8 Surprising Benefits Of Learning How To Shoot A Gun

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

With over approximately 5 million new gun owners in 2020 alone, those uninitiated into gun owning ranks may be curious as to know why. Obviously, the reasons are many and without going into great detail (I’ll let you ponder a few of those out yourself), part of the draw are the many benefits shooting sports entail.

Take a look at the surprising benefits learning how to shoot introduces to your life. Obviously, those already involved as a pew enthusiast are reaping the rewards, and don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

Physical Benefits

Anytime you get outdoors you are influencing a healthier you, and the majority of gun ranges are located in sun, open areas. Simply breathing in fresh air and getting a little vitamin D is energizing and refreshing. But let’s take a closer look at what direct influences you can physically expect:

Increased Strength and Stamina

Strong sturdy arms and wrists, upper body strength, and core muscle use are all a part of building shooting memory for consistent, clean shots. Proper positioning is part of a good shooting stance and working to control this requires the attention of your whole body. This is especially true when shooting in 3- gun challenges that require you to change up your shooting stance with the various guns you are using.

Increased Balance

Working out your core and moving into a good shooting stance or position forces you to find your center of balance and hold it while shooting. Strengthening your body makes this an easier task, and allows you to hold a true, steady aim when firing and acquiring a target. This helps improve and engage your abdominal muscles with your lower body, and it also helps distribute weight in an even manner.

Hand/Eye Coordination

Obviously, target acquisition in reference to your weapon becomes easier with practice, and your hand eye coordination will improve with continued practice. Try firing techniques and practice is also a great way to hone this skill and keep you sharp – and can be done in the comfort of your own home. As you improve, challenge yourself with various sized targets at different distances. You can also keep challenging yourself with moving targets.

Adrenaline Control

Shooting is an exciting experience. No responsible shooter forgets the power they control, and the challenge it presents to shoot a small target will speed up the steadiest of hearts. A shot of adrenaline occurs when your liver breaks down glycogen to release a burst of energy to your system. This raises your heart rate, opens your airways, and can make you hyper focused. This rush can also cause your muscles to shake in reaction. Controlling this is as much a physical process as it is mental, and taking control to breathe deep and even while shooting will allow you to use adrenaline to your advantage.

Mental Benefits

There are quite a few mental benefits to taking up shooting as well. Plus, it’s a new skill to learn that can be mentally challenging. The terminology alone can present quite the learning curve, such as knowing what a decent BCG is.

Whether you are simply enjoying a long day on the range plinking with friends, competing in a local match, or training for a future in gun related industries, you’ll quickly discover that by the end of the day you’ll feel much more relaxed- and there are very good reasons for that. Check out how shooting sports influences your mental health alongside your physical health:

Mental Focus and Control

As mentioned, focusing on a target requires control- but the control is not purely physical, it is mental as well. Having control of your body while shooting requires you to recognize adrenaline reactions and process them in a manner that helps you stay focused. You cannot allow yourself to be sidelined and distracted, as that is when accidents or mistakes can occur- and when in control of a lethal weapon, that needs to be avoided at all times.

Self-Discipline

Getting comfortable with a new gun when carrying and shooting takes practice and commitment. Also, guns can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and sometimes the wrong hands are simply inexperienced or unfocused hands. You need to have the mental strength and discipline to know when you have surpassed your limits of knowledge and strength. These are both things you can build and improve upon. Fatigue is also a factor that many people brush aside, however, having enough self-awareness to recognize when you need to be done is important.

Emotional and Mental Processing

Part of self-discipline, your emotional and mental processing plays into your situational awareness when shooting. You need to be aware of how you hold your firearms, acquire a target, and what your body is always doing. You also need to be thinking about the next step, processing your environment for disruptions or possible unsafe scenarios, and make split second decisions. This helps sharpen your mental problem-solving skills, and it hones critical thinking as well.

Stress Relief and Confidence Builder

All of this sounds like it may be exhausting, and it can be, but it also provides amazing stress and tension relief. This is because it forces you to be aware of only one thing about your surrounding: your gun. The stress of the day, problems you may have, and anxiety or worries need to be cast aside to focus on safety and shooting enjoyment. Learning to maintain mental control and safely handle a firearm also builds confidence and self-assurance. These are also highly influential in providing a means to grow stronger mentally.

What Are You Waiting For?

If you have been wavering about taking up shooting sports, or are new to the game, these are all great reasons to get started immediately. Gun clubs and other enthusiasts are incredibly welcoming and love introducing their favorite pastime to those wanting to learn. Plus, you are going to acquire a wealth of benefits along with your new skills.

Even if you aren’t new to it all, now you have an explanation of why you keep going back for more (and budget for ammo every month!).

Bio

Whether involved in a 3-gun match, attending a training, or simply passing time with friends at the range, Danielle enjoys anything involved with shooting sports. What started as a friendly skeet match in college has since evolved into a deeper understanding of 2A rights- and is now an enthusiastic hobby that helps pay the bills as she shares her favorite pastime with others through her writing.