I read an article a while ago about a former Force Recon Marine that now teaches at some shooting academy. He teaches to shoot rifles after breathing in and then exhaling all air from your lungs. Apparently this is how Force Recon teaches rifle shooting. Prior to that, I thought you were supposed to inhale and then exhale 1/2 your breath. I have heard this from people with military background. If FR is teaching to shooting empty lunged, it must be the best method. Is anyone familiar with this or do you only shoot empty lunged in certain scenarios? Just curious. Thanks.
Force Recon - Empty Lungs
- Thread starter kennyboy
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runninmike
Member
The Recon guy is correct, it's called your "natural respitory pause".
It's the moment just after you exhale as you can feel less of your own pulse during this period.
Best-MC
It's the moment just after you exhale as you can feel less of your own pulse during this period.
Best-MC
BADUNAME13
Member
Marines teach that, not just Recon.
Steve in PA
Member
Been around for a long time, nothing new.
marksman13
Member
Air rifle coach taught respiratory pause, so did the Army. Never heard the half exhale rule.
We did that in NRA Junior Rifle team, back in the deep dark 80's. The problem with exhaling half is that it's subjective, and no matter how well you think you're doing it, you'll never really do it the same way twice. So you inhale, exhale, relax, compensate for your wobble, and squeeze while your sights are centered. It is a better method. Exhaling 1/2 your breath is not consistently repeatable.
Seancass
Member
i always shoot after inhaling all the way. now that i think about it, exhaling makes a lot more sence, as long as i'm already 99% on target.
Frog48
Member
I learned that from my uncle, it doesnt necessarily take Force Recon to teach you that. 
Jenrick
Member
The "half" out is sort of a misnomer. I do actually know what your refering to. What I was trained is that you forcefully exhale half, and then let the rest just flow out. Ending up with empty (well as empty as they should be) lungs. Have no idea why it was taught that way for a while, but it does the same thing.
-Jenrick
-Jenrick
sacp81170a
Member
The physiological effect of letting your breath all the way out is to relax the diaphragm, which lets you release tension on other muscles, thus reducing muscular tremors and movement from the rest of your body. Pretty natural.
My Dad taught me just to take a breath and exhale and settle down and shoot on the slow exhale. My shots often end up with empty lungs anyway. I do notice I am steadier and more consistent with near empty or empty lungs. Concentrating on your breathing also helps calm you down and clear your mind.
Aaryq
Member
The Marines taught me the "all out" rule. I'm far from force recon, I'm a silly air winger. When it comes to rapid fire, me personally, I fire 1 or 2 rounds on no breath and start again and do pretty well.
mrmeval
Member
I saw a TV program where an olympic shooter was hooked to a heart monitor. I do not remember if this was to teach them or to see how their heart acted when shooting. I do recall their heart would 'skip' on the shot and allow them that tiny margin more consistency.
Frog48
Member
I heard of that too. Sounds freakin weird.
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