Movies, finger off the trigger!

U

UncleEd

Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
1,646
Location
N. Georgia
It's now common practice to teach safety with the trigger finger
not inside the trigger guard let alone resting on the trigger.

And that's certainly a good practice, it coming along among
other reasons for police not to accidentally shoot a suspect
or a partner under close, intense situations. Ditto for the
"civilian" gun carrier.

And I think it's a silly depiction especially when it comes to
movies. Too often I've seen the bad guys also showing
due diligence by not putting fingers on the trigger. Ha!

Meanwhile the good guys show their restraint as well.
Maybe or again a ha!

It is known that under stress people put their fingers
on the triggers many, many times. It's a natural to do
so and folks want to be able to shoot if suddenly faced
by danger. Their safety training is forgotten.

I actually think movies that show "poor safety habits" with
the trigger fingers on the triggers is truly realistic.

Just recently I read a poster criticizing a film because such a
dangerous practice was depicted, saying the actors and
the director were dumb. He's the one not in touch with reality.

Perhaps movies should NOT show dangerous trigger control.
After all, movies often fudge such things as "how to" make a bomb,
leaving out details.

One point, I believe, is that those who shoot exclusively revolvers
in double action are most likely to put their fingers on the triggers.
They are used to the factory 10-12 pound standard DA trigger as
the guns' "safety." (Note: I'm stressing the standard 10-12 pound triggers.)
 
UncleEd said:
I actually think movies that show "poor safety habits" with
the trigger fingers on the triggers is truly realistic.
Click to expand...
That would depend on who the actor/actress is portraying. If the character is supposed to have minimal training and experience or the movie is set in a period when what we call "trigger discipline" was not viewed the same way as it is now, then yes, it would be realistic.
 
eddiememphis said:
No.

Movies aren't real.

They have no obligation to teach viewers about anything.
Click to expand...
True, but…

I feel producers should portray current safe practices for various items.

You see many shows where the actors put on their seat belts when getting in a car.

I notice those lapses in judgement of the shows’ production staff.

Think about a youngster whose opinion is easily swayed.
 
A while ago I posted an image of Roy Rogers, and several other B Western stars. All were shown with their revolvers drawn. That image was chastised, berated, condemned by the finger on the trigger crowd. Of course they all were toting Single Action revolvers and the hammers were down but the safety nuts were adamant.

Kevin
 
The finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard rule, I think,
really became the emphasized norm with the proliferation of the
Glock type triggers, be they heavy or lightened. When police
transitioned to the Glock style, many LEOs were still used to
handling double action revolvers or DA/SA autos. The result:
Unintentional discharges.

Be that as it may, I do believe many if not most shooters will jam
their fingers inside the guard during times of stress whether
the heavy DA revolver or the Glock style action.
 
UncleEd said:
It's now common practice to teach safety with the trigger finger
not inside the trigger guard let alone resting on the trigger.

And that's certainly a good practice, it coming along among
other reasons for police not to accidentally shoot a suspect
or a partner under close, intense situations. Ditto for the
"civilian" gun carrier.

And I think it's a silly depiction especially when it comes to
movies. Too often I've seen the bad guys also showing
due diligence by not putting fingers on the trigger. Ha!

Meanwhile the good guys show their restraint as well.
Maybe or again a ha!

It is known that under stress people put their fingers
on the triggers many, many times. It's a natural to do
so and folks want to be able to shoot if suddenly faced
by danger. Their safety training is forgotten.

I actually think movies that show "poor safety habits" with
the trigger fingers on the triggers is truly realistic.

Just recently I read a poster criticizing a film because such a
dangerous practice was depicted, saying the actors and
the director were dumb. He's the one not in touch with reality.

Perhaps movies should NOT show dangerous trigger control.
After all, movies often fudge such things as "how to" make a bomb,
leaving out details.

One point, I believe, is that those who shoot exclusively revolvers
in double action are most likely to put their fingers on the triggers.
They are used to the factory 10-12 pound standard DA trigger as
the guns' "safety." (Note: I'm stressing the standard 10-12 pound triggers.)
Click to expand...
Coming from the USCG when I was on a boarding team in the late 70s I was the shot gun man and was first on deck to secure the area for the rest of the party. Finger off trigger is only for the police. Special operators in the military always have their fingers on the trigger otherwise they will be dead. Movies are politically motivated to show finger off the trigger. If I draw my CCW I intend to use it and have my finger on the trigger. Also, I always carry one in the chamber cocked and ready to go.
 
cfullgraf said:
I feel producers should portray current safe practices for various items.
Click to expand...

