I've had some lightning flashes in vision that have settled down. I gather that many men get these as they age. I'm 62 now. I do have a small hole in my left eye's macula, but the opthalmologist says this isn't an issue in shooting rifles or shotguns. Recoil, he says, isn't an issue, and a second doc at that clinic confirmed it.
But I don't know that they're right: neither shoots.
On another forum, an optometrist says otherwise, and that I'd be wise to not shoot shoulder-fired guns anymore, at least if much recoil is produced.
My main concern is firing a .30/06 Sako off the bench, as that would exaggerate recoil over firing from a field position.
But my sole shotgun now is a 12 ga. M870 Wingmaster. I can't afford a 20 ga. auto now, which would probably make sense if recoil is an issue.
Now: I've heard that a 20 ga. may kick as hard as a 12 ga., because the gun is lighter, especially if a similar weight shot charge is fired.
If you hunted dove, maybe quail and possibly pheasant, and squirrels or rabbits, and used size 6 to 7.5 shot, and you wanted to make a slide-action 12 ga. kick as little as feasible consistent with good performance, which loads would you choose, and how would they relate to recoil from a 20 ga.?
In other words, if I decide that the two docs in the clinic know what they're talking about, but want to err on the safe side, can I still use my 12 ga, and get about the same recoil I would with a lighter 20 ga.?
Is there an eye doc here who can comment on any of this? Does recoil in rifles or shotguns maybe jar the head/eyes enough that it might lead to eye problems, including a detached retina?
I have severe nasal allergy and asthma, and do sneeze violently at times, and have read that even this can cause eye problems.
Thanks,
Lone Star
But I don't know that they're right: neither shoots.
On another forum, an optometrist says otherwise, and that I'd be wise to not shoot shoulder-fired guns anymore, at least if much recoil is produced.
My main concern is firing a .30/06 Sako off the bench, as that would exaggerate recoil over firing from a field position.
But my sole shotgun now is a 12 ga. M870 Wingmaster. I can't afford a 20 ga. auto now, which would probably make sense if recoil is an issue.
Now: I've heard that a 20 ga. may kick as hard as a 12 ga., because the gun is lighter, especially if a similar weight shot charge is fired.
If you hunted dove, maybe quail and possibly pheasant, and squirrels or rabbits, and used size 6 to 7.5 shot, and you wanted to make a slide-action 12 ga. kick as little as feasible consistent with good performance, which loads would you choose, and how would they relate to recoil from a 20 ga.?
In other words, if I decide that the two docs in the clinic know what they're talking about, but want to err on the safe side, can I still use my 12 ga, and get about the same recoil I would with a lighter 20 ga.?
Is there an eye doc here who can comment on any of this? Does recoil in rifles or shotguns maybe jar the head/eyes enough that it might lead to eye problems, including a detached retina?
I have severe nasal allergy and asthma, and do sneeze violently at times, and have read that even this can cause eye problems.
Thanks,
Lone Star