Breathing

Your breathing can move the handgun just enough to throw off your shot. Proper breathing helps you steady your hold on the gun and maintain a correct sight picture.

Practice with these two methods to see which one works best to control your breathing and keep the gun steady. When you are ready to shoot:

• Draw a deep breath and exhale about half of it. Then hold your breath as you squeeze the trigger.
• Take several deep breaths. Then squeeze the trigger after you exhale one breath and before you inhale the next breath. This is known as your natural respiratory pause.

Bear in mind that if you hold your breath too long, your heart beats faster, which increases your pulse and causes the handgun to move. If you notice this happening, take more breaths and start over.