Trigger pull advice needed

Status
Not open for further replies.

CZguy

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
3,977
Location
Missouri
When I shoot a handgun all of the shots group in the nine o clock position. The chart says too little trigger finger. What exactly does that mean?

PistolShootingproblems.gif
 
I assume you are right-handed? Having too little a part of your finger across the trigger can cause your finger to "push" the trigger away from the mass of your hand, which is to the right. This is typically worse with smaller guns. What part of your finger is actually against the trigger face?
 
Dry fire, dry fire, dry fire. It will help you diagnose and correct these much faster than at the range. Then keep dry firing regularly to keep yourself trained.
 
What kind of gun is it?

If a revolver or DA auto, then the first joint of the trigger finger should be dead center on the trigger.

If firing single action, then the center of the finger pad should be on the center of the trigger.

How are you doing it ?
 
A better discription is "finger is not placed correctly on the trigger".

To avoid pushing your shots right or left with your trigger finger you must position it so you apply pressure directly in line with the barrel without apply any divergent pressure left or right of the sight line. Generally this means using the middle of the first pad of you trigger findger.

Most of the time if you just grab a handgun and shove your finger on the trigger it almost naturally feels more comfortable when the trigger is on the joint between the end and middle digit. This usually places the side of your finger touching the side of your pistol. When you squeeze the trigger, pressure is applied to the right side of the pistol (if you are right handed) which pushes the pistol to the left, thus your shots are thrown left.

The second important part is holding the pistol properly. The most comfortable and natural grab hold is usually incorrect. The pistol needs to be aligned in the "V" between the thumb and fingers in line with the arm.

Some of the best tips you can get regarding pistol shooing is from reading the Army Marksmanship Training Guide. While this is for Bullseye one handed shooting 90% of it still applies to 2 handed shooting.

Here is a good video that shows these points: http://www.graspr.com/videos/Todd-Jarrett-on-pistol-shooting-
 
Last edited:
The chart can by much abused and understood. I would only use it as a possibility chart. The bullet goes exactly where the gun is pointed when the trigger hits the back of its travel and the firing pin is released to strike the primer. If you are missing the bull, you are not keeping your eye on the front sight. It may help to also keep the trigger pulled to the rear after taking the shot. Release it after recovering from the recoil and when you are ready to take the next shot. I see too many beginners pulling the trigger and letting go of it right away and not following through with watching what the gun is doing or where the sights are pointed. Grip, stance, breathing, trigger control, FRONT SIGHT.
 
Get yourself one of the cheap (couple of $) lasers.
Tape it to your barrel
Put the target on a wall and dry fire at the target with the laser, meaning place the dot of the laser in the middle of the target and then dry fire your pistol watching where the laser goes.
In time you will see where you need to place your finger on the trigger
 
Excellent advice concerning dry fire and use of a laser.

Leverage is the key. Find the part of your trigger finger that provides you with enough leverage to press the trigger straight to the rear.

Practice with the laser, and you will find your sweet spot.

You may need to make adjustments based on individual trigger pull weights, double actions, etc...
 
Quote:
When I shoot a handgun all of the shots group in the nine o clock position. The chart says too little trigger finger. What exactly does that mean?

----

That chart doesn't have anything to do with you missing shots left. Missing shots left of the target is a fundamental problem, trigger control.

A few have mentioned dry fire. If you dry fire does your front sight stay on target when you press the trigger? If it does stay on target then dry fire will NOT help you. Dry fire is a great way to practice if 1. You can't keep that front sight on target when pressing the trigger during dry fire and 2. You have solid fundamentals (trigger control).

Odds are it's a phychological thing. You know that you are going to feel a recoil and hear a lound "bang". It's almost like you need to develop an "I don't care the gun is about to go off" feeling and as Riss mentioned soley focus on that front site. The fact that your gun is about to go off should be totally out of your mind.

If you're looking for a drill, the old ball-and-dummy drill is a great way to work on a flinch.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top