We have all had one of those days where we get so frustrated that nothing seems to help in calming us down. The bad days where we are so infuriated that all we want to do is wreck a table or slam our phone into the wall. On these days, no meditation or yoga seems to work to see us through the bad weather.

Shooting guns has countless physical and mental perks

What do you do to take care of a storm that has been building up inside you for a long time? How do you vent out in a responsible yet effective way that does not harm anyone or anything around you? Our suggestion – go to a shooting range, or even build your own, if you are a big weapons enthusiast!

According to a study conducted in 2017, about as much as 72% of the adult population of the United States has fired a gun at some time or the other during their lifetime. Shooting guns have a lot of transparent and hidden merits. Even though the sport has a lot of negative connotation associated with it, it is only because most people do not fully understand the many ways shooting a gun responsibly can benefit us.

In the following paragraphs, we will discuss some of the biggest boons such sports bring into a regular citizen’s life.

1. Visiting a shooting range occasionally is the best way to let go of all frustrations and feel in control

First of all, we will go back to the example we started off with. When you keep your frustrations pent up for a long time, it cannot only get dangerous for your own health but also puts others around you at risk. Pent up rage can overflow at any given moment and cause you to act out in a way that you usually would not – taking away your sense of judgment and your ability to think straight. This is why venting out periodically is so crucial for everybody.

And what better way can there be to let go than shoot a gun at a few targets in a controlled environment? Shooting ranges allow you to channel your exasperation and resentment in a way that is safe and beneficial for everybody.

2. Shooting at targets in a range can help you get over your fear of guns if that is required in your line of work

Let’s say that you are training to be a policeman or a security guard in Boston. If you are intimidated by the weapons you might have to use on your job one day, you cannot be expected to do your very best at work. You need to drive away from the natural fear of a firearm by becoming used to the feel of a gun in your hand, and practicing well, so you do not accidentally hurt an innocent bystander someday.

Going to a gun range Boston frequently cannot only get over this daunting and unnerving idea but also helps to boost your weapon proficiency.

3. Shooting guns is a physical sport that gets you to exercise your entire body

Next, going out to a gun range gives you an excuse to move from your couch and engage in a physical sport – allowing you to exercise. In this way, getting you to be active lowers your risk of multiple health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, and overall lethargy.

4. Shooting and archery sports build up your arm strength

Guns can be pretty heavy. Holding them up and shooting at your target is not as easy a feat as you might imagine. But when you have been shooting for a while, you will notice that the task gets more comfortable and easier. This is not because the guns are getting any lighter, but it is because your arm strength develops over time and makes shooting guns almost natural for you.

5. As you keep perfectly still and aim your gun at the target, your balance is bound to improve

Other than building arm strength, the long hours of holding a gun up straight, aiming it towards the target, and struggling to keep on your feet after the recoil also helps with improving your balance. Just like a complicated and challenging yoga pose would help you find your chi, so would shooting a gun.

6. Going to a shooting range regularly improves your ability to focus and enhances your attention span over time

In modern times, it is getting more and more difficult to focus our minds on one thing for longer than a few seconds. Our attention span is on a constant decline, and we tend to get bored very quickly. To help put a stop to this, or at least to slow it down, we recommend a mindful activity such as shooting guns at a few targets.

The sport requires you to put all your thoughts on the task at hand. When the world around you ceases to exist, you can learn to focus on the essential things and generate better results than you would have if you were distracted.

7. Shooting guns is an opportunity to fully exercise your eye muscles and keep eye deficiencies at bay

Though visiting a gun range does not equate to visiting an ophthalmologist or getting a pair of glasses for poor eyesight, it does have some benefits when it comes to your vision. Shooting allows you to fully exercise your eye muscles as you aim and make the best of what you have. Using your eye muscles extensively discourages a lot of eye disorders which might otherwise develop.

8. The benefits are not limited to your physical health – shooting can even sharpen your cognitive mind

Just like chess, shooting guns is a sport that involves improving a lot of your mental abilities. In fact, experienced firearms shooters say that 90% of the sport is purely psychological. Therefore, it is not only the physical benefits that you are limited to when shooting, but you also enjoy a vast list of mental perks. Sports such as shooting and archery make you better prepared in many walks of life.

One of these perks includes sharpening your cognitive mind. Shooting promotes both logical and creative thinking and using them in different situations. It is also the perfect opportunity to use the math and physics theories you learned in high school and thought that you would never need. In addition to these, shooting also marginally improves your hand-eye coordination.

9. Shooting induces a sense of responsibility in individuals, calling for their personal growth

Last but not least, another significant advantage of adopting a sport such as shooting is that it inculcates a sense of personal responsibility in an individual. During the extensive training provided to you before and during the shooting, you are repeatedly told that the gun in your hand comes with a huge responsibility. It is your job to see you use it only for the good, and nothing gets hurt because of your carelessness, negligence, or distracting behavior.

The final word

From the above paragraphs, we can clearly see that there are numerous benefits to shooting guns responsibly. These benefits encompass both our physical and mental health and keep a lot of disorders and diseases at bay.

When was the last time you went shooting with your friends? Did you notice any overwhelming improvements in your mind and body? Comment down below and let us know of your experiences.

AUTHOR BIO

Gloria Stokes is a passionate writer and editor who loves to read and write articles over weaponry and loves to travel. She has completed her weapons engineering from the Cranfield University.