Elbow pain?

Dumb question- when I shoot, I lock my elbow and keep my shooting arm stiff.  Lately i'm getting soreness around the back of the elbow and assume it is caused by the elbow being locked.  The soreness starts around 75-100 rounds of .22 only (usually I shoot 100 rounds at a time).

Somewhere someone wrote that they do not lock their elbow... is there a consensus?

Many thanks as always to those who share your wisdom.

I have had no issues shooting .22 or .45 with my elbow locked.

The elbow pain seems to be something that happens to some, and not others.

What kind of pistol do you use and does it have extra weight added to the muzzle? Bull barrel, detachable weights, etc? Or maybe a big Aimpoint mounted forward of the grip? How about the grip angle?

Quickest way for me to get elbow pain is to spend a long range session shooting a muzzle-heavy gun, with a sharply raked Euro grip angle.
Everybody is different so your experience may vary. But for me something like this Sako is an elbow annihilator.

rsp wrote:Quickest way for me to get elbow pain is to spend a long range session shooting a muzzle-heavy gun, with a sharply raked Euro grip angle.
Everybody is different so your experience may vary. But for me something like this Sako is an elbow annihilator.

Good points!

I should probably add that I am shooting a Mervel or a 208s with a 1911 grip for .22, and a 1911 for .45. All with standard slab grips.

Rod,
Your issue is quite common, and it is called "shooter's elbow".  It is akin golfer's or tennis elbow with a twist to particulars of our "game".  In medical terms it is called epicondylitis.  Using this brace is totally legal and very helpful - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V7U2I7K?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

You also can find post(s) on this forum related to the problem.

AP

A "Theraband flexbar" helped me. They're about $20. I was facing tennis elbow, but they can be used for golf elbow and several other things.

If you can't figure it out it's worth seeing a pt.

THANKS everyone. Marvel Unit 1 with a compensator and Ultra Dot. Epicondolitis sounds exactly right ... and i have this impression that my forearm strength these past months is lacking and contributing to it. The amazon wrap and the theraband thingy look like good ideas.

Again, thanks!

Awhile back, I played around with trying different elbow positions, and locking it.  It started hurting, so I quit messing around.  Now, I try for a neutral elbow position.  I lower my arm straight down at my side, and look how my arm hangs and my elbow position.  Put the 1911 in my hand, set a firm grip, then, raise it up to firing position, keeping the same elbow alignment.  My arm is straight and solid, but I don't try to hyperextend it. I haven't had any more elbow pain issues with this method.  

I'm not a Master, so this may or may not be the way to higher scores.  But it is keeping me shooting.