5 Therapeutic Benefits of Shooting at a Gun Range

We all deal with stress throughout our lives, even for the most laid back and easygoing among us. In our primitive days, early humans relied on stress to get them out of tight situations. There’s a problem, though. We rarely find ourselves in an actual life-or-death, fight-or-flight scenario in today’s modern world. We are more likely to be stressed about work, and this chronic stress can have disastrous effects on our overall health.

It’s why finding ways to relax and enjoy ourselves is so essential. And believe it or not, heading to the best gun range in Las Vegas for a much-needed shooting session is a great way to do it! Here are a few reasons why practicing at the range can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve your physical and mental health.

1. Improved Self-Confidence

If you’ve ever started as an inexperienced novice at anything and practiced and worked your way up to being a total pro, you know for sure that it’s an incredible confidence booster. Firearms and shooting are no different.

According to Mayo Clinic¹, high self-esteem will positively affect your relationships, work, and the ability to constructively take feedback—all of which have the potential to cause stress. Improving your confidence goes a long way with higher self-esteem and taking stressful situations in stride.

Whether you’re practicing your marksmanship for self-defense or for the pure joy of placing a tiny piece of metal moving at 1,500 feet per second exactly where you’re aiming, knowing your way around a firearm can give a significant boost to your confidence. The best way to improve your shooting skills is to practice, practice, practice, and with each improvement, you’ll feel your confidence soar.

2. Increased Hand-Eye Coordination

Humans are pretty incredible animals and are the prime example of the power of evolution. One of the more impressive traits we’ve been gifted through countless generations of our ancestors is hand-eye coordination. Our ability to focus on something and have our brains instruct our hands and fingers to perform complex tasks is incredible, especially at the highest levels.

Focusing on a target, aiming, and sending a round toward the 10-ring all take significant hand-eye coordination. Practicing at the shooting range will not only help you find your dominant eye and become a more skilled marksman, but it will also help improve your hand-eye coordination in other areas in life. This also contributes to confidence, self-esteem, and being able to deal with stress in a productive way.

Related: Which is More Effective- Shooting with One Eye Open or Two?

3. Increased Social Interaction

Another thing we owe to our evolution is our deeply ingrained desire to be around other humans. Sure, some of us are naturally more introverted than others, but at the end of the day, it’s in our DNA to share stories, bond emotionally, and connect with those among us who have a shared set of values and interests.

If you’ve ever been to the shooting range before, you know it’s welcome to people from all walks of life who all love to shoot. Ranges are a great place to meet new people, make friendships that can last a lifetime, and even improve your skills by watching others perform at high levels. Becoming part of a community that enjoys shooting just as much as you do can be therapeutic in many ways.

The team members at The Range 702 in Las Vegas love what we do and want to share that with every shooter who walks through our doors. Even if you’re a beginner shooter, we offer training classes and unique shooting experiences to help build your skills and bond with your crew. Our VIP Bachelor Party and Couples Therapy experiences, for example, are a great way to get out and enjoy each other’s company.

4. Change of Scenery

During these unprecedented times of stay-at-home orders and social distancing, it’s more important than ever to switch things up. With virtual learning for your kids, working from home for you and your spouse, and many entertainment options off the table due to the pandemic, we’re all looking for ways to get out of the house.

Luckily, shooting at an indoor gun range is a safe activity where you can practice social distancing while also stimulating the senses. Just be sure to follow all the rules and guidelines at the shooting range and you’ll be able to safely enjoy a few hours outside of the house. Take all that pent-up energy and leave it all on the range!

5. Most Important—Having Fun

We already mentioned how busy we are these days with work and general life responsibilities, so it’s no surprise that we have less time for pure fun. That’s a tragedy! Having fun and the concept of play is hugely important to achieving a healthy mental state and arriving at balance in your life. No matter how busy you get, you need to carve out some time for you to do what makes you experience joy and gets those happy brain chemicals flowing.

Going to the shooting range can be a lot of fun, as you probably already know, and shooting is known to release endorphins and have a real biological effect on our bodies. So head to the range and get your happy on!

Book Your Range Visit Today

For all these reasons and more, heading off to a range to have some fun is a great way to de-stress and cut loose. With most of us having more to worry about than ever these days, it’s absolutely critical we take some time for ourselves to get off the grid for a bit and not think of anything but the fun task at hand.

And speaking of fun, The Range 702 has some of the most exciting shooting experiences you’ll find anywhere on the planet! Next time you’re in Las Vegas, come by the largest indoor range in the entire state of Nevada and get in some shooting time. After all, it’s good for your health. Call us to book your shooting session today!

Sources:

¹ Mayo Clinic. (14 July 2020). Self-esteem check: Too low or just right? Retrieved 3 March 2021 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20047976