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Home / Blog / The Biology Behind Shooting Accurately

J.S.T. Andrews / February 6, 2017

The Biology Behind Shooting Accurately

Your body goes through several changes while shooting a gun. These include increased brain activity and heart rate. In addition, your body has to process everything your doing in order to line up the shot.

Let’s explore how shooting effects your body and how to improve your accuracy.

Your Shooting Eye(s)

Do you shoot with your left eye, right eye, or both eyes? Just like a dominant hand, most people will have a dominant eye. The first thing you to determine is which eye is your dominant.

Once determined, use that eye to aim with.

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Hand-Eye Coordination

Ideally you want to squeeze the trigger with your dominant hand and aim with your dominant eye.

Eye Dominance

It is possible for the dominant eye and the dominant hand to differ. In this case, it can be beneficial to favor the dominant eye.

Example: A right-handed shooter has a left-dominant eye. They may shoot more accurately while using their left-hand and aiming with their left-eye.

Do what works for you.

Aiming Focus

Typically nearsighted shooters are more accurate. This suggests that it’s more beneficial to focus on the sights rather than the target.

Biology Behind Shooting
Infographic courtesy of The Range 702.

Your Brain While Shooting

While shooting your brain releases Dopamine and endorphins. Endorphins are responsible for the feeling of happiness. While Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, causes you to feel a sense of excitement and alertness.

In addition your brain patterns are typically affected.

Alpha Waves are attributed to being in a relaxed state. Research also shows that shooters with an abundance of Alpha Waves are usually more accurate.

Your Heart While Shooting

Shooters whose heart rate that increases between 8 and 20 beats per minute are typically more accurate.

Research also shows that marksmen who fire between heart beats are more accurate.

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Physical Training

Firing a gun is a physical activity. It requires strength to hold the firearm up and to keep it steady.

Partaking in a an exercise program that targets specific muscle groups may increase performance. It can create better endurance, develop better reactions, and increase your control over the firearm.

Shooting burns anywhere between 148 calories an hour (CPH) and past 233 CPH depending on your weight.

Firearm Shooting Accuracy

There’s an abundance of training videos, books, and articles. However, you should keep to what works best for you. Just remember there are improvements that you can make through practice and training.

Let us know below about your training tips and practices.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Tips

J.S.T. Andrews

Jason Andrews is a gun enthusiast and founder of Gun Show Trader, the largest gun & knife show calendar. Over the last decade, Jason has been a web designer and worked gun shows throughout Washington.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lois Paten says

    February 7, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Great info…I am right handed–left eye dominant. My sightings in is usually about a 3 inch spread. Time to try my left hand.
    Lois

    Reply
  2. John Shusdock says

    February 7, 2017 at 10:33 am

    Thanks for reinforcing this left eye dominant, right handed shooters hard earned lessons!

    Reply

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