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Very Discouraged: Can't Shoot. For Good: "?" + WARNING! :

4K views 38 replies 30 participants last post by  Smitty901 
#1 · (Edited)
I can't shoot and feel that could be for good. A new gun I shot, a 45acp revolver I held too high on the grip gave me a recoil injury to the area you'd think, between thumb and forefinger/trigger finger. I rested it for a couple of weeks, tried again with other guns, it hurt and I went home. But I saw after the large joint at the thumb's base almost at the wrist was all swollen. Couldn't figure how recoil would do that so my Doc he diagnosed arthritis, some in corresponding joint in left hand too. X-Rays showed high degree of damage to right hand at thumb joint, including bone fragments. Next a Hand Specialist who I will see Dec 10 but quick appt. to his medical assistants first. They put a brace on, examined again, one did a test to check ligaments by pulling on thumb which came right out of its socket with me, (extremely bad experience I'd skip it if I were you). So, that's not good. I have an MRI Monday and see the Hand Surgeon next.
I miss shooting, I only started 6 yrs ago to practice for CCW but really liked it and went to range a lot. I'm 65 now and planned on a nice hobby as I aged but now, dunno........ I think they operate sometimes and it is usually successful but it is usually only after awhile to see if you are too inhibited by the condition ("Basal Joint Thumb Arthritis").

This all still in play. But the one doctor I saw explained in detail why the damage was so low in the hand and this is the WARNING I have for you all: 2 guns I shoot in high calibers are a bit too long for ideal reach to trigger. This was always inconsequential to my accuracy, whether aimed or drawing and firing ala' Point Shooting. But that is what caused likely a good deal of this damage: the gun ends up pointing slightly to the right for a Rt-handed shooter and the hilt points slightly to the left. Ideally the gun should point straight in a direction equa-distant between the thumb and trigger finger. With that very slight shift to compensate a slightly long reach to the trigger, all the force of the recoil goes directly into the lower thumb and pushes the thumb down into that joint, over and over at the high force of 357 or 45 loads. That's why my ligaments are so loose, and the bone fragments are there, whacking the thumb bone into the joint and the bone there - like hammering one piece of wood against another results in splintering if you do it enough.

So either stay away from buying guns with a long reach to the trigger, or if you have one watch the position of the hilt and make sure the gun points exactly straight between the thumb and fore-finger so the recoil goes into mid-hand, where there's more flesh and not against the lower thumb bone. I don't know how you do this if the reach is too long, maybe wear a shooting glove to minimize the damage if you have to hold it wrong. But don't do what I did. And remember, this is only 2 guns in just 6 yrs of shooting - though likely there was damage there before. Still, lot of damage easily with the Big-Guy guns.

WATCH IT! There's a high price to pay...

 
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#36 ·
You will probably able to shoot long guns. Muzzleloaders can vibe very low recoil. So too are 22 pistols.

I hope it all works out and you don't have to give up what you love.
 
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