Finger On Trigger Guard

[Quartus]

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...

I don't know (and don't really care) about target shooters, but I don't think you'll find many combat instructors teaching finger on the trigger guard.

Many Sigs are designed with the same type guard.

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

Yep. Somebody thought so. Doesn't mean they were right.

 

[Ankeny]

In his instructional tapes, Barnhart advises against putting the finger on the front of the trigger guard, even though he does it himself. BTW, Jerry is one of the most highly sought after "combat instructors" on the planet along with other IPSC "target shooters" like Ron Avery, Rob Leatham...

 

[Grump]

Turns out that TGO (The Great One--Rob Leatham) has been asked this very question. It's somewhere on robleatham.com. His answer is, essentially, that it didn't do him a bit of good when he tried it.

I tend to trust the opinions of people who check techniques with a shot timer and at least a few hunner't rounds of ammo. I also still believe it's not a real factor for comped guns.

 

[Lagadelphia]

I use it on my Glock 27 because it does help me keep the muzzle down. With the mini's, your pinkies have no place to go so moving the off hand up one finger adds another finger to the grip. I use the regular two hand on my full sized guns however. Both feel natural to me and when I draw my mini glock, my finer goes righ to the trigger guard. When I draw my fullsize, my hands go right to the normal two hand grip. Use whatever works for you best.

 

[sturmruger]

When I started shooting IPSC I was always shooting with my finger on the front trigger gaurd. Nobody else was shooting that with a finger on the front of the trigger gaurd so I gave it up. I asksed a couple of the guys that shoot allot more then I do. They said the downside to the finger on the trigger gaurd is it is possible to pull your shots with your finger being out there that far.

 

[pangris]

Finger on the trigger guard is poor form, and hard to duplicate the same grip every time under pressure.

 

[Correia]

When you can look at the top shooters in the world, and find some that do it either way, you can be pretty sure that it is a choice best left up to the individual shooter, and that this is one of those cases where there is no 100% "better" method.

This can be said for lots of topics in the shooting world. So that is why I'm instantly wary of anybody on the internet who answers with total surety that one technique is better than the others. I've been told on the internet that the way I keep my spare magazines (bullet back) is totally wrong, however I don't see legions of people who can do a slide lock reload much quicker.

I personally don't like support finger on the trigger guard, but we have another THR member who I shoot against on a regular basis who on any given day can whoop me with his Glock. (JohnL is a Master class shooter and all around good guy). He happens to put his finger on the trigger guard. I'll be sure to tell him that he is wrong.

Find what works for you, and practice it until it becomes consistent. The key to being good is being willing to experiment, test, analyze, and then practice.

 

[Dave Sample]

I think that the last three guys to tell me that it was the wrong way, was Ron at Gunsite when I spent the day Cocked and Locked renewing my CCW, Clint Smith, during a day of training at the Whittington Center during a Shootist Holiday with John Taffin and that bunch, and Bill Bidwell, Pistolsmith of high renown and Range Master for the Colorado State Patrol. These guys are experts and know what they are talking about. I just don't like riding the thumb safety and I still like having that left index finger right where I can point it at the dead guy and say " I told you not to mess with old men!" Just woofin, of course. You can't go wrong with right, but in some cases, I am just plain wrong and can't seem to help it. Oh well. I think that you should always do what works for you. It is your gun and your life. You are right, no matter what some one else does.

 

[Dave Sample]

30 LPI Wrap Around checkered trigger guard. Grab it and go!

 

[pangris]

"Find what works for you, and practice it until it becomes consistent. The key to being good is being willing to experiment, test, analyze, and then practice."

Well said.