Breathing technique for shooting

[Airwoods]

Any technique or method used when shooting. My dad always told me to inhale then halfway through the exhale hold breath then pull the trigger.

[Mosin Marine]

Yes this is correct, breathing control is very important when it comes to accuracy. It can throw your point of aim off if you don't do it the same every time. Deep breath in, shoot after exhale but don't take forever haha

[ssbn617]

I took a yoga class for relaxation just for this . I got nothing out of the class except  how to control my breathing. Long story short, it starts way before the shot. Kind of like how you get after 20 practice rounds and then the one that counts.
Hope this makes sense.
Mitch

[BenjiHunter]

Take three deep breaths before a shot. And do not exhale completely on the third. Just halfway.
Don't hold your breath for more than 7-8 seconds. If you have to, do it all over again.

[Marc In Iowa]

An interesting thing for me, is too watch my point of aim through the scope and watch it move around in time with my heart beat.

Part of this is controlled by the way I hold because I notice some holds don't exhibit this effect. I meditated daily for years and learned it's control of my heart beat. When I really want to settle down, I go to that centered place. My heart slows noticeably. With a break barrel or even a smooth bolt action, working the mechanism requires me to recenter for each shot.

I think I need to refine my hold AND learn to stay centered for the best shooting. Plus, I believe a clearer scope would help too. :-)

[BenjiHunter]

Marc, when you don't have to think about your hold, that's when you have mastered it.

[lizzie]

Yeah, I take a deep breath in. slowly exhale, stay still, then shoot.

[lizzie]

An interesting thing for me, is too watch my point of aim through the scope and watch it move around in time with my heart beat.

Part of this is controlled by the way I hold because I notice some holds don't exhibit this effect. I meditated daily for years and learned it's control of my heart beat. When I really want to settle down, I go to that centered place. My heart slows noticeably. With a break barrel or even a smooth bolt action, working the mechanism requires me to recenter for each shot.

I think I need to refine my hold AND learn to stay centered for the best shooting. Plus, I believe a clearer scope would help too. :-)

A good clear scope picture helps tremendously.
There's nothing quite so distracting (to me) as having to move my eyes and my head just slightly, trying to find the best scope sight.

[anti-squirrel]

I used the same technique I used when I use to practice Qi-Gong.  An emphasis on belly-breathing and using my diaphragm to move air.  Inhale, exhale and relax.  In hale again, exhale partially then hold.  Not holding breath by tightening muscles, but just a cessation of movement in my core, and taking a shot.

Just about everything comes from a strong core muscle group.  It doesn't matter whether you are a climber, surfer, snowboarder, mountainbiker, or competitive race-car-driver.  And in shooting sports, a strong core gives you more control over your body, which means it is easier to replicate a perfect shot cycle.

[Airwoods]

Well it looks like my dad does know a thing or two when he tought me this technique. Also told me
never to yank trigger and keep it smooth and steady and pull straight back.                       

[Bicycleman]

Inhale fully, the exhale half of the air and hold your breath.  That is what I was doing when squirrel hunting and I kept passing out.
Just joking, of course.  Hee hee
With squirrel hunting when the squirrel doesn’t want to hold still very long, I will concentrate on taking shallow breaths while waiting for the squirrel to stop.  When it stops, I hold the breath [wherever in the breathing cycle I happen to be] and squeeze the trigger.  Works for me.

[Steelontarget]

I learned the BRASS method of shooting in the military.  I don't necessarily agree with everything written here but it makes you think.

http://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/The-BRASS-Method-Learning-Precision-Shooting-105166007

Contrary to the article, however, I hold my breath most of the time.  If I'm hunting, I don't hold it that much because the game animal may not sit still long enough for me to hold my breath and take the shot.  If I hold it for too long, then my pulse rate goes up and I can see it in the cross hairs of the scope.

Most of the time shooting is a mental exercise.  I think happy thoughts, go to my happy place and become the bullet before squeezing the trigger.

[BenjiHunter]

This interruption in the normal respiratory rhythm causes the body to send out signals to resume breathing, producing involuntary contractions of the diaphragm and slight muscle flinching.

This is why you should take 3 or 4 deep breaths before shooting.
If you do that you get rid of a lot of CO2, which is what makes the body want to take a breath.

We tried this in the military. Take deep breaths and then hold your breath.
You can hold it until you faint. It's a creepy feeling not to have to breath.
But it's not good for the brain.

[Booger]

Yeah, I take a deep breath in. slowly exhale, stay still, then shoot.

With my COPD I am lucky to breath. My albuterol along with coffee gives me the shakes and speeds up my heart beat. I may be in a no win situation but I still love slinging lead down range.

[prosportfan]

Yes this is correct, breathing control is very important when it comes to accuracy. It can throw your point of aim off if you don't do it the same every time. Deep breath in, shoot after exhale but don't take forever haha

X2 on that brother...I take the shot at the bottom of my breath. There is like a 3 second pause before you inhale and that's where I take the shot