[Tribal]

Does anyone here incorporate their firearms or ammo into their exercise routine?

One of the exercises I like doing is arm circles: sideways, up, and then forwards in a repeating pattern with each set being for a steadily decreasing amount of time until I get down to zero. Going for increasing amounts of time only helps so much, so I figured I'd add some weight. I don't have any small weights, but I noticed my two BHPs lying on my desk and decided to use those. Let me tell you, a little weight added to the end of each arm makes a difference when doing arm circles!

I also noticed a safety training element to it: after checking to make sure they were unloaded, I cocked and unlocked each of them and kept my trigger fingers extended while exercising. Sad to say, there were times when I found my fingers flexing and entering the trigger guard area. I guess I need more work on that. It seems to me that if my fingers can remain disciplined even at the end of an exhausting workout when other parts of my arms are shaking, I'll have gained something valuable.

What do you think? Do you do something similar?

[Pumpkinheaver]

I used to Mtn bike all over the adirindacks with one pistol or another. Only problem I ever encountered was sweating all over a gun if it was blued steel.

[pbearperry]

Let me know if you ever start bench pressing Howitzers?

[rklessdriver]

Yep,
In boot camp I got too run all over Parris Island carrying an M16A2. We also got to hike 9-10miles carrying it (and lot of other heavy stuff). Sometimes when my drill instructor was espc pissed off at me :cuss:, I got to hold it strait out with one arm/hand (that was great for building arm strength).

During my time active duty we hiked at least 10 miles every month. I got to carry (in addition to a lot of other heavy stuff) first an M60E3 then a few years later an even heavier M240G. At least I wasn't a in Mortars...

Not really exercise for fun... but running for your life or to engage the enemy with your weapon was always good work out. :evil:

These days I don't exercise with my weapons. Somehow it lost it's novelty for me long ago.
Will

[Killermonkey21]

What rklessdriver said...except without the Jarheadedness ;) I had to. Its required. XD

But yeah. The Iron Cross: lay on back, feet 6 inches above ground, head off ground, weapon (SAW for most of my cases) being benchpressed repeatedly. I tell yah, you appreciate the light weight of a M4 once you've had a SAW for a few months.

But no, not regularly. The gyms over here are pretty well set up.

Carry on.

[41magsnub]

It seems a little over the top to me, but I'm no longer in the military and not on a swat team or anything.

[Grizfire]

No, but I do "walking-one-handed-push-and-pulls" (aka vacuuming) at the end of my routine.

[OOOXOOO]

I hike and if I can I carry my rifle with extra ammo. I bring it with me even if I don't plan on shooting. So I guess I do it for a work out.

[romma]

Does running with a Keltec P32 on my hip count? ;)

[siglite]

What rklessdriver said. Though, when I run, I am armed. If I've run / worked out hard enough, at the end of it, I don't have much left. If someone decided to get into a physical confrontation with me, I wouldn't have much gas in the tank for hand-to-hand. So I always carry something.

[Joe Gunns]

Yeah, I have used pistols and heavy rifles during routine exercise. Dont have to buy weights, dont have to go out to the gym, helps increase 'second-nature-ness' of handling specific weapons. Why not?

[3KillerBs]

Since I have a 2yo underfoot 90% of the day, I don't use my actual gun in exercises.

However, I exercise my gun muscles by using a 3lb, iron mallet as if it were a gun. I present it from ready 20 times or so several times each day. Working that way with the mallet makes the gun feel light when I get to the range.

As a side effect, the 2yo is developing a rather nice, modified weaver stance with a roughly gun-shaped wooden block. We both aim at a target taped to the wall. :lol:

I also do dry-fire exercises with a junky, cheap airsoft (Colt MK 4 replica), that has a roughly 5-6lb trigger pull. If I can hold steady on target with that the light trigger on my Mark III is a breeze.

Since I don't have the option of private, uninterrupted time to use the real gun safely I had to get creative. It would work better to use the real thing, but doing something is better than doing nothing. :D

[Vaarok]

I use my 8mm ammo crate as a lifting weight.

