Need help with shooting technique

[Flinch]

I have been shooting rifles of all kinds since I was little, but I recently have been having some trouble when using a scoped rifle. I can feel my heartbeat in the scope which causes the crosshairs to bounce on and off the target.
 Im not sure if my blood pressure is just too high now or what. Is this a common problem for benchrest shooters? Also, does anyone have any advice or shooting technique (besides getting in shape to lower my blood pressure, already working on that) that will help with this problem?

[Green3845]

You can address several areas, other than physical fitness!

First, is your rifle on good, solid heavy bags and/or rests? In aligning the the sighting system on the target, the bags and rests should do the work of holding the sights on target, not you exerting effort. Perhaps you can move your rest system around so that it supports the rifle more solidly.

Second, does your position itself create the pulse beat? if your joints are bent, (your knees, your elbows), pretty severely, this can increase your blood pressure because your heart has to work harder to force the blood through the constrictions. Are you bent over at the waist pretty severely? Again, a really bent over position, especially if your "beer gauge" is a little large, can constrict the major arteries in you waist/hip area, raising blood pressure, increasing the pulse beat. Posisiton rifle shooters, (HighPower, Smallbore, ISU), really sometimes have to work on their kneeling or sitting position to limit pulse beat. When I shoot sitting, I unbutton the top button and let the zipper down a bit so that my pants don't cut into my "beer gauge".

Does whatever you are sitting on compress the backs of your legs? Same rationale as above. A wider bench, or a different position on the bench or chair can make a difference. When you are sitting, do your pants and belt cut into your gut? This can make  a difference.

As far as position is concerned, the more relaxed and upright you are can decrease your blood pressure, lowering the pulse beat.

Quite a large number of benchrest shooters shoot a position that is referred to as "free recoil". Basically, they have stable and solid enough rests and bags that they can align the rifle sights on the target, let the bags hold it there, and really only touch the rifle with their trigger finger and maybe their thumb. They don't have the buttstock touching their shoulder, rather it is off of their shoulder by a slight amount, and the rifle free recoils back into their shoulder after a short amount of travel. They might try to keep their cheek off of the stock, or really limit how much cheek pressure they exert on the stock.

[Flinch]

Thanks Green3845.
 My problem probably is many of the above, a less then desirable shooting position, not a very good rest, and the beer gauge has gotten to the point of being uncomfortable at times.
 I was always taught to shoot a rifle pretty tight against my shoulder to help the recoil not thump so hard. This "recoil free" method makes sense, but it seems like it might hurt when shooting a bigger rifle like say a 300 mag.

[Green3845]

I think you are right about free recoil and a .300 mag! I think that would go beyond painful into suicidal. Benchresters are generally shooting a 6PPC, so recoil isn't an issue.

Some very good benchrest shooters don't shoot free recoil, but take a more traditional approach as you do, snugging the rifle into your shoulder.

I would experiment with something like an accurate  .22 with a high power scope,  so it is cheap and you don't waste barrel life to refine your technique. Good luck!

[longwinters]

I posted the same question a while back.  Finally went to the Doc and he took my blood pressure (193 over 107) HMMMMMMMM.......I am obviously now on blood pressure meds.  I don't have the pulse problem anymore. :grin:

Long

[cal sibley]

I think the generally accepted method for breath control at the bench is to take a deep breath, let half of it out, then fire.  In no case take a breath at this time.  If it's not a heavy recoiling caliber you can shoot free recoil.
Bring the rifle back until it almost makes solid contact with your shoulder.
You can maintain control without the buttstock contacting your shoulder.  As long as you have a steady grip on the rifle your shoulder will recoil back at the same rate as the rifle so you won't get clipped by the scope.
As was mentioned earlier raise the height of the front rest to gain a more verticle position.  Most of this will come naturally with practice.  Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal