For you Hunters that had shoulder surgery

CCW007

CCW007

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OK so my son is wanting to start deer hunting. He is 10 and I think I’m going to try to take him out some next season. I had rotator cuff surgery and a bicep tendon repair in March. You guys that have had this surgery how does recoil affect your shoulder? What caliber do you use now?
 
Well, I can't speak to firing a rifle after shoulder surgery but I can speak to bow hunting after shoulder surgery.

I had 5 anchors placed in a torn (shredded) labrum in my right shoulder during Summer 2018. I ended up tearing an anchor out trying to pull my bow back later that year; maybe someone better than me can explain the difference between rifle recoil slapping the repaired shoulder -vs- pulling.

I ended up transitioning to my current 5.56 bolt action rifle for hunting because the pain from a 30.06 recoil was simply too much and I didn't care for it.

I can still shoot heavier calibers but only for a few shots.
 
I wanna hear more myself. I’m probably gonna have to have the surgery on both of mine in the not to distant future.
 
CCW007 said:
It sucks plan on 9-12 months before you completely heal. The first 2-3 months was some of the worst pain ever when they move it in PT.
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In case you skipped over it ^^^^^^^^^ this
 
CCW007 said:
I do not think so I am right eye dominant too.
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I'm right handed, but left eye dominant. I shoot mostly right handed, but will switch to left hand if the situation warrants it. My rifles have scopes and if the focus option is available on it, I use it. Otherwise, magnification works well enough for me.

I would say give left handed shooting a try, and couple that with what @chiefjason recommends. I feel certain you will be successful.

Edit: You have almost 9 months to practice.
 
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Use a pistol? TC Contender, XP100, etc.
 
I've so far dodged the surgery bullet but I've got rotator cuff and bicep tendon issues. I used to hunt with a .30-06. I stick to .308 and below. .300 BLK has been my go to for a few years.
 
The rotator cuff on my right side tore several years ago, then healed because I started doing everything with my left arm.
Now, my left arm is in a sling ... following this thread for good suggestions.
I have also switched to .300 Blk for same reasons, and switched to crossbow from compound.
Gettin' old and worn-out, but still gettin'!
 
this gives me some good options. The 300 blackout might be the way to go. I was thinking 243, 30/30, or 7mm-08. A 357 pistol makes sense too. My son will be using a 30/30.
 
Those suggesting 300BLK, do you think it’s actually the cartridge making a difference or is it shooting from a semi auto? The gas system absorbs a lot of that recoil.
 
Tim said:
Those suggesting 300BLK, do you think it’s actually the cartridge making a difference or is it shooting from a semi auto? The gas system absorbs a lot of that recoil.
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Probably a bit of both I'd imagine.
 
CCW007 said:
this gives me some good options. The 300 blackout might be the way to go. I was thinking 243, 30/30, or 7mm-08. A 357 pistol makes sense too. My son will be using a 30/30.
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.357 carbine deserves a look as well.

.357 is a different animal when you give it a 16-20" barrel.
 
can't speak to shoulder surgery but I'm right handed/left eye dominant and shoot long guns left-handed. Took me all of 5 minutes to get going left-handed.
 
Full depth tear of the distal fibers of the right shoulder in a fall, doing missions work in the mountains of Guatemala in 2018. Surgery for rotator cuff and biceps tendon, six months of physical terrorism.
Still use the 30-06, large caliber handguns, 35 Rem.
Rotator cuff is not as bad as the arthritis I have developed in both shoulders.
CF
 
Had my right shoulder completely replaced. They cut the arm bone and drive a spike with a ball on it into the cut bone. And screw a plate into the shoulder as a recep.
It was probably a year before I could shoot the 45/70 or 3.5” turkey loads. But a .357 lever or a .223 was fine earlier. (before the doc ok’d it) oops.
The biggest thing is rebab and strength building. I still wouldn’t take up a 300 win mag as a regular shooter but I can still shoot some calibers.
 
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Pretty sure my left shoulder is gonna need fixed again soon. I can even pic up a can of soup above my shoulder. The dr sent me for mri but insurance wouldn't approve it until I did 6 weeks of PT. That was at the start of this pandemic so I couldn't go and never did. Now I'm at the point of 7 out of 10 pain when I take my shirt off and can't sleep on my left or right side because it's not stable enough to hang. I'm going to have to break down and go so I can get this crap over with.
 
