Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
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Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
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Topic: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting? (Read 1783 times))
phoebeisis
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Real Name: charles
Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
on:
January 20, 2022, 08:17:57 PM »
Does anyone here strength train to improve their offhand shooting?
My TX200 -with a "normal" 3x9 40mm scope weights 10.3 LBS -heavy.It originally had a HUGE looking BSA 30mm tube 3x12 44mm scope 750 grame with rings-too heavy-The open sight rifles Diana 350 Diana 460 are 8.3 and 8.4 lbs HW77K 9 lbs-not light
The Daisy 880 3.1 lbs-LIGHT- the B3 underlever-7 lbs
Holding it steady-not so easy-70 yo above average upper body strength for a 5'5" 70 yo-but ...
Does anyone strength train to improve their offhand shooting?
I have strength trained for many many years-but perhaps there are "better" exercises than what I do
One arm alternating dumbbell presses- upright row- one arm row heavy dumbbell - bench press pull-ups
Perhaps I should do front raises-dumbbell- to improve rifle holding stamina
Anyone?
Charlie
PS I have a wobble-sure would like to wobble less-any idea how to wobble less?
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #1 on:
January 20, 2022, 08:42:50 PM »
To stay healthy I work out, that includes running and mild weight training.
Part of rifle and pistol experience (decades of shooting) has been to focus on strategic upper body exercises such as using dumbbells.
I do pull ups, outward dumbbells, bicep curls, and most importantly dumbbell front raises.
Also don't shoot right after a workout or if you are sore. You'll be shooting all over the place.
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wolverine
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #2 on:
January 20, 2022, 10:03:49 PM »
I have noticed with age (62) I'm not as steady as I used to be. Side to side movement is the worse.
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customcutter
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #3 on:
January 20, 2022, 10:17:47 PM »
Every time I used to shoot my Hatsan BT65.
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Valrico, Fl
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #4 on:
January 20, 2022, 10:37:31 PM »
Well.... Back in the day, I would use a solid iron bar to weight train with so that I could shoot my 45-70 off hand. The bar weighed a good #30 and simple lifting it like a rifle to the shoulder, holding it until I shook really good then releasing the weight, repeating until I'd had a good session would help a lot with holding steady at the line.
The 45-70 sure felt light after holding that bar!
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Cableaddict
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #5 on:
January 21, 2022, 01:30:27 AM »
this is a great topic.
I haven't thought much about strength training, esp since I shoot a bullpup so the weight is fairly back already.
But I DO sometimes practice relaxing while holding the gun, and minimizing shaking. - Just by doing it, though, no actual exercises.
I wonder if more strength is actually one of the answers? Maybe a little, but if I hold a thin, long dowel and sight down it, I STILL can't keep it steady.
To be fair, I don't know what DOES help, specifically. Lowering heart rate?
------------------
How do top offhand target shooters train? Biatholon shooters, for instance?
«
Last Edit: January 21, 2022, 01:35:43 AM by Cableaddict
»
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Blowpipe Sam
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #6 on:
January 21, 2022, 02:30:14 AM »
I’ve been using hand weights since I had rotator cuff surgery a year ago. I train specifically to hold a rifle these days so lots of holding a five lb. weight at arms length and curls. I have to stay at it to keep any improvement I make. At my age I’m starting to experience muscle mass loss if I don’t stay active.
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Mike -
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #7 on:
January 21, 2022, 03:49:18 AM »
I used to when I shot firearms a lot. As you may know, the trigger pull is normally much harder than with air guns. Especially pistols for liability reasons. Going up against a bad guy with a 1lb or less trigger pull, will get you in trouble in the court system. So I would occasional do different things in daily life. Like putting gas in the car. Rather than flip the little lever up and let it hold the main lever on, I would use my index finger only to pump the gas. Various things like that. Matter of fact, I guess I do, do some exercises, because I still...do that !
I haven't seen any specific need yet to do any special exercises for off-hand shooting of my air guns. BUT, I am getting up there in age, so...I'm fully aware that things...change !
Off-hand, which by the way is the only way that I shoot. I find it much more enjoyable and challenging to shoot off-hand vs with any sort of rest. I know that todays pellet/air guns are more accurate than I am, so I see no need in continually reproving that fact using crutches. So, I try to continue to improve MY shooting skills without crutches, especially with my rifles. Occasionally I will put my wrist against a wall to shoot a pistol, but even that is only occasionally.
And, at my age (71), some days are better than others, so, sometimes I give up and wait till tomorrow, or sometimes, I'll push through, just cause I want ...to shoot.
Mike
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sfcnewy
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #8 on:
January 21, 2022, 10:52:20 AM »
All have good advice ...May I suggest in addition would be to do the front raise with dumbells...very slow reps and light weight... say three seconds up...four seconds down.
Also do not forget the core!! Do some leg lifts...six inches off the floor to vertical...again do them slowly. Also either sit-ups or crunches. I am doing crunches as the are a little easier on the spine.
Add in some "Good Morning" exercises too. Those are simply an old school exercise where you are standing, feet about shoulder width apart, hands interlocked behind your head, then slowly bend your upper body foreword to about 90 degrees and then raise up and bend backward just a bit.
Just five to ten repetitions is all you need to make a difference.
I retired yesterday....and from the military a little while back...but still do some resistance and support exercises every day or I just tighten up too much..
