How many of you lift weights to improve handgun control?

Huskerguy · July 15, 2011, 11:04 AM

Curious. I am 57 years old and lift when I get time, wish it was more often. I do lift with light weights hold my arms out straight in front similar to my shooting position.

Between my age, lack of experience and teaching I think it helps some but hard to tell how much. Anyone else have suggested lifting techniques or exercises?

BarryLee · July 15, 2011, 11:21 AM

As someone who has lifted most of my life there is no doubt it can be an asset. I would also suggest focusing on your lower back and abdominal muscles this can prevent injuries and improve overall stamina. While these activities in theory could assist your shooting I think the greatest benefit is that they may allow you to practice more without experiencing fatigue. I went shooting with an out of shape buddy and he gave out very quickly.

Stressfire · July 15, 2011, 11:33 AM

Any downtime - watching television, reading, doing something on pc - I will usually be working with a grip strengthener or a couple 5 pounders.

I have found that it really does help with both recoil management and trigger control, especially on the DA pull of a DA/SA auto.

C0untZer0 · July 15, 2011, 11:35 AM

Every day

All exercises designed to improve the muscles I use when shooting:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455168

And...

Just in case the mods decide this is in the wrong forum and they lock it I can say:

IN BEFORE THE LOCK !

aarondhgraham · July 15, 2011, 11:38 AM

Last weekend I took a young man out shooting,,,
I took handguns ranging from .22 through .44 Magnum.

Myself I fired 18 rounds through my S&W Model 629,,,
Later that day my right forearm was very sore.

One of my buddies calls it "Magnum Arm".

I used to work carpentry and general home construction,,,
7 years as a student and 5 years as a desk jockey,,,
I've gotten very puny in my old age.

Aarond

Leejack · July 15, 2011, 11:45 AM

I do 500 trigger finger pushups a day in preperation for an outing with my sigma!

LOL! Just kidding. The sigma rocks!

JimPage · July 15, 2011, 11:52 AM

I lift, but not a great amount. I don't intend to go to the olympics. I regularly lift 40 pounds, a moderate amount, just to slow the loss of muscle mass with age. Recently I had a hiatus from the gym, and when I got back I found that I needed to start with 30 pounds. Doesn't take long to lose muscle tone, about a month for me that time. Got back to 40

So yes, I do lift, not to be a muscleman but to maintain what I have.. I don't seem to gain what I lack very much. I'm 75

The lifting does give muscle tone for steadier shooting

I recently read somewhere that after age 40 or so the average male loses 7% muscle mass a year.

BigJimP · July 15, 2011, 12:31 PM

No, but I walk by the workout room in my house ...and threaten that weight machine most every day ...

40caljustice · July 15, 2011, 12:44 PM

I lift but I never even associated it with shooting. I mainly do carido and lift to strengthen my lower back and chest. And to keep my beer belly to a minimum

. Although I can see how lifting has helped in the last 4-5 years.

Occam's Razor · July 15, 2011, 12:59 PM

Tons of pushups, pullups, chinups squats and lunges. 200+ pushups in a session isn't bad for a 54 yoa. But I also teach and am not a fan of out of shape instructors trying to teach movement, when they can't. I do find that stronger pecs and lats help with recoil management and it is something i talk to students about - no preaching.

MLeake · July 15, 2011, 01:03 PM

I lift, but not for handgun control purposes.

Primarily, I lift because, being in my 40's, resistance training is necessary to prevent muscle loss and bone density issues.

Secondarily, more muscle mass (to a reasonable extent) yields higher metabolism, and helps burn off fat. My father is of Swedish and Welsh descent; the Swedish side tends to be tall and heavy. My mother is of Sicilian descent; her family is a mix of wiry people and keg-shaped people. My natural tendency is toward a barrel shape - especially since I like good food. If I don't lift, there's no way I can do enough cardio to avoid porking up.

Of course, there are other factors. Vanity, of course. And it does help with shooting, as well as martial arts. But those are all tertiary, after health concerns.

zincwarrior · July 15, 2011, 01:05 PM

I do weights related to my forearms, but thats because my hand has a tnednecy to shake when I shoot the Kimber.

