Who uses Run and Guns as training?

[Jackem]

GMAR:

Let me suggest you get some good knee and elbow pads! He,he. I would not be crawling around wearing a T Shirt.

Battle Belt? Like web gear of days gone by? I would not want to crawl with today's combat vest. Almost impossible without destroying magazines. Something to be said about a belt with mags on the sides like the old web gear.

You won't find too many of these types of events because most Americans don't have the discipline to get into or stay in good condition.

I do Biathlons and they are a bit different. I would say they are more physically demanding but have less shooting. And the .22 is used for the shooting part. However, the shooting done in Biathlon is probably more critical per shot than a Run and Gun. Only 20 shots max per race in Biathlon but probably more critical that one scores as many shots as possible. You won't win by being a fast skier alone. You got to be able to shoot well and be fast.

Don't worry about heart rate. Heart rate isn't what is pushing your barrel around when you stop. Your respiration and muscle contractions are what is pushing the barrel around. I did an experiment on myself once to see how fast my heart rate dropped between stopping from exercise and my first shot with my rifle. I would say I was pushing about a 95% effort. My heart rate dropped by more than half within twenty seconds or so -- about the time it takes to remove the rifle from my back and get into my prone position. Yes, it was still beating hard enough for me to see barrel movement when using a sling. However, it dropped massively none the less. It wasn't my pulse causing the problems but rather respiration then muscles.

Also, the literature indicates it is not possible for us to 'slow' down our heart rates through any sort of mental focusing exercise. What we can do is get our breathing in order so the heart and muscles calm down on their own a bit faster than if we just stood there panting.

I will slow down a bit when about 200 meters from the firing line and transition my focus to breath control and visualization of the shooting. This prepares me for the shooting part. When removing my rifle from my back, I continue with my breath control and once in position I use very short belly breaths instead of chest breaths. That all said though, getting into a very hard position and using a very hard hold prone and a moderately hard hold standing is a better bet than trying to let things 'relax' into position. You ain't about to 'relax' if you have been smoking yourself physically for the last X minutes.

You may want to consider a yoke to carry your rifle while you are running. I know someone makes them for those sniper competitions and they do work well if they are allowed. This would free up your arms so you can run better and be a bit less fatigued when you have to shoot.

I would also certainly use a sling to shoot with given the rules allow one. Needs to be fast to get into and out of but must provide some sort of additional stability by pulling the stock into your shoulder. Something that uses an elastic type of strap so you can stretch it to get into but will pull the stock into your shoulder.

Let me add that you need to find a good pair of foot gear. I would not want to run in traditional Jungle Boots or Combat Boots since they are too damn heavy. A pound on your feet equals something like an extra ten pounds on your back. And, you aren't in combat but rather competing in a sporting event. If I were doing what you are doing, I would look at some very good trail runners or shoes guys wear for one of those Spartan Race events. They are designed to be light but take the beating of a rough trail or no trail at all. A very good but light piece of foot wear will let you get to your firing positions with much less fatigue than any sort of traditional hiking or combat boot.

I would also probably wear gloves since my hands would be sweaty and I do hold the rifle pretty hard so need a grip that won't slip. Look at the Mechanic's brand of work gloves. They make a thin model that I use in training. I also use bicycle riding gloves since they tend to have a friction type of pad for fingers and palm.

As you can see, you may end up doing things thought to be unconventional for traditional shooting sports so don't hesitate to test things that go against the grain of historical thought on marksmanship.

LR 1955



I

Excellent post! I'm taking what you said about preparing yourself for the shot 200 yards before you get to the firing line to heart (pun intended) when hunting.

Jack