Hello All, First I apologize so slow in replying but we stay very busy with two daughters still in school.
1) First...
The OP stated…."The first principle of accurate shooting is trigger control". That isn’t correct.
While that may be "incorrect" in your perception through your experience, it has been proven to be correct through testing and studies since the 70s.
Any study or organization that would state such a thing is making a grave mistake, just as the OP, because they are misrepresenting how things actually work. They would be stating something that is technically and emphatically incorrect. That is what the OP did by overemphasizing trigger control while undermining factors that are actually responsible for accuracy. Irrespective, you will not find a legitimate study or organization that states trigger control to be the “first principle” of accurate shooting while also diminishing the importance of other factors, such as stance or grip or sight alignment/picture. Not happening.
Now consider the following statement because it is important:
{Trigger control does not make you accurate. Trigger control is only capable of affecting your accuracy. Your accuracy is solely dependent on your ability to put the gun on target and keep it on target as the gun fires}
Your ability to put the gun on target has everything to do with sight alignment/picture, which the OP puts below trigger control. Your ability to keep the gun on target has everything to do with stability, which the OP also puts below trigger control. Stability is dictated by the platform you use to stabilize the weapon. Since we are talking about typical pistol shooting methods your stance and grip as well as the rest of your body is your means of support. Not only does the OP put trigger control ahead of those things he then exacerbates the situation by diminishing the importance of the grip.
Sight alignment and stability DETERMINE accuracy. They are truly the first principle of accuracy. Whereas trigger control and other aspects (breathing, heart rate) can only AFFECT accuracy. So in order to be accurate you must put the gun on target and keep it on target (aim, stability) in order to remain accurate you must insure nothing disrupts that (trigger pull, breathing, heart rate) etc.
The problem with espousing something as the OP did which is technically incorrect, beyond simply being incorrect is as follows. Someone reads that trigger control is most important factor for accuracy. Consequently, they practice trigger control but their accuracy never improves. So they continue working on trigger control over the years and yet their accuracy never really improves. Then one day someone points out their stance doesn’t promote good balance or it causes them to fall off as they shoot. Or they point out that their grip is causing the gun to pull off target as they fire. Or they point out that their sight alignment is incorrect. So the person begins working on those aspects and low and behold their accuracy immediately improves. So instead of teaching them the importance of how everything truly works together you would have simply hindered their development. They could have established a proper aim and platform first and then continued to improve trigger control and other intangible aspects (focus, breathing) or advanced self defense features; for the rest of their life. That is proper and natural progression.
The above would be especially egregious if the person had some sort of handicap that needed additional attention in order to create better stability for them. They may have been enthusiastic starting out thinking trigger control would be sufficient to overcome this handicap only to become frustrated to discover it is not and that they needed to work on items truly responsible for creating accuracy (stability,sight alignment).
Even as a highly proficient shooter you will spend the rest of your life practicing to insure your focus is proper (you should) and that your trigger control remains pristine. If the OP had stated that trigger control was the most important factor for the advanced shooter to consider I could agree; because they would have already properly developed the other aspects. I actually think focus is most important for the advanced shooter immediately followed by trigger control, but that is me. Otherwise, he could have just stated trigger control to be one of the most important factors for accuracy.
Yes, my opinions are entirely mine but they based upon almost 50 years of experience. Not only shooting at steel or paper targets but also live game. They are also in part based upon a lifetime of interactions with family and friends who were/are gun enthusiasts and hunters; some of whom were/are military and law enforcement.
Of course trigger control is vitally important but your ability to put the weapon on target and then stabilize it is paramount. I have provided a few quotes by others who share in these views for your consideration.
1) NRA….on the ability to steady the gun on target (“hold”).
“Controlling hold is actually the most difficult aspect of accurate shooting. Even world-class shooters experience movement in their sight picture while shooting. The goal—hold control—is to control the combined movement of the shooter and firearm on the target.”
“The NRA Muzzleloading Rifle Handbook describes hold control as learning to hold the rifle steady…..”
“Your task is to hold the firearm as still as possible, which is best done by relaxing and letting your position and natural point of aim do the work for you. Concentrate on holding your body and the firearm as still as you can.”
“As a shooter, you need to learn to recognize the period of your steadiest hold. This is because the shot should be fired when hold is steadiest. Your goal is to reduce the amount and the speed of the movement and to release the shot when the hold is at its best.”
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2019/4/10/shooting-fundamentals-hold-control/
2. PoliceOne.com
“No matter how good your other skills are, if your stance doesn't provide you with a stable shooting platform, you’re destined to be inconsistent”
“When attempting to accurately shoot a handgun, no matter how good your sight alignment, breath control and other skills are, if your stance doesn't provide you with a stable shooting platform, you’re destined to be inconsistent with your shot placement. Consistency in all aspects of shooting is the key to accuracy.”
“Stance is a crucial element of shooting that can at times be overlooked.... Perhaps the best way to emphasize the value of a solid stance, which provides the foundation of your shooting platform…is to look at other examples….”
https://www.policeone.com/police-pr...-3-shooting-stances-Which-ones-right-for-you/
3. Law Enforcement Services, LLC.
“...Total body kinesetics simply means that the entire body works together as an integral unit. If one portion of the body is not function-ing properly, this can effect a completely separate portion of the body…..Total body kinesetics means that if you are not employing every technique properly, you will not hit your intended target.”
