Origin of "booger hook off the bang switch"?

[halfmoonclip]

Happened on to some pictures of a WWII British Tommy holding a lend-lease Thompson, with his trigger finger laid along the action above the trigger guard, in a very modern day way.
I do remember our Sergeants worrying about muzzle discipline in 1970, but not especially about where you kept your finger on your M16.
So I got to thinking, just when did the practice of safe trigger finger placement become part of the modern manual of arms?
Any insight on when this became the established practice? As a guess, the advent of Glock, and other modern pistols without a manual safety had something to do with it?
Thanks,
Moon

 

[Coyote3855]

I don't know where it came from but I never want to hear it again.

 

[CapnMac]

Probably links back to when "the four rules" started getting widely published. Which, from (potentially fickle) memory would be the 80s.

 

[Jeff62]

I first heard it about 1982. It sounded like an often repeated warning to me then
There was another one but it is R rated.
Some on the firing line got yelled at and threatened with PT til you pass out.
This was before “triggered and verbal violence “ was a thing. I remember feeling smug that I wasn’t the dumbass getting yelled at.

 

[NuclearMeltdown]

I feel like it's something you don't see often in period photographs until the last three decades or so.

This is just a generalization, but I've seen WWII reenactors pose for photos where the whole group of them holds their fingers off to the side of the trigger against the stock. It made the photo look inauthentic -- almost like someone threw 60-year-old uniforms on some guys in Iraq or Afghanistan. In similar period photos, you don't often see that particular style of trigger discipline (if any at all!).

 

[halfmoonclip]

For clarity, I was talking about trigger discipline.
Nuclear Meltdown, your point is well taken. That's what brought me up short, seeing Tommy Atkins holding a Thompson in a very modern fashion. I checked the picture, to make sure it wasn't a reinactor .
It has been ingrained for me, but it took awhile. Your finger just feels good on the trigger.
The transition from double action revolvers to safetyless autopistols likely made a difference.
Moon

 

[lysanderxiii]

Trigger discipline in WW2 was usually accomplished by just holding the stock with the finger out of the trigger guard:



Although, the trigger finger horizontal is sometimes seen with pistol gripped weapons:




Unless action was eminent, even when semi-staged.


And, here were have all three ways,from left to right, "just grab the stock" with a No 4, the horizontal index finger with the Mk 5 STEN, and "all four fingers on the pistol grip".


You fight how you train:

 

[Space Ghost]

If I had to guess, one of my predecessor smart-ass Drill Sgts made it up on the spot many moons ago, and it just caught on...

 

[Old Dog]

I've always heard the phrase attributed to Clint Smith -- a few times by folks who'd know. And anyone familiar with Clint would agree that it sounds like something he'd say.

 

[230RN]

I first saw it in late 1990s when I first got on, I believe, packing dot org. If that helps.

If I may humbly offer confirmation for future language researchers, I lay claim for originating "Don't point a gun anywhere you can't fix the hole."

I believe I first used it right here on THR.

It's not impossible that others may have also come up with the expression independently, but it doesn't matter since it never really caught on anyway.

Terry, humbly clarifying things for future generations, 230RN

 

[herrwalther]

I thoroughly hate this phrase. Finger off the trigger just works better and doesn't make gun owners sound like idiots.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I thoroughly hate this phrase. Finger off the trigger just works better and doesn't make gun owners sound like idiots.

Really wasn't asking about the 'booger hook' phrasing, just the concept of keeping a finger out of the guard.
We used the expression with our junior program kids, because it helped them remember it. But I agree, it does sound somewhat idiotic.
Moon

 

[Old Dog]

I'm gonna disagree just a little here, and say that this particular phrase does not make gun owners sound like idiots.

Sometimes, the usage of otherwise silly-seeming synonyms helps many folks remember rules a whole lot better.

In any case, I think some of y'all are way overthinking the whole phraseology thing.

 

[GRIZ22]

Way too far back to date it.

 

[doubleh]

It certainly wasn't in the 1800's. Look at pictures from then and almost everyone has their finger on the trigger. Sometimes someone is just holding the stock but seldom. Don't know when the booger hook thing first arrived but I feel it makes anyone using it appear to be a moron. There is slang in our language an then there is disgusting slang.

 

[Old Dog]

Don't know when the booger hook thing first arrived but I feel it makes anyone using it appear to be a moron. There is slang in our language an then there is disgusting slang.

