Heart Beat Pulse Getting in the way??

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FIDI_G

FIDI_G

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Feb 1, 2023
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Atlanta GA
Ok so I have a VERY weird question not sure what it means or if this affects anyone else but it definitely affects my performance. Trying to figure out what I need to change.

I notice that I can feel my heartbeat while I'm resting my cheek on gun getting ready to shoot. I take a breath and release breath as I slowly engage first stage and squeeze the trigger. I dont grip the gun to hard or pess the butt up against my shoulder too hard. BUT my image is bouncing in the scope based on my heart beat. Am I crazy? Is it my bi-pod not absorbing? I've tried two bi-pods now same thing. It definitely affects me talking a shot. My resting heart rate is between 68-75 maybe a little hi but I'm totally relaxed. Anyone else have this and what did you do?

I'm shooting sitting down in a chair on a table using a Bi-Pod and a sandbag in the back. I can feel the pulse as I'm trying to zero in on my target.
 
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Being a Long Range shooter.... Most of the time off a high bipod.. sitting in high grass..
It is called Sight picture control.
First off it is impossible to Keep Perfectly still when you shoot...
Unless you shoot off a tripod or full benchrest and sandbags.

So you take a few deep breaths , exhale, and take a shallow, 2/3 breath and hold it.
Next through your scope you want to control the movement of he crosshairs..
Now as you heart beats, the crosshair will slide off the target.
As your Crosshair settle on the target between beats, start to squeeze the trigger.
Adjust the sight picture as needed.. until your trigger hit the 2nd stage.
Between the next heartbeat, let her Fly!!
 
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Very common in long range/precision shooting. Lots of helpful tips above. I would also add to take a few minutes to rest before shooting if you are walking to and from your targets. I see that often where people walk 100+ yards back to the bench and then immediately start shooting when their heart rate is now up a bit. Just take it slow and relax. And know that when your heart beat becomes the long pole in the tent for your shooting accuracy, it means you’re doing things right!!
 
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Ca_Varminter said:
Being a Long Range shooter.... Most of the time off a high bipod.. sitting in high grass..
It is called Sight picture control.
First off it is impossible to Keep Perfectly still when you shoot...
Unless you shoot off a tripod or full benchrest and sandbags.

So you take a few deep breaths , exhale, and take a shallow, 2/3 breath and hold it.
Next through your scope you want to control the movement of he crosshairs..
Now as you heart beats, the crosshair will slide off the target.
As your Crosshair settle on the target between beats, start to squeeze the trigger.
Adjust the sight picture as needed.. until your trigger hit the 2nd stage.
Between the next heartbeat, let her Fly!!
Click to expand...
Good response! Use that heartbeat as part of the shot sequence.
 
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nervoustrig said:
For any shouldered rifle, either time your trigger pull between pulses (a 2-stage trigger or a set trigger is a big benefit), or try to attenuate the transfer of your pulse to the gun by reducing shoulder pressure and wear something padded.
Click to expand...
It also helps if you have a moderately light trigger pull, in my case I've set my guns to 11oz.
 
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More than likely the pulse in your cheek isn't messing with your hold, it is just you feeling the pulse.

In my experience, pulse (or blood pressure) affects me most at pinch points, or points of constriction where blood flow encounters the greatest resistance. For me, when hunched over sitting on a stool that point is in the middle and lower abdomen area resulting in a side to side motion (since the gun is rested on a bipod and can't go up and down). Sitting up straight or standing lessens or eliminates that but of course is less stable for shooting.

Try adjusting your seated posture and the height of your bipod and even stool height while maintaining a stable "stance" on your stool and bipod. Your most stable position is when you form a tripod of your body comprising your waste and both elbows resting on your knees which unfortunately typically takes a lot of bend in the middle to achieve.

I believe slender shooters experience the problem less than those of us with "a little extra" around the middle.
 
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That's common. I've learned to & worked hard at shooting between heartbeats, controlling breathing & paying attention to how much tightness or looseness of grip affects movement of gun. I try to slow everything down as much as possible. For me, it's easier to do it target shooting than when hunting & my adrenaline wants to take over. Practice, practice, practice!
Edit: Forgot to mention, I exhale & hold that when pulling trigger. Pulse is amplified when holding breath IN.
 
