Shooting with arthritis

John from MD · Aug 4, 2018

ED,

I have the pictures you wanted. Please send me an email and I will attach them because I don't know how to attach them to this message.

John

Mr. Ed · Aug 4, 2018

John from MD said:
ED,

I have the pictures you wanted. Please send me an email and I will attach them because I don't know how to attach them to this message.

John

That's a problem with the PM protocol... no way to do that.

Blacksmith101 · Aug 4, 2018

Another recoil consideration is grip shape and angle which may be the reason some like revolvers and some don't. A revolver recoil tends to be more radial meaning it rotates in your hand while the 1911 semi slide movement is more straight back, I wonder if a Luger toggle action and different grip angle feels different still (Have not shot one enough to notice). Op try a number of different platforms and see if it makes a difference to you. I like a .357 Magnum revolver but practice with .38 special (which can be shot from a .357 Mag), I even found some low muzzle energy .38's I use for introducing new shooters that are very mild.

The following information comes from Ammo & Ballistics 6 by Bob Forker

Ammo & Ballistics gives a rating to each caliber called the relative recoil factor which is for comparing recoil but does not explain how this number is derived and it apparently doesn't account for different loading's.

Relative Recoil Factor
.45 Auto (.45 ACP) = 0.93
.357 Magnum = 0.89
.38 Special = 0.53

In each of the above calibers various loading's are available and the book lists many different ones with ballistic data. Following are some loads with the lowest muzzle energy which should be some of the lightest recoiling commercial loads:

.45 ACP
Cor-Bon 230-grain FMJ (PM45230/50) Muzzle Energy 287 ft-lbs
Federal 185-grain FMJ-SWC Match (GM45B) Muzzle Energy 263 ft-lbs

.357 Magnum
Speer 135-grain GDHP Short Barrel (23917) Muzzle Energy 294 ft-lbs
Cowboy action loads
Black Hills 158-grain CNL (DCB357N1) Muzzle Energy 225 ft-lbs
Fiocchi 158-grain LRNFP (357CA) Muzzle Energy 172 ft-lbs

.38 Special
Federal 148-grain Lead Wadcutter Match (GM38A) Muzzle Energy 155 ft-lbs
Fiocchi 158-grain LRNFP (38CA) Muzzle Energy 144 ft-lbs

For comparison the following are typical .45 ACP 230-grain FMJ
Winchester 395 ft-lbs
Federal 380 ft-lbs
Fiocchi 377 ft-lbs

bartojb1 · Aug 4, 2018

imaoldcowhand said:
Being a vegetarian I don’t think that I need to change my diet, but I could be wrong.

As for my knees, I’ve been getting gel injections since the cortisone shots didn’t work. I can get the gel shots when needed. It’s the alternative to knee replacements. The gel shots have been lasting me about 3 years before needing another one.

Yes, I went the route of orthovisc one time, and actually my knees felt worse off than before.

Keto has worked for me. but I came from a "typical" American diet.

BigDaddy · Aug 4, 2018

Folks may not know there isn't just 1 arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and can be fairly devastating and disfiguring. All the rest of us get degenerative arthritis and if you aren't used to having your hands hurt doing minor things, it's not only disconcerting, it hurts. I'd compare it to a toothache, it gets your attention.

I am right handed and my own degenerative arthritis, made worse with Lyme disease, is worse on the left. I think I could download a heavy gun like my S&W M-25 45 LC, but a snub nose or a snappy gun like a P-64 would have to be uncomfortable. You could "pretreat" with asprin or motrin. Other than that, I have no suggestions.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 4, 2018

Spur said:
Have you tried reducing your loads and the recoil spring in the 1911? I have RA in my hands and wrist and I don't believe just switching to a revolver will help you that much, unless you couple it with reduced loads.

No I haven’t tried reduced loads yet, but they are now in my future. Unfortunately I won’t be doing any shooting this year.

GUNSnROTORS · Aug 4, 2018

Hope all of you who are suffering can find relief and are able to enjoy pain-free shooting. All above on reducing recoil makes sense, although I don't have arthritis. Padded shooting gloves help help me enjoy shooting my 460 and 500 hand-cannons. Maybe they would help for arthritis too?

Not trying to sell snake oil ... but Mrs. GnR swears by this stuff:
https://store.newporthealth.com/joint-pain-supplements/jointrenewalplus.html

imaoldcowhand · Aug 4, 2018

Bullfrog said:
I'm no expert, but assuming a cartridge of similar power and firearm of similar weight, recoil from a revolver would be more intense, not less.

