Post Surgery Caliber for hunting in fall '09

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I had C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 blown out by an attentive gentleman who rear-ended me back in 1995 (34 years old). Fortunately, the driver who rearended me was not injured. The fact that he was driving with his head so far up his @$$ must have provided ample cushion during the impact. :)

The surgeon fused only C4, C5 and C6 because I was so young. He implanted stainless steel cages with donated bone between the levels, and placed a Titanium plate across the three levels. The plate facilitates getting active faster, as did donated bone rather than bone from my own hip.

My own difficulty getting back into shooting longguns was because of the two levels that were left injured and unfused. You'll be back to "abnormal" soon. Watch for internal scars, adhesions and future arthritis. These are very common afflictions to we fusing patients. In the event you do become recoil sensitive check into a good muzzle break (Williams for example).

I can't speak to the CT. I just leave mine be.

Geno
 
Geno,

I am glad you survived, too bad the other guy did to.:)
Thanks for sharing your story with me. I am cautiously optimistic about my recovery. I am hoping to be back at work within a month of surgery. And if my neurosurgeon okays it, I will be shooting my .22 rifles & handguns within a month also. Once again thanks for responding to my thread. It is nice to hear about successfull outcomes to this type of procedure.
 
I would recommend either a 6.5x55 or 260 Remington with 120 grains for deer sized game and 140 grain premium bullets for elk, if I were starting from scratch.

Out of your listed inventory, I'd take the 7mm-08.
 
BENELLIMONTE:

The fusing is how I was introduced to the T/C pistols. I started back into shooting with a .22LR after a couple of months. Yes, it was sore. :) A gentleman was firing a Contender in 7X30 Waters. He invited me to fiure off a few rounds. Of course, with your CT issue, the T/C pistols might produce too much recoil for a bit (until healed).

As an FYI in case your neurosurgeon doesn't alert you, the internal healing time ranges from 6 to 9 months. By 12 months out, the bones should have fused solidly into one...even by our age (48 here).

You'll do well. Medicine has advanced well. Have someone make a post here about how your surgery goes. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

Geno
 
My spouse is at risk for Wrist nerve problems on her shoot hand. So far the doctors have indicated through electrical testing that her condition supports shooting. We monitor it carefully. Also spouse has bone loss and at some point in the future the doctors will issue her a no recoil order. But until then, we enjoy shoots.

As far as recoil, I recommend you to wear a Recoil Pad on your shoulder. We both use a PAST Pad that does a good job of absorbing the recoil, most of it anyway.

Please communicate with your Surgeons about your pending shoot plans.

It is my hope that you will recover and be allowed to go shoot without any trouble.
 
Benellimonte;

When I posted my suggestion about the 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser the other day I was at work & therefore limited in the amount of time I could spend on the subject.

I purchased a 6.5 Swede for a 16th birthday present as my son's first centerfire hunting rifle, several years ago. I've got over a decade's experience reloading for it & monitering his results with it. The primary reason I bought it initially was it's reputation for mild recoil. The gun is a standard weight modern bolt action firearm that probably weighs something like 8 to 9 lbs with glass. And the recoil is indeed mild in my opinion. The accuracy and terminal performance are simply outstanding.

Because the bullets are heavy for caliber, the sectional densities are high. Which brings along it's first cousin, high ballistic coefficients. Keep in mind that B/C is a moveable feast, not a constant. What you see in the books is an observed average. In any case, a high B/C is an excellent indicator of stability over a wider range of velocity than a low one. A major contributor to accuracy as far as I'm concerned.

Returning to S/D's; a high one greatly contributes to deep penetration on the terminal end of things. In short, the 6.5 Swede kills all out of proportion to it's velocity and bore diameter.

I've got guns, all I need for any practical application save going to Africa. However, because I'm left handed & left master eyed, I've had no success finding an LHB rifle in Swede. Therefore, I'm having one built at this time. To me, it's worth it to obtain the advantages I've seen the Swede produce.

You can do a helluva lot worse than to pick up a gun in the caliber.

900F
 
Benellimonte:

How did the procedure go? I had my surgery April 01 (seriously). I'm doing better, and hope you are as well. Hope to see you around soon. Give us an update.

Geno
 
Geno,

I am alive & well. Surgery went well and am now into day
9 of post-surg/rehab. I am glad to hear you are recuperating well. Thank you for your intelligent responses
to my questions; they are much appreciated.

'Monte'
 
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