Recoil vs. Bypass surgery

H

histed

New member
November 4th I had a triple bypass. Recovery is going very well, but I do have concerns. 'Bout 5 years ago TLOML bought me a 7mm Rem mag (Savage 110, lefty) and I love the rifle. It is very accurate AND its a gift form my closest friend. However, I am afraid I may no longer be able to shoot it due to the recoil now that chest has been cracked. With that in mind, I'm looking at a couple of solutions for deer season next year, starting with adding another rifle to my safe. I'm down to 7mm-08 or .243. I favor the 7-08 for deer, but have never shot either. I've seen the recoil charts, but they don't tell em much. So, I guess I' kinda asking a stupid question, but I'd like to hear from those experienced with both rifles, especially if you started with a big magnum. I'm talking to my doc, but he's a non-hunter, non-shooter. I know the final decision is my, but informed opinions help.
 
I have both the .243 and 7-08 and had a couple 7mags so I understand. Number 1, listen to what the Dr. tells you, I am in the midst of a treatment series for a particular disease and have discovered that even though I don't always agree with the Dr's it seems they have been right waaaayyy more often than me. So take their advice. Next either rifle is a gentle shooter, if you reload I can give you loads that I make for my wife and young shooters. Limit the number of shots at a session, especially early on until you have an idea of what you can take. Either round properly loaded will easily drop any white-tail you can find. Good game type bullets through the lungs makes for a short trail. And since I went through similar circumstances with my dad I will add that it will likely be more physically demanding on you to drag out a deer, take/get help for that portion.
 
I had a triple bypass a couple of years ago and in some ways am not over it yet. Give it at least six months and see how you feel. I waited almost a year before I tried anything bigger than a.22 but I shoot them all now.
 
Most of the two-dozen bucks I've tagged with my .243 were DRT. None of them ever needed tracking. I use the Sierra 85-grain HPBT. It's a blow-up bullet, so I do neck shots and cross-body heart/lung shots. No angling shots.

My little Sako carbine only weighs seven pounds, total, and the recoil is trivial.
 
Mo: 257 Roberts is another soft recoiling cartridge. For the purpose of hunting big game. The cartridge rolls up decent velocity. 28-2900.

Being 7mm/08 its only a couple calibers away from its parent cartridge the 308. I don't believe you'd notice all that much relief in its recoil verses a 308s when both are in close proximity or having near equal bullet weights.

I knew on one fellow who suffered a crushed shoulder some time ago. Prior to his accident he preferred his 300 Weatherby for elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado. Found he could no longer handle the Weatherby let alone its recoil after his second surgery. He settle on a 6.5 X 55. Last word I heard from him. As told he finally got the chance to break his new rifle in with his taking of a nice size Bull Elk that Fall. I'm sure you'll find something suitable to shoot.
 
7mmRemMag 120 gr Nos Bal Tip 30 gr Blue Dot 40kpsi 2600 fps, should kill any deer out to 300 yards and kick like a 243.
But you have to make sure there is only 30 gr in there while handloading. The case is a long way from full of powder.
 
Thanks for the replies, folks. Panfisher, I'll take you up on that if I end up with the 7-08. Heard that H4895 can make it a really soft shooter. Clark, I have Blue Dot of the .357 - I'll give that a try, too. Don't really want to give up my favorite rifle, but better that than more serious problems.
 
If you don't reload, you may want to start, or at least find someone who can help you reload enough reduced recoil ammo for a year or two.

Or, if you were looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle, GO FOR IT!!!
 
I might suggest a trade for a different rife if you don't think you will ever be back to te 7 Mag. I know it was a gift, but I also know most good friends/loved ones who give a gift like that, if you were to become unable use it would prefer that you traded it in on something you would/could use. If it were a family heirloom I would say keep it for future generations for sure. Or if yo simply want to get a new rifle, you have a fantastic reason now. My favorite load for my 7-08 is a 120 grain Barnes XBT (old style I only have a few left of), over a mild load of IMR 4895. Wifes .243 is a 100 grain Hornady Interlokt over a mild load of IMR 4895, it easily shoots through both shoulders of a white-tail and you get to watch the hit in the scope not losing it in the recoil. I am contemplating purchasing another .243 a cheap Marlin to have for a truck/loaner rifle, used price is 250$ hard to pass up.
 
I've had bypass surgery, I have zero discomfort after healing with anything up to 30/06, you may need to give yourself to next fall before resuming shooting. Give yourself adequate time to heal.. William
 
Yes, listen to Mr. Watts.
What ever time you were given for recovery, double it for doing anything potentially traumatic.
But once truly healed you should be able to shoot anything you could before.
 
I have had bypass surgery - plus a mechanical heart valve and a pacemaker / defibrillator.

It took me nearly a year for the breastbone to heal fully. I have not been able to shoot heavy calibers for 30 years because I take blood thinners and the Dr.'s have been afraid that heavy recoil could possible cause a brain hemorrhage.

