Practicing the trigger squeeze

[Dilettante]

I stuck a small spring clamp onto a wooden "handle" so I can practice slow trigger squeezes.
I'm thinking of putting a little lens (prism?) on top so that I can more easily tell how much it shakes.
I've been surprised how much motion I get even with a "gentle" trigger squeeze. It seems as though I have to tighten my grip at the same time that I squeeze the trigger. (??)

It's also got me wondering exactly when the spring gives way on a real gun. Is it just before firing, or just after?
The reason I ask is: I think I could learn to squeeze the trigger just right, and keep my grip just right up until the (trigger) spring gives way. But when it does, there will be some amount of jerk and it could throw off the gun's aim.
But if I'm thinking about it right, it seems like the spring must give way before firing; in fact I think that is part of firing. How can they build it so that that "jerk" doesn't mess up your aim?

I'm interested in any other ideas for finger and hand exercises.

 

[mete]

On a typical trigger there are three stages , first the take up which is light , then the trigger pulls off the sear, then after the sear releases the trigger is easily pulled until the trigger can't go farther. Take up is rarely a problem. Next the distance the trigger has to move to release the sear is creep, when excessive it does cause a problem as can be the weight of pull. When the sear releases that too can be a problem and is sometimes cured with an adjustable trigger stop which is set to stop the trigger just after sear release. ..... The squeeze should be a steady increase in pressure on the trigger. The trigger should be moved straight back. Some shooters even use mental imaging to do it - imagining that you are trying to touch your shoulder with the trigger finger.

 

[IRock]

Why don't you practice dry firing the gun you actually use?

 

[Schmit]

First - don't think of it as a squeeze... squeeze has the conotation of grasping with your entire hand (you squeeze an orange).

Think Press - you press a button, you press a letter on your key board with one finger (only that finger moves)

Second - practice trigger press with a long gun by resting the gun on something (bi-pod is the best) or getting into a good supported posistion and balancing a coin (the larger the coin the more difficult) on the end of the barrel. You should be able to press the trigger (and have the hammer fall) without the coin falling off. The same can be done with a hand gun, get a grip on the gun and rest your wrists on something - place the coin on the end of the barrel and pressssssss.

 

[Graystar]

Dilettante,

As Schmit said, you press the trigger. When you do, don't think about the release. It is well known that the best shots are the one that break as a surprise.

Here are the things I've done that have helped me tremendously. First, when I press the trigger, in my mind I am looking for the backstop of the trigger. That is, the point where the trigger stops moving. To me, THAT is when the shot is over. So I press *through* the shot, not *to* the shot. I do everything possible to maintain sight alignment until I feel the trigger stop moving.

Second, nothing is more important than gripping properly. And I have found that squeezing my fingers *into* my palm helps stabilize the gun through all aspects of shooting. Also, one of the best things I've ever done was to consciously squeeze my pinky into the grip. I realized that I really wasn’t really using my pinky, and it has made a difference.

Personally, I have found dry fire to be a waste of time. But it supposedly has helped other people. Certainly, you should be able to dry fire without losing sight alignment at all. However, I have found that maintaining sight alignment is only part of cutting the X. Follow through is extremely important, and I developed follow through by pressing through the release. That you can only really practice with live fire.

I have found that, when working on these problems, is helps to NOT shoot at a target. Just shoot at an empty wall. With no target to worry about, you can focus on what you’re doing instead of where the bullet is going. Worry about that later.

Good luck.

 

[SnWnMe]

Lock up all the ammo in the house. Get the gun in question out and dry fire. Get a feel for the take up, the creep (if any) and the final resistance of the trigger before it "fires" the gun. Do not try to "pull through" the final resistance of the trigger. Just keep pressing until it "fires". Line up the sights and watch them the whole time so you can tell how your gripping style affects sight picture (if at all).

