I started shooting again.

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

Most of you who have never met me don't know about my disability or my love of anything shooting. I have a clotting problem which complicated an ATV accident I had which broke both bones in my leg. It left me with a nerve injury and chronic pain both to the nerve and the 2 in section of bone that was grafted. I wear a brace, &, have a lot of problems getting up or down, or standing for long, which stinks if I want to compete. One of my fondest memory is putting my 6 year old son between my legs teaching him to shoot. I loved it when he would hit the target and squeal with delight. I also loved turkey shoots when I'd beat my husband and brother for bragging rights of the family.

After my accident I had nearly 20 surgeries, and a lot of depression. To their credit my husband and son got me hunting again pretty quick. In Indiana a handicapped license allows a helper to tag you animal. John helps me with deer, and he or my husband do turkey with me. I still missed competing against them, but well... Today I started shooting my . 45 1911 just for fun, and a little remfire just to prove I could do it. God I've missed doing this. John showed me the rules for disability, but even being allowed to be in position I don't think I could compete. When I get down it takes me a few minutes to get the pain back under control. Nerve injuries are a witch. That few minutes of feeling like my leg is crushed between 2 electrodes just throws off any concentration I have. John said he thought F class and for fun maybe NRA Smallbore prone. I don't know, so I thought I'd ask you guys. Anybody here with physical limitations compete much?

I am going to admit shooting today, after being in lock down for a month made me very happy. I can't explain it, but shooting with my son took me back to my dad teaching me, and me teaching my son. Turkey starts Wednesday, I'll try to observe social distancing when I call my gobbler in.

Thanks guys, you are all a wealth of information, I am lucky to have this resource.

 

[roband]

Keep at it!!1

 

[TAJ45]

Congrats Paula. Hmmmm, church bud's 8 yo daughter got one Sun?? He is SE of Scottsburg abt 15 mi. Diff days for diff counties?

 

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

No over the weekend was youth season. The kids have to teach us where they are.

 

[Catgunguy]

I wish you the best Paula.

 

[TAJ45]

That was it!

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Hang in there:::::THIS TOO SHALL PASS......

 

[msalm]

So what about postal benchrest (rimfire) or any of the benchrest games? Open up an whole new world of reloading, load tuning, etc... Would you be able to sit at a bench and shoot 100/200 groups? Equipment startup might be prohibitive, but there are some pretty classic old competition guns for very reasonable that aren't the latest and greatest but still would be a lot of fun I think.

 

[AAAOA]

Keep it up, with time hopefully it becomes easier to manage the pain. My father has nerve issues in his legs and a mostly fused back thanks to plenty of years jumping out of planes in the Army. As time goes on he's figuring out more and more what he can do and exercising regularly has really helped him gain back some of what he's lost. You'll never get back to 100% but you can get something back.

Echoing what the rest of these guys are saying, if moving or standing is difficult you may find bench rest or long range shooting to worth while. Maybe you could even drag a lawn chair onto the skeet range and bust some clays!

 

[PhilKeil]

Paula, that is wonderful. I too have autoimmune issues very similar. I also have been trying to get back involved. I have had some setbacks but am stubbornly trying to not give in. I miss hunting and am trying to find a way to make that happen.
You will find something in shooting that will make you happy don't stop looking. I have been playing with some prone shooting and it is tough to get up and down but as long as it is not under any kind of time constraints i have been able to manage. I tend to gravitate to a bench.
We will both figure it out and I for one appreciate your posts and inspiration
May God bless you

 

[allen529]

As has been explained to me, you can petition the NRA for a positional waiver to compete in F-Class but they will not recognize any records you set. Some have found their paperwork a headache and a tad too intrusive but if you want to jump thru hoops its possible.

As for pistol shooting there are several different styles that you might be able to take part in with your current 1911 (maybe)

Good luck and shoot often!

 

[Retired Grunt]

Last year I wanted to shoot F Class, my first match didn't go so well. While in the Prone pain shot from my right toe to my neck. I am Service connected for my back, radiculopathy including muscle injuries in my right leg. The match director kindly said come over to the bench and you can shoot from there. I applied for the https://adaptiveshooting.nra.org/ It took a while to get my card, but now I am good to go if I want to travel regionally. If you just shoot a local match it may not matter, and from what I understand not every match site have benches. I love it, I wanted to shoot and wanted to do more than just go out on a Sunday on my own.