REMEMBER OK JOE?

[Matthew Temkin]

We older gents are well aware of OK Joe’s insistence on using the middle finger on the trigger.
(That was 20 something years ago and I haven’t seen him posting in years.)
And how a trainer with the Vermont State Police brought this to his agency wiith great effect.
Well—18 months ago I moved to the Low Country of S.C.
I recently joined the RETIRED OFFICER’S ASSOCIATION of the Low Country.
At tonight’s meeting I learned that our president is retired from the VT State Police as a SWAT commander.
Naturally I asked him about this—he smiled and gave me some of inside information.
Let’s just say that said trainer who preached middle finger was considered an odd ball in the Agency and was eventually ordered not to teach the technique anymore.

 

[aaaaa]

Middle finger on the trigger sounds very strange and awkward, unless maybe his first finger had been cut off in a wood shop accident. It seems to me that the first finger has more manual dexterity than any of the other fingers, so who would use the middle finger unless just goofing off at the range, but then we are not supposed to goof off at the range, so . . .

 

[kje54]

I just tried it (dry firing) and yes it can be done but it's awkward. I'm sure if someone wanted or needed to it can become comfortable over time. But as for myself I have no need or desire to use this technique even though my trigger finger has an intermittent case of "trigger finger".

Trigger finger is a condition affecting tendons that flex the fingers and thumb, typically resulting in a sensation of locking or catching when you bend and straighten your digits. Other symptoms may include pain and stiffness in the fingers and thumb. The condition is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis.

The ring finger and thumb are most commonly affected digits; however, the condition can affect any of the digits. When the thumb is involved, the condition is, appropriately, called trigger thumb.

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/trigger-finger/

 

[Jim Watson]

I remember those under the alias of "Smoke 'em Joe".
The technique worked well for me, independently developed without input from Joe, with a High Standard DA derringer at Across the Card Table Range. Nothing else.

Something nearly as bizarre was the advice by a couple of tacticians who deigned to attend an IDPA match.
No middle finger but their expert advise was that you MUST have a Glock 17 because:
1. It holds 18 rounds which gives you 9 double taps and you MUST shoot twice for "stopping power".
2. It has a square slide and you MUST direct your shots looking down the corner because sights are too slow.

Never saw them again.

 

[jak67429]

Only one I knew who used his middle finger as trigger finger was my dad. He lost his right index finger in a car accident before I was born. Didn't hurt his shotgun shooting any.

 

[Jim Watson]

I know two guys missing half of a forefinger due to the fine old tradition of holding a revolver with one hand on the grip and the other forefinger in the muzzle to avoid fingerprints in the blue. They did it with loaded guns and a finger on the trigger.
One lost the distal end of his right forefinger and shoots with the middle finger, the other was holding with the left forefinger and is less inconvenienced.

 

[Jeff White]

I remember that someone promoted a technique using the index finger along the frame and the middle finger to press the trigger as being more natural because you just pointed your finger that the pistol would be on target. I don't know that it ever caught on anywhere........................

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, there was a SF series in which the personal weapon was operated that way. I didn't get the impression the author was real gun savvy.

 

[RayRoy]

I'm just happy to be old enough to remember that but also not old enough to not remember that.

 

[Mk VII]

I seem to recall that was the way the US Army taught people to do it in the days of the Trapdoor Springfield.

 

[Jim Watson]

The British “mad minute” of rapid fire with the SMLE called for firing with the middle finger as the forefinger and thumb run the bolt.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been doing a lot of dry fireing with a new rifle and have been playing with the idea of using middle finger for the trigger so my hand is closer to the bolt. I'll be testing this theory after I get it sighted in and start trying for speed

 

[StrawHat]

I've been doing a lot of dry fireing with a new rifle and have been playing with the idea of using middle finger for the trigger so my hand is closer to the bolt. I'll be testing this theory after I get it sighted in and start trying for speed

Jim mentioned the Mad Minute. Research it a bit to help in your testing.

The British “mad minute” of rapid fire with the SMLE called for firing with the middle finger as the forefinger and thumb run the bolt.

Kevin

 

[armoredman]

I just tried it (dry firing) and yes it can be done but it's awkward. I'm sure if someone wanted or needed to it can become comfortable over time. But as for myself I have no need or desire to use this technique even though my trigger finger has an intermittent case of "trigger finger".



https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/trigger-finger/

i have that in both ring and little finger of both hands...can make doing things interesting, especially as it gets worse.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Paul Harrell's take on this topic:

 

[The Night Rider]

I remember that someone promoted a technique using the index finger along the frame and the middle finger to press the trigger as being more natural because you just pointed your finger that the pistol would be on target. I don't know that it ever caught on anywhere........................

Caught on with Jack Ruby

 

[luzyfuerza]

I don't know how many times I've seen that pic...and never noticed which finger Ruby was using!

 

[The Night Rider]

I don't know how many times I've seen that pic...and never noticed which finger Ruby was using!

I don't think I ever would have noticed except for I watched some documentary that postulated that Ruby was a trained CIA Hitman.

They claimed his grip on the gun proved it and the fact that he had terminal cancer was that much more evidence.

 

[aaaaa]

I remember that someone promoted a technique using the index finger along the frame and the middle finger to press the trigger as being more natural because you just pointed your finger that the pistol would be on target. I don't know that it ever caught on anywhere........................

But middle finger firing with the index finger pointing forward on a revolver might result in a burned fingertip?

 

[Matthew Temkin]

According to Minnery in his HOW TO KILL series the O.S.S. trained assassins to use the middle finger.
He also stated that since Ruby used this method it hinted that he may have been a trained assassin.
However—others have written that Ruby had a part of his traditional trigger finger bitten off in a fight.

 

[Bcwitt]

When pulling a j frame from a pocket holster, i find my middlefinger is often in a better position to fire. Not by intention, but would be faster to just shoot then to reposition my hand.