Following that logic, everyone would wear seatbelts, drive the speed limit, not smoke or do illegal and dangerous drugs... or murder people.

'Check it! Dude just killed 37 people... but he didn't put his trigger on the finger until he was ready to shoot!'

Hollywood is make-believe, sometimes more so, sometimes less... but it is solidly in the nebulous land of Make Believe, and that goes not only for the trigger finger, and firearms in general (the 100rd magazine comes to mind, too...) but also an endless list of just about everything else. If anyone is looking at a movie to instill safe firearm habits... or any other life-lesson... I feel sorry for you.
 
UncleEd said:
It is known that under stress people put their fingers
on the triggers many, many times. It's a natural to do
so and folks want to be able to shoot if suddenly faced
by danger. Their safety training is forgotten.

One point, I believe, is that those who shoot exclusively revolvers
in double action are most likely to put their fingers on the triggers.
They are used to the factory 10-12 pound standard DA trigger as
the guns' "safety." (Note: I'm stressing the standard 10-12 pound triggers.)
Click to expand...
The people who do this don't practice enough, IMO. It should be as automatic as flipping off the safety if there is one, because keeping the finger outside the trigger guard IS a safety.

TV and films don't accurately portray the finer details like they should in many cases; I wouldn't assume they represent the majority of shooters, although I have noticed more good and bad guys keeping their booger picker off the bang switch before the gunfight starts than used to be the norm. I just wish they wouldn't be racking their slides two or three times, or holding a gun on someone that wasn't obviously out of battery (like a 1911 with the hammer down).
 
bangswitch said:
I just wish they wouldn't be racking their slides two or three times, or holding a gun on someone that wasn't obviously out of battery (like a 1911 with the hammer down).
Click to expand...

The list of gun nonsense in movies is nearly endless. My new favorite is the CGI muzzle flashes... they don't even want to spend the money on 'real' blank ammunition, or in the light of that idiot SmartAlec Baldwin's mishap... maybe they don't trust those savvy actors.
 
dobedo said:
Coming from the USCG when I was on a boarding team in the late 70s I was the shot gun man and was first on deck to secure the area for the rest of the party. Finger off trigger is only for the police. Special operators in the military always have their fingers on the trigger otherwise they will be dead. Movies are politically motivated to show finger off the trigger. If I draw my CCW I intend to use it and have my finger on the trigger. Also, I always carry one in the chamber cocked and ready to go.
Click to expand...

Apparently the US military has changed!​

Rule 3: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.​

This rule is another way to ensure that while handling your weapon, you do not unintentionally pull the trigger. While on patrol or moving in and out of vehicles or tight spaces, it’s possible for your weapon safety switch to get hung up on gear. This rule prevents negligent discharges by ensuring that you keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire your weapon.
 
UncleEd said:
Be that as it may, I do believe many if not most shooters will jam
their fingers inside the guard during times of stress whether
the heavy DA revolver or the Glock style action.
Click to expand...
Perhaps. Most "shooters" (I use that term loosely. We should really just be saying "gun owners") rarely practice and even fewer have any decent training. Habits are powerful things and developing good habits is something that every "shooter" should strive for. Maintaining good trigger discipline is no harder than remembering how to operate the slide, safety, decocker or charging handle under stress. It just requires repetitive practice.
 
just think of TV like a cartoon, or theater, 99.99% of it is not really to be taken seriously. I also notice in shows how the finger is used, never really noticed anything too out of the ordnary though.
 
cfullgraf said:
True, but…

I feel producers should portray current safe practices for various items.

Think about a youngster whose opinion is easily swayed.
Click to expand...
So make your own movies.

To state what producers should do "because of the children" is utopian drivel.

If a kid watches Die Hard and decides to tape a Beretta to his back, is that the responsibility of director John McTiernan?
If a kid tries to cock a Model 1887 shotgun by spinning it in his hand after watching Terminator 2, is that the fault of Arnold?

Anyone that gets gun handling tips solely from movies probably shouldn't be around firearms in the first place.
 
It seems like I have seen the finger off of the trigger more since Baldwin's accidental shooting that ever before. Maybe thats just my impression?
 
lightman said:
It seems like I have seen the finger off of the trigger more since Baldwin's accidental shooting that ever before. Maybe thats just my impression?
Click to expand...
It's just your impression. The practice has been seen on TV and movies for a decade or two.
The finger outside the trigger guard is Hollywood's recognition of current training practi es
by police forces and perhaps the military and probably gun training schools.
 
