Retina issues and Recoil

[Dixie Flinter]

Had a large tear in my right eye retina due to cataract surgery 13 months ago which required laser surgery. Have given yup shooting heavier recoiling rifles as I do not want to go through that again (lots of floaters still due to torn blood vessel resulting from retina tear). For this reason I am considering having a .40 or .45 southern mountain rifle for target shooting, offhand practice, and up to deer hunting. It will probably have a swamped 42" to 45" barrel. I know the .40 would be no problem recoil wise, but not sure about the .45. Roundballs only. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Stykbow]

Wow, that stinks man. I’m shooting a 50 cal. GPR with PRB and 80 grains of powder. Recoil is very mild in my opinion. I’d think a 45 would be fine with a moderate powder charge. Hope your eye recovers good.

 

[waksupi]

I wouldn't think the .45 with round ball would be a problem. I've known a couple guys with detached retinas due to dangerous game rifle recoil. I sold my .458 Win. Mag. so I didn't run the risk, not to mention I got tired of my shoulder blades slapping together every time I shot it. Big bores can be pretty hard on the back. I dropped down to a .375 H&H Mag. for dangerous game, a lot more pleasant to shoot.
You would most likely enjoy the .40, as mine is one of my better accurate and longer range muzzle loaders. Although I know it is sufficient, I consider it light for deer.
I had cataract surgery two years ago, and still have occasional floaters.

 

[Dixie Flinter]

I wouldn't think the .45 with round ball would be a problem. I've known a couple guys with detached retinas due to dangerous game rifle recoil. I sold my .458 Win. Mag. so I didn't run the risk, not to mention I got tired of my shoulder blades slapping together every time I shot it. Big bores can be pretty hard on the back. I dropped down to a .375 H&H Mag. for dangerous game, a lot more pleasant to shoot.
You would most likely enjoy the .40, as mine is one of my better accurate and longer range muzzle loaders. Although I know it is sufficient, I consider it light for deer.
I had cataract surgery two years ago, and still have occasional floaters.

Yes, the .40 is light for deer. Deer hunting ranges where I hunt are typically 15 to 40 yards and I would pass on anything further.

 

[SOLANCO]

Some years back I had a detached retina repaired. I woke up one morning with the detachment. Had not been shooting for several weeks prior. My surgeon discounted recoil/shooting as causative. He pointed out that the condition is not common among shooters. Not even among boxers. Anything is possible, but I doubt recoil would be an issue for you.
That said, proper gun mount and gun fit are better tools for handling recoil than downsizing. Proper fit makes proper mount easier. And with proper mount recoil is a push, not a jolt.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Had a large tear in my right eye retina due to cataract surgery 13 months ago which required laser surgery. Have given yup shooting heavier recoiling rifles as I do not want to go through that again (lots of floaters still due to torn blood vessel resulting from retina tear). For this reason I am considering having a .40 or .45 southern mountain rifle for target shooting, offhand practice, and up to deer hunting. It will probably have a swamped 42" to 45" barrel. I know the .40 would be no problem recoil wise, but not sure about the .45. Roundballs only. Any thoughts appreciated.

If recoil is the concern, think about shooting a heavier gun with less powder.

My dad had cataract surgery, he has floaters and difficulty shooting rifles with the accuracy to which he was accustomed. He’s gone to shooting .32’s, .40’s, and .45’s for the most part. He just had a .54 calibre built by a local builder…he’s got a 50 grain load and is quite comfortable shooting it.

What he’s done now, is added a peep site to the guns that he enjoys shooting the most. His pie plate sized groups have dropped down to 2” to 3” sized groups. He’s happy with that…

 

[Old Hawkeye]

I'm assuming you already have a muzzle loader of a larger caliber. If so, why not just reduce the charge instead of buying a whole gun? I have a 50 cal that shoots PRB with a 60 grain powder charge that has a mild recoil. I would think a 50 cal with even a 50 grain charge would be more effective on deer sized game than a 40 or 45 cal because of it's heavier projectile. Just food for thought.

 

[garypl]

Both of my retinas detached a few years ago - I asked doctor if it was caused by shooting heavy rifles (.458 mag, 45-70, 45-90 in particular). He said he didn’t think these were the cause of my problem. Rather, he told me I had most of the causative factors for retina detachments - nearsighted since childhood, older white male, and cataract surgery in both eyes.

Rather than take a chance, I sold all my heavy recoiling rifles and the heaviest recoiling guns I shoot are 12 ga shotguns and up to 50 cal muzzleloaders. None of these bother me and my eyes don’t seem to be getting any worse. Your situation may be different and I would follow your doctor’s advice!

 

[ohio ramrod]

My target rifle has a 42 inch 45 caliber barrel with eight ounces of lead in the stock to counterbalance the weight of the long barrel. I notice very little recoil shooting 40 grain of FFF. with the .445 balls and .015 patch.

 

[billraby]

I am convinced that recoil is not going to cause a detached retina. I shoot a 4 bore rifle fairly often and have not had any trouble. That thing is putting out well over 300 ft/lbs of recoil energy. If that does not caused detached retina then no rifle will. However, if you already have a damaged retina then I think recoil could possibly cause trouble. I really have no idea on that.