SPUSCG · July 15, 2011, 01:06 PM

I lift weights cause I like it, never really associated it with handgun control, but having muscle is always good.

Amin Parker · July 15, 2011, 01:23 PM

I definately do. I hold a dumb bell sideways in front of me as in a isoceles position. This keeps the necessary muscles in shape for a long day of shooting.

C0untZer0 · July 15, 2011, 01:55 PM

Hammer curl:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...ammerCurl.html

Ulnar dumbell:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...arFlexion.html

Wrist curl:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html

Another one I do is reverse wrist curl:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html

I posted this elsewhere but it's a good article so I'll post it again:

http://www.shootnj.com/shootingachesandpains.html

.

Buzzcook · July 15, 2011, 03:26 PM

Since my semi-retirement I work at an auction house clearing out estates and moving stuff from point A to point B.
Not as strong as I was as a kid but it does seem to have increased my anaerobic strength.

Yankee Doodle · July 15, 2011, 04:52 PM

I started out by doing 25 curls with a 5 pound potato bag. After a couple of months, I went to a ten pounder.
After two years, I was using a 100 pounder.
Next week, I will start putting some potatos into the bags.

shortwave · July 15, 2011, 04:54 PM

I don't lift weights anymore but stay very active. I heat with wood so that alone helps keeps me in shape along with stretching excersises and swimming.

I also do more 12ounce curls then I used to do.

For many yrs. I've excersised my hands,wrists and forearms by squeezing tennis/racket balls. Had to quit for a few years due to wrist surgery but have been back at it for the last two years.

egor20 · July 15, 2011, 07:17 PM

Does lifting and tossing a few hundred 60lbs hay bales once or twice a week and shoeing stubborn horses count as weight lighting?

No I don't lift weights but I do enough around the farm that I don't need to. I do try to swim at least 150 laps a week though.

Huskerguy · July 15, 2011, 11:20 PM

As I was doing my morning lift I wondered about this question and also wondered where or if it would fit anywhere on this forum. Here is what the category description states: "A wide open area for Handgun posts that don't fit well in the Revolver or Semiauto Forums. Ammunition selection to shooting technique and more."

**JohnKSa** · July 15, 2011, 11:23 PM

I try to keep my upper body in decent shape. It definitely helps during long shooting sessions and makes recoil control easier.

irish52084 · July 16, 2011, 12:44 AM

Occam's Razor makes a good point. Any way you can increase the mass of the muscles throughout the upper body, you gain more recoil control. The extra strength helps, but the actual gain in size helps to defeat recoil.

Much like a large strong neck aids in preventing KO's in combat sports. I've noticed that I generally can shoot longer and more accurately for longer than most of my friends. I'm also very broad in the shoulders and chest and I think this is an advantage when shooting. There comes a point of diminishing returns though, where your muscles require more oxygen than you can supply and they tire more quickly. Big muscles equal big oxygen consumption.

X_shooter · July 16, 2011, 11:45 AM

I lift weights to not feel so old and creaky. The better shooting is a pleasant byproduct of lifting for me. However, I am big proponent of specific training for enhancing your physical abilities to compete whatever the sport. It works.

C0untZer0 · July 16, 2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Next week, I will start putting some potatos into the bags.

Ahhhhhhhhh..... [insert laughing emoticon here]

smince · July 16, 2011, 01:25 PM

At 49, I try to stay in pretty decent shape. I lift and do various other exercises.

Not especially for 'shooting techniques', but just for over all health.

It would suck to win a gunfight and then fall over from a stress-induced heart attack...

July 15, 2011, 11:04 AM	#1
Huskerguy Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 348	How many of you lift weights to improve handgun control? Curious. I am 57 years old and lift when I get time, wish it was more often. I do lift with light weights hold my arms out straight in front similar to my shooting position. Between my age, lack of experience and teaching I think it helps some but hard to tell how much. Anyone else have suggested lifting techniques or exercises?

