Finger On Trigger Guard

[arizona]

How many of you place your left index finger on the front of the trigger guard?

I find it helpful when shooting guns designed for this, e.g., Glocks, some Sigs - 225, 226, 228.

A Glock armorer once told me not to do it (not sure why...should have asked), but I feel the gun is more stable with my finger on the front of the guard.

Just curious if you also find it to be helpful.

 

[pauli]

i tend to keep my left index finger either on the side of the trigger guard, on the slide, or on the trigger, depending on whether or not i'm shooting

(even if we speak about off hands, i can't nearly get my finger around the trigger guard)

 

[CZSteve]

I do.

I place my week-hand index on the front along w/ both thumbs pointing forward. (I ride the safety w/ my strong hand thumb on appropriate guns).

 

[Monkeyleg]

For awhile I was putting my weak hand index finger (thank you, Pauli ) in front of the trigger guard. Did it because a guy at the range who shoots better than I do said to do it that way.

Then I had some formal instruction from two people with better credentials: an instructor who for years was a Camp Perry competitor, and Massad Ayoob. Both advocated index finger with the other fingers, although Ayoob has a little bit of a twist on this. He suggests putting the index finger further ahead on the trigger guard, then pulling it back and wedging it into the second finger a bit. He says that the "wedgie" helps control recoil better.

I'm not that good a shot, so I honestly can't say if one method is better than the other. I just go with what seems to be the most credible advice.

 

[arizona]

pauli,

Obviously. you are left handed and I am right handed and I can see that would be a problem for you.

 

[cstuard]

I did that originally w/ my Beretta 92.Felt it helped control muzzle flip.Had read some comments advising against it but it felt good to me.Then I started shooting some other pistols w/ round trigger guards.Of course that left finger just slipped off.Decided I didn't want to have to switch grip styles each time I switched pistols. And that if I was ever really in need of a pistol, I want to grip it w/o having to worry about which model is in my hand. My .02

 

[James Bondrock]

I do not shoot this way. Much of the extra recoil control comes from your other hand wrapping around the fingers of the shooting hand. Extending the index finger forward to wrap around the trigger guard loosens the grip of your non-shooting hand, at least for me. Possibly, on a 1911 with its shorter (from front to back) trigger guard, the finger-forward hold might work better. However, my pistol shooting experience is with SIGs and Glocks.

 

[Steve in PA]

Finger on the trigger guard is bad ju-ju. There is no reason to have your finger sticking out in front like that.

Your off-hand fingers should be wrapped around your shooting hand. If you have your off-hand index finger on the trigger guard, the gun, under recoil will move back, away from that finger. And each "grip" (finger placement) will be different. You'll never get good/consistent accuracy like that.

 

[Zach S]

tried it a couple of times, didnt work for me.

 

[dleong]

For slow-fire target practice, I usually shoot with my weak hand index finger resting on the front of the trigger guard if the pistol has serrations there. It does not help with recoil control, but I find it steadies the pistol better as pressure is applied to the trigger.

DL

 

[BluesBear]

A Glock armorer once told me not to do it

You should have asked him why Gaston designed the Glocks with a squared and checkered triggerguard?

 

[k8ysv]

DEFINITELY a no-no on revolvers. Unless you LIKE the smell of burned flesh that is.....

Seriously, too easy to forget and build it in as habit on an auto. The flash danger of a wheelgun may accidentally become apparent. Not only that, but if your revo goes out of time and shaves lead, you could get injured by that too.

Honestly, I feel I have more control and a better grip with all my fingers closer in anyway. Putting that finger way up front makes it too easy to push or pull the muzzle when firing.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't use the trigger guard hook. My hands are not large enough to get any purchase up there, and I feel that if you do and have ANY variation in weak hand grip the leverage way out there will cause spread shots in deflection.

 

[BHPshooter]

I used to -- for a long time. It was just what felt natural for me.

Then one day, I just picked up my gun and my hand automatically went where, I believe, it is supposed to be (in a regular two-hand hold). Now I can't stand the finger-on-trigger-guard hold. It doesn't feel natural anymore... and I don't know what I was smoking when I used it in the first place.

To each, his own, though.

