Overcoming... wimpiness?

[Jericho941]

For lack of a better term. I'm a bit worried about my prospects for qualifying on the M16 when the time comes.

You see, I'm really jumpy. You probably wouldn't be able to tell normally, since I'm told I'm a really laid-back and quiet guy, but a sudden noise will send me into low orbit. (Friends find this hilarious.) I find shooting ranges to be actually rather stressful (indoor much more so than outdoor) and I usually have to take a minute to settle in and stop flinching whenever the louder guns go off to start practicing. Doubling up on earpro seems to help a little, but when you still feel the noise in your chest, well... I still jump.

Even after settling in, it takes a conscious effort to not yank the trigger through the first magazine or so. I'm a much better shot with my .22s than with my BEagle, my brother's AR-15 or my Enfield. When I can get a lot of practice in it doesn't seem to effect me nearly as much, but it's been awhile since I've been able to practice with any regularity.

Really though, I'm not sure what to do about this, and I'm a bit worried that with everything else going on in BMT I'll perform poorly. It's probably not that big a deal since I'm going in under the electronics field, but I still want to be able to do it.

[Combat Controller]

Do you drink a lot of caffeine? Perhaps a relaxing drink of chamomile tea with honey? When I get worked up I also do breathing exercises.

Perhaps there is a clue in some of the old Zen Combat books I have... Wait until I get back to Texas and I will see...

[Mud_Dog]

I used to jump a lot a few years ago. Mostly due to mortar and rocket attacks. You get used to the startles eventually, hopefully you're not first up and you can get used to the sporadic gunshots on the firing line. Just focus your mind elsewhere before squeezing and you shouldn't have a problem. No big deal.

Spend some extra time on the zero range if you are still nervous. That should get you used to it.

[mekender]

im up to averaging over 500 rounds a month in my pistols not counting competitions and i still jump when it is a weapon that i am not shooting...

it takes time and practice... and lots of ammo

[Erik]

I come to think about an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, about the time of True Lies. He said that one way he prepared for one of those movies was to go to a range with friends for a few weeks, and just shoot as many weapons as possible, all the time.
The purpose of this was to get used to the sudden bangs, so he no longer would flinch at it, because that just doesn't look very good in a movie.
I believe he said it usually took about two weeks of constantly firing away before he was able to look totally unconcerned in front of the camera with guns and explosions going off all around him. And the effect wasn't lasting, he had to do it all over again before the next movie

I've also heard SAS soldiers say that their dynamic entry training with flashbang grenades is really chaotic at first, but once you've done it a few hundred times you dont even hear the grenades anymore.

The point is that the flinch is a natural response to something unexpected happening. Everyone has it, some worse than others, but it's natural. Once a noise gets more familiar, the flinching starts to disappear.

So, practice, practise, practise. And practice.

[SeekHer]

You flinch for two major reasons, startled or fear of recoil...

It's amazing how much more recoil you can take when you're wearing ear muffs especially with ear plugs as well...

Take a set of ear plugs with you--if you can--and wear them with your muffs...and, as said, concentrate downrange and not around you...You will eventually get into a zone where nothing will penetrate (except certain phrases or words like cease fire) and it will be you, your rifle and the target and then it will be just your front sight and the target...

Like C.C. said, it's a Zen experience...

[Denis]

FWIW, being jumpy isn't a sign of "wimpiness". You might simply have more acute hearing than others, or thinner skin (yes - skin thickness differs), or your genes come from a deep part of the pool where there were many hunters or athletes with lightning-fast reactions.

Proper (doubled-up) ear-protection and thicker clothing on the torso should help. Lots of practice, too.

[BadgerVet]

If you can hear the sound, the bullet missed you so ignore it and get on with the job. Focus on the mission.

Some NCO said that 40 years ago and it's worked for me. Sort of a mind over matter kind of a thing. I've lost some of my hearing so it takes a louder noise to get my attention now, but if I can hear it I know it didn't get me.

I think it's a feeling of being in control of the situation. Not necessarily dominating the situation, but being able to handle yourself in the situation you're in.

[rightisright]

I'm a pretty high strung person and the same thing happens to me at indoor ranges.

I'm fine with my recoil and noise, but the first 10 or so shots from the lane next to me make me jump. When I first started shooting, all the shots from the lane next to me made me jump. So, practice does help.

[308Mike]

Practice, practice, practice - it's amazing at what your body can become used to - and after a while it becomes a "normal" noise and you should no longer flinch from the sound alone.