I had shoulder surgery in May of '16 and my wife would only allow me to use a .22 Magnum that deer season. Since then, I'm able to shoot anything without any problems. My primary deer gun has been a 6.8 SPC in an AR for the last several years.
 
.300 blk out is a solid choice. @Tim, @RR is right, it’s a little bit of doth. I have an AR and bolt action. The bolt action has slightly more recoil. But it’s probably better described as a different recoil impulse. Both are very mild and shouldn’t cause issues for someone who has shoulder surgery. Also don’t discount the 6.5 Grendel. Recoil is very mild, and better bullet coefficient for longer shots.
 
My 10yr old daughter shoots a .243 Win and a .300 BLK, both off of a Bog Pod Deathgrip tripod. The tripod locks the gun in tight and absorbs a lot of the recoil, along with making a rock solid shooting platform. It would also help tremendously if you chose to shoot from your weak side.
IMG_20201211_163651328.jpgIMG_20201017_172028547.jpg
 
I had the bicep torn in two where it wasn't able to anchored and rotator cuff and labrum tear that was fixed. I can shoot anything but stick to 308 and smaller.


When you get ready to fix that I have a miracle Dr that did mine.
Cowboy said:
Pretty sure my left shoulder is gonna need fixed again soon. I can even pic up a can of soup above my shoulder. The dr sent me for mri but insurance wouldn't approve it until I did 6 weeks of PT. That was at the start of this pandemic so I couldn't go and never did. Now I'm at the point of 7 out of 10 pain when I take my shirt off and can't sleep on my left or right side because it's not stable enough to hang. I'm going to have to break down and go so I can get this crap over with.
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Tim said:
Those suggesting 300BLK, do you think it’s actually the cartridge making a difference or is it shooting from a semi auto? The gas system absorbs a lot of that recoil.
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I'm running a single shot Handi Rifle in 300 BLK with a full power factory load. Still a very mild recoil. Just a bit of a push. It's certainly a bit lighter still in semi auto. And in my case, I think the suppressor changes the recoil pulse. You get a straight push back and no real muzzle lift. If you hunt in close and find a sub that will do the job it's even less recoil. I was hand loading subs and just didn't like the terminal performance I was getting for hunting. I don't like follow up shots.
 
LeeMajors said:
I had the bicep torn in two where it wasn't able to anchored and rotator cuff and labrum tear that was fixed. I can shoot anything but stick to 308 and smaller.


When you get ready to fix that I have a miracle Dr that did mine.
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I had Dr Dockery at ortho carolina fix it ten years ago and this time I was sent to one in mooresville Dr Stanley I believe. But I am open to suggestions.
 
Cowboy said:
I had Dr Dockery at ortho carolina fix it ten years ago and this time I was sent to one in mooresville Dr Stanley I believe. But I am open to suggestions.
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Dr Verano Hermida Lincolnton ortho-carolina. Did mine. 3 weeks in pt and was better that the non-op shoulder.

Referred 3 other people to him and they were all impressed with recovery time and his work.

I initially sent to ortho-carolina in hickory. When I called to make the appointment, I ask the lady on the phone if I were her 70yo mother, who would she recommend. She said Hermida even though he didn't work that office
 
Due to an impressive MX accident, I lost my long head bicep tendon (thus 1/2 of my right bicep) and almost all the cartilage.
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It was not comfortable to shoot a 7-08, a hot 44 mag revolver, and a 300BLK if a blade came back and touched my shoulder for @ a year.
 
Ive had a bicep tenodesis, MUA and currently have 2 tares in my rotator cuff and bicep tendon. I recently did a hunt as well, it all comes down to wait you can tolerate. I can shoot 308 fine but .270 win hurts. I do hunt suppressed so the recoil is down on that, but honestly most of the time you only have to shoot once. If pain is a big issue, recommend something along the lines of an AR. The recoil buffer will absorb most of the shock.
 

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I had rotator cuff surgery and tendon surgery on my shooting shoulder. The doc said I was 6 months from irreparable damage. The doc told me I could shoot after 6 months so I purchased a slip on shoulder recoil pad and started with .22s and .223s. A couple months later I went for .30 rifles and shotguns. As long as I wear the recoil shoulder pad or a padded shooting jacket I'm ok. I still do shoulder strengthening exercises because if I don't the shoulder muscles weaken quickly and the shoulder aches.
 
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