How are you guys able to stay so stable? I shake a lot while aiming during hunting and target shooting, I do use shooting sticks as well.
Stable
- Thread starter Mason_0890
- Start date
Mason, there is no easy way to get good. It takes practice and time. I am still not a good shot, even after 20+ years in the shooting sports.
I coach a kid shooting club in .22, muzzleloader, archery and shotgun (shotgun not so much). There are somethings that carry over from those disciplines to airguns. The most important I believe is breathing (respitory pause) and Natural Point of Aim.
NPA refers to body alignment that supports the gun with skeletal structure, rather than on muscles flexing to hold position. Muscles get tired holding position, bones do not. That discussion leads to respitory pause topic.
We often hold our breath in while concentrating on a task. That takes muscle effort to do, and in a very short time leads to hypoxia (low blood oxygen) which further affects mental abilities (getting sight picture and holding steady.)
At the end of your exhale there is a shallow plateau where you are not breathing in or out - that is where you are most stable and using the least effort to hold still. That 2-3 seconds is where I attempt to pull the trigger. I am not always successful, but I do a lot better when I concentrate on the basic principles.
Shoot'em good
I coach a kid shooting club in .22, muzzleloader, archery and shotgun (shotgun not so much). There are somethings that carry over from those disciplines to airguns. The most important I believe is breathing (respitory pause) and Natural Point of Aim.
NPA refers to body alignment that supports the gun with skeletal structure, rather than on muscles flexing to hold position. Muscles get tired holding position, bones do not. That discussion leads to respitory pause topic.
We often hold our breath in while concentrating on a task. That takes muscle effort to do, and in a very short time leads to hypoxia (low blood oxygen) which further affects mental abilities (getting sight picture and holding steady.)
At the end of your exhale there is a shallow plateau where you are not breathing in or out - that is where you are most stable and using the least effort to hold still. That 2-3 seconds is where I attempt to pull the trigger. I am not always successful, but I do a lot better when I concentrate on the basic principles.
Shoot'em good
Upvote 0
Breath control is so important. Learn and practice deep breathing. It is not only good for your aim but helps keeps your heart rate down which lowrers the muscle pulses and spasms. Take a deep breath and slowly exhale while aquiring the target. you will see the target begin to steady as the end of your exhale approaches. Just as you finish exhaling you should be on target to squeeze the trigger. If not take another deep breath and try it again. It takes practice. I also discovered that I tend not to follow thru on trigger pull. I would release as soon as the gun fires. I now work on squeezing the trigger thru the entire shot. Makes a difference as I find Im not pulling nearly as many shoots. One other trick I learned is to get your technique perfected with open sights. A scope sends a lot of information to your brain and you are in constant state of adjustment which tends to cause your muscles to tighten and your heart rate to go up. Open sights dont give you the same amount of info so you tend to stay a bit more relaxed.
Upvote 0