 

[Dixie Flinter]

If recoil is the concern, think about shooting a heavier gun with less powder.

My dad had cataract surgery, he has floaters and difficulty shooting rifles with the accuracy to which he was accustomed. He’s gone to shooting .32’s, .40’s, and .45’s for the most part. He just had a .54 calibre built by a local builder…he’s got a 50 grain load and is quite comfortable shooting it.

What he’s done now, is added a peep site to the guns that he enjoys shooting the most. His pie plate sized groups have dropped down to 2” to 3” sized groups. He’s happy with that…

RHI, have thought about hunting with the .54 and a 50 gr charge of 3f. It was my practice load shooting clay pigeons hung by string.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

RHI, have thought about hunting with the .54 and a 50 gr charge of 3f. It was my practice load shooting clay pigeons hung by string.

.54 calibre with a 50 grain fffg powder charge? I wouldn’t hunt anything bigger than maybe jackrabbits. I’m sorry but….50 grains is probably too light a load

A reliable hunting load in the .54 would begin around 80 grains. Mine are in the 90 to 105 grain range.

 

[nhmoose]

You need a discuscion with your retinal specialist not some on a gun board on the Internet. Your eyes are more important.

 

[SOLANCO]

I am going to hammer on my broken drum again. Gun fit and gun mount. If you mount your gun properly recoil is a manageable result of firing the shot, not a punishment extracted for the pleasure of shooting.
Having talked at length with my eye doctors about it I do not worry about recoil affecting my eyes. But I still want to mount my gun properly because poorly managed recoil is not pleasant.

 

[nchawkeye]

Detached retinas are typically caused by those of us that are very near sighted and age...When near sighted your eyeball is too long, as we get older the fluid in the eye recedes, thus causing the detachment...Yep, happened to me about 15 years ago, had it repaired by laser surgery, the laser caused a cataract about 5-6 years later so I have now had cataract surgery...

My go to flintlocks are still my .40 caliber Bob Watts rifle and my .54 early Lancaster I made in the '80s...My hunting load for my .54 is 80grs FFF Goes, that rifle weighs about 9 pounds...Recoil from that will not cause a detached retina...

Yep, I asked my eye doctor and he agreed, shooting doesn't cause detached retinas...I do know a bit about eye surgery because on top of going through it, I recruited medical device sales reps for over 25 years...It just so happens, I placed the fellow that sold the laser that repaired my eye when I had a detached retina...You do learn a few things when recruiting for medical companies that sell surgical equipment.....

 

[Dixie Flinter]

You need a discuscion with your retinal specialist not some on a gun board on the Internet. Your eyes are more important.

I appreciate your point,. It is a good one. I have been to several retina specialists and they say to "resume normal activities." Then, when I mention shooting, they say avoiding heavy recoil would be a good idea. Obviously perceived recoil is subjective, however, I plan to be extra safe and am of the opinion that even in a lighter southern mountain rifle, a .40 would be no problem. I am wondering about a .45 but have not shot one. I hunt deer at close range, typically 15 to 40 yards), so with well-placed shot, perhaps the .40 would suffice.

 

[nhmoose]

I have killed deer with my 40 cal flinter, nephew has killed them with his. Kill shots work. I shoot 35 grains for target and small game and 70 of the same for deer. 42 inch GM barrel

PM me if you need a referral to another retinal specialist mine is in NH and is also a Shooter.

 

[garypl]

Detached retinas are typically caused by those of us that are very near sighted and age...When near sighted your eyeball is too long, as we get older the fluid in the eye recedes, thus causing the detachment...Yep, happened to me about 15 years ago, had it repaired by laser surgery, the laser caused a cataract about 5-6 years later so I have now had cataract surgery...

My go to flintlocks are still my .40 caliber Bob Watts rifle and my .54 early Lancaster I made in the '80s...My hunting load for my .54 is 80grs FFF Goes, that rifle weighs about 9 pounds...Recoil from that will not cause a detached retina...

Yep, I asked my eye doctor and he agreed, shooting doesn't cause detached retinas...I do know a bit about eye surgery because on top of going through it, I recruited medical device sales reps for over 25 years...It just so happens, I placed the fellow that sold the laser that repaired my eye when I had a detached retina...You do learn a few things when recruiting for medical companies that sell surgical equipment.....

Bob Watts made beautiful rifles - never owned one but a couple of friends had rifles from Bob. He died too young.

 

[Flintlock]

My most often used rifle is a 42" .45 for plinking and small game a 30gr. charge of FFG doesn't have any felt recoil and very quiet as well, even my heavier target-hiking load of 47grs. of FFG is not noticeable. 60grs, I cannot really remember any recoil from that either and should be fine for most deer east of the Mississippi.

 

[Dixie Flinter]

I have killed deer with my 40 cal flinter, nephew has killed them with his. Kill shots work. I shoot 35 grains for target and small game and 70 of the same for deer. 42 inch GM barrel

PM me if you need a referral to another retinal specialist mine is in NH and is also a Shooter.

I am glad to hear of your success with deer and the .40. That is encouraging.