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Rifle hunting after shoulder surgery

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2K views 57 replies 42 participants last post by  10acres  
#1 ·
Well I had shoulder surgery in May and looks like I’m hearing I won’t be able to really shoot my center fire rifles until November… I was getting worried about recoil so I went out and bought a 243… I ordered the Savage 110 Trail Hunter… I’m hoping that the recoil is tolerable for my shoulder come November… I also picked up reloading supplies and plan on trying something in the 90-95gr area and maybe load it down in the mid range powder area…

Got me thinking if any of you guys had rotator cuff and bicep surgery and how you fared out?
 
#3 ·
I have no insight on a shoulder surgery, but I would recommend a .223 if you feel that .243 may be too much still. The 64gr factory hunting ammo works very well, all it asks of you is to be a good shot.

sorry to hear about the surgery, but once you’re fully recovered it’ll probably have been worth the potential missed season.
 
#5 ·
While I haven’t had shoulder surgery yet, I know it’s coming, so I’m going to follow this thread. I, also, always highly advocate trying new guns and ammo.

I’d recommend bullets on the lighter side, 90-ish grains, to help keep recoil light. The recoil of a 243 is not far off from a 308 with lighter loads. I have hand loaded and purchase factory ammo with 100 and 125 gr bullets that had fairy light recoil. It might be worth a try, too. A Limbsaver recoil pad can help with felt recoil.

Last year I built a Savage 110 in 6.8 SPC. It has remarkably little recoil with 120 grain ammo. Last fall I shot a mule deer buck with it. Ballistically 90 gr 6.8 SPC is very similar to a 243 but with a bit lighter recoil. I’m think this rifle will be the gun I use after shoulder surgery.
 
#7 ·
Sorry about you having to undergo that surgery. Follow your doctor and physical therapist's orders and you should do well. Limiting activity whilst healing is crucial to achieving the desired result!
Not knowing where you're hunting, expected ranges, or the size of your whitetails - it's hard to be very as regards a recommendation.
I haven't had any reconstructive surgery on my shoulders and don't expect any, but as I become "more mature", I find that I REALLY like rifles with less recoil. I've become a real fan of the .257 Roberts over the past 4 years, and less recoil is but one of the reasons. The .257 Roberts probably won't work for you unless you're a reloader as ammo and brass can be challenging to purchase - but worth the effort - IMO.
My hunting partner swears by his AR chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Where we hunt (North Central Texas), most shots are under 200 yds. and the average weight for a mature buck is in the neighborhood of 130-140 lbs. His 6.5 Grendel has proven accurate and effective on the whitetails, feral hogs, and coyotes.
 
#8 ·
If you the shot is less than 100 yards, 300 blackout with 125 SST bullet is good to go on Nebraska bucks on ideal shots. An AR platform would reduce recoil for you more than a bolt. And I personally would learn to shoot with opposite hand. Ruining your shoulder is not worth the hunt
 
#12 ·
I tore out my rotator cuff so bad in April it could not be repaired. Had a reverse shoulder replacement 5/31 and last week my surgeon said do what ever you feel like doing. Shoulder replacement I have been told is an easier recovery than rotator cuff repair.

Went to the range last Friday with a friend and shot .223 from my bench, precision AR (20” bull barrel), my .30-30 Marlin and my buddies suppressed 300 BO. No issues. Planning on taking out my AR10 in .308 later this week.

Shoulder is not 100%, Dr. said likely 9 months to a year for maximal recovery and I will never have 100% of the function I had.

Today did some chores I was unable to do like scrub the winter salt off the garage floor and shoulder is doing well. Will let you know how the .308 feels but my AR10 handles the recoil fairly well.
 
#13 ·
Green ridge,
I have been doing surgeries as a career for 30+ years and I have been involved in many rotator cuff procedures, both open and arthroscopic.
The first thing you need to do is ask your surgeon when you may start to shoot a rifle again. I don’t know anything about your physical health, so to say go ahead and shoot would be a disservice to you.
If you do get the go ahead from the Doc, start with the lightest caliber that you have and work your way up. If the recoil is comfortable, you will be fine. Soft tissue heals rather quickly. The holes in your bone, from reattaching the cuff, will take longer to heal.
From your description, it sounds like your surgeon did a biotenodesis. This is when a bicep’s tendon is cut to give access to the cuff and is then reattached to the bone.
I had my rotator cuff repaired in an open procedure, leaving a 6” scar. It was torn up badly enough that the surgeon, who I have worked with for years, could not fix it arthroscopically. I was able to shoulder my 30-30 rifle and shoot comfortably after 12 weeks. This may have been because my wife is a PT and she kicked my butt doing therapy every day.
Give yourself time. If you screw the cuff up again, it’s a PIA to redo the surgery because of the earlier surgical trauma to the cuff.
Andrew
 
