Went to the range today. First time in awhile. I took my .44 SBH Bisley Hunter.
Others were using the 50 yard bench so I had to use the 25. No problem I just wanted to shoot off hand anyways. I admit I sucked shooting off hand today. I put the scope on a couple years ago because my eyes aren't so good as they used to be. So here's the thing, I was shooting my warm hunting loads and found myself flinching. Not sure why ?!? It sure doesn't physically hurt to shoot this gun and load. I had some Skeeter loads in my range bag in .44 spl.
I shot those great out of this gun(I loaded them for my flat top 44 spl.).
Am I getting old and shy of muzzle blast and recoil ? Heck I've owned 2 .454's and shot fine with them years ago.
Any recommendations ? Kinda feel like a sissy lol.

If I shoot off the sticks or off the bench I'm fine.

Range rust will do that to you . I can't lay off my guns very long without seeing bad habits trying to creep in.You can't just blow the cobwebs out occasionaly you got to keep them blown out as often as possible.PRACTICE PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE
You don't have to shoot the big guns all the time but you need to shoot something as often as possible. J.M.H.O
All of us are getting older and Hell no it don't help a bit

Lol. True. Just a bad day at the range I guess. I was shooting the steel bowling pins and missed more than I shoulda. It's been a long winter. Maybe I'm over analyzing ?

When I have been away from the range, and that don"t happen much,anyway, I will warm up with a single six, or my 22 lr Contender barrel. With handguns if you don"t use it you loose it.

Anytime I go through an extensive period of time without shooting, I've got to get my legs back under me. What you have experienced, in my humble opinion, is normal. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Thanks all. I'm going back today after work to shoot some more.

Ditto on the others recommendations - work yourself back in slowly, and get fundamentals straight again, and work up the power scale.

I shot my "new-to-me" .22 MOA the other day, just to take her for a spin, but more importantly to get back into the groove before I get the big hammers back out.

i always restart my shooting with snap caps in some cylinders load em and spin it. i have no idea when it'll drop on a dummy round and i can train myself back to my trigger control in short order.

I get flinchy when I've had too much coffee and/or not enough sleep. Shakier too. Good advice on warming up. It reminds me that I need to get behind a hammer soon.

Update. Yesterday I took my flattop .44 spl. to the range and shot about 75 rounds of Skeeter loads. I shot real well(open sights). It seems to balance much nicer than the SBHH Bisley does. When hunting I always use a rest if u can. But we all know that sometimes there's no time to get on the sticks. Thinking maybe the scope on the Hunter makes me nervous and makes the rug unbalanced. Anyways I'd love another .44 spl. in a Bisley. But I'm waiting on a stainless version of the Ruger Bisley Flat top .44 spl. 5.5".
I just hope some distributor orders a run like that.

I have 3 of the 44 specials, one is a stainless 4 5/8 and I am seriously considering getting a Bisley gripframe and putting on it...I like the plowhandle...but for hunting, I like the Bisley better.

I usually shoot a few cylinders of .22 rimfire from my K-22 before a big bore session. It really helps to settle the flinches and tighten the groups.