Whether for personal protection, hunting, competition, or simply for enjoyment, the sport of shooting is a well-established activity that offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Let’s take a look at five health benefits you can expect from hitting the range for a day of shooting.
5 Health Benefits You Gain When Shooting
1 – Arm & Core Strength
One of the first benefits you can gain from shooting firearms is increased arm strength. This occurs from the simple task of holding and managing the weight of the gun. For reference, handguns can weigh up to 3 to 4 pounds, while rifles typically weigh up to 7 to 8 pounds. Not to mention, the added weight of extra accessories you can include on your firearm, such as optics and lights.
From an outside perspective, firearms may not appear heavy. However, after a full day of picking up, putting down, and holding a fully loaded firearm, you quickly see that shooting is a great upper-body workout.
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Additionally, the way an individual stands while shooting can have a significant impact on their health. As you position yourself to shoot, many shooters will stand on the balls of their feet to help balance. This, in turn, will help strengthen and exercise your core muscles. Essentially, these muscles are important because they help prevent injuries, reduce back pain, and improve stability.
2 – Adrenaline
For many, shooting can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience, especially if you are a novice shooter. These emotions can often trigger your brain to send a message to your adrenal glands, prompting the release of a hormone called adrenaline. This is known as an adrenaline rush and can occur when your body reacts to a stressful or exciting situation.
Once this rush hits your bloodstream, many individuals will experience improved focus, a temporary increase in strength, and a surge of energy. All of which are great sensations that can help improve your shooting technique. Additionally, for those who love a thrilling sensation, an adrenaline rush can often be an addictive and rewarding feeling.
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3 – Stress Relief
When faced with a challenge or change, stress is a natural reaction. If left untreated, it can cause a number of problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep issues, and difficulties with memory and focus.
This means that for your personal well-being, managing your stress levels is incredibly important. In fact, one of the best ways to limit stress is by partaking in a hobby. For many individuals, this can be achieved through the use of firearms.
Shooting is a great stress reliever because it allows individuals to take a break from their everyday, hectic routines. Simultaneously, it gives them a task to focus on that is both fun and engaging, and a great confidence booster.
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4 – Hand Eye Coordination
An important skill that humans develop over time is known as hand-eye coordination. This is the ability to use our vision and hands in unison to achieve tasks such as writing, eating, and grasping objects. In fact, this plays a crucial role in how accurately and precisely we are able to shoot.
As we shoot, our eyes take in information that quickly determines when our hands should properly squeeze the trigger. For many individuals, this skill does not come naturally and requires practice and patience to master. However, once you do, hand-eye coordination can help you achieve other valuable life skills as well.
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5 – Improved Mental Focus
Mental focus is a crucial life skill because it not only helps individuals approach problems effectively but also enhances a person’s ability to succeed in their endeavors. Furthermore, as we age, our mental focus can decrease. Therefore, it is essential that we implement methods to sharpen our concentration. This can be achieved through simple tasks, such as shooting.
Essentially, this activity requires an individual to focus on the target in front of them and make quick-thinking decisions on how to successfully hit it without being distracted by other environmental factors.
When You Understand the Benefits, You’re More Likely to Shoot
Overall, I have found that we are always more inclined to do something when we realize the benefits. Shooting is a great activity that brings us a lot of happiness and joy. However, it is also a sport that can increase arm and core strength, create adrenaline, relieve stress, improve hand-eye coordination, and benefit our mental focus.
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