I really like the idea of adding a Mossberg 500 but a few years ago I had a quad bypass. I am not embarrassed to admit I am really afraid of ripping my sternum to bits from the recoil. After all it was wired back together. I do know the Dr. would not let me shoot my 30-06 for 2 1/2 years. Am I just being a wimp or should I stay clear of the 12 gauge?
No, you are NOT being a wimp. I have a friend who was shooting .454 Casulls way too early after his bypass. A shoulder seat belt was still hurting him at the time. He’s still on painkillers and this took place years ago. Take your doctor’s advice on this issue and then bring it down a notch.
No, you are not a wimp. Crazy perhaps and most certainly foolish.
Understand that I am not a medical tech nor a qualified doctor but I am going to say stay away from the 12 guage unless you have a means of gathering the recoil and spreading it across your chest without rupturing your sternum. A possible means would be to put a wide strap around your lower and mid chest that could be tightened to swing all recoil pressures to your abdomen and upper chest.
Perhaps a weightlifters belt or two (nylon or leather) might do the trick. Take the belt(s) in to see the Doc and ask him to evaluate it. If you have sternal plating forget the idea completely and forever.
Are you sure you don’t want to ask yourself if you would be making yourself much more susceptible to serious infections.
There is another way that’s much easier on the body, you know. Put the butt plate solidly against a wall or solid post and just use your hands to aim the shotgun.
I’ve had two open heart surgeries and my sternum and cervical vertebrae are perm fubar....eat up with spurs and arthritis and chest wall irritation crap.
I know my way around muscle relaxers and pain killers too. Sometimes that’s all that works...I don’t drink or smoke dope.
Beats the alternative after lifetime of a DNA bad pump.
Folks talk about depression after heart surgery...hell I never felt so happy and horny and thrilled to be alive. Guess I was lucky. There’s folks on this thread who know me personally and they know I’m not lying. Man, 30 years ago I’d a been a dead man at 45.
Good luck pardner...I think you’ll be fine shooting anything up to 600 Nitro Express.