Moron, eh? I spent many years as a firearms instructor, and one thing I know, sometimes you have to use some types of memorable terms or phrases to get folks to remember processes or rules. If you feel that "booger hook" is disgusting slang, I'd have to ask how much experience you have as a student of firearms training or a teacher of same, or simply going out in public in 2023. For sure, that'd be about the most gentle expression you'd hear a USMC firearms trainer or rangemaster using...

 

[Jeff62]

It certainly wasn't in the 1800's. Look at pictures from then and almost everyone has their finger on the trigger. Sometimes someone is just holding the stock but seldom. Don't know when the booger hook thing first arrived but I feel it makes anyone using it appear to be a moron. There is slang in our language an then there is disgusting slang.

Your point is well stated and taken. However, I think there is a place for slang and gut-punch verbiage. See Mark Twain’s comments on cussing. My police department used to have a Civilian Police Academy where interested citizenry attended classes once a week for four weeks to learn various aspects of police work. The academy culminated in a range day. I found these classes engaging and downright fun, until my first range day. It got scary a couple of times.
The next class I was in charge of range day. I ended the safety briefing with a very personal story. I told the class how very important gun safety was but especially at MY house growing up. I said, “ I will never ever forget my Father’s last words on this earth; Be careful son, that gun might be loaded...................”
That particular range day, everyone was mindful of the safety rules.

(For those with a stick up, tongue-in-cheek)

 

[kje54]

Never heard that specific phrase before. Ever.

 

[rust collector]

I am not a fan of the expression, but when teaching young ones, using the vernacular gets the point across more effectively. Only have to use it a time or two, but it grabs the attention of the listener. It's like the Gary Larson cartoon about the dog owner lecturing the dog.

I do believe the concept of keeping the finger off the trigger likely showed up in the 20th century, as weapons before then were generally not cocked or were quarter cocked until firing was imminent.

 

[lemaymiami]

Looking back to the winter of 1968... If my drill sergeants ever used that phrase I don't remember it - but they certainly used every other verbal means of correction and encouragement (when they didn't have you by the throat to make sure you were paying attention..). Sand Hill, Fort Benning, -all those years ago. And now I hear that they're going to change the name from Fort Benning - to whatever... . Doubt that any of the well educated fools that run our country ever even considered asking the many many young men and women who learned the basics at Benning or other places around our country - for their opinion....

 

[loadedround]

Can't prove it, but I believe the late Col. Jeff Cooper coined that phrase.

 

[lightman]

I don't know where it originated but it seems like I've heard it forever. Its seems like something a macho type would say to a bunch of rookies. A Drill Instructor would qualify!

 

[230RN]

Really wasn't asking about the 'booger hook' phrasing, just the concept of keeping a finger out of the guard.
We used the expression with our junior program kids, because it helped them remember it. But I agree, it does sound somewhat idiotic.
Moon

No worse than "This is my rifle, this is my gun." I think this was another catchphrase generated by some DI for obedience training purposes only. Bad news: "A rifle is a gun, Sergeant."

And a penis is not a gun.

Terry, 230RN

 

[wally]

I feel like it's something you don't see often in period photographs until the last three decades or so.

This is just a generalization, but I've seen WWII reenactors pose for photos where the whole group of them holds their fingers off to the side of the trigger against the stock. It made the photo look inauthentic -- almost like someone threw 60-year-old uniforms on some guys in Iraq or Afghanistan. In similar period photos, you don't often see that particular style of trigger discipline (if any at all!).

Don't know if it is relevant but the Garand safety is inside the trigger guard so having the gun on safe and finger in the trigger guard is "maximum readiness".

 

[Old Dog]

I am not a fan of the expression, but when teaching young ones, using the vernacular gets the point across more effectively. Only have to use it a time or two, but it grabs the attention of the listener. It's like the Gary Larson cartoon about the dog owner lecturing the dog.

Great post. You've hit the nail right square on the head. As an instructor, I can preach, "Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot" all day long, but guess what? No one remembers that phrase upon the first hearing. As I keep repeating, most often, you've gotta find a way to grab peoples' attention and use language that will stick in their brains... Crude, off-color, obscene, evocative, whatever it takes.

As an aside, if someone doesn't get The Far Side, I don't want to know them. Larson, of course, is a genius and the absolute funniest cartoonist ever.