Shooting after Clavicle Surgery

I am guessing that no one will be able to give you an absolute answer. My advice would be to let pain or absence of pain, be your guide for when to give shooting a try. Maybe start when pain in absent and then try shooting rifles with minimal recoil. Work up from there.

Nah, you gotta proof test that baby. Start with a 50 BMG.

Ok, maybe the hide isn’t the best place for medical advice. And, guys 100s to 1000s of miles away have no idea of your actual physical condition. Some people heal fast from serious injury. Some get injured, then just kinda linger and die. It’s a spectrum. Maybe talk to your post op PT therapist. You will be doing post op PT, right? Hell, my ortho said the most important thing was PRE op PT, though that was knee surgery.

I have had both of mine removed. Shooting upright or on a bench are good, prone is fine until heavy recoil calibers. Then it is white hot searing pain as the end of the clavicle pushes into the shoulder upon recoil since it is essentially free floating now. You may be different, just something to be aware of. Creep into the larger calibers.

It may be that your doc said no shooting small calibers sitting or standing because it is a range of motion and recoil thing that risks internal sutures. When i had them removed it was one at a time and my ROM was very limited until I finished with PT. After that, all good except as mentioned above, and that for me is permanent.

Your ortho, if decent, should be able to give you a good idea when it is healed enough.

Age and health play a part in that, so not a perfect “12 weeks” for all.


I was 3-4 months before full contact in martial arts with mine. I was a healthy and very fit teen, no plate (not a thing back then really.

I had appendix removed, emergency. Pain meds made me sick, doc figured it was the antibiotics and told me to stop taking them so I stopped both after the second day. Told me to not lift over 25 lbs. About day 5 of laying around feeling like I had been stabbed in the guts and bored out of my mind, I decide to go shoot. I took my 223 Ackley, an AR and my heavy 300 WM. All told I probably put 500 rounds down range. That night and the next day were rough. The next day was the one week scheduled check up. Nurse asked me how it was going and I explained. Doc came in and she was PISSED. Told me I was a typical man and even though I am an engineer that I was none too bright. She said she'd let me know when it would be safe to go shooting again. I really liked that doc...she was gorgeous, pro gun and would tell it to you straight.

Talk to your doc.

Sparky said:

Broken both clavicles. I would do what the doctor says. They ain’t telling you, you can’t shoot. Just asking that you WAIT until after a full recovery. I broke mine riding horses. I was a sore as a fags ass after. Clavicles are tricky you else get no surgery or you have to wait it out. I wouldn’t fuck with anything.

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You sure got a pretty way with words there Sparky!!
Penned eloquence rarely exhibited in this day and age.



Save a horse, ride a short sniper……

Sparky said:

Haha. So funny. So original.

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It’s what Im known for……

I'd do it if I were you, but then, well I'm not you. I won't feel a thing.

I shattered mine in a quad bike crash.... plate was in for 12 weeks, then I wasnt allowed to lift anything with that arm for 6 months. still got a bunch of wire in there they can't remove

the amount of damage you did, and the repair method has a lot to do with recovery time and restrictions during recovery.

Had plates & screws in mine over a year ago & just thinking about going back to the range with more than a .223 now.
It was about 6 months for me to start shooting again.(.22lr rifle then .223)

Hope you feel up to it sooner than I did.

CRT2 said:

About what I expected. Thanks for replies. As an aside, after knee surgery went to PT and asked what I needed to do to test out of PT. They gave me some exercises to perform and I did them. No PT, aka Physical Torture required.

Will take 22, 223, 308 and 300 WM to range. Start with 22 and graduate thru calibers until pain.

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That's how I did it after shoulder surgery last year as far as shooting. You should have a pretty good idea based on pain level when doing stuff.

And keep in mind if you do hurt it again, as in really damage it you are likely taking more then a few steps back, and could be under the knife again.

Personally I would do what the Dr. tells you to do. It might suck for now, but in the long run it might be the best thing to do.

CRT2 said:

Had clavicle surgery 30 Nov 23. Clavicle hook plate removed 29 Feb 24. How long should I wait before shooting any of my rifles (556, 308 and 300 Win Mag). Dr. told me not to shoot at all (pistol or rifle) until recovery complete. Stitches come out 12 Mar 24.

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Like most of us Hide MD’s have said , don’t rush recovery and do what your MD & PT say.
I broke my R side clavicle in a car wreck along with dislocating my R shoulder.
Wore one of those slings that try to make both ends of the break fuse back together.
It was mending nicely and was healing when I decided to let my wife help me get dried blood from stitches on top of my head. Had a stool in a bath tub and sat down facing the shower head. I tried sliding the stool backwards a little and it slid out from under me. POW …what healing was done was undone , one end about broke through the skin. I was laying there with the water running in my face until she got help to get me up. Had to have surgery to have it repaired. Be smarter than I was.

CRT2 said:

About what I expected. Thanks for replies. As an aside, after knee surgery went to PT and asked what I needed to do to test out of PT. They gave me some exercises to perform and I did them. No PT, aka Physical Torture required.

Will take 22, 223, 308 and 300 WM to range. Start with 22 and graduate thru calibers until pain.

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Before you put these impulse loads on a recovering skeletal structure, I would make sure that (semi-)static loads do not cause pain. I.e. AFTER you do not have any discomfort during normal activities and strength-building workouts.