#18 ·
Green ridge,
I have been doing surgeries as a career for 30+ years and I have been involved in many rotator cuff procedures, both open and arthroscopic.
The first thing you need to do is ask your surgeon when you may start to shoot a rifle again. I don’t know anything about your physical health, so to say go ahead and shoot would be a disservice to you.
If you do get the go ahead from the Doc, start with the lightest caliber that you have and work your way up. If the recoil is comfortable, you will be fine. Soft tissue heals rather quickly. The holes in your bone, from reattaching the cuff, will take longer to heal.
From your description, it sounds like your surgeon did a biotenodesis. This is when a bicep’s tendon is cut to give access to the cuff and is then reattached to the bone.
I had my rotator cuff repaired in an open procedure, leaving a 6” scar. It was torn up badly enough that the surgeon, who I have worked with for years, could not fix it arthroscopically. I was able to shoulder my 30-30 rifle and shoot comfortably after 12 weeks. This may have been because my wife is a PT and she kicked my butt doing therapy every day.
Give yourself time. If you screw the cuff up again, it’s a PIA to redo the surgery because of the earlier surgical trauma to the cuff.
Andrew
Thank you very much for the info… I see my doc in 6 weeks so I’ll ask him what he thinks… I’ve been shooting rimfire and that felt fine… definitely coming to use caution!!! Thanks again
 
#14 ·
It takes time to heal.
I don't know anything about rotator cuff surgery , but
I crushed my shoulder years ago.
I have had a few surgeries .
I had pins pit in.
Pins taken out.
Tendons reattached.
Finally , three inches was cut off my clavicle , and the top half of my scapula cut off.
It took awhile , but I can shoot anything today.
My shoulder will never be the same , but I can shoot just fine.
 
#15 ·
GR, I'm not sure if you have one or have used one, but look in to getting a Caldwell shoulder recoil pad. You just basically strap it on your shoulder. When I'm working up loads for the 4570 or the 30.06 at the range, I use that thing. No pride here. Makes shooting a heavy loaded 4570 feel like a 223.
 
#16 ·
That's what I am using now. Like has been said already, you don't want to mess up that shoulder again. It's been 2 years since I had my shoulder surgery done. When I started shooting again, I started with my 22 and 22mag and this shoulder pad and just kept working my way up.
 
#17 ·
Bilateral shoulder replacements here sad to say…. I have sent the bigger magnums down the turnpike since the surgery. I just couldn’t handle them even after rehab. I now download everything or use reduced recoil ammo. It is what it is. But I can still do it, and the animals are just as dead. Wife runs a .350 legend now and we both have 360 Buckhammer rifles. And a couple 444, 45/70, etc. but the heavy kickers had to go! You can do it, be careful.
Regards,
Image

Image
 
#24 ·
As I said, you can do it. Just be careful and start out slow. As I said all of the big magnums went away. I still have one 450 M and several 444’s. I haven’t shot the 450, and doubt I will. A 360 buckhammer with factory loads is just fine and I’ll really try and hunt with that one this year! Good luck. Pm me if you have any concerns
Regards,
 
#23 ·
I had my shoulder repaired in 2013. Rotator cuff , tendon and bicep reattached etc. At nine months duck season started and I used an A5 20 ga.
Deer hunted with my Rem 600 in 6mm loaded with 85 gr barnes TSX.
Recoil was more than tolerable with that load. That 243 should be just fine by then with any 80 to 95 gr load. But only you can make that judgment call.
P.S. DO YOUR PT as instructed(y)
 
#25 ·
Really depends on the location of the repair. I had a repair right in front where the butt of the gun sits and on my biceps tendon head. Hurt like hell to shoot for 6 months or so afterwards. Took time to build up endurance after that. I assume every time I shot it was breaking some scar tissue down. My repair didn’t end up great from a strength perspective but about a year or so afterwards I was able to shoot anything I wanted without issue.
 
