No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

[thertel2]

Had a 2.5" tumor removed from my intra-dural space in my spine, and today the surgeon mentions that because he didn't put in plates or a bone graft due to concerns over needing radiation therapy down the road I cannot risk the recoil. Top it off with no weight training, no running, and no swimming due to damage in my thoracic region.

So what can I do to improve my distance shooting over the next 6 months, or at the very least maintain my skills. I've only into the actual precision bolt gun and AR-10 aspect of shooting in the last 8 months and while my progress has been slow, I do not want any setbacks.

Thanks for any advice.

Thomas

 

[alibi]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Rimfire trainer. Set one up just like your center fire and shoot until you can't. I have a shooting buddy of mine who has issues with his retinas, used to shoot reduced loads for awhile but due to ongoing problems has switched exclusively to 22LR.

 

[Boss334OP]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Whoa... Sorry to hear that man. I hope everything works out for you.
The only recomendation I have is to buy some snap caps for dry fire practice. Other than that, I know they make practice lasers in pistol calibers but I really haven't seen any rifle calibers yet... Doesn't mean that they aren't out there though.

 

[cavscout1983]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Could always get into indoor air rifle.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Rimfire trainer or a lead sled.
Hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

 

[thertel2]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

I dont have a rifle in rimfire, though I have been wanting a Anschutz 1903/1913 and I guess this would be a good time to pick one up, and I bought a laser trainer for my pistol. I would really like to find a book with all the math for slope shooting, mil ranging, and other techniques, but haven't seen reviews for any.

 

[HPLLC]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Why don't you set up a bench in your house and dry fire, or use a mil-dot computer game.

I read the Carlos Hathcock book and according to it he spent lots of time in the barracks in shooting positions dry firing.

I personally wanted to improve my handgunning in the military and on a 2009 deployment I drew and dry fired my M9 30-45 minutes a day. It helped.

If I could have shot a mountain of rounds I would have, but 2500 was all I had, so I dry fired.

You could also use a .22lr like the other poster mentioned. A .22lr with a suppressor or brake would have even less recoil.

 

[11B-B4]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

yeah go for a 22... There are some heavier ones out there that basically have no recoil.

And its the most fun caliber to shoot... it really helps you learn on the cheap.

 

[thertel2]

Re: No shooting for 6 months, how to keep/add skills

Thanks for the great suggestions. I ordered up a copy of Shooter Ready to work on mil-ranging with and I am going on Monday to check out .22 rifles.