Warm Up Technique

[Steve in Vermont]

In most sports participants practice before the event. Race car drivers, golfers, ball players, etc. They enter the game "warmed up" so to speak. One thing I found works for me is to shoot at a further distance than I planned to practice (usually 10 yards further). In this case I wanted to shoot at 15 yards DA, rapid fire, (revolver) so I started at 25. After 40 to 50 rounds I dropped to 15 yards and my groups were much tighter than if I had started at 15. I'd be interested to hear if you have a "warm up" technique you find helpful.

 

[jkc]

Warming up may be an issue in Vermont, but is not, hereabouts...

 

[pilgrim6a]

I've done that. Start at 20 yds and drop back to my normal 10 yds.
And guess what? My groups get smaller! And I can tell myself I'm getting better!
The shrink says that I'm lying to myself.
I tell the shrink that he can't comment on my shooting till he can do better than me!
Fat chance of that!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I do a different type of warm up. On 22 rim fire rifles, on any new to rifle, I have several cartons (500 round bricks) of the same lot it is in no way the best but it is pretty good. I shoot a target or 2 with this ammo in a gun I know how it shoots then I shoot the new gun, then i'll switch to a better quality ammo. First off this tells me if I'm haveing a bad day, if so we never get out the big money ammo second, the differenrt ammos let me know how the new rifle responds to a group of medium priced target ammos if it won't shoot medium ammo I give it a try with 1970-1985 remington Thunderbolt. It is amazing how many older 22's shoot "junk" ammo well. If they can't do well with my standard ammos I see what I can get on trade. I'm not a competitor, so I refuse to pay 18 to 26 dollars for 50 rounds of 22 ammo.

 

[wbraswell]

I certainly believe in getting warmed up. Mainly getting my trigger finger right, and breathing properly.

 

[labworm]

As soon as I cross Lebanon into White River Junction I automatically warm up.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

You've heard of "getting in the zone". I believe that "warming up" is part physical and part mental. Forgetting about problems and just "being in the moment". We've all been there, when all at once nothing else exists except for shooting. The shots are dropping into the center of the target and the gun becomes an extension of you. It's hard to explain but we understand why, at times like this, shooting can be so relaxing.

 

[kraigwy]

I don't warm up, I'm more into seeing what my first round will do, rifle or pistol.

 

[tork'd]

no warn up here..
i like to see what the first few shoots look like shooting "cold" because i will not have time to warm up in the middle of the night.