Worried about my Father Inlaw

[Wild Rice]

My Father inlaw is ex-military, Vietnam vet, competed on an Army pistol team (shooting 1911 45's one handed), and retired full Colonel. I am trying to get him reinterested in the shooting sports so we would have that in common and so I could learn some marksmanship techniques from him. I can get him to reminisce about shooting the 1911 in competition. However, he makes up excuses when I invite him to the indoor range. While he was over at the house I offered to show him my 45's. I wanted to show him my customized 1911's and then wow him with my ultra modern 45 (the XD45 5" Compact).

He said he did not want to see them. He said he has seen 45's before (decades ago). However, he did express keen interest in my wife's china cabinet and her Radko ornaments. I have just about given up on the idea of shooting with him.

Any suggestions on how to bring him back to the dark side? Getting him to shoot the XD45 would be my ultimate goal.

[Grip]

if he dosent want anything to do with them, thats fine.

dont try to pressure someone to do somthing they dont want to do.

or..maybe he is a lying and has never done any of the stuff he said he has...who knows.

[monky]

Maybe he just doesn't want to pick up a gun.. perhaps in his older age he has come to regret things he might have done with weapons when he was in 'Nam. Don't pressure him.. my great-gramps won't really talk about his time in the pacific, he gets all misty eyed and becomes a recluse every anniversary of Pearl. I know he was involved in taking a few islands from the japanese.. I got that much out of him.

[TeeJay]

alot of those guys tried their damndest to bury alot of that stuff. picking up a gun will bring it back, or at least they might think so. if i had killed a pile of people who wanted me dead then i probably wouldnt want much to bring it back up.

[billbrasky]

How old is he?

Maybe he has lost hand strength or has minor shakes, or has bad eye sight now. Getting old is a bitch. I am 29 and I have zero pains or anything from injuries which I have had my fair share of broken bones and concussions and tons of stitches etc. I have lots of buddies that are are 25-35 and they already have arthritis from sports injuries, bones clicking and clacking. Maybe your old man had a rough life, and he knows he is no spring chicken anymore, he talked himself up about his glory days, and would hate to have his kid see him squinting and shaking and bitching about his wrist etc. My brothers and buddies are going to be wrecks in their 50s I know it, they are half wrecks now and just a few ticks past 30 years old on the odometer for my older buds.

I hope I never get so old i dont want to shoot.

My dad is a 'nam vet and I think most days as long as I made it easy for him like picked him up and it was convent I could convince him to shoot most anything but a .50 cal Barrett which I don’t have, or 12 gauge shotty clays would likely not be his idea of fun anymore since he is 58 and an out of shape desk jockey engineer.

My old man still shoots his 9mm S&W and sigs. Same with my mom she still shoots her sig.

Maybe ask him if he wants to shoot a .22 rifle, then youll know whether its the hand strenth or he just lost interest. As long as he can still pop a burglar and protect your mom i wouldnt worry about it to much.

[billbrasky]

Originally Posted by monky

Maybe he just doesn't want to pick up a gun.. perhaps in his older age he has come to regret things he might have done with weapons when he was in 'Nam. Don't pressure him.. my great-gramps won't really talk about his time in the pacific, he gets all misty eyed and becomes a recluse every anniversary of Pearl. I know he was involved in taking a few islands from the japanese.. I got that much out of him.

One of my gramps was that way, he was an accomplished soldier and officer he was a colonel they wanted to make a general he would have been one if it was his thing. Anyways he had lots of medals, lots of awards and accomplishments. He never told me one single story, or my dad one single story for that matter. He had a **** ton of stuff my dad found when gramps died, and grandma knew many of the stories. It’s just not everyone’s style to talk about war. Unless its a made for TV movie story I doubt it ends that well for most guys, even when its pretty good, likely someone on your side died, and an awesome victory is seeing dozens to hundreds of the other guy ... still a human die. Maybe civilians. That and 30-60 years to dwell on it, and mellowing with old age, makes me glad I haven’t served in a combat zone.

[xdfan80]

Yeah, I wouldnt pressure him for the reasons the others pointed out. Also maybe he doesnt think he could shoot well anymore and doesnt want to look stupid. I dont know for sure his reason, but would ease off a little.

[Wild Rice]

It is not a physical limitation as he is quite hale and steady. It must be psychological. He told me that the 45 certainly has good stopping power. As he was an Army officer in Nam with a 1911 at his side, it sounds like he has used one in combat, not just at the range. He may have some gruesome memories bottled up inside.

I was tempted to buy him a 22 target pistol, as I can get him to fondly reminicse about target shooting on an Army pistol team. However, I am going to wait for him to express more interest before I do anything of that sort.

[xdfan80]

Originally Posted by Wild Rice

It is not a physical limitation as he is quite hale and steady. It must be psychological. He told me that the 45 certainly has good stopping power. As he was an Army officer in Nam with a 1911 at his side, it sounds like he has used one in combat, not just at the range. He may have some gruesome memories bottled up inside.

I was tempted to buy him a 22 target pistol, as I can get him to fondly reminicse about target shooting on an Army pistol team. However, I am going to wait for him to express more interest before I do anything of that sort.

Good idea

[slugger6]

Originally Posted by billbrasky

I hope I never get so old i dont want to shoot.

I am a Vietnam veteran and I shoot regularly in IDPA and USPSA. I train for it and stay in pretty good shape for a guy my age. The day I can't shoot anymore will be a sad day indeed. I hope it is many years off.

Most of the members of our club are younger than me, but no one has more fun at the range. Not everyone my age shares my interest in competitive shooting...veterans or not. To each his own.