Wes

 

[CZ52GUY]

Used to...

...got some decent results...but wanted to have a grip that was transferrable to pretty much all my HG's...switched to simple thumb lock grip...haven't looked back...got some malf's that I associated with the front finger grip...had some negative support hand finger/thumb encounters with the slide...don't get those anymore .

Safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[Grump]

As in the isosceles vs. modified Weaver debate, I still wonder how much of this is purely fashion. (I am, however, convinced that the bent elbow_s_ of "pure" Weaver are bad for the human gun-dexterity formula.)

It seems to me that the leverage advantage at the front of the trigger guard would more than offset the lost finger at the grip, for controlling muzzle flip.

AND, the finger-forward went passe' not only just as the makers were putting it ON their guns, but also at the same time that muzzle brakes became de Rigeur and muzzle flip virtually disappeared for the top gun hosers.

Could there have been a connection? Mere fashion and consistency of grip between Open Class and Limited Class guns *could* explain why those same top-gunners don't seem (I could be wrong) use the frontly finger when shooting non-comped pistols...

 

[Archie]

Good heavens, yes!

Been shooting that way since 1967 or so.....

Used it first with 1911s, then adapted it to revolvers (sorry k8ysv) and have used it pretty much ever since.

Oddly, revolvers do not singe my left hand... and I've had a couple revolvers that put almost as much out the gap as they do out the muzzle. Nor have I ever had a problem with the pistol 'jumping' out from under my hand and finger... even with a LW Commander in 45 ACP. Certainly not with 2.5 or 4 inch K-frames with full charge .357 Magnum ammmo.

Allow me to amend that last. My H&K USP40, shooting Speer 155 Gold Dot ammo would 'jump' on me, at least at first. I settled on WW Ranger 165 ammo and it does not do that 'jump' anymore.

I have relatively small hands. I find using the weak index finger on front of trigger-guard hold to be condusive to both accuracy and recoil control.

A very good friend who is also a good shooter does not use this grip. He has bigger hands than I do. Who knows? I think this is probably one of those whatever works for you personally type things.

 

[MrAcheson]

I've used it and oddly enough use it more with revolvers than not. My brother's Colt 1917 just draws my front finger in front of the triggerguard for a stable hold. I think its because the grips just on the gun don't really fit so it naturally steadies everything and locks me in out there. Other guns that fit my hands better, not so much.

Next time I shoot I'll have to pay attention to whether I use it more weaver or isoceles, I'm betting more weaver.

 

[arizona]

BluesBear

I agree with your comment, why did Gaston design the front trigger guard the way he did. It looks to me the weak hand index finger is a natural to be placed there.

Many Sigs are designed with the same type guard.

Seems as if someone at some point thought it was a good idea.

 

[Steve in PA]

Watch any of the pro-shooters, you'll never see their finger on the trigger guard.

 

[Ramshackle]

Except Eric Grauffel (the best open shooter in the world) and Jerry Barnhart. The finger on the triggerguard seems to be the preferred postion in Europe, which is why you see the squared triggerguard on the Glock.

 

[Vimes]

I have tried but it does not work for me. Makes my grip feel weak. Much more natural to wrap my fingers around my shooting hand.

 

[Heraclitus]

Not a good practice if you switch a lot between guns with trigger guards that support this, and those that don't. Try alternating a P-225 and a P-239, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Dave Sample]

I used to do a wrap around 30LPI checker job on the trigger guard on the guns I built in the days of yesteryear so the shooter had a good grip with any hold. I have always shot with my finger there and I shoot six guns the same way I love the smell of burnt fingers, but mine have always been OK because my six guns do not spit lead and fire. I have been told by all and sundry that I do not hold these guns right. Oh Well.

 

[BluesBear]

Back in the 1970s thousands of people paid dozens of pistolsmiths to square and checker the trigger guard of their Colt Governments and Commanders.

I use what I call a matched grip. My support index finger is on the front of a squared guard and on the bow of a round one. But I don't put any pressure on that finger, it just sort of rides there. And like Dave I don't get burned. The cylibder bushing seem to help direct the gap blast to the sides.

Most people I see tuck their finger down lower. Whichever way works for you is the best to use.