July 15, 2011, 11:21 AM	#2
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	As someone who has lifted most of my life there is no doubt it can be an asset. I would also suggest focusing on your lower back and abdominal muscles this can prevent injuries and improve overall stamina. While these activities in theory could assist your shooting I think the greatest benefit is that they may allow you to practice more without experiencing fatigue. I went shooting with an out of shape buddy and he gave out very quickly. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

July 15, 2011, 11:38 AM	#5
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	I don't but maybe I should,,, Last weekend I took a young man out shooting,,, I took handguns ranging from .22 through .44 Magnum. Myself I fired 18 rounds through my S&W Model 629,,, Later that day my right forearm was very sore. One of my buddies calls it "Magnum Arm". I used to work carpentry and general home construction,,, 7 years as a student and 5 years as a desk jockey,,, I've gotten very puny in my old age. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 15, 2011, 12:59 PM	#10
Occam's Razor Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 15	Tons of pushups, pullups, chinups squats and lunges. 200+ pushups in a session isn't bad for a 54 yoa. But I also teach and am not a fan of out of shape instructors trying to teach movement, when they can't. I do find that stronger pecs and lats help with recoil management and it is something i talk to students about - no preaching. __________________ "We do not rise too the level of our expectations, rather we fall to the level of our training" Archilochus, Greek Soldier

July 15, 2011, 01:06 PM	#13
SPUSCG Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2008 Posts: 3,004	I lift weights cause I like it, never really associated it with handgun control, but having muscle is always good. __________________ Check us out: www.imfdb.org. Fun site for people who love gun movies.

July 15, 2011, 11:33 AM	#3
Stressfire Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,497	Any downtime - watching television, reading, doing something on pc - I will usually be working with a grip strengthener or a couple 5 pounders. I have found that it really does help with both recoil management and trigger control, especially on the DA pull of a DA/SA auto.

July 15, 2011, 11:35 AM	#4
C0untZer0 Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,555	Every day All exercises designed to improve the muscles I use when shooting: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455168 And... Just in case the mods decide this is in the wrong forum and they lock it I can say: IN BEFORE THE LOCK !

July 15, 2011, 11:45 AM	#6
Leejack Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: The Alamo! Posts: 2,056	I do 500 trigger finger pushups a day in preperation for an outing with my sigma! LOL! Just kidding. The sigma rocks!

July 15, 2011, 11:52 AM	#7
JimPage Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2010 Location: Rome, NY Posts: 941	I lift, but not a great amount. I don't intend to go to the olympics. I regularly lift 40 pounds, a moderate amount, just to slow the loss of muscle mass with age. Recently I had a hiatus from the gym, and when I got back I found that I needed to start with 30 pounds. Doesn't take long to lose muscle tone, about a month for me that time. Got back to 40 So yes, I do lift, not to be a muscleman but to maintain what I have.. I don't seem to gain what I lack very much. I'm 75 The lifting does give muscle tone for steadier shooting I recently read somewhere that after age 40 or so the average male loses 7% muscle mass a year.

July 15, 2011, 12:31 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No, but I walk by the workout room in my house ...and threaten that weight machine most every day ...

July 15, 2011, 12:44 PM	#9
40caljustice Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2011 Location: Chesterfield Va Posts: 199	I lift but I never even associated it with shooting. I mainly do carido and lift to strengthen my lower back and chest. And to keep my beer belly to a minimum . Although I can see how lifting has helped in the last 4-5 years.

July 15, 2011, 01:03 PM	#11
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	I lift, but not for handgun control purposes. Primarily, I lift because, being in my 40's, resistance training is necessary to prevent muscle loss and bone density issues. Secondarily, more muscle mass (to a reasonable extent) yields higher metabolism, and helps burn off fat. My father is of Swedish and Welsh descent; the Swedish side tends to be tall and heavy. My mother is of Sicilian descent; her family is a mix of wiry people and keg-shaped people. My natural tendency is toward a barrel shape - especially since I like good food. If I don't lift, there's no way I can do enough cardio to avoid porking up. Of course, there are other factors. Vanity, of course. And it does help with shooting, as well as martial arts. But those are all tertiary, after health concerns.

