Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
I shot some trap recently with an affable and capable older shooter of some experience.
Lefthanded, he used a standard 1100 and shot it to good effect. However....
His trigger finger was jammed into the guard as far as possible, and he fired by clenching the whole hand. While he hit most of his targets, I'm positive his technique kept him from doing better.
And, while I'm happy to help newbies, I don't offer help to experienced shooters unless they ask for some. One can denigrate another's politics, car,profession, choice of dog or spouse, but do NOT criticize someone's shooting.
I've been shooting so long that I do not recall when I started, it was well before First Grade. Mom had shot smallbores competitively, and I do recall her reminiscing about her propping a 22 rifle up so I could take a shot at a tin can when not long out of diapers.
I had decent trigger technique before puberty, another gift from my folks I didn't appreciate in time to thank them for it.
And from benchrest rifle to "Practical" competition to combat, it has come in mighty handy.
Start with the grip. Best trigger control is NOT done with a white knuckle grip. Best description I know is that one holds the weapon with a grip similar to holding a small bird that one neither wants to hurt nor let escape. IOW,Firm.
And, some folks would do well to review where they grip the shotgun. With your firing hand off a shotgun known to be empty, place the pad of your trigger finger squarely on the trigger, THEN get a grip. Practice this until you hit the right spot automatically. And some folks may need a stock with more curve/less distance back to the grip if they've small hands. Note that a cleaner break may occur if one touches the tip of the trigger rather than the center. Simple leverage.
Next, drop a snap cap or expended shell into the chamber and try to bring your finger straight back. While we want a surprise break on rifles and handguns, here we NEED to have the thing fire exactly when we want it to.
Note that using the tip of the finger instead of the pad(First joint should be just off the right side of the trigger) means less padding to "Muddy" the feel. More precise control results.
A technique like this helps improve one's shooting tremendously. Combined with a clean, light trigger, it's a quantum leap.
Few newer shotguns have good triggers. In part this is due to the economics of mass production, partly due to litigation shy makers letting lawyers design their gun and not shooters.
Most shotguns can benefit from a trigger job done by a qualified smith. This is not DIY. Triggers are easy to mess up, and the nominal cost of having a smith do this is money well spent.
HTH, sing out if there's questions....
Lefthanded, he used a standard 1100 and shot it to good effect. However....
His trigger finger was jammed into the guard as far as possible, and he fired by clenching the whole hand. While he hit most of his targets, I'm positive his technique kept him from doing better.
And, while I'm happy to help newbies, I don't offer help to experienced shooters unless they ask for some. One can denigrate another's politics, car,profession, choice of dog or spouse, but do NOT criticize someone's shooting.
I've been shooting so long that I do not recall when I started, it was well before First Grade. Mom had shot smallbores competitively, and I do recall her reminiscing about her propping a 22 rifle up so I could take a shot at a tin can when not long out of diapers.
I had decent trigger technique before puberty, another gift from my folks I didn't appreciate in time to thank them for it.
And from benchrest rifle to "Practical" competition to combat, it has come in mighty handy.
Start with the grip. Best trigger control is NOT done with a white knuckle grip. Best description I know is that one holds the weapon with a grip similar to holding a small bird that one neither wants to hurt nor let escape. IOW,Firm.
And, some folks would do well to review where they grip the shotgun. With your firing hand off a shotgun known to be empty, place the pad of your trigger finger squarely on the trigger, THEN get a grip. Practice this until you hit the right spot automatically. And some folks may need a stock with more curve/less distance back to the grip if they've small hands. Note that a cleaner break may occur if one touches the tip of the trigger rather than the center. Simple leverage.
Next, drop a snap cap or expended shell into the chamber and try to bring your finger straight back. While we want a surprise break on rifles and handguns, here we NEED to have the thing fire exactly when we want it to.
Note that using the tip of the finger instead of the pad(First joint should be just off the right side of the trigger) means less padding to "Muddy" the feel. More precise control results.
A technique like this helps improve one's shooting tremendously. Combined with a clean, light trigger, it's a quantum leap.
Few newer shotguns have good triggers. In part this is due to the economics of mass production, partly due to litigation shy makers letting lawyers design their gun and not shooters.
Most shotguns can benefit from a trigger job done by a qualified smith. This is not DIY. Triggers are easy to mess up, and the nominal cost of having a smith do this is money well spent.
HTH, sing out if there's questions....