The big take away is... if it hurts..your doing it wrong...readjust your form for the unique needs of your body.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Ray
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follownoone
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #9 on:
January 21, 2022, 11:10:24 AM »
Like others I have exercised and weight trained my whole life. Mostly body weight stuff now. Chin ups, squats, pushups and lighter weights. Planks are in my opinion the best exercise for most sport disciplines. I do 3 minute planks three times a week. At one time I was doing 5 minute planks but after researching a little the extra minutes are really not necessary. So I cut back. Even after years of doing them they never get easier. It is all about the core.
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phoebeisis
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Posts: 987
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Real Name: charles
Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #10 on:
January 21, 2022, 11:55:23 AM »
My only formal core work is what the York barbell guy-forget his name-german name I think- called Froggies
I bent arm hang from a pullup bar and bring my knees up nearly to my chest-now I do 4 or five when I walk through the door-maybe 12-24 per day
If I get lazy my lower back will remind me-
amazing how doing them will "quickly" relieve any low back pain-quickly meaning maybe that day-or perhaps the next day
I just added dumbbell curls to my 5 exercise routine-added them because they were mentioned here
AND I can use the same weight I use for alternating dumbbell presses
Oh I agree shooting immediately after will expose a fast "tremor" but I just did it-shot OK-not great but OK
Mike I also ONLY shoot offhand(unless I think I have a sight problem) more fun-resting you have to shoot SOOOOO WELL if you are a little off-it is a BAD DAY
and I sure as heck am not going to weigh pellets-group them by weight and head size-the is WAAAAY TOO much like WORK
Thanks all
Charlie
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river ridge LOUISIANA new orleans suburb
follownoone
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #11 on:
January 21, 2022, 12:20:06 PM »
I shoot off hand also unless checking scope or gun once in awhile.
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Dockey 454
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #12 on:
January 21, 2022, 06:24:59 PM »
12 oz curls.
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #13 on:
January 21, 2022, 08:27:09 PM »
How many on GTA choose lighter rifles, with a CG further back for offhand shooting? Probably more than those that start strength training.
Seriously, use your unloaded RWS350 to strength train, as a separate exercise from shooting.
Better advice:
When shooting, determine the best foot placement, stance and grip to provide a natural point of aim, where all you are doing is confirming that the sights are on, as you squeeze the trigger. It even helps to place you target at a neutral height to facilitate this. The idea is to be as relaxed as possible and to let your skeleton carry your and the rifle's weight; rather than use strength/stamina.
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phoebeisis
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Real Name: charles
Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #14 on:
January 22, 2022, 10:01:41 AM »
Subscriber
Good advice
But assuming you have a decent stance-strength/stamina will still come into play-
ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER PEOPLE
I am 70 yo-with luck in 7 weeks -71 yo
As a general rule 70 yo folks have 40% yes just 40% of the strength they had at their physical peak-probably early mid 20's
So strength training on top of good form a good idea-none of us are aging backwards
Charlie
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triggerfest
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #15 on:
January 22, 2022, 11:22:56 AM »
No strenght needed for off hand shooting, just the right technique + a lot of practise.
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phoebeisis
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 987
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Real Name: charles
Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #16 on:
January 22, 2022, 03:15:14 PM »
No strength
8.5-10.5 lb rifle 48" long??
Perhaps if you use a "just for range shooting" hold bracing against your chest-sorta cantilevering supporting the rifle like some competitive shooters use
but I want my hold to be "something" like what I would use in self defense-not a pure Competition type hold
But even that sort of hold is awkward if you are short- 5'5" with short arms-a long rifle is nose heavy
The Diana 350 magnum- 48" long- light 8.3 lbs-but if scoped(I never will scope it unless my eyes completely fail) 10 lbs or more
The more strength you have in excess of the minimum -the better-especially on shot 20-30.
Wobbles worsen as you fatigue -my wobble does anyway.
Charlie
PS not meaning to pick a fight-but more strengh is a GOOD thing- sure technique is important-but heavy long rifles NEED strength-and more is better
«
Last Edit: January 22, 2022, 03:31:57 PM by phoebeisis
»
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DanD
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #17 on:
January 22, 2022, 03:27:34 PM »
There's a great book "Ways of the Rifle" about international competition shooting including 10m air rifle. It was written by Germans but also available in English.
It gets very in depth about body mechanics, balance, and various training methods. You might find it interesting if you can find a copy.
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phoebeisis
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 987
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Real Name: charles
Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #18 on:
January 22, 2022, 03:36:35 PM »
DanD
Thanks for the tip-
even if I can't find a copy-I can probably find excerpts-
ESPECIALLY on foot positioning
the other day a female-Brit 10 meter Olympian-was talking about weight distribution-she suggested that weight be slightly biased on front foot-others say even distribution
I would think a slight forward foot bias-but I really need to get a consistent positioning
BUT I want my hold to be PRACTICAL- in a self defense sense-reasonably quick to get too-not too awkward like some competition holds are
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river ridge LOUISIANA new orleans suburb
triggerfest
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Re: Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?
«
Reply #19 on:
January 22, 2022, 05:19:12 PM »
But you shoot to hit something right ?
Why do you think 10m competition shooters use that 'akward' position ?
It's nice to get better with the 'self defence' position, but will it be accurate... I don't think so. Hence you'll need to become more familiar with the competition position and practise, practise, practise. Even if you only get half of that position becoming more part of your shooting practise, it'll probably more accurate than training your biceps and do 100 burpees a day, since it is the technique that makes you an accurate shooter, not your strength.
Give it a try.
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Des anyone strength train to improve offhand shooting?