Are You Strong Enough To Handle Your Weapons? SHTF Tools?

I recently picked up a new rifle, and have been going through the usual adjustment stages as I added the scope. Because of the mount, BUIS, and attachment for a brass catcher I like to use there wasn't a lot of adjustment range. I wound up going through a series of practice moves by shouldering the rifle with my eyes closed to make sure the scope was right where it needed to be. I'm telecommuting these days, so I can keep my rifle by my desk, and every time I need a break I repeat this drill.

I'm ashamed to admit (but I'm doing it anyway) that since I hadn't dome much strenuous work in the past few months that the rifle at first felt a bit heavier than it should and I felt some soreness after a few days. Realizing that this meant I couldn't be as effective if needed to use my rifle more than casually I started using it as a dumb bell for each hand, then also spent time panning the rifle back and forth. The rifle now feels much lighter than at the start and it's easier for me to pick up some of the heavier objects.

The point here is that we don't know when we may need to transition from out current soft lives to lives of hardship in the event of disaster or collapse. Those monkeys already swinging in the trees of their BOL who have made it their lifestyle will have a huge advantage over those of us who aren't. I'd say the level of fitness we need goes beyond simple weight management, cardio, and strength, and needs to involve the actual tools whether it's for defense or growing food.

Yes, I know I'm being Captain Obvious to many/most of you in this observation, but preparation of supplies, skill, and knowledge mean nothing if you can't implement them. If things happen suddenly you may not have the time to adapt.

Time to (literally) pump some (shootin') iron...

 

Kitchen exercises. The family at first laughed but what else do you do while waiting for dinner to be done? I have two gallon jugs of water that are great for using as weights. I know 2 lbs (should be jugs- thanks guys: see below) isn't much but those jugs are not cute little bar bells. They are cumbersome.
7 Kitchen Workout Exercises You Can Do While Cooking There is also an exercise you do if you have an island counter, really works your core.

I agree with Dunerunner. Thanks for the push, time to get motivated.

 

Those gallon jugs, if full, weigh a lot more than 2 lbs!

Good phrase to remember for estimates of loads and water, A pint's a pound the world round, 16 ounces that be. Eight pints to a gallon.

 

A full gallon jug is right at 8 lbs Moto...a Quart is 2 lbs.

 

As you get older you have to make a lot of adjustments in you use of firearms. I can not shoot at night now and will not be able to without cataract surgery. They say I am not ready for surgery, but I am almost blind at dusk and dawn and useless at night. I have problems with my rotator cuffs and can not easily lift my arms above my head and my ability to focus on both the sight and a distant target is about gone. So I use a scope if at all possible, a lighter rifle and prone position. I am no longer comfortable climbing into a tree stand, balance is off, and I don' do so. This old fart may be well past his prime, but I intend to at least bite your ankles like a small dog will. My most effective use of full battle rattle, vests, harness, plates etc, would be that they hopefully die laughing at the weird old man. I can not stress enough the importance of using your weapons and staying proficient in them. I am no longer comfortable with the 12 gauge automatic shotgun with the pistol stocks. I don't have the strength to fire 10 shots easily. As you age, you will have to adapt and hopefully you will do it before you are trying to use your old weapons and patterns and find out that you can't by dying.

 

The best tactical use of a tired old man is to let him buy all the rifles, pistols etc that he can and file all the forms and permits and then sell them in private sales. Trace the weapons and sue me for straw purchases once I am dead. I will look forward to ATFB contacting me and taking me to court after I die. Even the oldest, sickest of us old farts still have some purpose in life and I will in the future look forward to winning one last battle after I die.

 

Your statements are exactly why I now carry a large cowstick. Cow Stick... Everything you ever wanted to know..... | Survival Forums

Unloading 50 lbs of feed is another good exercise, but you gotta be careful. Shortly after my trip to the cath lab I unloaded a pickup. That night I had to check to see if I was just sore or having another MI!

 

It's very easy to become complacent.

 

After the first MI, you tend to pay attention to pains you used to shrug off...

 

I have thought more about this. And @3M-TA3 is very correct. I know after pulling the trigger for about 45 minutes, my trigger finger gets tired. I was thinking about what I use my fingers the most on and it is typing. Typing s easy but no strength needed. Holding a pen or pencil at least you had to use some grip. We do have a soft life.

I saw this image on another site. It does make one think. Compare what you would assume his life vs. yours. What do you see in his picture vs what you see when you look in the mirror?

 

As a buddy of mine said, "Weight isn't nearly as important as repetitions." Weight is a factor, though you gain the muscle and muscle memory from the repetitions. As for me, I have several tools for different jobs. My close in isn't that heavy. My long range is heaviest. Dependent on situation. Fitness is good for everyday and more so when doing strenuous activities. A lot of people fail to see the difference in fitness levels. I prefer to improve endurance and functional strength. There are those who can lift lots of weight at one time, i.e. bodybuilders though can they ruck march ten miles in a day? And remember, work smarter not harder. Keeping active is a way to chase away a lot of ills brought on by a sedentary lifestyle. We all age, though how we handle it is entirely up to us as much as it can be. I knew a 76 year old guy that would put 20 something people to shame because he stayed active.

 

I know exactly what you are talking about. Last week I ran some boots though a course of fire that I designed and have run a 100 times over. Well the old dog was showing the pups how to run it on several different senerios. The next morning I found that I hurt a lot more than I use to. I have been working a lot more investigations and administrative duties for the past year. It gave me a swift kick to get back in my workout routine

 

I've taken up jogging again...holding my rifle at port arms or over my head. I'll see how long I can get away with it before someone calls the sheriff on me (or I keel over). My one neighbor about died laughing as I passed him while he was sitting on his front porch, one hand on my rifle, the other on my gun, chanting "this is my rifle, this is my gun, the rifle's for shootin, the gun is for fun!"

 

Chimo you are a funny character, dunerunner i will also make it a shooting target

 

In Basic I had a problem with putting my hands in my pockets. The DI ran me until I dropped which is probably why I still grimace when I see a M1A as it reminds me of a M14.

 

I like the ""train as you fight" mentality. Shooting is the one exercise I get plenty of. Practice with strong and weak side shooting
with pistol and rifle is enlightening.

My only problem has been getting too much of a good thing, (free weights) and ending up with out of balance muscle groups. Natural climbing and body weight exercises seem healthiest for me.

 

Av Gas is 7lbs per gallon....