Garand-type safety: finger inside trigger guard?

[tdow]

Looking through my copy of The Art of the Rifle , it seems as though Cooper advocates keeping the trigger finger inside the trigger guard instead of staying "indexed" when using a rifle with the Garand-type safety. Is this how it is supposed to be done? How does one reconcile this with "Put not thy faith in safety catches"?

--tdow

 

[buttrap]

Well issue Garands have a really stiff trigger pull and its a big guard too, the key is its locked till you push forward before you pull back. A bit of M-1 ahh 101.

 

[GD]

Another dumb safety is the SKS. I like how smooth it is but gosh, you've got to pull it back to take it off and it is along side the trigger! I never have gotten an AD with one but I could see it happening especially among the long fingered among us.

 

[DamnedDirtyApe]

The M1 trigger guard safety is intuitive. For me, it just seems to be in exactly the right place, and can be found without fumbling or bumping a mag release or needing a whole lot of digital maneuvering...it's just "there" when you need it, without looking.

I've caught myself unconsciously trying to operate it on my AR-15 while at the range, even though it ain't there! It's become an ingrained habit after just a few months of Garand ownership.

Anybody know of any studies done on Garand AD's during the wars?

 

[DMK]

Another dumb safety is the SKS

I agree with that. That thing makes me nervous.

I'd much rather have the safety like on my Garand and Marlin Camp Carbine.

I don't see why you need to keep your finger in the guard though. I just rest my finger right above it.

 

[Ledbetter]

I have a Marlin Camp as well as a Garand too. I prefer to keep the tip of my index finger pressing on the side of the safety until I am ready to deisengage it and fire, especially on the Marlin.

 

[MacPelto]

I typically disengage this safety with my thumb. I find the angle bad for using my index finger. Is this unusual?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I typically disengage this safety with my thumb. I find the angle bad for using my index finger. Is this unusual?

MacPelto -- I do the same thing.

I guess to follow the 4 rules, you don't relly need to put your finger in the trigger guard until you're ready to shoot. I've never really trusted safeties though. If I really want to be safe, I keep the rounds out of the chamber - easier to do on a bolt or lever gun than a Garand.

 

[DMK]

I prefer to keep the tip of my index finger pressing on the side of the safety until I am ready to deisengage it and fire, especially on the Marlin.

Sounds like a good tip. I never thought conciously about it, but I'll have to try that next time.