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Gun hand injury -

HPmatt

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2013
Messages
1,467
Location
Dallas
Recently I sustained a major cut of the tendon on little finger of my dominant hand - the right one - and wanted to solicit any (constructive) (or pertinent) input from the community on any unexpected issues that you might have experienced if a similar temporary incapacity.

Surgery was successful, now am enjoying 16 weeks of rehab therapy. It is nice living in a big city where public transportation and Lyft/Uber are available till I can drive. I think our RSO, and any other member on the range, would stop me from shooting left handed, so OC or any other form of carry right now is not imminent.
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JamesCanby

Activist Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
1,480
Location
Alexandria, VA at www.NoVA-MDSelfDefense.com
Recently I sustained a major cut of the tendon on little finger of my dominant hand - the right one - and wanted to solicit any (constructive) (or pertinent) input from the community on any unexpected issues that you might have experienced if a similar temporary incapacity.

Surgery was successful, now am enjoying 16 weeks of rehab therapy. It is nice living in a big city where public transportation and Lyft/Uber are available till I can drive. I think our RSO, and any other member on the range, would stop me from shooting left handed, so OC or any other form of carry right now is not imminent.
34f733d7aea93f53b8d5bb8506411f93.jpg



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Just curious.... Why would the RSO have a problem with you shooting left-handed so long as you exhibited the same kind of control of the firearm that you had previously with your right hand? At my range, we often have members who practice with their handguns shooting with one hand and then the other. Most law enforcement officers (at least Federal LEOs that I know), have said they have to qualify with both hands.

On the other hand (no pun intended) if you are using the recommended grip where the support hand wraps around the grip hand, how might that be affected by your injured hand?
 

Firearms Iinstuctor

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Messages
3,428
Location
northern wis
Having injured one hand and had to have the surgery to repair it many decades ago.

I just carried on the opposite side and didn't shoot with the injured hand.

Why can't you drive I drove and did almost every thing one handed with my injured had in a sling and all wrapped up.

I was just very careful not to involve my injured hand.

Until it is healed an the doc says you can use it fully you well not know if it affects your shooting ability.

Becarefull with it while it is healing and go from there.

Why would the RSO stop you from shooting I regularly practice with both hands. But then I have my own ranges.
 
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carracer

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,108
Location
Nampa, Idaho, USA
I had a severe case of bursitis in my right shoulder and arm several years ago. Could not even unholster my 1911 or begin to raise to a firing position. For almost a year I had to switch to LH shooting. Bought LH holsters and practiced more until I was healed. Now I am ambidextrous shooting a handgun.
 

HPmatt

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2013
Messages
1,467
Location
Dallas
I have rarely shot left handed, and w/o ability to brace with right hand/arm I would think accuracy would suffer. Will try that though and just see how it works in a few weeks.


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solus

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
9,315
Location
here nc
I have rarely shot left handed, and w/o ability to brace with right hand/arm I would think accuracy would suffer. Will try that though and just see how it works in a few weeks.
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Your shooting ability well improve with practice.

a modified comment on FI's statement...if you have a 22 pistol (SR22 but remember the Buckmark might be a bit heavy), use that handgun to build up your strength/muscle memory (and to save money on ammo) then move to your normal carry to continue your strength training 'aiming' to improve your accuracy.

finally, poor accuracy is better than nothing verse no attempt at SD, could be hazardous to one's health.

one hopes you do not encounter any issues during your healing process.

ipse
 

XD40sc

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Messages
402
Location
NC
During range trips I frequently shoot one handed, and weak side handed so I know what to expect and my capabilities if either hand is injured, which could easily happen if one is being attacked.
 

Va_Nemo

Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Messages
654
Location
Lynchburg
If you cannot shoot well with both hands you need to make sure you get to where you can. You also should be able to change magazines and cycle the slide with each hand one hand at a time.

Figure you are getting shot at and try to take cover behind a brick wall and that one brick is loose and you crush your dominant hand. How do you competently return fire or shoot first when bigbadguy comes around the corner.

Nemo
 

Brian D.

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
937
Location
Cincy area, Ohio, USA
Not to be glib--and by the way I hope you heal up perfectly--but AFTER such an injury is a lousy time to go shopping for left handed holsters. If it wasn't for the internet that saying would be as true now as when I first heard it, thirty plus years ago.
 
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HPmatt

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2013
Messages
1,467
Location
Dallas
Great ideas gents. I do have a SR22 and will start with that.


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since9

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
6,964
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
I think our RSO, and any other member on the range, would stop me from shooting left handed...

You might want to find a far more sane RSO and shooting group. Learning to shoot with either hand is a very necessary skill. You don't control battlefield conditions, and cannot predict if/when you might be winged much worse than your cuts while still facing an active adversary. You should not only learn to carry and shoot with either hand, but you should practice loading and racking your semi-auto with only one hand, as well, until you're safe, accurate, and fast.

I would not, however, practice with real bullets. Try snap caps, at least until you're 100% safe working with only one hand -- either hand.

Now seems like the perfect opportunity to work on perfecting your shooting skills with your other hand!

Provided, however, yet first get your doctor's permission. One good jar to your recently stitched hand could do some major, if not permanent damage. Again, consider using snap caps.
 
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