Need HeartBeat Help!

BlastingChipmunk

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My Heartbeat is very disruptive to my shooting, Does anyone have a way to reduce it?

Whenever my heart beats my point of aim moves about 1 inch to the left, then 1 inch to the right. :runaway: I'm getting really sick of my scope doing this. I'm presently working off of a bipod and bench.

How can I reduce my heartbeat so It won't bother me anymore?
 
sand bags.....and how is your health??


try not holding the rifle to tight(with Sand bags this will be easyer)


Jamie Barkwell
 
A couple of things you can do-

1. Shoot between heartbeats. Who cares what it does most of the time, if it returns to the same Point Of Aim in between. Loose wieght, train cardio, stop smoking, practice bio-feedback to learn to lower your heart rate.

2. Use a beanbag at the toe of butt. A sock filled with rice, little styrofoam beads, etc, placed between the toe of the buttstock and the ground. Squeezed by your supporting hand, ( the one not firing ), it becomes a micrometer adjustment of elevation. Note that supporting hand should not contact the stock in any way, just the sock.

3. ( my least favourite ) Pad attached to your shooting jacket, between your shoulder and butt. A thin layer of foam, aprox 1 - 3 mm, will reduce or remove heartbeat. Cover with suede or such, with tiny nubs of silicone dotting the surface, to give good grip.

Good question!

Ben
 
Ok, My health is pretty good im a 19 year old male 6'3" 190 pounds. I just have lousy lung capacity, (runs in family)

and those are good ideas, but I think its the pulse in my cheek thats doing this to me. Is there something I could put between me and the stock to still maintain cheek weld but without my pulse?
 
try a Eagle cheek piece

OneShotTactical sells them

what gun or you using??


Jamie Barkwell
 
Whenever my heart beats my point of aim moves about 1 inch to the left, then 1 inch to the right. I'm getting really sick of my scope doing this. I'm presently working off of a bipod and bench.
How far are you shooting? cdnshooter has very good suggestions. Maybe a lower power scope?
 
I notice the effects most at about 100 yards, I shoot 50, 100, and some 25 when I go out to the range, The one inch shifting is refering to the 100 yards. Im using a bushnell 4-12x40 but I just leave it at the 12 setting.
 
You can go out and buy a bunch of gizmo's to reduce the effect but when it comes down to field use you won't cure the problem. My guess is you are holding your rifle way to tight if your heart beat and breathing are transmitting through your scope. I would suggest relaxing your grip a touch, time your breathing and squeeze the trigger don't pull, it will come together with time and practice. If you are shooting a rifle with substantial recoil, just roll with the recoil. You'll get it with practice.

This is an edit, I didn't see Ben's suggestions, which are excellent. I would just recomend controlling it as much as possible without the bags first, and once you have it down,found your weld and breath,body control, use the bags to enhance your accuracy.

Just an opinion
 
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ok, is where you place your non trigger hand a personal thing when shooting with a front rest? Or is there a precise spot for your hand.

Basically Is it more of a what feels good do it, or is it a precise science that everyone must follow?

Oh, and whats the proper spot on your cheek to be welded, is it just below the cheekbone, or on the cheekbone.

As you can tell I am very new at this.
 
Yoga has many techniques to control breathing & heart rate. Yoga as a prerequisite for hunting/shooting, at first thought, might seem like an eye-rolling oddity but in reality would help/improve many a shooter. Here is one quick technique that might help your problem:


If you feel an accelerated heart beat rate, inhale and push out the stomach for 2-3 seconds. This provides more space to the heart cavity and (repeat all over for 3-4 times).
 
BlastingChipmunk said:
ok, is where you place your non trigger hand a personal thing when shooting with a front rest? Or is there a precise spot for your hand.

Basically Is it more of a what feels good do it, or is it a precise science that everyone must follow?

Oh, and whats the proper spot on your cheek to be welded, is it just below the cheekbone, or on the cheekbone.

As you can tell I am very new at this.

For cheek weld, my advice is to find a place on the stock where, when you look through your scope you see a full scope picture with no fuzzies or black edges. When you find that spot with one eye open, open the other one, if you still have a full scope picture that is your spot. Also must be comfortable. Practice using your scope with both eyes open. You will be amazed at the results after a while.

If you are new at this find someone to shoot with that can give ya a little coaching. There are many excellent riflemen on this sight and some may be close to you and willing to help ya out. If your near me I would be more than happy to take you out and show ya all my bad habbits.:p :)
 
Ok, just go with where the scope tells you to. Makes sense

Yeah I'm 2 provinces over from you in manitoba :(
I'm going to the game and fish range in selkirk, but It would be nice to find someone who could 'coach' me. I really don't want to form bad habits. (I probably aready have a bundle :( )
 
BlastingChipmunk said:
Ok, just go with where the scope tells you to. Makes sense

Yeah I'm 2 provinces over from you in manitoba :(
I'm going to the game and fish range in selkirk, but It would be nice to find someone who could 'coach' me. I really don't want to form bad habits. (I probably aready have a bundle :( )

Sorry chipmunk, wrong impression. The stock has to be a comfortable feel also and you have to set up for your length of pull, which may mean adjusting the scope on the base to give you the right eye relief, or adding or removing spacers on the butt of the rifle for a propper fit depending on the type of rig your shooting. Definately hook up with a shooting partner for some hands on help. Im sure you will be getting some offers from local guys now that they know where you reside. good luck happy shooting.
 
Thanks for your help, but......

How you find your length of pull properly? I've heard that its the right length if the butt falls into the crock of your elbow. I've also heard that is incorrect. What is the proper technique?
 
BlastingChipmunk said:
Thanks for your help, but......

How you find your length of pull properly? I've heard that its the right length if the butt falls into the crock of your elbow. I've also heard that is incorrect. What is the proper technique?

Good question, as I am no expert I will tell you what I believe to be true and leave it open to correction.

If the butt falls into the crock of your elbow with your finger on the trigger is the way I remember being measured for my FN-C1 many years ago and probably works good for hunting rifles or an outa the store fit designed around a one or two sizes fits all principal, and is a generic rule of thumb that will get most people by. But to find you True length of pull your going to need a measurement take by a good buddy or someone in the know for a proper stock sizing. Your lenght of pull is going to change in different seasons also. In summer if your wearing a shirt or light jacket, your LOP is going to be longer. In winter when you have a Parka and Sweater on It will be shorter. That is why I love an adjustable stock such as the Mcmillan A-5 or some of Ian Robertsons stocks and many others. You will find many ways to measure LOP on the net but it is realy going to come down to what is finaly comfortable to you and your shooting style.
 
regarding the original question: I had the same problem once and I found that moving stock butt to the side a little bit reduced heart-beat-jumps to practically nothing. There must be a sweet spot where arterie is, do not push your butt (not yours but your rifle's) agains that spot. The other thing I found out is that if you are fit and go to gym frequently - precision shots on the same day after strenous work are next to impossible, your heart, your muscles, your breathing- all are out of whack.
 
Its a personal thing for the LOP, good.

As for the Heartbeat thing, if i avoid deathgripping it should go away, right?
Also is there a limit to how hard your cheek should be pressed against the stock?

Ok, I'll try moving my stock around a bit, 22lr
 
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