What excercises to help with handling guns?

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natedog

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At the time of this writing, I'm 15, male, 155lbs, 6'1", and can only bench about 115lbs. I lift weights about three times a week. Some of my favorite rifles, like the M-1, weigh in 9-10lb range, and can get quite heavy after long shooting sessions, especially offhand. What are some weight lifting excersises I can do to target those muscles? Thanks.
 
Run up and down stadiums carrying the Garand!

Jog/run with 2 pound weights. Stand still, arms extended (to sides and front) with 2-5 pound weights, move arms in small circles.

Shoot more from standing, sitting, and kneeling positions.

It's as much about breathing control as muscle strength.
 
You wanna work your delts, so lateral side raises and front raises. Also do some good tricep work, pull downs, skullcrushers, overhead/military press. Make sure you don't neglect your forearms and wrists. Do forearm curls and grip squeezes. After all this, you want to keep your protagonist and antagonist equally strengthened or you risk injury, so hit some curls for the girls ;)
 
I'd practice dry firing that M1 every day from all the field positions, but especially the offhand position. Other exercises will most certainly help, but practicing with your rifle will probably help you the most. Stretching is also something that will help you, especially with the sitting position as you will be able to get down lower and be more stable with less strain. Flexibility is as important as strength. I'd also suggest that you find something aerobic like bike riding, swimming or running, etc. Just being in generally good shape goes a long way in helping you to shoot better. You tend to be more relaxed and less stressed than those out of shape with bad habits. :)
 
You could also try holding your M1 vertically or horizontally in your hands at arms length away from your body. Just hold it there perfectly still if you can for a minute or two, and it will be very heavy be the end of that minute too. Since it already wieghs around 10 pounds and is in the shape of what you're trying to steady, it would a little more effective I think than wieghts. Try holding the rifle like that each night before you go to bed, or any time, and hold it a little longer each successive time.
 
Basic training rifle PT always sucked. My personally most hated was M16 at arms lengther left hand thumb and index finger on the front sight post, right hand thumb and index finger pulling back the charging handle....stay that way for 30 minutes.
 
Take a dumbell in each hand. Put your little brothers down, and pick up those dogbone-shaped metal things and hold them at your side. Raise them to shoulder height. Lower them to a 45 degree angle. Repeat. You can vary this exercise by changing whether you raise them to the side or the front.
 
If you're getting excessively tired holding your rifle you may need to work on your positions. Your goal is to have bone supporting the rifle and not muscle (for the very reason you've discovered). If at all possible, have someone who knows what he's doing coach you. There are some very subtle things you can do that make a huge difference, especially offhand.

If you can't find a coach, do some web or library research. Pay particular attention to target shooting references, since some general rifle-shooting books would have you shooting offhand in a way that would cause your supporting arm to fall off after about five minutes.

Many small shooters, even girls, shoot an M1 to very good effect, so don't get too wrapped up on this strength thing.

Tim
 
Pushups, reverse pushups, get one of those hand squeezer thingys ;) , and most important exercise your wrists.

If you are anything like I was with the high metabolism forget gaining weight.

Work out lots, build muscle tone and endurance.

Walk lots and either run or bicycle (or both).
 
jobu07 and Mr. Mysterious have the answer. Hold the weapon of your choice out horizontally at arms length for as long as you can. Repeat as necessary.
If you really think you're something, do it with an M60, like an AIT instructor made me do as punishment for breaking the Armorer School record for dissassembly/reassembly of the M60. I had to wait till the last student finished, which was about 20 minutes. ( I did it in just under 3.) BTW, the M60 weighs 23 lbs. :what:
Pushups are good, too. ;) Turned my pinarms in to something in Basic. :eek:
 
Muscle building?? Well since I only have table muscle I can only suggest this..

Simple excercise that my torturer suggested for my messed up wing...

Get 2 or 3 newspapers and sit at the tv...tear out one side of the page and crumble it up with your weak hand, while watching horror movies...Do this until your out of newspapers or crying... :(


I dont think i have run out yet :banghead:
 
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