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Years of Field Target as well Field Hunting shooting from bi-pods or other support miens, DON'T smash your face against the Stock Comb !!!
I wear a short beard & only just feel the comb against my facial hair and THAT'S IT.
Learning to train your eye box positioning w/o reliance of the stocks comb will pay huge rewards in the accuracy department .. IMO
 
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Yes, holding too tight.
May I suggest if your heartbeat is getting in your way,you need to meditate.
Slowing your pause down and relaxing go hand in hand.
Heart, Lungs are one unit,=breath control, you needed to hold your breath , you need to breathe easily.
Practice,you can do that about anywhere anytime.
Sight picture, breath control, trigger control=the goal is to have all in control as you are pulling the trigger.
All this takes practice to "become one" =you, gun, target.
Truthfully,it all takes time and practice to reach the goal of good marksmanship.(y)
 
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Ca_Varminter said:
Being a Long Range shooter.... Most of the time off a high bipod.. sitting in high grass..
It is called Sight picture control.
First off it is impossible to Keep Perfectly still when you shoot...
Unless you shoot off a tripod or full benchrest and sandbags.

So you take a few deep breaths , exhale, and take a shallow, 2/3 breath and hold it.
Next through your scope you want to control the movement of he crosshairs..
Now as you heart beats, the crosshair will slide off the target.
As your Crosshair settle on the target between beats, start to squeeze the trigger.
Adjust the sight picture as needed.. until your trigger hit the 2nd stage.
Between the next heartbeat, let her Fly!!
Click to expand...
Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to word it 😅coffee still working...
 
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I've never found the heart beat to be much of an issue in bench shooting, but certainly it's there. But if your support system is solid, you should be able to use a light hold, which minimizes the effect. I used to do some service rifle shooting (and very poorly I'll add). When slung up in position there is high tension on the support system, and managing heart beat can be a challenge. Most really good service rifle shooters are in good condition, and have a normally slow heart rate, which helps. BR shooting isn't generally considered physically challenging, but good overall condition helps.
 
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elh0102 said:
I've never found the heart beat to be much of an issue in bench shooting, but certainly it's there. But if your support system is solid, you should be able to use a light hold, which minimizes the effect. I used to do some service rifle shooting (and very poorly I'll add). When slung up in position there is high tension on the support system, and managing heart beat can be a challenge. Most really good service rifle shooters are in good condition, and have a normally slow heart rate, which helps. BR shooting isn't generally considered physically challenging, but good overall condition helps.
Click to expand...
Just to add to the above reply....
In High Power Rifle Matches....
Have seen the shooters wearing their Shooting Jackets???
They are Very Heavy, and very Constricting!!!
They are Made to reduce the Heartbeat effect when shooting at 1000yrds
I have friend that was a competitive long range shooter.... also was a sniper......
Now his shooting offhand was amazing!!
 
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FIDI_G said:
Ok so I have a VERY weird question not sure what it means or if this affects anyone else but it definitely affects my performance. Trying to figure out what I need to change.

I notice that I can feel my heartbeat while I'm resting my cheek on gun getting ready to shoot. I take a breath and release breath as I slowly engage first stage and squeeze the trigger. I dont grip the gun to hard or pess the butt up against my shoulder too hard. BUT my image is bouncing in the scope based on my heart beat. Am I crazy? Is it my bi-pod not absorbing? I've tried two bi-pods now same thing. It definitely affects me talking a shot. My resting heart rate is between 68-75 maybe a little hi but I'm totally relaxed. Anyone else have this and what did you do?

I'm shooting sitting down in a chair on a table using a Bi-Pod and a sandbag in the back. I can feel the pulse as I'm trying to zero in on my target.
Click to expand...
One of the best ways to avoid that, is to stop your heart, BUT....there are some down side consequences to that. Seriously, follow MEC17679's advise and practice.

​

 
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:)
From my archery competition years .... just to give you a picture ... imagine holding the bow with Left hand .... with a high power lens that bounces the pin the entire circle OD at 80 yards or 70-90 meters...
And then I learned mediation ... not 100% but just good enough that I can release the shot in between two beats...
Also I learned to slow down the hearth beats... to low 50 ... and some years later ... to skip 1 or 2 beats , which gave me a gap to aim.
This not come with only several weeks of training, you need to be into that mediation game I don't know 5-6-7 months or longer before you discover you can control "things" in your body.
:) and the fun part of it :) ???
Several times happened at my family doctors visit or in the Hospital for periodic checkup (I had 2 cancer surgeries so far and now looks good) ...
I made a PANIC with nurses :)
when the machine detected low hearth beats and some skipping :)

ps: talk to some asian friends about mediation technics ... they know several ways doing it.
 
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FIDI_G said:
So basically I'm normal and this is normal behavior for long range shooting. I thought I had a shaky bench or my bi-pod sucks so bad that it was vibrating all over the place. It's basically comes back to breathing technique and timing. Getting in that rhythm. Get in sync with the inner self!
Click to expand...
Don't put so much thought into it at the same time😅🤷‍♂️
Do what comes natural first; then adjust.
But most of all...
Enjoy your time🎩🤙
 
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