“Mental conditioning is often neglected during many firearms training programs; however, proper shooting is 80% mental and 20% physical….”
http://www.lawenforcementservices.biz/PDF file/Basic Pistol Shooting Techniques.pdf
4. Personal Defense World
“There are several factors when looking to improve both your shooting speed and accuracy, but a good pistol grip is of the utmost importance. “
5. International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) on Olympic Pistol Shooting:
“To achieve the ultimate goal, a perfect shot, besides a ”good eye” and ”steady hand”….it is necessary to meet a wide range of requirements to provide and secure the conditions for satisfactory shoot delivery. This will lead to the conclusion that the shooting position is one of the most important roles in building a successful shooter.”
6. Girl and a gun
“Having your body positioned properly allows you to be steady regardless of what and how you are shooting.”
“A proper grip helps better manage recoil and muzzle rise, and helps a shooter with accuracy, speed, and retention.”
https://www.agirlandagun.org/training/5-basics-accurate-shooting/
7. The Gun Rights
“Standing properly is one of the most underrated aspects of proper shooting. Having the proper footing, back, and arm positioning will ensure you are in complete control….”
https://thegunrights.com/how-to-shoot-a-gun/
8. Outdoor methods
“Shooting is a whole-body activity. As much as possible, you want to use your whole body to absorb the recoil and keep you as stable as possible. Your physical stability will be a critical factor…”
“Your grip determines an enormous amount about the likelihood of your being able to hit the target, control the pistol, and make follow-up shots”
https://outdoormethods.com/tips/how-to-shoot-a-pistol/
9. Backwoods Home Magazine. Article by Massad Ayoob
Speaking in regards of the importance of the grip “Any marksmanship expert will tell you that consistency of grasp is a key to consistent accuracy….”
https://www.backwoodshome.com/how-to-shoot-a-handgun-accurately/
2) Second...
"You can have the perfect stance, grip, sight alignment, and still have your shot ruined through poor trigger control/management."
Yes that is true. However, a gun mounted in a gun vice with only adequate trigger control will outperform even the most skilled marksman shooting freehand with superior trigger control.
Now try the following (in the deep woods) being sure to do so in a safe area and safe manner of course.
Place a 3ft x 3ft target on an old barn with a bullseye on it.
*Now stand 10ft away and fire your gun in the opposite direction of the target being sure to use superior trigger control. Stability and sight alignment/picture are not a factor. Now explain how superior trigger control fared in actually putting shots on or even near the target!
*Now stand and face the target. Using a solid stance and grip and proper sight alignment; pull the trigger as quickly or as violently as you desire while aiming at the targets bullseye. You have just proven that sight alignment and stability are superior to trigger control. You have just proven that sight alignment and stability are truly the first principles of accurate shooting. Trigger control is important but it does not supersede stability and sight alignment.
3)Third...
"The OP’s statement “... if you try to make the shot break at that one instant in time when everything seem steady and aligned, you usually wind up jerking the trigger” is also incorrect. I’ve seen that notion regurgitated by many pros and it is simply wrong. It also ignores what the real issue is; jerking the trigger.
Perhaps you misunderstood the meaning of the OP's statement. When you try to "make" a shot go off at a particulate instant...the result is a jerked trigger"
No, I understood what the OP was saying. He said “if you try to make it break...when everything seem steady and aligned….you usually wind up jerking the trigger”. That is a factually incorrect statement that the NRA also refutes by prescribing just the opposite. They suggest that you should try to make it break at the optimal time.
“As a shooter, you need to learn to recognize the period of your steadiest hold. This is because the shot should be fired when hold is steadiest. Your goal is to reduce the amount and the speed of the movement and to release the shot when the hold is at its best.”
The reason the OP’s statement is factually incorrect is because any highly proficient shooter who has shot moving objects can make a shot occur when they need it to. People spend quite a bit of money on trigger jobs insuring that.
The OP’s statement could be changed slightly in order to make it factually correct though.
“... if you try to make the shot break at that one instant in time when everything seem steady and aligned, you must be careful not to jerk the trigger. The goal is to always execute proper trigger control.”
4) Last... Briefly: I worked in the school system for 5 years teaching both fully capable children as well as severely handicapped. Full credit goes to the teachers though because I only assisted them in a minor fashion. We have numerous immediate family members who have taught for decades. My wife and I have two daughters who are in school and we are very involved. Beyond that I have spent most of my life giving family/friends instruction on hunting and firearm usage. I’ve given decades of instruction to beginning and advanced tennis players as well. So I am familiar with both the learning and teaching process.
“The reason that the use of "Press" have evolved to dominate modern training is because "pulling" and "squeezing" were perceived to mean different things to students".
Again, slogans and such are absolutely meaningless minus proper instruction. If an instructor gave a pistol class to students and they all came away with a different understanding of what the word “squeeze” or “pull” or “press” or “practice makes perfect” means; then it is because the instructor utterly failed them. He didn’t properly explain things. A simple printout for people to review could have eliminated any such confusion.
I have seen some poor instruction given at times and that is something we need to be cautious of. I’ve seen a lot of people using slogans and counter intuitive teaching methods. Some of it is simply gimmicky but some of it is quite confusing and even really bad. I welcome any survey you can produce that says people find the word trigger “press” to be more accurate than trigger “pull” or even “squeeze” because I don’t see it. I did my own survey before ever posting to this thread and nobody used the word “press”. These were avid hunters/shooters and all found that term to be very odd. Now ask anyone you know to take their index finger and use it to “pull” something/anything. Now ask them to take their index finger and use it to “press” something/anything. You will quickly learn that some words are more intuitive than others. If a theory or teaching model cannot even pass the common sense model; then it needs to be re-thought or tweaked. What’s our goal after all? Is our goal to look good while teaching or to teach good? If our goal is to improve then we must be willing to learn ourselves. God knows I try to learn something every day or at least, not to forget.
God Bless,
Ralph