Is a creepy trigger a disadvantage in a defensive handgun?

[Lone_Gunman]

I have no doubt that trigger creep is in general undesirable, and that in a target gun it is a problem.

But what about a handgun which will actually be used for defense (or offense, for that matter)?

When I am shooting bullseyes slow fire, i notice trigger creep a lot. But when shooting under timed conditions, i dont notice it all.

What is your experience?

 

[Baba Louie]

In times of stress, those fine motor skills go out the window.

That's probably why so many Cops end up emptying the entire magazine into and around the bad guy's zone when things go south, doncha think?

Adios

 

[Chris Rhines]

Yes, a creepy trigger is a huge disadvantage on a defensive firearm. The need for precise shooting does not go away in a defensive encounter.

- Chris

 

[Handy]

Unless a trigger is just plain awful, it can be used effectively. The trigger thing gets really exaggerated around here.

I'd much rather have a good trigger and good sights than a GREAT trigger and poor sights, for instance.


Do some quicker shooting and make up your own mind. As long as you use a consistant pull, the bullet will go where you aimed.

 

[El Tejon]

Can be. However, IME, what is creepy is subjective. YMMV.

 

[Standing Wolf]

When I am shooting bullseyes slow fire, i notice trigger creep a lot. But when shooting under timed conditions, i dont notice it all.

I notice—and abhor—a creepy trigger however I'm shooting. My carry gun has a light, crisp, creep-free single action trigger with virtually no over-travel, and the double action pull is very good, too. I've never bought a Glock because the triggers feel so slovenly.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Another question, and I am specifically asking it in terms of defensive/offensive shooting, and NOT target shooting...

Would you rather have a creepy single action trigger that breaks at 5 pounds, or a double action trigger that breaks at 14 pounds (or whatever DA triggers break at)?

 

[P95Carry]

As mentioned .... ''creep'' is awful subjective. I know I hated creep when affecting S/A precision shooting but .. once speed comes into the equation, the trigger useage speed usually exceeds the ability to feel creep .. unless horrendous!

I don't think a heavy D/A really comes into this ..... it's another animal altogether .... but I'd be satisfied with quite a high poundage D/A if smooth enough .... again, speed of operation makes a huge difference to perceived smoothness IMO.

Just to add ...... in defensive situations I think a trigger can be well acceptable .. that in low stress target situations might be called ''creepy'', ''gritty'' whatever.

 

[Boats]

Well if safety is truly between the ears, so is trigger control. That said, a little pretravel is permissible, very little or no overtravel and a very short reset are what I look for and most pistols fall short. Lest anyone think that this another 1911 rant from Boats, rest assured I find the HKP7, CZ75/85, and the SA XD to all have acceptable triggers in general. I do not like Smith autos, unreworked Berettas, and the "sproingy" Glock triggers.

If this thread lasts as long as the "manual safety" thread did, I fully expect that the defenders of every pistol evver made with a horrible trigger will come out and defend their pieces, trying desperately to turn a liability into a virtue.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Boats, I dont see how someone could misconstrue creep as a good thing. I wonder though, how much difference the nuances of a trigger that seem so important at the range really make when SHTF.

In other words, most stock commercial or military 1911s I have ever handled have a little creep. A custom 1911 might not have any. It makes a big difference at the range. Will it really matter in a life and death situation?

My guess is probably not.

 

[Boats]

I can't possibly speak for all 1911 shooters, but I think that if you could poll them, you'd find precious few that would abandon all trigger pretravel if they could. A little pretravel "creep" is beneficial in the sense that the proverbial "glass rod" doesn't allow for any second guessing or finger tightening when pressure is applied.

Excessive travel through the pull itself, overtravel, and mile long resets are the hallmarks of a "bad" trigger in my view. I can even tolerate some trigger stacking followed by a "breaking point" as long as it is consistent.

 

[caz223]

If the practice is there, you will be comfortable shooting under stress.
But why would you want to practice with a bad trigger, when it can be improved?
Creep can be tolerated, but gritty feel, overtravel, and the general 'too long' or too long to reset gets old really fast.
Just be sure that if you get your defensive gun worked on, it's by a smith that knows how to tune a defensive handgun, and he knows what you're gonna use it for.

 

[Shmackey]

Pretravel, or takeup, is not creep.

 

[P95Carry]

Pretravel, or takeup, is not creep.

Agreed Shmackey .... I consider true creep as ''active travel judder'' ..... a hesitancy and roughness ..... not silky smooth progressive etc.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i would take a heavy smooth trigger over a lighter creepy one. smoothness is more important then trigger weight and both are less important the sight alignment...which is what is affected by a bad trigger

i would have more confidence in my ability to hit a target with a smoother trigger

lone gunman - the DA on my duty gun breaks right around 8 lbs, with the worst of my pieces about 10 lbs...but they are all glass smooth

 

[Lone_Gunman]

9mmepiphany,

My trigger scale only goes up to 8 lbs... no DA gun I own breaks lower than that.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i have a ernest langdon tuned beretta 96 that breaks right at 8 lbs and a sig 220 tuned by a local smith that breaks just a bit lighter. both exhiibit 100% ignition with factory ammo (ranger) and i have enough confidence in both to carry them as duty weapons