Dry firing has many benefits especially if you don't get alot of range time. You can work on trigger, grip, presentation, followthrough, and other important skills at home so when you step onto the firing line, you have most of the motor skills and muscle memory to perform.

 

[10-Ring]

Snap cap, a dime on the front sight & ALOT of dry firing has served me well!

 

[ChickenHawk]

I agree with all the dry-fire posts. making some complicated contraption can't possibly be as beneficial as paractice with your real trigger.

PS- You don't need those snap caps if you're practicing with a Glock!

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[Standing Wolf]

Instead of squeezing with my index finger, I squeeze with my entire hand. It helps.

 

[bountyhunter]

Instead of squeezing with my index finger, I squeeze with my entire hand. It helps.

That's strange. Squeezing the hand nearly always rotates the gun off line. In fact, it's on the infamous "pie chart" of trigger pull ailments in one of the sectors... I think lower left. I know the shots go low left when I do it.

Most instructors recommend a firm hold with the lower three fingers and the trigger pressing independently. This is a hard skill to learn, and takes a lot of practice.

 

[Jeff White]

Jim Crews taught me this exercise to practice trigger press.

Open your hand, hold your fingers out straight. now drop your thumb down, it will represent the trigger. Place your index finger on your thumbnail. Press the thumbnail back, but try not to move your other fingers.

You can practice this anywhere with both hands. When you get to where you are pressing your thumb back without moving your other fingers you are making progress. You'll find that you'll be able to press the trigger without imparting a lot of other movement into the weapon.

Jeff

 

[Dilettante]

Shouldn't you have your other fingers curved around, as though you were gripping a gun? It feels very awkward when the other fingers are pointing out straight.

 

[Jeff White]

If you curve your other fingers around as if you were gripping a weapon, it is harder for you to disconnect your index finger from the others. You can see the movement of your other fingers very well if you leave them straight.

It does work. All you are doing is reprogramming your grip so that you use your index finger independantly.

Jeff

 

[Navy joe]

I think it's supposed to be awkward, I have a pretty nice trigger stroke and the awareness of the muscle tension in my 3 straight fingers was enough to make me scream in about 3 seconds. Weak hand? Not a chance.

Another vote for the dime. You should be able to place the dime on the front sight with the gun at a low ready, extend to on target and break the triiger without dropping the dime. If a single action gun thumbcock and repeat without dropping. If a DA gun, keep snapping. If a Glock, do some cool trick where you toss the dime by racking the slide and then catch it again with the front sight. Come close....

Extra points if you can balance it on edge.

 

[sm]

I always done what 10-Ring said. Dry fire lots , using dimes. to view progress.

Jeff White , by golly that is a great tip. One can do this anywhere , especially when having a gun out is not feasible. ( office, ...)

Well I see my weak hand fingers move moreso than strong...guess I need to work on that more-huh?

Funny, I didn't drop the dime weak handed through 3 cylinders ( kframe) , or ~ 15 times with a 1911, but in comparison with strong hand the dime did bounce/move more...

 

[CWL]

Here's a great exercise I learned from Charlie Bronson in the movie "The Mechanic".

Get a lump of clay or a couple wads of Silly Putty (doesn't stain). Hold this in your hand and practice pressing in with your trigger finger (or first two fingers). Because it is a solid and only deforms under constant pressure and poundage as applied by fingers, you will not be able to slap, jerk or make any other common similiar mistakes we all make in our triggerwork. It will also develop finger strength.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Most instructors recommend a firm hold with the lower three fingers and the trigger pressing independently.

That's what old bullseye shooters taught me years ago, and that's what I practiced. Within the past few months, I've reverted to squeezing with my entire hand, and it's helped. I don't "squeeze resin out of the wood," as I heard a shooter put it, but have adopted a much stronger grip. I'm dealing with a bit less red dot wobble these days.

 

[Dilettante]

Where can I see the "pie chart"?

I make lots and lots of mistakes!

 

[igor]

Correction pic