2aHawaii

General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: ren on June 15, 2020, 01:58:26 PM

Title: trigger finger placement
Post by: ren on June 15, 2020, 01:58:26 PM
When I went to Army basic, they taught us to shoot with the tip of the trigger finger. After years, shot like that before I started HP. Listened to more experienced shooters and some vids from the AMU and they stressed natural trigger finger placement stressing the importance of a straight wrist.
Back to the range after a few months of not dry firing and back to my old habits. Had lateral groups and took note of body placement and visualizing head to toe what I should be relaxing. Straightened out my shooting side wrist and placed the 3rd pad on trigger. BAM, groups shrank and no longer a lateral string.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 15, 2020, 04:11:08 PM
I guess your rifle didn't like you using "just the tip"  ;D

Tried various placement of my trigger finger as well.  For me, the "sweet spot" (or maybe G spot for Geissele  :rofl: ) is just beyond the swirl of my index finger and where it allows a 90 degree bend between the middle and proximal phalanx.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: aieahound on June 15, 2020, 07:29:40 PM
Now I’m really gonna be thinking about this shi+.
I generally shoot rifle with the trigger just inside the line of the second pad.
Pistol,I shoot with the first pad.
Don’t know why it’s different.
Now I’m gonna be playing around just to experiment.
(Tip being the first pad)
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: ren on June 15, 2020, 10:28:12 PM
This was with an AR grip so your length of pull may be different from mine. The key is to make sure your wrist is in a natural relaxed (straight) position. If its crooked and not natural you are using muscle on the grip and may sway the grip to one side. If I had just used the tip of my finger my wrist would be crooked and not natural, so when I straightened out, my 3rd finger pad ended up resting on the trigger. This was in the prone and again grip might change from position to position. In the standing position I'm more aggressive with the trigger and my shooting arm is in a different position than prone and sitting. You may find a similar experience.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: aieahound on June 16, 2020, 12:12:44 AM
Never really thought about the wrist.
Good advice to consider.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 16, 2020, 09:05:22 AM
Now I’m really gonna be thinking about this shi+.
I generally shoot rifle with the trigger just inside the line of the second pad.
Pistol,I shoot with the first pad.
Don’t know why it’s different.
Now I’m gonna be playing around just to experiment.
(Tip being the first pad)
Like ren said, depends on the grip (or stock) of the gun.  Also need to consider the context or style of shooting.  You mentioned rifle and pistol.  Have to remember that there are different shooting interests for the folks on this board.  Personally, my interest is primarily defensive training and USPSA style matches, but I also am interested in more precision shooting.  There are also many here where the context is more rifle match shooting, hunting, or others.  Ultimately good trigger control is key for all aspects of shooting, but IMO context is key.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: changemyoil66 on June 16, 2020, 09:18:48 AM
Maybe it's because lack of experience, but I place my finger where it feels comfortable naturally.  I wouldn't say I'm a super accurate, but not shitty either.  I can hold my own.  I can gauge my accuracy and speed when I take HDF pistol skill builders.  I'm able to compare myself to other shooters.  Pre CV, we had a pistol qualification, that I was the only one to do it without a red dot that day.  The other 2 guys who qualified had RDS. Everyone else about 6 others failed.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 16, 2020, 09:40:06 AM
Maybe it's because lack of experience, but I place my finger where it feels comfortable naturally.  I wouldn't say I'm a super accurate, but not shitty either.  I can hold my own.  I can gauge my accuracy and speed when I take HDF pistol skill builders.  I'm able to compare myself to other shooters.  Pre CV, we had a pistol qualification, that I was the only one to do it without a red dot that day.  The other 2 guys who qualified had RDS. Everyone else about 6 others failed.
Sounds like you are Awesome!  With a capital A!  :geekdanc:

You should come out for a handgun match soon!  Really get to compare yourself to other shooters, beyond your comfort zone of what you know.  Just sayin'. . .
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Rocky on June 16, 2020, 09:56:50 AM
Like ren said, depends on the grip (or stock) of the gun.  Also need to consider the context or style of shooting.  You mentioned rifle and pistol.  Have to remember that there are different shooting interests for the folks on this board.  Personally, my interest is primarily defensive training and USPSA style matches, but I also am interested in more precision shooting.  There are also many here where the context is more rifle match shooting, hunting, or others.  Ultimately good trigger control is key for all aspects of shooting, but IMO context is key.
I've heard  ::) that not pistol gripping your stock when precision bench shooting helps.
Instead of thumb over grip, keep in line parallel with barrel and your pull is less affected.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 16, 2020, 10:05:42 AM
I've heard  ::) that not pistol gripping your stock when precision bench shooting helps.
Instead of thumb over grip, keep in line parallel with barrel and your pull is less affected.
You grip your "stock" any which was that "pleases" you. . . you do you. . . ;D
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: changemyoil66 on June 16, 2020, 10:32:37 AM
I've heard  ::) that not pistol gripping your stock when precision bench shooting helps.
Instead of thumb over grip, keep in line parallel with barrel and your pull is less affected.

I've noticed this.  My 22 has a pistol grip on it.  So I leave the thumb out.  I do the same when zeroing my AR.  I noticed a huge diff when going for precision shooting with thumb in or wrapped around.  I also replaced my A2 grip to a magpul one and noticed a comfort increase big time.  And the magpul 1 was only $20, so cheap compared to other upgrades.

But when I bench press, I also don't wrap my thumb due to a shoulder injury. 
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: changemyoil66 on June 16, 2020, 10:33:00 AM
Sounds like you are Awesome!  With a capital A!  :geekdanc:

You should come out for a handgun match soon!  Really get to compare yourself to other shooters, beyond your comfort zone of what you know.  Just sayin'. . .

1 day.  I'll hit u up and the other guy when I do.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: stangzilla on June 16, 2020, 12:52:30 PM
I recently changed the grip on my S&W 629 from the stock rubber/polymer grip to a hogue monogrip
the monogrip is slightly thinner and shorter front to back, and I can reach the trigger a little better than with the stock grip
I have more of a medium size hand so the N frame is a little on the large side for me, and it was a reach to pull the trigger in DA and felt very heavy
now with the thinner hogue monogrip i can get a good purchase on the trigger with middle pad of my trigger finger, or right at the distal interphalageal joint.  it feels way better and the trigger pull feels a lot lighter.
still haven't shot it with the new grip bc of corona, but i can tell it will be better than before
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Rocky on June 16, 2020, 12:57:37 PM
You grip your "stock" any which was that "pleases" you. . . you do you. . . ;D
    If I shot precision rifle,
it would give me pleasure
to keep the thickest digit of my shooting hand
from overlaying upon the upper tang of the rifles buttstock
and have it pointed in a frontward bearing
in conjunction with the receiver
aligned with the barrel.   :D
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Inspector on June 16, 2020, 03:29:03 PM
I guess your rifle didn't like you using "just the tip"  ;D

Tried various placement of my trigger finger as well.  For me, the "sweet spot" (or maybe G spot for Geissele  :rofl: ) is just beyond the swirl of my index finger and where it allows a 90 degree bend between the middle and proximal phalanx.
Once the tip is in I am shooting!  :rofl:
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: aieahound on June 16, 2020, 05:57:04 PM
Just made classic quotes with that one Inspector.

Just remember...don’t jerk it.  :shaka:
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Inspector on June 17, 2020, 03:27:36 AM
Just made classic quotes with that one Inspector.

Just remember...don’t jerk it.  :shaka:
First time for me in the classic quotes I think?

Now I am forever immortalized!!!  :rofl:
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 18, 2020, 10:05:44 AM
Once the tip is in I am shooting!  :rofl:
:rofl:

Sounds like a personal problem my friend. . .  ;D
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Inspector on June 18, 2020, 11:14:12 AM
:rofl:

Sounds like a personal problem my friend. . .  ;D
It’s only a problem for you my friend cuz you ain’t shooting!  :rofl:
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 18, 2020, 11:58:13 AM
It’s only a problem for you my friend cuz you ain’t shooting!  :rofl:
Took a 'lil break, but I'm back shootin'  ;D

Had a bit of "ammo" built up, so good to fire off some rounds. . .  8)
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Inspector on June 18, 2020, 12:47:07 PM
Took a 'lil break, but I'm back shootin'  ;D

Had a bit of "ammo" built up, so good to fire off some rounds. . .  8)
Glad to hear you’re back in the saddle again and shooting. I hope you are not too rusty. Man, when I went Tuesday it felt like I couldn’t  hit anything. I need to practice. A lot.

