Bad shoulders

[270WSMANIC]

No not talking about the ones on the cartridge, but the ones on the hunter. 3yrs ago I had complete joint replacement left shoulder. No big problem joint works great and I shoot righthanded. Problem is now the right sholder is going fast.
For those of you who have had your shooting shoulder joint replaced, what did doc tell you. No shooting, load down, lighter kicking rifle, or maybe no problem your magnum rifle won't bother the joint ( I know thats probably asking too much).

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Only you can decide if it is too much for you. Myself personally after having shoulder issues this past year, I found myself staying away from my rifles that tended to kick although before my shoulder injury I wasn't bothered. I found myself shooting semi-auto low recoil rifles particularly in the AR-15 platform.

5.56, 6.5 Grendel, 30 Rem AR, 7mm Valkyrie, on the range I could shoot them with no discomfort, and I didn't feel undergunned in the woods with the 30 Rem AR or the 7mm Valkyrie

 

[Reloadron]

I shoot left handed and my left was first followed 5 years later by the right. Same doctor for both and an excellent bone guy. I never had a problem and this was over 10 years ago, maybe the first was 15 years ago. Healing all in all around 6 - 8 months before much of a rifle but I was cheating and shooting 22 LR followed by 223 AR guns in 3 to 4 months. The therapy sucked and hurt but if you do what you are supposed to do and deal with the therapy you will do just fine. As I mentioned really about 6 - 8 months but light recoil you should be able to handle in 3 to 4 months. Really, my best advice is listen to your bone guy. I hated the therapy but it worked, you can't cheat on that. Proper healing takes time, be patient. We all heal differently at different rates.

Today at 65 (66 in a few days) I have no problem with heavy recoil rifles but have found a 30-06 Springfield bolt gun about the heaviest I really want to shoot followed by 308 Winchester.

Just My Take....
Ron

 

[Scooter22]

Don't know about a full replacement but I drove the ball through my R rotator cuff shredding it back in 2010. They fixed it and now it's retorn with the bicep tendon. Need another surgery, possible J replacement. I've used a Past Magnum recoil shield. It helps distribute the force from your shoulder pocket. I shoot 12ga slugs and buck. .30-06, 8x57, .348 and .444 without alot of extra discomfort. Heavier hunting clothes should also help. I'm 55. Good luck.
Heres a link to Midway showing them. The now have a "Super Mag" model. I might get another one myself.
http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLo...&Ns=p_metric_sales_velocity%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1

 

[270WSMANIC]

Forgot to mention I'll be 65 in may if wife don't knock me in the head first. From what I have heard rotor cuff is worse then joint replacement?? Sounds like I might want to stay away from near max loads and maybe load down to something like fast 270WIN velocitys.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've killed some two-dozen bucks with a 7-pound .243. 85-grain Sierra HPBT handloads, later put out as a factory load by Federal. Recoil is trivial, even at the bench rest.

So I'd figure a .243 with a good recoil pad should be a good shoulder saver.

 

[d2wing]

That is why I started using an AR for deer hunting. Broke both shoulders in an accident. After Surgery it took a year to shoot centerfire. AR for another year or so. But I had multiple issues. It still is not right. My guess is six months or so no centerfire or shotguns. Don't rush it a too much to soon can cause a build up of scar tissue. Been ther done that.

 

[dfariswheel]

One over looked but great shoulder saver is a shooting coat with a built-in shoulder pad.
They also make shoulder pads from elastomeric polymers with shoulder straps so you can wear it with any coat or shirt.

Another option is a really effective recoil pad on the rifle. Limbsaver makes some of the best.

Anything you can do from a muzzle break, a mercury recoil absorbing tube installed in the stock, to a lower recoiling rifle will help.

 

[mugsie]

Had an NVA rearrange my shoulder in Nam. Bottom line is it's held together with several anchors. I shoot a .308 on a regular basis. I use a Witt Machine Co brake on it as well as a limb saver. I can shoot it all day with no issues whatsoever.

Get a good brake and a shoulder pad and you should be good to go.

Best of luck to you.

