Accuracy after heart surgery???

[Bladefin]

So I had a double bypass and aortal aneurism repair in November. I started bench shooting on and off in December through February. I've found i can do that pretty well. My problem is unsupported or from a tripod.
As part of the surgery they have to cut through the pericardium and it can't be sealed back up again. Sometimes it feels like my heart beat is slamming in my chest. I notice it the most when laying on my back... or when pulling the buttstock to my shoulder.

Trying to shoot anything other than from a bench has become extremely frustrating and I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar and how you've dealt with overcoming the extra movement when trying to line up a shot.

 

[Madhatter]

I just don't hold mine really hard against my shoulder. I use my hand to steady the butt stock with a bag holding the forstock. It's not like we're shooting big recoil rifles.

 

[Jaabaa]

I hear you, good luck, I have some nasty health issues also...shoot me now...
I'll probably quit before I just do benchrest, though I don't mind a little at the range.
Hope you get things figured out and what works for you.

 

[Solo1]

So I had a double bypass and aortal aneurism repair in November. I started bench shooting on and off in December through February. I've found i can do that pretty well. My problem is unsupported or from a tripod.
As part of the surgery they have to cut through the pericardium and it can't be sealed back up again. Sometimes it feels like my heart beat is slamming in my chest. I notice it the most when laying on my back... or when pulling the buttstock to my shoulder.

Trying to shoot anything other than from a bench has become extremely frustrating and I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar and how you've dealt with overcoming the extra movement when trying to line up a shot.

Try a very light hold to allow the gun to actually recoil a bit cause it won’t move that much and has no real kick but allowing it to move a bit seems to me anyway to allow for better accuracy.

 

[Billm]

I don’t have the same issues as you, but somewhat similar. I have a titanium plate and a carbon fiber cage holding my neck together after having part of my cervical spine removed and fused. I went to bed fine and woke up paralyzed in both legs from my hips to knees and up my left side. The surgery cured 90% of that. While recovering Hurricane Sally dropped two trees on my house and wiped my fences out and I ignored my recovery and went to work cleaning my property up. I ended up with a couple of heart stents. I say similar to you, because I lost most of upper body strength while recovering from all of this. Renewing my interest in airgunning really helped me with the attitude recovery. But, I still find it difficult to shoot a 8-12lb air rifle with scope, I now really enjoy shooting from a bipod or 2 piece rest. Right now I’m really getting into near zero contact shooting. The idea is to only touch the trigger and use very light contact behind the grip or use no grip and use a pinch post. Like Solo1 mentioned, you allow the rifle to freely recoil straight back. Obviously it’s mainly for bench shooting, but I’ve seen some people use a single piece rest on a tripod in the field. The butts stock never touches your body and you don’t rest your cheek on the cheek piece.

 

[WillM]

So I had a double bypass and aortal aneurism repair in November. I started bench shooting on and off in December through February. I've found i can do that pretty well. My problem is unsupported or from a tripod.
As part of the surgery they have to cut through the pericardium and it can't be sealed back up again. Sometimes it feels like my heart beat is slamming in my chest. I notice it the most when laying on my back... or when pulling the buttstock to my shoulder.

Trying to shoot anything other than from a bench has become extremely frustrating and I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar and how you've dealt with overcoming the extra movement when trying to line up a shot.

I think you should be talking to your surgeon or cardiologist about this immediately. It sounds like something is off in your healing process.

I had a quadruple CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) on December 15 and yes I have a 9” scar where my sternum was split, wired back together and sutured. The pericardium is the internal sac stabilizing the heart and my cardiologist told me at my 3 month follow up that everything was healing normally both inside and out. It seems that may not be the case for you.

I have competed and won several benchrest matches (at Quail Creek Airgun Club in AZ) in the last two months and last weekend shot in a Regional Sporting Clays tournament at Tucson Trap and Skeet and won three trophies with my 28gauge shotgun. I shot a couple of boxes of 20 gauge practice yesterday.

Obviously everyone is different but I encourage you to check with your doctor. Could age be a factor? I’m 73

 

[Billm]

I think you should be talking to your surgeon or cardiologist about this immediately. It sounds like something is off in your healing process.

I had a quadruple CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) on December 15 and yes I have a 9” scar where my sternum was split, wired back together and sutured. The pericardium is the internal sac stabilizing the heart and my cardiologist told me at my 3 month follow up that everything was healing normally both inside and out. It seems that may not be the case for you.

I have competed and won several benchrest matches (at Quail Creek Airgun Club in AZ) in the last two months and last weekend shot in a Regional Sporting Clays tournament at Tucson Trap and Skeet and won three trophies with my 28gauge shotgun. I shot a couple of boxes of 20 gauge practice yesterday.

Obviously everyone is different but I encourage you to check with your doctor. Could age be a factor? I’m 73

That’s an impressive recovery And shooting performance.

 

[Bladefin]

I think you should be talking to your surgeon or cardiologist about this immediately. It sounds like something is off in your healing process.

I had a quadruple CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) on December 15 and yes I have a 9” scar where my sternum was split, wired back together and sutured. The pericardium is the internal sac stabilizing the heart and my cardiologist told me at my 3 month follow up that everything was healing normally both inside and out. It seems that may not be the case for you.

I have competed and won several benchrest matches (at Quail Creek Airgun Club in AZ) in the last two months and last weekend shot in a Regional Sporting Clays tournament at Tucson Trap and Skeet and won three trophies with my 28gauge shotgun. I shot a couple of boxes of 20 gauge practice yesterday.

Obviously everyone is different but I encourage you to check with your doctor. Could age be a factor? I’m 73

The pericardium may or may not heal up after these surgeries. I had a dual CABG but the aortal graft they put in is a little more invasive. The 7ish inch dacron tube isn't as natural either. They say that the remnants of the pericardium may form stabilizing scar tissue over time too.

I can shoot bench great and I think I could shoot clays fine too. But steady holds at vermin or even golfball "targets" are difficult. My tripod setup is an old camera pod with gun additions on top. So, not as steady as I'd like, but it was fine for me presurgery.

 

[WillM]

Like I said everyone is different but I’m glad to hear that you’re making a lot of progress and able to shoot. I did not have the aorta issue thank god but it sounds like another level of healing on top of everything else. Good luck in your continuing progress. I have been diligent in my cardio rehab so hopefully you’re doing that.

I was surprised that there were no issues at all with either the 28 or 20 shotguns but I fired a few shells in my son’s 12 ga semi yesterday and did not enjoy it. Didn’t hurt but my body doesn’t need the recoil even from a semi automatic at this point.

I’ve had a lot of luck with my camera equipment on a tripod especially using a leveling base with a direct Arca attachment rather than using a gun pod type of attachment. Our benchrest rules don’t allow the attachment so I’m shooting free recoil as a couple of the guys mentioned above.