Tips and Technique

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TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Aiming a Blowgun
One procedure in aiming a Blowgun is looking and focusing on your targets bullseye with both eyes open. You should see two ghost images of your blowgun barrel, one barrel will be to the left, and one barrel to the right of your focused target. At this point move your barrel slightly until your focused target is in the middle of these two ghost images and then fire. Practice of this procedure will yield better accuracy. WWW.BLOWGUNS.NET

Aiming is pretty much instinctive. There are a few things to remember though:

1. Blow with the same power and consistency as often as you can.
2. Keep your elbows down for stability.
3. Keep both eyes open and look beyond the end of the barrel.
4. Shoot with good darts so that they fly consistently the same way.
5. Breathe in slow, explode from the stomach and chest without moving the blowgun.
6. Don't blink or flinch when you exhale, it will move the barrel and throw off your shot.
7. Keep the barrel clean by wiping condensation out whenever it builds up inside.
8. Don't inhale from the barrel, inhale from your nose for safety reasons.
9. Shoot the same object from the same place, over and over to learn how the dart flies. Moving targets don't really teach much to a beginner.
10. Choose a big target, like a cardboard box and shoot many times out of instinct, fast, without taking time to aim. Just close your eyes, then open them, aim quickly and shoot. This will teach you how to shoot by instinct. Later, make your boxes smaller and smaller and it will never seem difficult.
11. Practice the same way, every time. If your puff of air varies, so will your accuracy. If you hold the blowgun differently every time, it will be very difficult to learn by instinct how to shoot. Find a comfortable position, and shoot from that every time.

Loading a Blowgun
One thing I've seen frequently especially among beginning Blowgun enthusiasts is when they load their Blowgun they have there muzzle pointing downward. (That is the opposite end of the Blowgun in which you blow from). They load their Blowgun and shoot. This is more common with the longer barrels. The results of this procedure is that their projectile is 1/2 or 3/4 down the barrel or even lying on the ground in front of them before they shoot. Sometimes humorous to the bystander, May be frustrating to the blowgun user. One procedure in loading a Blowgun is pointing your muzzle upward. Loading your projectile into the safety mouthpiece (Once loaded into the safety mouthpiece it can't slide back out) Lowering the front of your Blowgun until it is level with your target and then fireing. Practice of this procedure will yield better results... WWW.BLOWGUNS.NET



Tips & Tricks by George Fisher
We are proud to present this category. The following articles, were written by Master blowgun hunter, George Fisher. Mr. George Fisher is also the Founder of American Sport Blowgun Association,

How to Sharpen your Spearhead Darts.
Many people enjoy using the Spearpoint Darts for hunting and target Practice. however, they must be kept sharp to really do a good job. The use of a wetstone and a bit of oil can take off any small burrs that develop, or a new point can be made using a small fine file. The point should only be sharpened to just before the widest point, and no further. If the whole edge is sharpened, damage to your blowgun barrel could result over time. The shaft is held in the hand, and the point rubbed in a circular motion over the surface of the stone. The edge should be held at approx. a 30 deg. angle. Do this for all four edges. A dart that will stick in a foam tray when dropped from 8 inches or so, is considered sharp enough for hunting. Author, George Fisher

Dented Muzzles
Dented Muzzles can be repaired in the field by inserting a closed pair of needle nose pliers, and twisting. This will iron out small dents, and burrs. Apply firm pressure while turning. by G.N. Fisher A small sharpening stone as sold for fish hooks will also put a nice point on your target darts. Just rotate the shaft as you rub it along the length of the groove in the stone. Always have a pair of plyers handy when shooting. These will allow you to remove darts from hard objects without bending the shaft. Use bright colored flights on your darts for target practice, to make spotting your shots easier. Save the dark colored flights for Hunting.