 

[WelshShooter]

I would invest in a nice limbsaver recoil pad and also a shooting pad for your shoulder. I used to find shooting the 8mm Mauser to be quite painful by 15-20 rounds but after using a shoulder pad I can shoot around 100 off in a session with minimal pain.

I work in the manufacture and development of orthopedic implants and the best advice I could say is to finish your physiotherapy and exercise routines set out by your phyisican/doctor. Once you've completed this have a follow up meeting with him/her and ask for their opinion.

What implant did you get, and from what manufacturer? The company I work for some of the shoulder components have a rough porous coating with an hydroxyapatite coating on top of that. The porous coating provides a "scratch fit" finish which means that during the surgery the coating scratches the bone and is embedded in the coating. Once the initial fixation takes place the bone will grow into the ground bone which is embedded into the porous coating and provides a strong anchor point. The hydroxyapatite accelerates the osseointergration process and promotes bony ingrowth. After a few months you should really be "good as new" or at least much better than you were before.

 

[270WSMANIC]

Don't remember if they told me the maker. I had the surgery at a VA hospital in Pittsburgh, Dr. McMann who is a sportsmedicine doc who does contract work for the VA. Don't know who VA will give me for the right shoulder but I'll request McMann if I can. He done a great job.

 

[justin22885]

you may have to give up on the 270wsm.. no idea what you use it for anyway as its generally overkill for anything on this continent, a 7.62x39 or 5.56 believe it or not is sufficient for killing large game and a 9mm or 45acp from a carbine as well, theres generally no need to go beyond something like a 7.62x39, 300BO, or 30-30 for anything in WV

if its target shooting youre into well, you have even more options there

 

[doubleh]

I have had both rotator cuffs repaired. Don't know about shoulder replacement but rotator cuff rehab is seriously unpleasant and lasted 10 weeks each in my case. I would be very consertative with recoil if I were you. I use a Past recoil protector when I shoot anything with much recoil and it has been working OK but wearing it is annoying.

 

[Snowbank!]

My doctor told me that the bones that make up my right shoulder socket are gone. I shoot a 7 mag in a bar and have no pain. The doctor said not to consider replacement until I could no longer lift 30 lbs because that is all I would be able to lift after the rebuild.

 

[270WSMANIC]

you may have to give up on the 270wsm.. no idea what you use it for anyway as its generally overkill for anything on this continent, a 7.62x39 or 5.56 believe it or not is sufficient for killing large game and a 9mm or 45acp from a carbine as well, theres generally no need to go beyond something like a 7.62x39, 300BO, or 30-30 for anything in WV

if its target shooting youre into well, you have even more options there

Justen, your pretty much right, I don't need much more then a 3030 on my farm but I use to hunt on my friends farm till he sold it, 300+ was pretty much the norm shooting hill to hill.
The long reach of the 270WSM came in very handy and is a tack driver in accuracy. In short I love the rifle and would use another only if forced to. Also here at the house the 2 deer killed on neighbors farm were right at 300yds. In the woods unless hill to hill 150 yards would be rare.

 

[justin22885]

Justen, your pretty much right, I don't need much more then a 3030 on my farm but I use to hunt on my friends farm till he sold it, 300+ was pretty much the norm shooting hill to hill.
The long reach of the 270WSM came in very handy and is a tack driver in accuracy. In short I love the rifle and would use another only if forced to. Also here at the house the 2 deer killed on neighbors farm were right at 300yds. In the woods unless hill to hill 150 yards would be rare.

300 yards is not that far at all, even an AK will handle these distances so a 30-30 at least with spitzers should be able to, downside is a lot of 30-30s are lever actions and so its ammo is flat pointed

there are many .223 based wildcats that will be lethal and accurate out to 300, some of which (like 7.62x40WT) will surpass 30-30 even with a shorter barrel, 6.5 grendel and 6.8SPC are very good 300+ yard cartridges that will also be much lighter, and of course the .243 has always been popular for its light felt recoil and very flat trajectory, a .243 with a thick recoil pad shouldnt feel like much at all and you will save a significant amount of money with it too

the actual trajectory between a 270WSM and a .243 is very similar so your hold over at greater distances should be pretty much the same as well making it a very easy transition from what you are already used to

 

[270WSMANIC]

Snowbank, I don't know if your doc meant 30lb with the one arm or both. My doc after about 6months told me I could go ahead and cut my fire wood. In doing that I often lift 100+ lb logs up on the tailgate of my truck. Not saying I should be doing that just that I can and do. Here lately though I often use one of my 4 wheeler ramp boards and roll the log up. Am starting to realize that being 64 is different from being 30. A far as shooting my 270WSM I have not yet tried shooting from the left shoulder but will try that to see how it feels next time I get out to farm to shoot.