The recoil from a semiauto is used to push the slide back against the force of the recoil spring. The total amount of force is the same, but it's going to be spread out over time as the spring compresses. With the revolver, all of the force is going to go into your hand almost instantaneously.

Shooting a less powerful cartridge, or a heavier gun, or both would cause less felt recoil.

I have shot revolvers and have noticed more muzzle flip.
But they were large calbers.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 4, 2018

K31 said:
Have you seen a rheumatologist? Living with the pain, and more importantly the joint destruction, may not have to be an option.

Yes I have seen a couple of rheumatologis, but I didn’t care for their therapudic remedies. Opioids are not in my future. Especially with a 50/50 chance of them working.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 4, 2018

knastera said:
Have you thought about an AR pistol? I built one in 223 Wylde and the recoil is nominal, particularly if you get it with a brace (now that we are allowed to shoulder them).
In regard to the revolver, I have a Taurus Judge and I put a beefy Pachmyer grip on it. Shooting 45LC cowboy loads in single action mode is pretty easy on the hands and wrists. Just don't get one of the polymer framed models. As others have said, weight is your friend when it comes to reducing recoil.

I don’t have a HQL, so I have some thinking to do on whether I buy a revolver.

As for weight, that is the reason that I bought an SS pistol. I had heard too many horror stories about shooting 230gr 45ACP in light weight frames, same with light revolvers.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 4, 2018

Anyone care to recommend a grip for my 1911 that would be arthritis friendly?
My Colt is a 1991A1 compact with a 3 1/2” bbl (old roll mark), but I most always shoot it with the matching commander slide on it.

Blacksmith101 · Aug 5, 2018

imaoldcowhand said:
I don’t have a HQL, so I have some thinking to do on whether I buy a revolver.

As for weight, that is the reason that I bought an SS pistol. I had heard too many horror stories about shooting 230gr 45ACP in light weight frames, same with light revolvers.

Don't need an HQL for C&R, plenty of good C&R revolvers available.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 5, 2018

Blacksmith101 said:
Don't need an HQL for C&R, plenty of good C&R revolvers available.

I don’t have an HQL.

But do I need a C&R license to buy one?

John from MD · Aug 5, 2018

imaoldcowhand said:
I didn’t know an HQL was not required for a C&R pistol/revolver.

But do I need a C&R license to buy one?

Not in Maryland only if you buy out of State. In Maryland they treat them as regular guns but you don't need an HQL.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 5, 2018

John from MD said:
Not in Maryland only if you buy out of State. In Maryland they treat them as regular guns but you don't need an HQL.

Thanks for the information.
I’ll check out the C&R section.

knastera · Aug 5, 2018

John from MD said:
Not in Maryland only if you buy out of State. In Maryland they treat them as regular guns but you don't need an HQL.

If you can find them, the M1895 Nagant revolver has nearly zero recoil. It shoots the oddest looking round ever, the 7.62x38mmR. It can also shoot 32 S&W Long.

John from MD · Aug 6, 2018

knastera said:
If you can find them, the M1895 Nagant revolver has nearly zero recoil. It shoots the oddest looking round ever, the 7.62x38mmR. It can also shoot 32 S&W Long.

Even with modified springs, this is not a good revolver for people with arthritis. A third model hand ejector would be much better and there are plenty out there.

Atrox88 · Aug 8, 2018

I have had the same issues for a few years now. With handguns I still keep a 1911, a .357 mag and a .40 but I mostly shoot small bore and I am having a blast with them and I never thought I would enjoy small bore.

JB01 · Aug 8, 2018

Arthritis and OC Remedies

"Joint Renewal Plus Supplement for Pain Relief" was recommended as a therapy for osteoarthritis.

Please note the active ingredient of this supplement is salicin. Salicin and aspirin are metabolized to the active anti-inflammatory salicylic acid. Aspirin may be cheaper. Curcuminoids have no current proof of therapeutic usefulness. Lastly, chicken collagen is digested as a protein.

Of greatest importance is that salicylates render platelets inactive. So taking the above supplement and aspirin or other salicylate, may cause you to bruise and bleed with minor trauma.

JB

John from MD · Aug 8, 2018

It appears that you have studied up on the subject. Do you know of anything that helps that doesn't have adverse side effects?

Shooting with arthritis

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

American Patriot

This IS my Happy Face

Grumpy Old Man

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Active Member

nude member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Grumpy Old Man

Active Member

American Patriot

Active Member

Just another shooter

American Patriot

Gold Member

Member

American Patriot

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics