Building stamina in shooting arm with additional weights

bigred · Post by **bigred** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 3:57 am

Hi,
I'm new to pistol and keen to improve. I'm trying to come up with excercises to improve stamina in my shooting arm. What I'd like to know is do you excercise lifting with a heavier weight than your pistol. I have a little 2kg dumbell that I intend to use. I figure if I can raise this and hold without too many issues for multiple reps, then lifting my 1kg pistol will be much easier?? Am I right, or should I follow a totally different protocol?

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:42 am

If you can, strap a 1kg ankle weight to each wrist and leave them on all day. A few days of that will see your stamina improve dramatically.

bigred · Post by **bigred** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:49 am

David Levene wrote:If you can, strap a 1kg ankle weight to each wrist and leave them on all day. A few days of that will see your stamina improve dramatically.

Interesting idea - I'll try it at evenings and weekends - not sure they'd be so pleased with it in work! Thanks

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:10 am

bigred wrote:Interesting idea - I'll try it at evenings and weekends - not sure they'd be so pleased with it in work! Thanks

Just make sure that you're not doing anything strenuous.

RobStubbs · Post by **RobStubbs** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:02 am

David Levene wrote:
bigred wrote:Interesting idea - I'll try it at evenings and weekends - not sure they'd be so pleased with it in work! Thanks
Just make sure that you're not doing anything strenuous.

Like drinking pints of beer, stick to halves ;-)

Rob.

Ernie Rodriguez · Post by **Ernie Rodriguez** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:14 am

Years ago,I filled a spare .45acp clip with lead.I would use this clip when dry firing. Weights attached to a pistol that you dry fire-will help with muscle strength.

Capt. William · Post by **Capt. William** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:32 pm

Whatever you do, I recommend you do it for the off-hand as well: you want symmetrical development.

Jim

motorcycle_dan · Post by **motorcycle_dan** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:11 am

I did the same thing last year. Wanted to improve upper body strength to further my pistol scores. Made master this year because of it.

I used the 2kg weight and walked to/from work with it. Hold it at arms length as if shooting. Make 10 small circles forward, then 10 small circles reverse. I can usually get 2 forward and 2 reverse. GO SLOW you are not trying for speed, but muscle control and stamina. Do the right arm then the left.

Other advice, don't do it pointing at traffic, People don't like that. Take a walk for 20~30 minutes every day and do these stamina spins. Works great.

The weight I use looks like the letter "D" and carries easily.

I use a squishy ball to improve grip strength. Nice but quit working it at least 2 days prior to a match.

Recently I use a Dyna-Flex Power ball to improve arm strength.
amazon.com and search "power ball"
This thing is a little gyro exerciser that you are the motive force to spin up. Amazing how much it with strengthen your muscles. Again great for the commute to/from work or while walking. Don't do it at home. Sound of the gyro annoys the snot out of everyone except the person holding it.
My humble opinion.

TargetTalk

Building stamina in shooting arm with additional weights

Building stamina in shooting arm with additional weights

Dry Fire Weight

Off hand, too

Same boat last year