Can't get my breathing right

[sally-bee]

Hi guys,

Need some tips on breathing (yes, in and out, I know )

Holding a breath for a shot works for me to start, but after a few shots I'm fatigued from holding my breath and it just becomes more of a distraction.

How do you guys do it?

[bigfellascott]

I don't worry about it. (keep forgetting so fook it, ain't that important for hunting purposes anyway)

[1290]

Are you shooting fish underwater? why hold your breath...??

[handofcod]

Breath in through nose slowly, exhale through mouth slowly. Do this until you feel relaxed and undistracted. Then squeeze trigger slowly while exhaling. I usually fire towards the end of the breath.

[Jack V]

You breath in normally then exhale when you are about ready to take the shot . Hold at about 2 thirds exhaled and then gently squeeze off . You don't hold your breath for any length of time or hold with full lungs as that will increase heart rate . If the shot don't present then you start over again when ready .

[tom604]

You breath in normally then exhale when you are about ready to take the shot . Hold at about 2 thirds exhaled and then gently squeeze off . You don't hold your breath for any length of time or hold with full lungs as that will increase heart rate . If the shot don't present then you start over again when ready .

this^^^^^ but i hold on empty, may have to try the two thirds, why two thirds by the way?

[Jack V]

You breath in normally then exhale when you are about ready to take the shot . Hold at about 2 thirds exhaled and then gently squeeze off . You don't hold your breath for any length of time or hold with full lungs as that will increase heart rate . If the shot don't present then you start over again when ready .

this^^^^^ but i hold on empty, may have to try the two thirds, why two thirds by the way? :lol:

There is no strict rule on it . Comfort is important also. If that works for you it's all good. The main reason snipers hold at about 1/3 lung capacity ( some use half capacity ) is it gives more time to make the shot . If you hold on empty you have less time before you need to breath again . Do an experiment breathe out to where you think your empty but then force more air out . You will find you are in fact at about 2/3 capacity anyway with a comfortable breath out .
I tend to just breath out til I stop exhaling naturally and that is a comfortable spot with some breath left .
The main thing is the coordination of the breathing with the sight picture and trigger squeeze so you are not breathing while squeezing off .

[Noisydad]

...and don't spend to much time aiming and over thinking the shot. If you've not got your shot off in about 3 seconds stop the aim, lift your head and breathe and start again. Essentially, if your sights are on the target touch off the shot don't try and stop the figure eight motion - you never will! No one does. Everyone moves their sighting picture in a figure eight motion (to a greater or lesser degree and it could be vertical, horizontal or inclined). All you have to do is time your trigger squeeze with the centre of your figure eight motion's path through the aiming point.

[Jack V]

Just to be clear . My comments are mainly relevant to firing supported , bipod , BR rest , bags etc. Noisydad's comments are true of shooting unsupported or prone with sling etc. where you still get a fair bit of sight picture movement to contend with . However the breathing thing remains about the same .

[sally-bee]

Are you shooting fish underwater?

No I'm not..... Yet

[sally-bee]

I don't worry about it. (keep forgetting so fook it, ain't that important for hunting purposes anyway)

Well that's one way to solve the problem

Just something I want to try for myself and see what, if any difference it makes for me on the targets.

[sally-bee]

If the shot don't present then you start over again when ready .

Only talking targets so they're not going to run off any time soon

[becks]

Essentially, if your sights are on the target touch off the shot don't try and stop the figure eight motion - you never will! No one does.

Or you manage to hold it perfectly still for a second then it's like you've used up all your 'stable' and it's twice as worse

[Lorgar]

Just my personal experience and preference here...

When I'm shooting BR I relax and let the air flow out (rather than pushing the air out), about what feels like 1/4 left I sit still relaxed without actually holding. Haven't 'closed the valve' if you know what I mean.

I find the actually 'holding' of my breathe to be distracting. I don't know that it actually makes my shooting worse through tremors or anything like that, but I'm very aware I'm holding my breathe and find it a distraction.

Sounds weird I know but that's what works for me.

[anthillinside]

Can't get my breathing right

Everyone has their own method that works for them.

Try them all, and try some some from your own feelings.

You'll find what works for you.

Then you'll discover ....... you have a heart beat

Try geting that right

[Jack V]

If the shot don't present then you start over again when ready .

Only talking targets so they're not going to run off any time soon :D

You can still get caught by sudden wind and you don't want to shoot . You can get caught by sudden mirage and you don't want to shoot . You can still get caught by the jitters and you don't want to shoot . The term "present " can also cover when you decide not to shoot for some reason .

[Herdsman]

Then you'll discover ....... you have a heart beat

Try geting that right

Nope, didn't bother