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Thread: Old(er) Age Hand Shake

  1. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by SeriousStudent View Post
    Welcome to old age, my brother from another mother.

    I have a medical history that includes cerebral malaria, not one but two TBI's, and arthritis in the hands.

    I take a lot of glucosamine chondritin and use those hand strengtheners. And I have learned to live with a wobble zone that looks like an epileptic 7-year-old sliding down the deck of the Titanic.

    I don't think it ever gets better, I am just delaying the inevitable. If I am around in 15 years, I'll probably have to stop shooting handguns.

  2. #12
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    The op might check with his doctor or pharmacist to find out whether or not medicines might be causing shakiness. I suggest avoiding temptation to pray over sights, ignore shaking, and shoot. This strategy has worked for me. Good technique will trump unsteadiness.

  3. #13
    Site Supporter SeriousStudent's Avatar
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    There is a reason I own seven shotguns.

  4. #14
    Some really good advice here.

    The only thing I'd add is that over time I notice that I can hold certain pistols more steadily than others -- whether heavier/lighter, longer/shorter, bigger/smaller grip, whatever -- and that range is getting narrower. So my recommendation is to find that one that hits the sweet spot.

    There you have it, I've given you an excuse to try out and possibly buy a new gun.

  5. #15
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    A gentleman of more years than I was in my Arizona CCW class some years back. He had some serious hand tremors. His beautiful Colt Detective Special wobbled awfully, to the point that our instructor was concerned about safety on the line and on the street.

    At 5 yards, though, all of his shots hit the silhouette. It was ugly, more like a shotgun pattern, but he did hit the target.

    If you're better off than that guy, then keep on trucking.

  6. #16
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    Mar 2018
    Most people are surprised at how much tremor you can have in your hands and still get a good hit... as long as you get a perfect trigger press. However, the mental key to getting a perfect trigger press is to ignore the wobble. With a tremor, there's more wobble, so it's harder to ignore the wobble. One is tempted to snatch the trigger when the sights look perfect.

  7. #17
    Site Supporter Paul D's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NH Shooter View Post
    At 64 years old, I'm finding that I can not hold a pistol nearly as steady as I could 35 years ago when I began shooting handguns. I know this is to be expected, but can anyone suggest exercises that might help mitigate this?

    LOL, I used to have a "wobble zone" but it looks more like an earthquake zone now... ;-/
    Ask your physician if propranolol would be appropriate for you. It is a generic cheap drug that was designed for hypertension years ago but is used more these days for essential tremors. It is also used for migraines, stage fright. It is a banned drug in the Olympics. North Korean Olympic shooter Kim Jong Su had his silver and bronze taken away in the 2008 games for testing positive for this drug.

  8. #18
    Supporting Business NH Shooter's Avatar
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    Appreciate all the feedback!

    Though my mom got Parkinson's in her 50s, I believe my issue has more to do with loss of strength and just general old age. I can still hit a 3 X 5 index card at 60 feet seven out of ten times, but I used to be able to do that 10 of 10 out to at least 75 feet. I concur, trigger control is key and one of the reasons I'm finding the PPQ a bit easier to shoot tight(er) groups.

    No getting around it, growing old sucks.

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by NH Shooter View Post
    No getting around it, growing old sucks.
    True, but it still beats the alternative.

  10. #20
    banana republican blues's Avatar
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    old(er) age hand shake
    Maybe you should just fist bump.


    I notice it a little sometimes...usually with my support hand when I'm going to set up my sonicare toothbrush.
    Yet I don't notice it at all when I do my weak hand dry firing. Go figure.

    Maybe it's just my ingrained fear of dentists. Honestly, I think there are so many variables involved. Pre or post workout, exertion, tiredness, etc. I rarely experience it but I think it's inevitable.
    Last edited by blues; 03-25-2018 at 02:53 PM.
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