July 15, 2011, 01:05 PM	#12
zincwarrior Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Texas, land of Tex-Mex Posts: 2,259	I do weights related to my forearms, but thats because my hand has a tnednecy to shake when I shoot the Kimber.

July 15, 2011, 01:23 PM	#14
Amin Parker Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2010 Posts: 1,118	I definately do. I hold a dumb bell sideways in front of me as in a isoceles position. This keeps the necessary muscles in shape for a long day of shooting. __________________ Every shooter should know what it feels like to hit a Bowling Pin in the sweet spot and see that sucker fly. Consider a CZ pistol before you decide.

July 15, 2011, 01:55 PM	#15
C0untZer0 Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,555	Hammer curl: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...ammerCurl.html Ulnar dumbell: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...arFlexion.html Wrist curl: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html Another one I do is reverse wrist curl: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html I posted this elsewhere but it's a good article so I'll post it again: http://www.shootnj.com/shootingachesandpains.html . Last edited by C0untZer0; July 15, 2011 at 02:02 PM.

July 15, 2011, 03:26 PM	#16
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Since my semi-retirement I work at an auction house clearing out estates and moving stuff from point A to point B. Not as strong as I was as a kid but it does seem to have increased my anaerobic strength.

July 15, 2011, 04:52 PM	#17
Yankee Doodle Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 619	I started out by doing 25 curls with a 5 pound potato bag. After a couple of months, I went to a ten pounder. After two years, I was using a 100 pounder. Next week, I will start putting some potatos into the bags.

July 15, 2011, 04:54 PM	#18
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	I don't lift weights anymore but stay very active. I heat with wood so that alone helps keeps me in shape along with stretching excersises and swimming. I also do more 12ounce curls then I used to do. For many yrs. I've excersised my hands,wrists and forearms by squeezing tennis/racket balls. Had to quit for a few years due to wrist surgery but have been back at it for the last two years.

July 15, 2011, 07:17 PM	#19
egor20 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,824	Does lifting and tossing a few hundred 60lbs hay bales once or twice a week and shoeing stubborn horses count as weight lighting? No I don't lift weights but I do enough around the farm that I don't need to. I do try to swim at least 150 laps a week though. __________________ Chief stall mucker and grain chef Country don't mean dumb. Steven King. The Stand

July 15, 2011, 11:20 PM	#20
Huskerguy Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 348	COuntZerO As I was doing my morning lift I wondered about this question and also wondered where or if it would fit anywhere on this forum. Here is what the category description states: "A wide open area for Handgun posts that don't fit well in the Revolver or Semiauto Forums. Ammunition selection to shooting technique and more."

July 15, 2011, 11:23 PM	#21
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,989	I try to keep my upper body in decent shape. It definitely helps during long shooting sessions and makes recoil control easier. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

July 16, 2011, 12:44 AM	#22
irish52084 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2011 Location: Washington, the state, not that "other" one. Posts: 514	Occam's Razor makes a good point. Any way you can increase the mass of the muscles throughout the upper body, you gain more recoil control. The extra strength helps, but the actual gain in size helps to defeat recoil. Much like a large strong neck aids in preventing KO's in combat sports. I've noticed that I generally can shoot longer and more accurately for longer than most of my friends. I'm also very broad in the shoulders and chest and I think this is an advantage when shooting. There comes a point of diminishing returns though, where your muscles require more oxygen than you can supply and they tire more quickly. Big muscles equal big oxygen consumption.

July 16, 2011, 11:45 AM	#23
X_shooter Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 274	I lift weights to not feel so old and creaky. The better shooting is a pleasant byproduct of lifting for me. However, I am big proponent of specific training for enhancing your physical abilities to compete whatever the sport. It works. __________________ X_shooter

July 16, 2011, 01:25 PM	#25
smince Junior member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Location: Northeast Alabama Posts: 2,580	At 49, I try to stay in pretty decent shape. I lift and do various other exercises. Not especially for 'shooting techniques', but just for over all health. It would suck to win a gunfight and then fall over from a stress-induced heart attack...