 

[scaatylobo]

Total left replacement here.

I had the left done in 2013 and it was a total replacement that went VERY well according to my Dr.
I was told after the surgery that I was NOT allowed to lift more than 25 pounds ever again with that arm.
I was PISSED to say the least as I was an Olympic lifter [ once upon a time ] ,and the injury was from work.
Having spoken to many who have had shoulder surgerys [ we must know each other from 'the look' ] and so far ALL who had surgery and not total replacement are NOT happy and in a good deal of pain.
I am happy AND can sleep through the night without waking up SCREAMING in pain !.
I have lifted more than I was told is allowed,my Dr told me that I should look at my replacement as if it were the brakes on a Lamborgini,do you want them to last many miles --- or burn them off fast.
I am trying to find and KEEP a happy medium,and do enough to stay strong for a lifetime,BUT not enough to require another relining.
So far its a GTG thing.
I am right handed and shoot a .308 as much as I want,finally can hold it out there with the left,BUT cannot draw a bow to hunt.
I say stay light and learn to shoot a .243 or 300 Blackout,or any other round that you can shoot with comfort that will still drop game.
Good luck,and don't stop living !.

 

[hdbiker]

a few years ago my shooting shoulder was hurting bad enough I was reduced to shooting only .22 rifle.I seen others at the gun club using a Lead Sled.After talking to some of them I bought one and now I'm back to shooting all my center fire rifles. hdbiker

 

[Paul7]

Google 'prolotherapy', it eliminates the need for 90% of joint replacements.

 

[dubbleA]

If I were you I would either install a muzzle brake on your 270 WSM or get a suppressor for it. One makes the gun louder and one quiets it down. both will reduce felt recoil significantly.

I made a brake for a 22-250 I am building last night and will be shooting it later today. Not that the recoil is harsh but it will allow me to see hits through the scope as the rifle shouldn't move when fired.

 

[CB900F]

270WSMManic;

Another round you might wish to take a look at is the 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser. It's very well known as both an extremely effective big game cartridge and a mild recoiler. If you check out the sectional density and B/C of something like the Sierra 140 grain GameKing, the why tends to become clear. Accuracy is another thing the cartridge is known for also.

900F

 

[IROCZ]

Wow, this is more common than I thought. I had my right rotator cuff done in Aug 2001. I used to shoot Mausers in 8mm with the soft steel buttplates with impunity, not after my shoulder injury and repair. Now I have shooting shirts with high quality pads sown into the right shoulder and don't over do it. I can't shoot a long gun with much recoil in a T shirt anymore. When I qualify at work, I put the butt of the AR or 870 on my body armor and it seems to work ok. If you go with a brake, realize you will need good ear protection, even when hunting.

 

[justin22885]

i have a neck injury i acquired while walking down a staircase head-first.. both muscle groups on both sides of my neck were damaged and to this day it feels like a 24/7 stiff neck, though pain may radiate into the shoulders, impact on the shoulders themselves doesnt do much so i can still shoot anything i want, but it really helps to have a good cheek rest and raised optics if necessary

still though, my recommendation stands to go with something lighter recoiling like a .243

 

[Catpop]

I have the same problem. I found 3 solutions:
1. Shoot the Mini 14 more. Still working with improved accuracy on this one.
2. Experiment with 30-06 H4895 60% loads in my m70. This was highly accurate and super easy on the shoulder
3. Tri folding a piece of carpet to put behind the buttplate. Didn't win any beauty contests, but I can shoot a 1903 with full military loads all day long. Those that have shot 1903s with that steel buttplate know what talking about!
Good luck!