I now shoot a 12-gage Beretta O/U with the KickOff recoil system for trap and BP trap loads with the Gordon System wad/shot cup to reduce recoil to a minimal level. My .308 has a muzzle brake and weighs 10lbs. That has reduced the recoil to about .243 level.

I have given up shooting my 45-70 and 30-.338 because of the heavy recoil.

If you are not taking blood thinners, you should not have a problem with recoil after your breastbone fully heals.

I would suggest not trying anything heavy recoil for at least a year.

I will tell you what my surgeon told me when I asked him about shooting rifles/shotguns. He said, "Give it about one year." "You really DON'T want me opening you up again to put you back together if you separate the breast bone."
 
FWIW, On some gun forum I once posted some comments about using IMR trail boss powder to reload rifle cartridges to lessen the recoil. Cartridges I had used Trail Boss in were not pleasant to shoot from benchrest due to their recoil.

Gent who'd had major heart surgery was limited to shooting basically only 22s, read my post and tried the Trail Boss in his reloads. He was able to resume shooting his centerfire rifles using the trail boss powder. Mind you, you can only expect around 1400 FPS or so out of a trail boss load and the point of impact on a 100 yd target is around 6" lower than a regular powder load (for me). But, accuracy can be decent.
 
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Clark probably has the best idea for you if you reload. I download .270win for my grandfather since he is shooting a TC Encore and only has the use of one arm. He wanted something still capable of killing a deer out to 100yds and not recoil too much. I ended up with 110gr Sierra ProHunters with 4064 pushing it right at 2600fps. Best of luck on getting well.
 
On another forum there was an interesting thread .Pace Makers -the thread had about half of the comments by those who had or were going to have PM installed . The other half were Drs who also had installed PMs .
Most involved with the question were discussing heavy recoiling rifles [ dangerous game ]
For the most part the docs agreed there was NO problem !! :)
Get a shooting doc as the non-shooting ones ,without knowledge !, will say NO.
Heavier gun, less powerful cartridge ,recoil reducer, premium ammo all will help.
My PM didn't mind my 45-70 .I also hunt with a revolver , 44mag which avoids the problem.
 
histed
Recoil vs. Bypass surgery
November 4th I had a triple bypass. Recovery is going very well, but I do have concerns. 'Bout 5 years ago TLOML bought me a 7mm Rem mag (Savage 110, lefty) and I love the rifle. It is very accurate AND its a gift form my closest friend. However, I am afraid I may no longer be able to shoot it due to the recoil now that chest has been cracked. With that in mind, I'm looking at a couple of solutions for deer season next year, starting with adding another rifle to my safe. I'm down to 7mm-08 or .243. I favor the 7-08 for deer, but have never shot either. I've seen the recoil charts, but they don't tell em much. So, I guess I' kinda asking a stupid question, but I'd like to hear from those experienced with both rifles, especially if you started with a big magnum. I'm talking to my doc, but he's a non-hunter, non-shooter. I know the final decision is my, but informed opinions help.
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Glad you are alive and kicking and well enough to be thinking about shooting/hunting. I had a 4x back in late '13 so I can relate (hence my signature). :-)

After 6 months your sternum is fused and completely healed. At 12 months, your sternum is actually stronger than before. At the 4 month mark, I'd be more concerned with strength and stamina. Have you started/completed cardiac-rehab?

I started shooting handguns 4 weeks after my surgery. My biggest challenge was holding the pistol and shooting for more than 1 hour. Again, strength and stamina. After about 3 months, I was shooting 30-06. Not a whole bunch but maybe a dozen shots from the bench. Definitely felt it the next day. I would not advise it at the 3 month mark. As of last fall, I was shooting shotguns from the shoulder and pistol grip only shotguns from the side, full-house 357 loads, 45...the whole 9 yards. Back to normal. With that said, everyone is different. Get stronger first. Exercise and eat right.
 
Five months after surgery. You should be fine. Should've had the other one done too though.
Had a quad by-pass 2 years ago. Cardiac resident(on call cardiac surgeon disappeared. Wasn't me. Thought everybody should genuflect when he came in the room. Didn't like me at all.) wanted to know who was going to look after me. Said "What do you mean who's going to look after me? I'm going to look after me." No lifting more than 10 pounds they said. "I can lift that with my tongue.", says me.
Teasing doctors is such fun.
Oh and your chest wasn't cracked. It was sawed open and spread. You'll be fine. I'd lose the 7mm Mag just on principle though.
 
Not 5 months. Not 4 months quite yet... I would wait a couple more weeks at the very least for the larger calibers.

The other thing is that with the chest being cut open like that, I guarantee that there is still quite a bit of numbness. A person may not feel all there is to be felt should they mess something up. I'm almost 1.5 years out and my chest still has numb areas.
 
Good luck with your recovery, and all advice given pretty cool and straight up, the 7mm08 is cool but try Clarks loading after you get up and around.
 
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