Is shooting theraputic for you?

I'm in between jobs at the moment and playing Mr. Mom. After 9 hours a day with my three-year-old, God bless him, my wife comes home to a cranky husband. She actually likes it when I go shooting because I come back in such a good mood. Its relaxing... Taking a rifle or two out into the fresh air, sitting alone in the quiet of an empty range, slowing my breathing down, taking my time, practicing shooting, walking 100, 200, 300 yards and back. Or going out with some pistols and doing dastardly things to cardboard thugs and rapists... I find its theraputic, mood enhancing, and relaxing. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

So, does shooting have a similar effect on you?

# # So, does shooting have a similar effect on you?

Yup. When I've had a bad day, a box of shells does wonders for shaking off my frustration and tension. Better a couple of tin cans should suffer than whoever has to put up with me at the end of the day.

I usually hit the outdoor range on Wednesday and Saturday mornings as soon as it opens (11:00, 10:00 AM respectively). Mostly I'm the only one there for at least an hour. Like most shooters I concentrate on breathing, trigger management, sight picture, etc. In my opinion nothing will clear the mind like total concentration on these. Harvey C. Scobie Radcliff, KY

YES!!!

> ... day > ... fresh > ...

Yes. I have a pretty stressful job, and with a severely autistic, occasionally violent, 17 year old son at home who is obsessed with smearing poop all over his room 4 or 5 times a night, my home life can be pretty stressful too. I'm lucky that I live in a very small town and I can make almost daily trips out to the local range if the weather permits and I'm not just flat burned out. My main diversion is target shooting with handguns. It's nice to get outside and play with my toys, or disappear into the basement for a while with my air pistol. One does have to keep one's hobbies in perspective, though. When target shooting with a handgun, one is pushing one's physiological abilities to the limits, or there's no point in doing it. Occasionally, I have a day when I'm exhausted, jittery, or in some way just too frazzled, and I can't shoot a tight group to save my life. WHAT THE ÞØ‚ÐÆ! IS WRONG??? I COULD HIT THE DAMN THING THE OTHER DAY!!! Slow down, take a deep breath, and cut some slack. Tomorrow's another day. Marty

#So, does shooting have a similar effect on you?

Absolutely! It is one of the main reasons I shoot

YES!

It focuses the mind, not unlike yoga. And my yoga friends won't like to hear that but it's true. Can't do it well and think about all the other stuff going on in my life.

David Is is time for a couple of hundred rounds of meditation?

it makes the 'voices' madder, they must 'scream' louder so I can hear them with ear protection on Fred

# # I'm in between jobs at the moment and playing Mr. Mom. After 9 hours a day # with my three-year-old, God bless him, my wife comes home to a cranky # husband. She actually likes it when I go shooting because I come back in # such a good mood. Its relaxing... Taking a rifle or two out into the fresh # air, sitting alone in the quiet of an empty range, slowing my breathing # down, taking my time, practicing shooting, walking 100, 200, 300 yards and # back. Or going out with some pistols and doing dastardly things to # cardboard thugs and rapists... I find its theraputic, mood enhancing, and # relaxing. I'm sure I'm not the only one. # # So, does shooting have a similar effect on you? # Well, I'd sure hope so. If it isn't doing us some spiritual good, why are we doing it?

Most of my shooting is indoors; the range is 1000yds away vs the outdoor range which is 20mi. But I especially enjoy shooting outdoors for the enhanced theraputic benefits of being outdoors (even in wicked S. Texas summer weather). But focusing on something that nobody else will criticize is relaxing.

Even better is when I get to shoot a new gun or shoot quickly (we have a 3 second pause between shots rule at the range I go to) on private property. I have a virgin AK47 with 40 round mag and 1000 rounds of wolf ammo. I can't wait for this weekend. hooray! :-D

# So, does shooting have a similar effect on you?