I am building up my supplies little by little. I try and reload at least 100 rounds a day if I’m busy and at least 300 if I’m not. I’m running out of brass tho. So have you been hitting pistols or rifles or both? Have you been practicing at home? Are you trying some drills?
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: groveler on June 18, 2020, 12:49:15 PM
I don't even think about where my finger goes when it is on a trigger.
I mostly trained for self defense pistol, long gun hunting, and military.
You're scared, out of breath, and adrenaline is pumping like nobodies
business.
Sight picture, breath control, don't jerk the trigger, is about all
you can do when your heart is doing 120, you are out of breath, and
shaking.
I'm a finger pad guy.
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: drck1000 on June 19, 2020, 09:45:23 AM
Glad to hear you’re back in the saddle again and shooting. I hope you are not too rusty. Man, when I went Tuesday it felt like I couldn’t  hit anything. I need to practice. A lot.

I am building up my supplies little by little. I try and reload at least 100 rounds a day if I’m busy and at least 300 if I’m not. I’m running out of brass tho. So have you been hitting pistols or rifles or both? Have you been practicing at home? Are you trying some drills?
The rust definitely showed in my pistol shooting. Have some rifle training planned as well.  I expect the rust in rifle shooting to not be as severe as pistol shooting, but manipulations will probably show some rust. 

When I started working from home mid-March, I was doing a lot of dry fire (including reloads and stuff).  But that sort of tapered off after the first month.  Then the handgun class came up on short notice and that was actually "good" and an opportunity to see the effects of a longer break from shooting. 

Have you been doing practice at home?  Assume you're all settled in your new home.  I was mainly working on draws against a timer and picking pretty small targets on a wall.  Was using 1" tabs of painter's tape on the wall.  Was also working on multiple target transitions.  Wish there were shooting matches here and there to test, but hopefully will get back to that in the next month or so.   
Title: Re: trigger finger placement
Post by: Inspector on June 19, 2020, 03:51:03 PM
The rust definitely showed in my pistol shooting. Have some rifle training planned as well.  I expect the rust in rifle shooting to not be as severe as pistol shooting, but manipulations will probably show some rust. 

When I started working from home mid-March, I was doing a lot of dry fire (including reloads and stuff).  But that sort of tapered off after the first month.  Then the handgun class came up on short notice and that was actually "good" and an opportunity to see the effects of a longer break from shooting. 

Have you been doing practice at home?  Assume you're all settled in your new home.  I was mainly working on draws against a timer and picking pretty small targets on a wall.  Was using 1" tabs of painter's tape on the wall.  Was also working on multiple target transitions.  Wish there were shooting matches here and there to test, but hopefully will get back to that in the next month or so.   
I still have to get a couple of good holsters. I intend to carry my S&W Model 10 DAO mostly but I want to carry my Sig P228 as an alternate. I can get holster certified at the range and they will allow me to do live fire draws. I am scheduled to take a CCW class next month. I don’t need to but it was free with the membership. It couldn’t hurt when I travel to other states. But right now all my money is going toward reloading supplies. I won’t be happy until I have a years worth of bullets, primers and powder. So holster and draw practice on the horizon.

I practiced today at the range with my SD pistol (S&W Model 10 DAO 3” barrel). Since I can fire as fast as I like I practiced double taps at 9’ and 15’. I also tested 3 different practice loads. I felt like I did pretty good. At least much better than I expected to. Then I tried just general target practice at 21’. I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to. But the gun is not a target gun. My nephew and his beautiful new wife are driving up to visit us tomorrow. My nephew and I are going to sneak out for an hour or two and practice. Tomorrow I’ll bring out the Sig and see if I can hit with it or not.