The other day, I spent a few hours working with a new client, Melanie (name changed for privacy). Prior to COVID, she trained regularly under the watchful eyes of an outstanding instructor. Recently, after spending time on the range with her son and seeing the results of her target, Melanie realized she needed to get back to training. Her shot placement did not meet to her standards, and she also struggled racking the slide and gripping the gun. Melanie thinks her increased arthritis pain and lack of hand strength are now affecting her shooting. She came to me, committed to her training, to find out her options to continue shooting through the pain of arthritis and be able to defend herself.
There was no need to partake in any live fire for our first meeting. I wanted to learn more about Melanie’s goals, see her gun-handling skills, determine her understanding of the fundamentals of shooting and see how her arthritis affects everything above. After discussing her goals, how she stored her firearms and why she wanted to improve her shooting skills, we got right to work.
We began with the fundamentals: grip, sights and trigger press. Melanie demonstrated how to form a proper grip, but after some dry fire practice, she said her shoulder ached. I also caught her left-hand slipping and made tiny adjustments a few times. I made notes of this grip improvement for her to practice.
Next, we discussed trigger press. It concerned Melanie that she could not use the correct part of her finger to press the trigger. I explained that she needs to use the part of her finger that allows her to press the trigger straight and to the rear, so as not to disturb the sights. The placement may change depending on the pistol she is shooting and weight of the trigger, especially since her hand strength has diminished.
After just a few dry fire drills, we both agreed Melanie’s main issue is her diminished hand strength due to arthritis. Not only was it causing issues with her grip, but she also struggled while racking the slide of her pistol.
First we addressed working the slide. If you shoot a pistol, you must have the ability to lock the slide to the rear and put it into battery. This skill is essential for shooting the firearm, clearing malfunctions and confirming that it is empty. I shared the following tips with Melanie to make the manipulation easier:
Next, we discussed how to improve Melanie’s hand strength. I shared with her my article from 2022, “Increasing Grip Strength Part 2: Hand Strengthening Tools” and she tried out all the tools I have. Within minutes, she ordered the Hand Exercise Balls and planned to use them as soon as they arrived.
Note: If you have arthritis, strength training exercises should NOT be done when you are in the inflammation stage. Also, I am not a doctor, so check with your medical practitioner before you embark on any program that adds stress to your arthritic joints.
There was not much more to cover without going to the range. Melanie wants to have the skills needed to protect herself in her home. She knows she needs to increase her grip strength and understands that the pain in her shoulder may prevent her from spending a lot of time live fire training. Our training goal is to get her bullet placement where it needs to be and ensure she is proficient with her gun handling skills. We are also going to continue addressing her arthritis issues and find ways to manipulate her handgun more easily and with less pain.
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Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
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