Does it really matter how I hold the Gun?

Just wanted to say, about the aspect of "proper form"...there is proper form for a reason, very good reasons. They were developed(just like for any other sport or discipline that requires a certain form for the body) to maximize stability, usable strength from the design of the body and how that interacts with the tool(force, levers, etc...physics), and to minimize fatigue and injury.

Since you have enough inflammation after a shooting session to need meds, you ARE injuring your WEAK wrists and this will only get worse. Your creative form IS putting undue stress on your weak link, and it's going to get worse as you age. Right now every time you shoot you are tweaking your wrist. That's just the truth of the matter.

In anything that has a proper form take the time to learn it so it's intuitive. Take the time to build strength so you can take the forces without injury. I know fixing bad form is awkward and a pain, but you'll save your self injury and probably improve your aim, and along with strength training you'll be able to shoot more accurately longer.

sure there's good enough for once in a blue moon if that nut comes through the door, that's what shotguns are for. BUT from the standpoint that this is an activity you do on a pretty regular basis, your bad form is injuring your body, plain and simple.

The exercise given(wrist curls) is a great beginning exercise. TO move on I would suggest pushups(which everyone should be doing anyways!) which will hit your whole upper body and make you that much more stable. Also doing something with impact, such as splitting difficult wood with a maul(or just whacking away at a stump), will plyometrically strengthen your wrists for the jolt.

I have skinny little bird wrists which have been broken each side a few times in my life, so it was really hard to work back up to pushups, but it has been so much worth the trouble!!! I have a lot of work that makes me prone to carpal tunnel, and I've avoided that.

HTH

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ps, YH my grandpa used to shoot heads off rattlesnakes while riding his trail 90 with a 22 pistol which meant left handed(he was right handed) because throttle on the right.

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Yes, that's the best way to do it.

I also think that you'll improve faster if you switch from 'man' sized silhouette type targets to simple two inch dots on a contrasting background. This will give your eyes a 'point' at which to aim, instead of trying to center on a large object.

Worry about getting center hits on a man after you learn to hit something. If you can hit something small, you can hit something big.

Yes, it does matter. This is the only good gun control ;-)

As you stated "if some nut is trying to come in the house" the adrenaline dump can mean you hit nothing you intended under that kind of great stress. Practice till you get a good grip. Take a few lessons from someone else if your sons aren't convincing you.

I used to shoot IDPA matches and the competition, timing, points and crazy real life scenarios used all helped to build stress in a way and time where you have some to learn control. I'd recommend self defense classes to anyone and a little friendly competition shooting like IDPA where you use "real world" guns in realistic settings.

Beware of some of these groups using pistols with 30 round clips and you are allowed to just jump out in the open and blaze away. Go where you can only use real "carry" guns and you will learn about defensive cover, shooting with "friendlys" in the way etc. Better to learn where it's only a points penalty when you shoot uncle Leo than in the real world.

Get a gun and know how to use it...

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Point the end with the hole in it away from you and at what you want to shoot. (Glad to see so many people have this advice!)

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I've read a lot of good advice here, but as of yet I haven't heard this one. Forgive me if I missed it as I was scrolling kinda fast after awhile.

Try a smaller gun? As it's said: "Shot-placement is king. Adequate penetration is queen. Everything else is angels dancing on the heads of pins."

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Smaller caliber perharps; not a smaller gun. A bigger gun does MUCH better with recoil. I'd stick with the 38s in the 357 if it were me.

Yes, good points about the smaller bullets. We do use the 38's in the 357 Magnum for target shooting. I just try to shoot the larger bullets some of the time so I am familiar with the "kick."

I have a "over-under shot gun" but it really "kicks" and I need to practice with it too. Mostly, I just need to practice more. Good point (above) where someone says I should get a lesson or so from another person - not just my sons. We have two family friends who have offered to come teach lessons too. Both are former Law Enforcement and one former military and another thing I like about them is that they are very strict about safety. They taught my sons their first lessons with guns too. So - they are going to come up early summer and help out.

This has been an interesting discussion. I am surprised at how much input I have received and it is all very good and covers a lot more than I had thought of. Thank you everyone!

Use #8 or #9 in the shotgun for practice and #4 buck for the defense round. Also, no badguy is going the notice the diffence between 2 3/4" and the 3" shells. 3" shells are for overcompensating bird hunters (IMHO ).

Recommend looking for a basic 870 pump and puting a magazine extension on. Extremely cheap, reliable, and common.

Good point. I meant smaller caliber. I suppose I should have been more clear.

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Know why the middle class is screwed? 3 classes, 2 parties...

To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself. ~ Einstein