[Cosmoline]

I always hike with a long gun, and frequently fish with one. It comes with the territory. One method I've found very effective is to tote a heavy 12+ lb. rifle for a while in the runup to hunting. After that a standard rifle will seem air-weight. The act of toting a firearm in hand for miles exercises small balancing and endurance muscles. It seems to be much more effective than simply weight lifting.

[dm1333]

Cosmoline,

You should try fishing with a fishing pole. They have a much nicer feel and you can cast further.

[siglite]

You should try fishing with a fishing pole. They have a much nicer feel and you can cast further.

Not a chance they can cast farther. But the bait's probably better. And it's a lot easier to reel in.

[45Guy]

Once in a while I use my 870HD. It's got some weight to it, but usually just use regular weights.

[lawson4]

I exercise my right to keep and bear arms, all of the time.

lawson4

[M47 Dragon]

I didn't think so...

But I was at a family gathering recently and made several men wince while greeting them with a firm handshake. I wasn't trying to squeeze their hands hard at all - but they all mentioned it. And these are not wimpy dudes. I guess shooting comps just about every weekend for a year makes the strong hand a little stronger.

[dm1333]

Not a chance they can cast farther. But the bait's probably better. And it's a lot easier to reel in.

Cosmoline does carry a MN M44 or M38 if I remember correctly. The advantage to fishing with one of those is that the muzzle blast cooks the salmon while you are shooting at it. Which begs the question "What caliber for salmon?"

All joking aside if nobody is at the range but me I will run out to check my targets at 100 or 200 yards and then run back, while carrying my rifle. Eight or twelve groups at 200 will give you 2 or 3 miles of intervals.

[Cosmoline]

You should try fishing with a fishing pole.

You should see the size of the salmon up here! Little shakin' Little tenderizin', down ya go. Bad fish.

[tbtrout]

Not since my last hump up Mount Motherf*^$_r in Camp Pendelton. And not with just my M16, but also a giant Q tip called a Dragon. My whole body aches thinking about it.

[B yond]

Anyone Exercise with Firearms?

Yeah, I bench press this...

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/data/4695/Civilian-Gunner-GatlingGun.jpg

[DougW]

I think I am one of the few that does. When I can get back on the treadmill (knee surgery), I walk with a #4mk1, M1 Garand, or one of the AR's at port arms for 20 to 30 minutes (I do switch sides as I walk). Amazing how hard it makes a fast walk (3.2, 4% grade). I definately work up a sweat.

[gym]

No, bad idea

[GBExpat]

During one of the years that I was living at VaBeach ('74-'80) I shared a house with 2 fellows from work. They thought it funny that I used a K98k in my daily exercise routine ... but that and my runs on the beach from 79th Street to Rudy Inlet & back kept me in much better shape than either of them. They referred to me as The PT Instructor. <chuckle>

For years now I have never gone on one of my frequent walks around the farm without carrying a rifle ... which I rarely shoot during those walks ... lugging the additional weight keeps me in a bit better shape ... and I never know when I will come across something that needs to be shot. ;)

[Treo]

QUOTE: "Let me know if you ever start bench pressing Howitzers?"

I threw my back out once picking up the tail on a one oh duece , for an out of traverse mission. Does that count?

[GigaBuist]

It seems to me that if my fingers can remain disciplined even at the end of an exhausting workout when other parts of my arms are shaking, I'll have gained something valuable.

What do you think? Do you do something similar?

Interesting. My first thought was to suggest using soup cans for the weights but you might have something here.

I'd say get some snap-caps and practice basic loading and malfunction clearing drills while your hands and arms are all tired out. You might find that you need to do things differently (ie: releasing the slide) when you aren't at 100%.

[leadcounsel]

:)

It's 'expected' that we exercise with out weapons... sometimes we even get to do it in 110, 120, 130+ degree heat!

And even in CONUS I ruck march long distances (3, 6, 8, and 12 miles) frequently with a ruck sack and M4.

Here's an idea for those that want to exercise with a longgun but cannot for residential reasons. Get a couple of 2x4s and cut them to rifle length and nail them together and go for a job with it. Or use a 4x4...

[sixgunner455]

Yes, sometimes. Excellent idea.

[brigadier]

I use to practice long handled knife fighting with an Enfield No.4 rifle.