Breathing techniques for accurate shooting

[sha]

I'm an Ok shot at the range, but keen to improve my shooting technique and accuracy.

I've done a bit of mucking around with shooting positions and stuff for accuracy but pretty casually...

Got a big range day coming up soon and getting my game plan together.

What do people find best in maximising there accuracy for breathing techniques?

Half breath? Exhaling? Different breathing techniques when shooting prone or off the bench?

Lay it on me...

[Herdsman]

Standard procedure is breath in > half breath out > hold it > fire.

Should give you a comfortable few seconds without your chest heaving to pull the trigger.

[Lorgar]

I find completely exhaling works best for me.

With the half breath out method I find my self a little distracted by holding the breath half way. Like I'm concentrating on it a little...

Deep breathe in, then exhale the entire thing before firing.

My 2cents anyway.

[Norton]

I find completely exhaling works best for me.

With the half breath out method I find my self a little distracted by holding the breath half way. Like I'm concentrating on it a little...

Deep breathe in, then exhale the entire thing before firing.

My 2cents anyway.

How long can you comfortably hold it for though after completely exhaling?

I'd have thought burning lungs more of a distraction than holding a breathe?

[inervate]

How long can you comfortably hold it for though after completely exhaling?

I'd have thought burning lungs more of a distraction than holding a breathe?

Ditto. I start getting uncomfortable pretty much straight away after exhaling and holding.

[Atter]

Feeling kinda stupid now...

Sitting and my computer desk practicing breathing and pretending to squeeze a trigger

[Aster]

Feeling kinda stupid now...

Sitting and my computer desk practicing breathing and pretending to squeeze a trigger

Practice makes perfect

[Weepy]

I prefer exhaling completely too.

A few deep breathes beforehand to build up some oxygen then exhale, more than enough time for a clean shot.

[sha]

I prefer exhaling completely too.

A few deep breathes beforehand to build up some oxygen then exhale, more than enough time for a clean shot.

I've taken to that too.

I tried about 15 groups with half breath, or full exhale and find I'm a fraction better on full exhale.

[on_one_wheel]

I breath normaly... smooth and constiant, then start applying light pressure on the trigger with my air bags half empty and take the shot just as I'm finishing exhaling.

If everything dosen't line up at that point then I release the trigger tention, keep breathing and try again next breath.

The thought process that goes into this is a good method for those that have developed a flinch to distract thier mind from the looming expolsion and recoil.

[defau]

Just for curiosity, how many times do you find it doesn't line up on_one_wheel?

[on_one_wheel]

Just for curiosity, how many times do you find it doesn't line up on_one_wheel?

That depends on how well I am set up, on a bench I usally get a shot off on my third breath once chambered, in the field it usally takes more.... I might even need to reposition my body or find a different spot to sit , stand or lay to get more comfortable, then the whole process starts again.

Half the trick is to find that position where I don't need to be applying any pressure to the rifle side to side for things to line up, so the only movement I get is up and down with my breaths, it might just mean moving my elbow, torso or even just moving my feet a fraction or my so the cross hairs just hold over the target and they are in the right spot when I have exhaled.

[Noisydad]

Apparently if you've not got your shot off in 1.8 seconds you should be starting the shot over. The theory being that you begin over thinking the process, tensing up, encourage eye strain and fatigue and developing a flinch.

[Chronos]

I breath normaly... smooth and constiant, then start applying light pressure on the trigger with my air bags half empty and take the shot just as I'm finishing exhaling.

If everything dosen't line up at that point then I release the trigger tention, keep breathing and try again next breath.

The thought process that goes into this is a good method for those that have developed a flinch to distract thier mind from the looming expolsion and recoil.

Sounds like my technique no deliberate breath holding just relax, exhale, squeeze

If you ever find your self left alone on a heart rate monitor try holding your breath. After 2-3 seconds your heart rate starts to climb. You can train your system to lower your heart rate for breath holding by using some free diving techniques but i wouldn't bother.

So that's when shooting off the bench or prone. When standing I use the full lungs technique. I find that a full breath helps stabilise the posture and brace the ribcage

It's up to each shooter to find the system that gives best results for them

Chronos

[marksmanVIC]

Calm breathing works for me pull the trigger as I exhale. (308). No real method for 12ga, just pull the trigger when I need to.

[BRNOmod2]

When shooting fullbore (real fullbore, not F class - so shooting prone with sling only - no rest) i use the full exhale breathing style. Few slow relaxed breaths in and out then i exhale, a second or so to get shot away. If sight picture is not correct i start cycle again and go thru at least 2 x breath cycles before attempting to get correct sight picture and let shot off.

[Warrigul]

So that's when shooting off the bench or prone. When standing I use the full lungs technique. I find that a full breath helps stabilise the posture and brace the ribcage



Chronos

Full lungs aren't usually recommended for most people as the heart beat is accentuated when the chest cavity is under pressure.

I have seen this demonstrated with a laser plotter on a target at 10m, despite the best efforts there is movement in time to the heart, this is lessened when the lungs are half full.

They don't mention the heart thing but general breath control is covered here: http://www.smallborerifle.co.uk/breathing.php

A lot of the smallbore techniques are beneficial and flow on to cemterfire. My shooting improved in general when I started fullbore and using many of the smallbore exercises(not exactly like on the UK website but close) and I had already been shooting for fifteen odd years.

[Warrigul]

When shooting fullbore (real fullbore, not F class - so shooting prone with sling only - no rest) i use the full exhale breathing style. Few slow relaxed breaths in and out then i exhale, a second or so to get shot away. If sight picture is not correct i start cycle again and go thru at least 2 x breath cycles before attempting to get correct sight picture and let shot off.

I still practice a weekly dry fire session in the shed on a distant mark, top training for all other forms of shooting.(I have to admit I deserted fullbore for F class many years ago)

[Octane]

I can't say I'm convinced on the dry fire practice thing.

I can always do just about perfect dry firing because I know there will be no recoil, but as soon as I'm behind a rifle which I know will fire it's not the same.

For me anyway.

[Chronos]

I can't say I'm convinced on the dry fire practice thing.

I can always do just about perfect dry firing because I know there will be no recoil, but as soon as I'm behind a rifle which I know will fire it's not the same.

For me anyway.

that is precisely the reason to practice. training with perfect form is the best way to develop the muscle memory that allows you to shoot well

pistol shooters often dry fire hundreds of rounds a week for this reason

Chronos

[Tinked]

I think it helps.

Very slow going though. It's not like 10 practice shots clears up flinching and perfects breathing.

Hundreds of firings for noticeable improvement I think.