[schmeky]

I have been trying to determine which length trigger is best for me. I took my 2 favorite .45's to the indoor range today, one had a medium trigger, the other a long one, and I shot the long triggered pistol better. I always liked the medium one best, or so I thought. Local gunsmith said you should always use a long trigger.

Which one is best for you and why?

[VHinch]

Anything I'm going to carry gets a long, and I prefer them solid, no lint catching holes for me. They just seem to fit me best. For non carry 1911's though, I typically leave them as they come, especially my USGI's.

[1911Tuner]

Local gunsmith said you should always use a long trigger.


The local smith is fulla sheepdip.

The trigger that lets the pad of your trigger finger center on the trigger naturally, when the gun is gripped firmly, but not like you're trying to crush it, is the right one for your hand.

What you're after is a straight-back pull without having to adjust your finger more than a very small amount to achieve a natural, comfortable placement.

If the trigger is too long, you tend to push the gun away from your firing hand...to the left for right-handed shooters.

Too short, and the tendency is to get the finger too far in and pull toward the firing hand...or to the right for right-handed shooters.

If you're slow-firing, you can adjust for a short trigger easily. Not so for a too-long trigger.

Several factors can alter the natural placement of your finger. Grip thickness is one. Mainspring housing shape is another. Even the radius of the trigger's fingerpiece can have an effect, as can the size and shape of your finger.

Although I have fairly large hands and long fingers...and although I find that the long trigger/flat mainspring housing arrangement is best suited for me...I've found that the short trigger is more versatile and more forgiving, and it more readily accomodates a gloved hand than a pistol with a long trigger. My "winter" carry pistols all have short triggers for the occasions that I wear gloves...or I just switch triggers if I need to.