Precision shooting is a methodology involving many different aspects:   the makeup of the ammunition to the ever-changing environment to how good (or bad) of a day you’re having on the range.  There is much preparation that goes into the components of precision shooting; a lot of time is spent researching and testing.  But I think there isn’t enough focus put upon the physical preparation.  How the shooter interacts with his or her tools is just as important as the tools themselves.

We’ll start off by talking about why we do this.  Why do we want to put to put a small piece of lead and copper into a small target, far, far away from us?  Because it’s hard.  There’s no other reason for it.  If it was easy, then everyone would want to do it and everyone could do it.  But we are different then everyone else.  We are up to the challenge and will continue to strive for perfection.  Our focus shouldn’t be just on the components of precision shooting, we should also take a look at ourselves.  Ultimately, we’re driving that rifle.

The Fundamentals

There are four Fundamentals of Marksmanship:  Breathing, Point of Aim, Steady Position, and Trigger Squeeze.  These are the basics that we, as the shooter, physically control.  We can be as meticulous as possible, but if we do not strictly adhere to a simple shooting regiment built around these fundamentals; everything will be in vain.  The basic fundamentals are what make or break us as precision long range shooters.

How our bodies react to what our minds tell it to do is vital in the pursuit of accuracy.  We are striving for consistency.  It is very easy to become fatigued while shooting; I see it all of the time during our courses.   Physically doing the same thing each time is taxing.  It varies depending on the shooting position, but no matter what the shooter will become fatigued – I get tired.  To be a successful shooter or hunter, you have to have some level of physical fitness. 

Cardiovascular System

I used to smoke heavy for a number of years and at one point, it was my favorite thing to do.  Looking back on it now I can’t believe that I put my body through that abuse, but it was fun at the time…  Even though it was my favorite thing to do, it didn’t do me any favors when it came to shooting.  We train to shoot on our down breath, or when all of the air is exhaled out of our lungs.  This is important because it is the point in our breathing cycle where our body’s movement settles.  It doesn’t stop, per se, but we are at a point where there is little movement.  We can hold this position comfortably for several seconds, depending on our lung capacity and level of fitness.  Our lungs supply the necessary oxygen to our blood cells.  Without sounding too dramatic, they are our portal to life.  The proper amount of oxygen in the cardiovascular system is what will help us keep those crosshairs steady after we have exerted ourselves prior to the shot.  It will help us endure the fatigue we are feeling on the firing line and will keep our rifles steady in the alternate firing positions. 

Total Body Fitness

We shoot from the Prone, Sitting, and Standing Offhand positions the most because they are the most practical.  Benchrest shooting is nice recreational form of shooting and it is demanding in its own way, but it’s different compared to the other shooting positions.    These Alternate Firing Positions require most of the main groups of muscles in the body:  Legs, Back, Shoulders, and Arms. 

Standing Offhand requires the strength to hold the rifle as steady as possible into the body while maintaining good balance and good shooting fundamentals.  This is the most physically taxing position and it doesn’t matter if your rifle weighs 5lbs or 14lbs.  You will get fatigued holding those crosshairs on the target.  Of course the heavier the rifle, the faster you’ll tire.

The Sitting Position is another fatiguing position, but does offer points of contact for the shooter’s arms.  The only drawback to this is that the shooter’s leg muscles are steadying the shooter’s arms.  This position requires fit leg, back, and shoulder muscles.  You have the additional responsibility of controlling the recoil on top of creating a stable shooting platform. We can still affect the projectile while it’s still inside of the rifle – i.e. as we are feeling the recoil. 

The Prone Position is by far the most stable of these alternate firing positions, whether it is supported or unsupported.  With the larger calibers, it is the preferred method because the body behind the rifle helps to control the recoil of the rifle.  The Prone Position gives us the ability to really focus on the fundamentals because our body isn’t becoming fatigued by the position itself.  This is the best position to learn from.  It gives you that opportunity to analyze how you interact with the rifle and how the rifle interacts with you during the recoiling phase.  To really become a student of precision shooting, this is the best position to start with.

Training the Body

I’m not here to preach a healthy lifestyle; you can do whatever you want.  However, if you are serious about precision shooting, you will put some time into conditioning the body along with the mind.  We are all in search of knowledge when it comes to this type of shooting and ultimately we will always be students of the art.  But our physical prowess needs to match our intellect.  This will transfer to all other aspects of our life too, so it’s a win-win situation.

I recommend getting out of the traditional gym setting.  We were raised on the mentality of picking up heavy objects and then putting them down again.  I knew a guy who wouldn’t go to the gym just because that didn’t make any sense to him (he was lazy though…).  Strength training is vital in a good workout system, but it should consist of a good mix of cardio along with it.  Endurance is the most important aspect.  Strength is great, but if you can’t last you’re no good. 

Crossfit is a good workout system that will build both strength and endurance.  It utilizes Olympic Lifts along with the natural body strength movements.  It is more of a practical fitness that translates perfectly towards what we’re trying to accomplish. 

An example of a Workout of the Day:

For time:

15 Handstand push-ups
1 L Pull-up
13 Handstand push-ups
3 L Pull-ups
11 Handstand push-ups
5 L Pull-ups
9 Handstand push-ups
7 L Pull-ups
7 Handstand push-ups
9 L Pull-ups
5 Handstand push-ups
11 L Pull-ups
3 Handstand push-ups
13 L Pull-ups
1 Handstand push-up
15 L Pull-ups

The workout looks difficult, but each one of them is scalable, meaning you allow yourself to work up to the prescribed workout.  It’s never a good idea to jump into an aggressive workout routine if your body isn’t prepared for it.  A good workout boils down to intensity and how you change your workout to keep your body guessing.  The body will get into a routine and plateau out, so your gains/weight loss will stay on a constant plane and you don’t see much improvement.  When you scale your workout to your fitness level, utilize different training techniques and work against the clock.  This will keep your body guessing and will show results.

I strongly suggest you take stock in physical fitness and its role in precision shooting.  I think that this is a neglected aspect of the art and I see it in about every course.  It will definitely tighten up your groups and make for a better day on the range.  You will become a more practical shooter. 

Remember: A Fit Marksman is a Happy Marksman.