cjm Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 When your rifle shooting do you... 1. hold your breath to shooot or 2. exhale fully to shoot Discuss... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 i've always exhaled - not sure whether that is "correct" or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrelsniffer Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Always breath in and then hold at half a breath. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 In the field you need to shoot from all different stages of breathing. It takes practice, no point doing half exhale, hold and squeeze in all your range time for this very reason- only thing you must always do is stop for the squeeze. Shooting events like the McQueens is great for this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 A very experienced rifle shooter told me to deep breathe twice and hold on 1/2 exhale. Not for more than 30 secs as the first thing to be affected by lack of oxygen are the eyes. He was a target shooter though so I think that out in the field it could be different as Kent says. GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Surely exhaling leaves you with less time to shoot. With inhaling, at least you have air in your lungs which your body can use. When you're shooting, your adrenal glands will be in full flow and the rush of adrenaline will make your body want to breath more to keep your body pumped with oxygen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrelsniffer Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Obviously depending on what your shooting yes...tgt shooting you can take your time..but when out walking in the fields its very different esp when quarry sighted and you have a few secs to shoulder rifle and fire...i normally if out of breath, take a deep breath then steady my breathing then hold in half for shot...works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 What ever suits you, but physically you are better off taking the shot on exhale, on inhalation your diaphragm is under tension, and so are your intercostal muscles, the diaphragm relaxes on exhale, reducing muscle fatigue and tremen. Your follow through will be more consistent too as you are relaxing on the exhale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) when shooting a static target where you have time, the textbook method is to settle the crosshairs, take 2 or 3 steady breaths and then when at the bottom of the next breath, i.e. between breating out and breathing in AND between heart beats the shot should be fired, you do not 'hold' breath at this point, it is a natural gap in the cycle, it is also the point at which the heart is naturally beating at it's slowest (it changes during the breathing cycle.) With practice, you will know when to start the squeeze to achieve this. Shooting in the field or snap shooting in comps is different as you just wouldn't have time to do this. You should avoid at all costs holding your breath, this causes the heart to beat stronger and faster making the crosshairs jump and also, it takes a surprising amount of muscle action to hold breath, it causes tension in the shoulders, neck, back and upper arms which is exactly the opposite of the relaxed posture required for a steady shot. To see where I am coming from, choose a small target and aim at it seated but otherwise unsuported, then take a breath and hold it... look at what happens to the crosshair... it will jump in time with your heart beat and wobble because you are tensed up holding that breath. Now, do the same excercise but take steady breaths. you will again see that the crosshair moves up and down but it is now in rythm with your breathing and you can anticipate the point where it intersects the target, this is the point that the shot is fired.... you are in control whereas in the first example you are not. Another reason for shooting at the bottom of the breathing cycle is stability. Sit on a space hopper or gym ball, fully inflated, back straight, feet and knees together and, with your rifle aim, unsuported, at a smallish target, you will see how dificult it is to keep the crosshairs on the target. Now let 3/4 of the air out of the ball and try again, it will still be difficult but no where near as it was fully inflated because you are now resting on a much more stable platform. When shooting prone, full lungs cause the same instability as the full ball, almost empty lungs create a much more stable platform. Edited November 17, 2011 by Vipa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 2. exhale fully to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrelsniffer Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 We were taught on exhale in the army but after many yrs shooting i found my own breathing technique which ive used ever since as long as you follow the basic marksmanship principles and you find what breathing works better for you with each shot time after time,and after much practice and your body is relaxed/comfortable for you when firing...so find out what breathing control works best for you...i just asked the question to some work colleagues all ex army and they all say same, whatever suits you..as long as its repeatable time and times again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vipa Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) We were taught on exhale in the army but after many yrs shooting i found my own breathing technique which ive used ever since as long as you follow the basic marksmanship principles and you find what breathing works better for you with each shot time after time,and after much practice and your body is relaxed/comfortable for you when firing...so find out what breathing control works best for you...i just asked the question to some work colleagues all ex army and they all say same, whatever suits you..as long as its repeatable time and times again. Exactly... there's no wrong of doing it, the key is repeating it every time... bit like a golf swing, although some fundamental things do make things sooooo much easier! Edited November 17, 2011 by Vipa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzthompson Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 When target shooting i exhale half a breath and hold, i also keep my mouth open as this relaxes the cheek muscles, believe it or not heartbeat through the cheek muscles can make the crosshairs bounce, even more exagerated when out in the field when your pulse is up. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Always breath in and then hold at half a breath. Mick as taught to me on my 2 day Rifle course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrelsniffer Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 as taught to me on my 2 day Rifle course Which course was this ?? Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I don't honestly know. I know if you breath in the rifle moves up and breath out it moves down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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