I always tell myself don’t screw this up take a breath and then exhale while I pull the trigger… is this weird?

Just wondering what others do to make themselves relaxed and make a good shot. Im sure there are some weird hobbits people go through before they shoot you know the whole (superstation)
do share lol

negative thoughts like "don't screw this up" probably aren't the best thing to think about during the shot.

catch my breath, calm down, exhale as I squeeze....

close my eyes

Take a big breath, hold it and squeeze...

I found what works for me is to think about pulling the trigger so slow that it is a surprise to me that the gun went off.

As long as I am keeping the crosshairs on my target I will hit where I am aiming.

I used to try and pay attention to breathing and all that, but really to me the two important things are the aiming point and the trigger pull so, for me at least, thinking about breathing just complicates matters.

I have taught my 12 y/o daughter to shoot this way also. She has shot two does so far and has not missed her target by more than an inch.

I think it's a great way to teach kids to shoot. Made total sense to her about how slowly to pull the trigger.

I take the first shot I'm given so I don't have time to get "nervous".

Well…. When I went through sniper training (In all the military branches) they taught us how to breath, slow your heart down and squeeze…. (and if you believe that…. LMAO)

"Sight alignment & trigger squeeze"

Exhale

and set my spit cup down...ha

I'm usually shooting at big ol monster bucks So I'm shaking and breathing pretty hard. I just try to catch the crosshairs going over the area I want to hit, close my eyes, and squeeze. It works some times , those deer are big targets and I got several bullets in my gun .



No I just try and relax, breath normal and wait for a good shot. Keep it simple and don't over think it.

Aren't all hobbits kinda weird?

I smile...

Well I'm not at all religious but before and after the shot I pray "PLEASE let him be 13"!"

Ok now to really answer the question... I'll focus on the area of the body where I want to shoot the deer, then I focus my mind on down to the exact 1/4" spot where I want the bullet to hit and fire.

I also visualize the bullet path from entry to exit.

When I shot my 8 pt. this Thanksgiving, I distinctly remember saying quietly, "B-R-E-A-T-H-E" as I was exhaling, & the the rifle went off!! My heart was POUNDING, it didn't matter that is was a nice buck, or a doe! I'm always shaking, breathing hard, with a pounding pulse rate!!! Afterwards I always say a little prayer thanking God...

All these but usually in different orders Thank the Lord for the shot opportunity , hope he is 13" , set my beer down , and exhale .

What you don't jump on them and pull out the old trusty tape measure???

I usually sharpen my knife some more and go ahead and cut the dates out on the tag and fill in the info... It's calming.

Sometimes I will even pull my feed hand back from the deer's mouth & untie it.... Depends on the situation.

Not sure why, but I almost always apologize if it's a deer and make a snide remark if it's a pig.

"Sorry, old girl." - Doe

"Eat atomic death, you sniveling cur." - Pig

slow my breathing way down, and shoot between heart beats, and squeeze as slowly as possible. Atleast that is what I tell myself to do, doesnt always work that way.

I take a deep breath, let it out, take another, let half of it out, hold it, squeeze slowly & hope the rifle goes off before I pass out.