While practicing dry firing (Super Redhawk 7.5"), I've gotten in the habit of tucking my trigger finger behind the trigger between shots instead of extending it above or on the outside of the trigger guard. I imagine it would look weird if I were to do this at the range, especially for people used to shooting semi-autos, where this is less likely to even be possible; but, I don't think that it's unsafe, as there is no way for the trigger to go back while the finger is blocking it. I know it is slower to get back to ready to fire position than it is from the standard index extended position, but is is also much more comfortable, especially with a big, heavy revolver. Do you think this is a bad habit? Thanks.
Finger behind trigger?
- Thread starter laea7777
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Hmmmm. It makes me think of shooters that curl their finger in front of a trigger guard.
Yes, the gun isn't going to be fired, but to everyone around that person a crooked finger looks like it's in the trigger guard. Which is only one reason for the straight finger along side the gun, so that everyone around you knows your finger isn't in the trigger guard.
Yes, the gun isn't going to be fired, but to everyone around that person a crooked finger looks like it's in the trigger guard. Which is only one reason for the straight finger along side the gun, so that everyone around you knows your finger isn't in the trigger guard.
earplug
Member
Its a habit that will get you kicked out of a action oriented match such as ICORE or USPSA. I see no reason to do it.
Hanzo581
Member
Not a huge fan of it. As others have said, it's just universally accepted to straighten your finger out of the trigger guard, and "seems" safer to others on the line.
Hanzo581
Member
He's just resting it there until he's ready to shoot again. I don't think there's many revolvers you could fit your finger behind the trigger on once cocked.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
If you are pointing the gun down range at the target I see no reason to remove your finger from the trigger between shots. It's only when you are no longer shooting you should remove your finger. I would not put my finger behind the trigger, there us just no reason to do it.
Ok, I'll stop doing it. My suspicions have been confirmed. I think the rare exception would be the extremely unlikely event of a defensive pistol-whip situation - to get more of a grip on the weight of the revolver, to increase chances of retention and to prevent an accidental discharge. By the way, I'm practicing double action only, and yes the trigger pinches my finger if I attempt to cock the hammer; that's how I know the revolver can't fire in that position. But the fact that it 'looks' unsafe is enough reason not to do it. Thanks a lot for all the input.
Mizar
Member
Tactical pistol whip, competition whip, or purely civilian focused one - like, you are mad at the postman and decide to whip it, whip it good? Do specify.
Break the habit. At the ranges I belong to if you are shooting on one of the ranges that has a RSO present. You will be instructed to keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you have acquired your target and are ready to fire.
Refer to post #9. The point is, there is little positive benefit to the action, also the
potential for a crushed finger, especially in the stress of a S/D situation.
Hanzo581
Member
Yes, refer me to something posted after I posted my response. He had only mentioned this strange practice during dry firing or range shooting. My answer was already "no don't do it", but now that he added doing it in real world situations I change my answer to an emphatically "hell no don't do it".
ClickClickD'oh
Member
Keep the finger out of the trigger guard. I have had several accidental discharges with rifles because my trigger finger got behind the trigger. My match M70, when I am shooting prone, the fourth finger of my right hand sometimes gets stuck between the trigger and trigger guard as I am closing the bolt. I have had the rifle discharge when I pulled the finger out. Similarly, I have a set trigger on my Anschutz M1413. After setting the front trigger, for an ultra light pull, I had a finger get behind the rear trigger, and in removing the finger, bumped the mechanism and caused a discharge.
Given enough attempts, someday you will bump off the mechanism, maybe you will have forgotten that you cocked it and it is a single action mode, or what not. But I am going to say, keep the finger out of the trigger guard until you want to fire the thing.
Varminterror
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Yup. It's a bad habit. You need to stop.
In my classes, if a student insisted on sustaining this habit, and couldn't overcome it long enough to NOT do it on my firing line, I would excuse them from the class. It's not a safe practice, regardless of firearm type, nor does it bring any tactical, practical, or mechanical advantage. There's absolutely zero advantage, and zero increased safety, despite your misguided logic of using your finger as a trigger block - you'll be more prone to cause an ND because a stress-response causes a miss for finger placement. The way your finger bends, it WANTS to be in front of the trigger, it's only a matter of time before your bad habit lands your finger on the face of the trigger. Let that automaticity carry over into a SA pistol, and bang...
I'm personally questioning why you would ever let yourself develop such a bad habit. If it was an intentional practice, then I think you should re-evaluate your understanding of firearms handling.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
Nah, man...
Just...
Nah.
Get that booger hooker OUT of the trigger guard. Always.
Just...
Nah.
Get that booger hooker OUT of the trigger guard. Always.
grampajack
AR Junkie
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I wouldn't get in the habit of doing it. You will get to the point where you do it without thinking, and then try it with something where there's no space behind the trigger, like an 870, and be really embarrassed or worse. Best not to put your finger inside the guard for any reason if you're not ready to shoot.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Guys, way back in Post #9 the OP already agreed it was not good and he will stop doing it. This horse is dead so......
BobWright
Member
You have that gun out for one purpose, to shoot your attacker. Pistol whipping ~ bad idea. He will come back to haunt you, in many ways.
Bob Wright
BobWright
Member
Even so, there are some unanswered questions..........
Why, practicing double action shooting, is the finger even removed from the trigger?
Bob Wright
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