Recoil and age

[DennisCA]

"Mojaveman-my '06 and 12 gauge seem to hurt a little more than they used to"

You think they kick? Try a Steyr M95 Carbine in 8X56r!
Kicks like a angry mule on crack!

Seriously - I'm in my upper 50's and I found the the key is moderation, take a few shots take a break (hell you going to be there all day any ways). No sense in beating the crap out out of shoulder (unless you you're into that kind of thing but that's another discussion all-to-gether!).

I still like to shoot larger-caliber type firearms and hopefully will (god-willing) for sometime~!

[jyo]

People often complain about thirty cal rifles---and yes, a Winchester 94 30-30 can get your attention---but there are thirties that don't kick that much---Ruger Mini 30s, SKS, etc. shooting 7.62X39---if you must shoot something like a 308, a FN FAL hardly kicks at all. I was at a private range shooting one of my FALs and on the tables next to me were two gents and a girl shooting M1As---the girl asked about my rifle and what type of ammo it shot---I told her same as yours. I told her she could shoot my rifle if she wanted to---she fired off ten rounds and said to her companions---"This thing doesn't kick at all!" Of course, they all wanted to shoot it and since they had plenty of factory 308, I let 'em shoot it as much as they wanted...

[teg33]

OP, 55 years old is not senior. You're still young, come on life just began

[Marquand]

OP, it's not just you. As the years creep by I find less joy in lightweight 12 gauge shotguns loaded with slugs and old milsurp rifles with metal buttplates than I used to. With age comes wisdom and all that nonsense.

DennisCA has the right idea - moderation. I take a .22 or 5.56 along on every rifle range trip and after pounding my shoulder with a hard kicker for a bit I back off and relax with something smaller for a while before resuming the recoil-fest.

[ElDub1950]

OP, 55 years old is not senior. You're still young, come on life just began

This^^^

If you start thinking you're old at 55 you probably won't make it to 65

[JJE]

I'm 53, but I didn't like recoil, noise or blast even when I was in my 20's. I love my full-sized, all-steel 22 pistols and my 30-30 big-game rifle.

[L84CABO]

As they say, it ain't the age...IT'S THE MILEAGE!

I'm 49. But I've got 5 shoulder surgeries under my belt at this point that I didn't have in my early thirties. Suffice it to say that firing a shotgun can be a religious experience for me. Obviously I've got some issues going on. But things have a tendency to breakdown a bit as we age in general. Cartilage can decrease. Maybe you have some bursitis going on in your shoulder, etc. So recoil may hurt more than it did when you were younger.

[russ69]

As they say, it ain't the age...IT'S THE MILEAGE! ...

My actual age = 60
My mental age = 17
My physical age = 75

[NOTABIKER]

I am 68 and my bolt action 20 gage shot gun hurts more than my Mosin carbine or any other surplus rifle i own. I do use a but pad on the Mosin carbine though .

[CGT80]

As a teen, I used to shoot a 3 pound coffee can full of 30-06 (180 jword over IMR 4895) in a day for plinking, plus others. Now I don't shoot any full power loads in 30-06 or 30-30, and I am only 34. I shoot the Win 94 30-30 quite a bit, but with my cast 180 plain base boolits over herco powder, at 1300 fps. It is more fun than a 22, knocks over steel out to 165 yards, and is easy on the shoulder and ears.

I use a similar load for the Win 54 30-06 bolt gun as well. I have a 460 mag revolver, but I only shoot the mid and hot loads once in a while. Trailboss is very fun and 45 colt brass is great with red dot powder and 45 acp boolits.

The calguns thread on the 9mm AR15 has pretty much sold me on one of them. The money is another issue. Half of the 3 gun matches I do, don't have targets past 70 yards and when we go long, it is only 180 yards. The 9mm would also work on steel when shooting the short stages. 9mm is cheaper and easier to reload.

Life has already taken a toll on my body and desires and limits seem to change as you get older. My grandfather didn't believe in using lighter loads just for plinking, but I would have done it as a teen if I realized how easy and how much fun it could be. It seems that he was only OK with hunting level loads and he had to have an excuse such as sighting in a gun, to go to the range. It was always just about having fun, for me, but it took finding the forums to learn how many variables we have in the shooting sports. There is something for everyone, no matter what your skill level or ability, or body issues.

[Wicked Pete]

Sixty eight here.

I put a pillow under my shirt at the range. No more 12 gauge slugs. Ouch.

HG: gloves help a lot. Gave up on the "hand cannons." 9mm and .38.



I still talk big and challenge these youngins to a shoot off; anytime. Allow me to "show you some old age and skill".

[Jimi Jah]

Switch to .22LR?

I've reached the "metal age".

Silver in my hair, gold in my teeth and lead in my @ss.

[AceGirlsHusband]

... Hold on, I gotta take another leak.......................I'm back, what were we talking about?

...

'About how you don't need ear protection anymore for shooting your cannon.

[Decoligny]

I'm a few steps away from 55 and honestly, my '06 and 12 gauge seem to hurt a little more than they used to. Is it just me or do any of the other senior citizens here want to comment or make suggestions?

To the younger members; it's going to happen to you too.

I'm a few steps past 55 and honestly getting out of bed, walking up and down stairs, getting in and out of the car, and even tying my shoes seem to hurt a little more than they used to.

Remember, they say you are only as old as you feel. Some days I look really good for a 90 year old, other days I look really bad for a 19 years old.

[tanks]

I'm a few steps away from 55 and honestly, my '06 and 12 gauge seem to hurt a little more than they used to. Is it just me or do any of the other senior citizens here want to comment or make suggestions?...

I think it is dependent on the person and their training. I am 58, have no issues shooting .500 caliber bolt action rifles for practice and hunting. I would not be shooting them prone though. However, if rat calibers like '06 were hurting you in the past then you probably were super sensitive to recoil.

Now, from a bench is a different story there I use a sled with 50lbs of shot.