#26 ·
I have been hunting thick woods at times for the past few years and last year I bought a 30-06 BAR figuring a quick second shot if need be with no movement of the rifle other than pulling the trigger would be a benefit........anyway first trip to the range with full house loads I could barely feel the recoil....it was like a .222 in a heavy bench gun!!! I had a 30-06 bolt gun years ago and it kicked like a mule. For your situation you can shoot a powerful cartridge with reduced recoil if you dont mind shooting a semi auto. Add a recoil buffer or some type of shoulder protector for that semi auto and your surgery will be well protected
 
#27 ·
I shoot a load from the Lyman #45 manual . It was the accuracy load for that manual and is also a minimum load and a deer killing miracle. It uses a 100 grain SP (your choice) and 34.5 grains of IMR 4320. It has shot perfectly in every .243 I have ever tried it in and the many I have loaded it for that belonged to others who did not load. If you have the powder or can find some I highly recommend it . I used a Nosler Flat based bullet that is discontinued but have also loaded the then inexpensive Privi bullets that Graf was selling for about $11 a hundred at that time . Both kill deer equally well . The max load for that powder was not nearly as accurate and didn't kill any better so I have used the minimum load since 1970 and never felt the need for anything else.
 
#28 ·
I shoot a load from the Lyman #45 manual . It was the accuracy load for that manual and is also a minimum load and a deer killing miracle. It uses a 100 grain SP (your choice) and 34.5 grains of IMR 4320. It has shot perfectly in every .243 I have ever tried it in and the many I have loaded it for that belonged to others who did not load.
Thanks for that load. I will make a note in my reloading manual. I just bought a wood stocked Savage Axis 243 and really like the gun. I haven't shot it much. My very first load went into just over a 1" group. I plan on doing some more loading for it soon. I have about 3/4 pound of 4320 left and suspect I will never find anymore. But 4064 is very close in burn rate so maybe it will also work.

The OP already has his 243 and its a good choice. I would recommend trying some 80gr bullets to start and see what he can tolerate. Then some 90s and 100s. I doubt it will make much difference. Any of those should kill a deer. You don't need a case full of 4350 to kill a white tail deer. Lots of kids bag their first deer with 223s.

I had shoulder surgery on my left shoulder. They made 3 cuts and went in a scraped off arthritis and bone spurs and cut one tendon. I hurt for a couple of weeks but got better pretty fast. But that wasn't my shooting shoulder either.
 
#29 ·
gosh this takes me back some 20 yrs when I was approved for "one shot" with a 30.06 for elk hunting by the surgeon, elk hunting is sort of my vacation. So wearing a sling it was off to hunt, one shot with a 444 (just my favorite elk rifle) dropped the Bull however I just could not get it out or process on site, had to call partner for help. Guys often do stupid things. J
 
#30 ·
I've had rotator surgery, too. I lost some strength in that shoulder that led to led to my finding a lighter weight guns for the purpose of carrying the gun in the field. Smaller caliber guns are probably the right way to go. BUT....have you considered that many small caliber gun come as "light" weight models, too. If you hunt from a blind or stand, where you don't have to carry to gun all day, maybe you should be looking at a rifle that WEIGHS more. I'm saying more weight = less felt recoil. Smaller caliber in a HEAVIER rifle may go a long ways to getting you out hunting this year.
 
#32 ·
I had both of my shoulders doe back in the 1990s. Neither one has given me any issues since then outside of some arthritis in both. Have shot all kinds of rifles since then. Even my brother's Winchester 70 feather weight in 30-06. Gun and scope weights around 6 pounds and just a metal butt plate. Didn't hurt at all but I still didn't like it.
 
#36 ·
I was told to not shoot anything with recoil. I have a .444 Marlin Pistol

I've had my right shoulder done twice. The right and left shoulders, both need work.

I also had my left tricep pop off.

Several years ago, The Dr said if I tore my shoulder up again, he wouldn't be able to fix me again..

Since Multiple Myeloma came to town, That's all I can concentrate on

I was also told to avoid recoil due t o the MM.

I used a muzzle brake and a mercury recoil reducer in the .444 Marlin pistol.

I'm now looking for a rifle. But am very hesitant to shoot anything with recoil again due to the MM.
It makes your bones brittle. People break stuff doing nothing.
 
#38 ·
I’ve had surgery, rotator repair, both shoulders and a dislocated left shoulder. My wife has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy so I was strictly chastised if I didn’t stick to the plan! 9 months since the dislocated shoulder and I played golf last month. No problem with shooting, left or right side, going to start back with the bow soon and I’m 69. Hope you heal well!