JJFitch said:

Apparently the US military has changed!​

Rule 3: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.​

This rule is another way to ensure that while handling your weapon, you do not unintentionally pull the trigger. While on patrol or moving in and out of vehicles or tight spaces, it’s possible for your weapon safety switch to get hung up on gear. This rule prevents negligent discharges by ensuring that you keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire your weapon.
Click to expand...
I'd also read (somewhere, sorry for lack of citation) that while clearing buildings, emphasis on not muzzling co-workers has been relaxed. The claim was it takes less time to engage trigger than it does to than get a weapon pointed in the direction of potential threats. I remember that the person quoted said the adaptation was "just don't shoot the people dressed like you". Unnamed source that I can't cite, so take it with a grain of salt...maybe someone else saw it too?
 
UncleEd said:
Perhaps movies should NOT show dangerous trigger control.
After all, movies often fudge such things as "how to" make a bomb,
leaving out details.
Click to expand...
You may be giving them too much credit.
And, a significant part of it is that the people in that industry can only depict what they know--and they don't know so very much (and, it obviously "shows").

The actors are not hired based on knowledge. And, as a general rule they are never given working arms, but are given solid rubber copies of arms with no moving parts (the bits with moving parts are done separately and cut in later, typically). So, how would they learn things?

And, also in some fairness around 80% of the "audience" knows no better, either. So, they'll not get significant "push back" from the fanbase.

Mind, the number of unsafe things depicted in movies & tv would fill volumes. Driving without seatbelts, not locking doors, any number of fire hazards and the like.
Really, every profession depicted on TV/movies is 100% wrong, and near the opposite of what is depicted. So, why should we epect them to be any better with firearms?
 
UncleEd said:
It's now common practice to teach safety with the trigger finger
not inside the trigger guard let alone resting on the trigger.

And that's certainly a good practice, it coming along among
other reasons for police not to accidentally shoot a suspect
or a partner under close, intense situations. Ditto for the
"civilian" gun carrier.

And I think it's a silly depiction especially when it comes to
movies. Too often I've seen the bad guys also showing
due diligence by not putting fingers on the trigger. Ha!

Meanwhile the good guys show their restraint as well.
Maybe or again a ha!

It is known that under stress people put their fingers
on the triggers many, many times. It's a natural to do
so and folks want to be able to shoot if suddenly faced
by danger. Their safety training is forgotten.

I actually think movies that show "poor safety habits" with
the trigger fingers on the triggers is truly realistic.

Just recently I read a poster criticizing a film because such a
dangerous practice was depicted, saying the actors and
the director were dumb. He's the one not in touch with reality.

Perhaps movies should NOT show dangerous trigger control.
After all, movies often fudge such things as "how to" make a bomb,
leaving out details.

One point, I believe, is that those who shoot exclusively revolvers
in double action are most likely to put their fingers on the triggers.
They are used to the factory 10-12 pound standard DA trigger as
the guns' "safety." (Note: I'm stressing the standard 10-12 pound triggers.)
Click to expand...

Its Hollywood. Hollywood is fake. Get over it. There's enough actual problems in this world to keep one busy for quite some time.
 
UncleEd said:
It's now common practice to teach safety with the trigger finger
not inside the trigger guard let alone resting on the trigger.

And that's certainly a good practice, it coming along among
other reasons for police not to accidentally shoot a suspect
or a partner under close, intense situations. Ditto for the
"civilian" gun carrier.

And I think it's a silly depiction especially when it comes to
movies. Too often I've seen the bad guys also showing
due diligence by not putting fingers on the trigger. Ha!

Meanwhile the good guys show their restraint as well.
Maybe or again a ha!

It is known that under stress people put their fingers
on the triggers many, many times. It's a natural to do
so and folks want to be able to shoot if suddenly faced
by danger. Their safety training is forgotten.

I actually think movies that show "poor safety habits" with
the trigger fingers on the triggers is truly realistic.

Just recently I read a poster criticizing a film because such a
dangerous practice was depicted, saying the actors and
the director were dumb. He's the one not in touch with reality.

Perhaps movies should NOT show dangerous trigger control.
After all, movies often fudge such things as "how to" make a bomb,
leaving out details.

One point, I believe, is that those who shoot exclusively revolvers
in double action are most likely to put their fingers on the triggers.
They are used to the factory 10-12 pound standard DA trigger as
the guns' "safety." (Note: I'm stressing the standard 10-12 pound triggers.)
Click to expand...
Range safety and combat are not the same. If I'm engaged with a weapon in hand that range rule does not apply. I also have the saftey off. Additional emphasis need be placed on proper target identification and what's beyond.
 
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