Any training units that consider the "older" shooter?

[shadow106]

I'm going to be 70 in November. I've been hand gunning since I was 21, and I mean WEEKLY when I've been able to afford it.

Now that I'm a retired LEO, I find that most of the training available in my part of South/Central Idaho is geared for guys a lot more agile than I am, which disappoints me. I would enjoy participating in some decent training so that I can maintain my skills within the scope of my physical limitations. But.....the reality is, I can't vault a wall, nor run from pillar to post, and tumbling and coming up into an offensive posture is so far out of the question, I feel the pain just thinking about it. LOL!

So maybe one of you who work with a good training outfit might consider putting something together for us old folks. Some of us are fair shots, have experience with the topic, and on the days when we remember where our glasses are, we could do well on the range.

Speaking for myself, I figure that the older I get, the more vulnerable I am to "external influences" on the street, in the parking lot, etc.. So I practice on moving targets a lot, instead of the round black ball out there that never moves or shoots back. So think about tactics for us slowpokes and drills to hone them. I bet you'd have a very marketable commodity.

 

[MamaLiberty]

Well, Shadow... since you've been shooting that long, and obviously have taken some serious training in that period, I'd say you are in a good position to start paying that forward. Why not get together with some trainers and help them develop a course for older, less agile people? Become a trainer yourself. Your experience and understanding of the problems and whatever solutions you've worked out for yourself are important to a lot of other people in the same situation.

I am 65 and no Amazon... LOL I am also an instructor and many times have tailored a class to meet the needs of older and/or handicapped people. One of my favorites was a 77 year old woman who had never before picked up a handgun. She was a definite challenge, but she is able to handle a gun safely now, and could defend herself if necessary - meeting our goals for her.

I've been shooting for 30 years myself, and had to shoot a man to save my life once. I've never once found a need to vault a wall.

[Edit to say I don't know why this forum software added links to two words in my post here. I did not add them.]

 

[Almost_Blameless]

+1 ... another 60+-or-so that would like such training/competition ... especially if geared towards sub-calibers...

Its been a not-so-long, but hard, joint-pounding life...I can no longer tolerate the recoil from even small 380's, and need to shoot something like a 23oz CZ83 in .32 ~ .380 in order to moderate the recoil with weight and mass.

I'd love to be able to carry a pocket .380, but the flip part of recoil will mess up my wrist and finger joints for days ~ weeks. So, beings how I'm relegated down to sub-calibers in the interest of joint preservation, I'd be interested in shooting with those who shoot the same.

Actually I'd like to hear something from those who have dealt with recoil sensitivity, and how they deal with it.

 

[MamaLiberty]

Actually I'd like to hear something from those who have dealt with recoil sensitivity, and how they deal with it.

I've had a number of students with that problem and have found certain modifications to grip and stance help a great deal. Wish I could work with you for a few hours. Take a look at the books/videos at this site. Tactical Shooting Academy - Home The Fist-Fire system is the best I've ever seen for any kind of shooting, but especially for those of us who can't "muscle" the gun.

 

[golocx4]

Shadow - There certainly is a market for it.
IMHO any training and repetitive shooting is a plus.
Even though we can leap tall curbs in a single bound anymore. One the violence starts much of what we learned goes out the window anyway. Repetitiveness preparedness kicks in and we instinctively react based on what we know.
Some chapters could be
How to retreat and recover.
Situation Awareness at all a times
Point Blank Shooting after that attack
Using your Handgun to get to a real weapon (shotgun)

 

[sgtbill]

At my age (65) I still shoot all the time even with my medical conditions that I wont go into on an open forum. Yes I have some problems with the recoil so I have put away my .40 cal. Glock and my 9 M.M. Smith & Wesson and got a .380 Walther. As I just had a total left knee replacement 8 week's ago doing any fancy manuvers is out but I can still put 2 in the chest and 1 in the head. I will move the best that I can while I still can.
Bill

 

[cluznar]

If your problem is recoil stick with something like a Bersa Thunder.32 or maybe a .22.
A .22 loaded with good defense ammo (like stingers) can do a lot of damage with basically
no recoil. Plus it's easy to get off more shots with low recoil.

:yes2:

 

[rdp357]

I haven't found any training classes in my area for the older generation, the ones offered are much more physical then my body can take.

SGTBILL: good luck with your knee recovery.

As stated by GOLOCX4 all of these topics would be good,
How to retreat and recover.
Situation Awareness at all a times
Point Blank Shooting after that attack

 

[cluznar]

carry a pocket pistol .32 or .22 and also walk using a cane which is really a .380

:dance3:

 

[lostone1413]

The thing is even when older you just have to take the classes and do the best you can. A criminal isn't going to give you a break because your older. One advantage of being older you would be justified in going to weapon sooner