Specific muscles/weight lifting to aid in holding up/out a long arm

Status
Not open for further replies.

Sheepdog1968

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Messages
3,518
Location
CA
I took a 4 day training shotgun class recently. It was lots of fun and I don't mind the recoil of a 12 gauge pump. However, my "arms" felt tired after a day or so of holding the weapon to shoot.

I've started general weight lifting (again) as all muscles could use some exercise. Have any of you found out what muscles in particular or exercises in particular seem to help for holding a heavy long arm when shooting standing? Many thanks.
 
In "100 Rifles" (I think) Raquel Welch used a stick with a rope attached to it, to which was attached a rock. She held out the stick and rolled up and let down the rock for days and weeks. She became a muy buena pistolera. Sounds good to me. Strengthen hands, arms and shoulders. Many gyms have something similar. Easy to make one up.
 
Try curling .12oz to a quart a couple times a day, that helps! ---j/k "Not Recomended".
Another suggestion would be swimming pool exercises or something like a rowing machine if you decide to join a gym. Swimming exercises work many muscles that weight training does not, and a rowing machine will help with those muscles that you are using to manipulate a pump action shotgun, muscles that you are not use to using and probably do not use throughout a normal day. Also the more you go and shoot it, the more you will become use to it, your muscles will adapt once trained.
 
You should work you delts and traps. Overhead military press, Upright barbell rows, lateral dumbell or pulley raises, front lateral raises, and push-ups, to name a few exercises. A better approach would be to incorporate a great shoulder workout into an existing full body routine. I don't know what fitness level you are at right now so it's difficult to recommend a routine.
 
keep in the car and use at red lights a hand squeezer. alternate hands till you can do 50 each before your hand quits on you

also get something about the shape of a gun butt (a 12 oz plastic coke bottle with the curves) and start with 16 oz held at arms length with your trigger finger extended till your arm droops or starts to shake. alternate hands; the goal is 60 seconds.
than increase the weight 4 oz at a time till you get to 3 pounds.
 
Push-ups, crunches, sun gods, mountain climbers, running or biking, etc. No need for weights, gyms, or such. Just some good olé exercising is all that is needed.
 
just wave your shotgun around like you were shooting at clays that way you know your hittin the right muscle groups, be smart about doing this
 
I used two five pound weights while running one time to train (simulated running with a rifle). I also used them to strengthen my arms just holding them out in front of me for long periods, at shoulder level. That one ought to do wonders for one's pistol or rifle shooting, without firing a shot.
 
For this you need isometric training. Practice holding the shotgun shouldered for several minitues at a time, two or three times a week. You can work up by extending the time periods or by adding a little bit of weight to the barrel by hanging something on it with a string. You can do this drill staticly or by very slowly working through the regular motion of your swing. (15 seconds right to left) A good way to start is by holding the gun shouldered through each entire commercial breaks next time you are watching TV. ( it is not like you have anything better to do right?) Later you can add slow swings from one corner of the room to the other.
 
Somewhat off topic, but I have found the Prohands exercisers very helpful for my pistol shooting. Full 357's out of a steel J frame and 44 magnum medium powered loads are coming much easier to me now.
 
I had to build up a shoulder after surgery and found my off hand still requires exercise to not feel 'weird' when I shoulder a rifle or shotgun. Lots of reps and lighter weights beat 'blasting' to build mass.

Most of my P/T was resistance bands rather than free weights, they work the micro muscle groups you aren't used to putting strain on.

Kettle weights, dumbells are pretty much the same to me.

Shoot your shotgun more.
 
There is a lot of erroneous information in this thread.
Mabye, and Mabye not. Everyone is different in one way or another, some with injuries like I have may or may not work for someone else they may not have any injuries therefore they may have many options open to them. This person asking for advise will obviously have to take the info. provided and decide which would be best for them.:)
 
Having been in that business, you're on the right track, it will greatlly improve everything from your grip to your ability to hold the weapon still, for longer periods of time, along with the benifit of a better shot because of the ability to aim without shaking your hand and body.
Basic strength building exercises, Bench press, plain flat press, is the fastest way to build upper body strength and add mass to your upper body. Along with lat pulldowns and lat extensions using cables or dumbells. Then a squat, also the core exercise to add strength to your core and legs, this will also help you stand for long periods of time without getting shakey. A bicep tricep superset is the final one I would give you to promote the arm and forarm. This all takes 5 minutes of circuit training with machines ,15 with free weights, 2 to 3 times per week or split it up to upper one day and legs the next. Cardio will top it off with half an hour 3 times a week, to build endurance and that burst of energy that is sometimes needed when you have to push through a door or shoot another round when you don't feel up to it. i trained too many professional athletes to brag about it here, but a simple quick 10-15 minute workout will work wonders for you, if you need specific help, email me and I will give you more specific stuff to do. We did this before here and it monopolised a lot of space, so I would prefer a private email or pm as to not interfere with the normal purpose of the forum, thanks., and don't forget to take in 60 grams of protein per day, it will put the muscle on fast.
 
red cent,

Thanks muchly. You are indeed correct! I think Robert Culp was her teacher. Haven't seen the film in forever.
 
I find that if I don't hit the gym regularly that heavy recoil becomes harder to handle.
 
I agree 100% Owen, this mini EMP 1911, got into my hands preciselly for that reason. The prior owner fired 30-40 rounds through it and realized being lefty, that he could not rack the slide with his weak hand. Thus my gain, but it is a very hard gun to break down for cleaning if you don't use that little plastic spacer. They really should have come up with a better way. I just noticed after the first range trip, the rear sight loosened up from recoil. Lock tight again. They take and hand out a beating. Hand strenght needs constant exercise, or one day you will find yourself stuck with a slide someware between where it's supposed to be and where it is.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top