stronger. Go through breathing as well. And remember to inhale through your nose and out your mouth- a very wise man( 3 doctorates) told me that forces spinal fluid up & down the spinel cord allowing nerves to function better.

[piller]

I hope you improve soon. The worst part of CoVid for me was the shortness of breath. I still cannot ride my bicycle for any distance.

[Pitchy]

Hope ya get back to normal soon.

[Blaine]

Keep at it, Sir....and, God Bless.

[Grizz]

sorry for those problems. glad that you are shooting your airguns and seeing improvement. that's a good PT story.

heal fast

[AmBraCol]

Yep, the Covid really hits some folks real hard. We're sure glad you pulled through and pray you have a full recovery.

As for starting to shoot again, that was good advice from the PT. Funny, I was just reading Townsend Whelen's book "The American Rifle" and in his chapter on learning to shoot he makes the observation that usually no one will be able to hold steady at the beginning. And although you've got years of experience, physically speaking you're at the beginning again. Hang in there. Keep up your sessions and you'll see an improvement as you go. That FWB 300S is quite a rifle. I have one with a left hand tyrolean stock (basket case gun I built up) and it's fun to shoot, although I have to use it right handed. They are heavy though. Once you get some muscle built up again you might like a change of pace to doing mini-sniping. Click that link and then go to downloads. They've got 9mm and 22 LR targets that can be quite a challenge when you stretch the distance out. They'd also give you a smaller target to strive for at 10 meters once you meet your goal of all shots in the black.

http://minisniping.org/

[Malamute]

Ive seen a long discussion of the crud on another forum, several docs and many other health care specialists and workers that have been seeing this stuff regularly since the beginning, the common theme for many with longer term problems is that getting the vaccine shot seems to help many of them clear up lingering symptoms and get back closer to normal quicker.

[octagon]

I admire the manner in which you are working towards a goal of returning to your regular skill level. My Dad similarly worked to maintain his skills as he got older. I knew an older gentleman retired from the AF who would occasionally score 100 straight at skeet with a 410. These fellows were All Man and no excuses, and were fellows worth knowing and emulating. When Dad could no longer stand due to his collapsing spinal column, he attached a closet pole to a bike seat to lean against and still made the dove hunt with the younger guys and adapted without complaint. I salute your efforts.

[yooper2]

Good luck with your recovery. My grandfather had a stroke at age 73 that messed up his dominant side and he had a rough time regaining full use but through constant work and sheer will power he was able regain his shooting ability and dexterity.
Right after the stroke he could barely make a legible mark with a pencil, and this was a man who made his living as a pattern maker and modeler. Reloading was his main exercise in the beginning, getting a case in the shell holder, weighing out charges by hand, seating a bullet straight, etc. It took him 4 years to get back to his former abilities but he did it. Lived to 93 and was shooting Bullseye, trap and skeet competitively at the club level until 91 or so. His last deer was shot through the neck with a .40 flintlock at 92.
I'm rooting for you!

Eric

[AJMD429]

.

Good advice from GunnyMack.

Watch these guys when it comes to CoVid; they are cutting edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8-J1ES86os

Follow both of these guys and ALSO keep up on the www.FLCCC.net updates; LOTS of new stuff coming up for CoVid ‘longhauler’ patients.

I believe they have a big guideline update to be presented this week.

I’ve seen some of it work first-hand; I believe their acute-phase protocol saved my life got sure, and I think I’d have died if I went to the hospital for lack of the meds I knew to use thanks to these guys.

You may have to spoon-feed your physicians the information, but I’ve seen some great turnarounds from the pulmonary, cardiac, and neurologic symptoms.

I have reported on here snippets I come across, but the above guys and Dr. Pierre Kory are busting the walls down. Some gets ‘taken down’ from YouTube because ‘thou shall not compete with patented drugs’, but there is sound pharmacology behind what they are doing, and they ARE getting results, even in us old fanny burbs.

As far as ‘learning to shoot again,’ let the thrill be as it once was...each step gained is to be celebrated, and is a skill potentially mastered. The more ahead of you, the more of those aggregate accomplishments...! There is no shame in ‘merely’ mastering shouldering properly, or good trigger discipline, or any other ‘basic’ skill.

P.S. - take it a level higher by tutoring someone and sharing those skills; lots of young’uns out there could benefit from seeing how things can be done. You don’t have to be perfect to be a great teacher.

[Shasta]

Jerry,

I'm sorry this virus has taken such a toll on you. My older brother is having the same breathing problems and loss of strength after having contracted Covid.
I think you are most definitely doing the right thing with the airgun practice. That ought to help build back strength. In the meantime, benchrest will keep you shooting without having to bear the weight of the rifle. Hang in there, you got this!

Tim

(P.S.- I am getting plenty of use from the Lube-A-Matic you sent me after the fire.)

[hondo1892]

I'm sorry to hear you are still having so much trouble. I was down over two months with it but seem to be doing fine now and my dad at 84 was only effected for two weeks by it. Seems like there is no way to know how bad it's going to effect someone. I hope you are able to get back to normal again. When you are active and get hit with something that puts a halt to everything it is hard mentally as it is physically. Sounds like you are determined to beat it and that helps a lot.

[piller]

It does seem to hit everyone differently. At least we know how to fight it off.

[Bill in Oregon]

Jerry, keep up the good work with the air rifles in the basement. Have an air pistol, too?

[Rusty]

I guess it hits everyone different. I had it the first 2 weeks of December. My problem aside from being weak is a just not wanting to move from the couch. Everything hurts and I try to keep pain to a minimum.

[Griff]

Jerry, be proud of the attempt. The first step to success, which I am assured you'll attain! Prayers for your continued improvement.

[jnyork]

Made it to the range this morning for out club's first Wednesday morning lever action silhouette shoot of the season, shot the Marlin 39a at the half-sized targets. Had a somewhat difficult time with back pain and sciatica bothering me, but still managed to hit 32/60 . 50/60 was my previous average so have plenty of room for improvement. Weekly matches should help move the scores up.

[piller]

Better than what it could be.

[AJMD429]

Hey, any safe day at the shooting range is a GOOD day, regardless of scores...

[jnyork]

Yes indeed, far better than a good day at work..

[.45colt]

Glad Your on the mend . one day at a time . .