- The first rule is simple: only your trigger finger should move when firing a shot.
An excellent illustration of what we mean by “move just your trigger finger” is to extend your arm out as if you were firing a gun and move your trigger finger as if you’re telling someone, “Come here.”
It’s simplest to use your thumb and index finger to move up the high point. To lower it, simply hold it down with your entire hand. When you do so, be cautious not to shift or squeeze the remainder of your fingers.
For ideal results, you should only bend your finger at the second joint.
You will almost always use your knuckle when you want to gain speed because it’s difficult to move any other joints quickly.
However, if we need to shoot faster, that usually means the target is closer and/or bigger, so we can compromise isolating the trigger finger for more speed.
To practice trigger finger isolation, hold your hand in a shooting grip. Then relax all your fingers except the trigger finger. Move it back and forth from the second knuckle slowly at first, then speed up gradually.
Gradually increase the pace and watch your other fingers carefully as you do so. You need to avoid any sympathetic movement of your other fingers.
If you want to follow the first rule on the shooting range, we recommend working with single-shot live-fire drills. This will help you focus more on only moving your trigger finger.
- The second rule has to do with the direction in which you press the trigger, meaning backward.
Some of you might be perplexed as to how we may have such a flexible wrist when our fingers form an arch.
The key to shooting accurately is knowing when and how hard to pull the trigger. If you are fully prepared or almost at the point of breaking the shot, you should be able to shoot without too much difficulty. However, if you are using the zipper pull technique, it may take a little more effort.
By doing this, you only need to worry about pulling the trigger straight back when it is fully pre-loaded or very close to the breaking point.
The next step is to pull straight back by keeping your finger flat on the trigger face.
The purpose of your trigger manipulation is to help you improve your performance. As previously stated, the key component in any trigger control technique is mental control.
Here’s another good example:
Here are a few tips to help you practice and improve your trigger control, an important skill for any shooter:
- Make sure you have a good grip on the gun. This will help you maintain better control of the weapon and avoid jerking the trigger.
- Take your time when pulling the trigger. Don’t rush it, and make sure you are squeezing it smoothly.
- Practice at home with an unloaded gun. This will help you get comfortable with the feel of the trigger and improve your accuracy.
- Try to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. This will help prevent accidental discharges caused by premature firing.
Trigger control is the ability to smoothly pull the trigger of a firearm so that the gun fires when you want it to.
To practice trigger control, find a safe place to shoot and begin by dry firing your gun.
This means you should cock your gun (if it’s a revolver) or charge it (if it’s semi-automatic) and pull the trigger without any ammo in the chamber.
If you’re having difficulty with keeping the sights aligned while you pull the trigger, try taking smaller steps instead of larger ones. And always remember to keep your finger off of the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
Safe and accurate shooting demands constant trigger control. Here are some suggestions for practicing it:
- Start by dry firing your gun. This will help you get a feel for the trigger and how it should be manipulated.
- When you’re ready to start shooting live rounds, start with a low-power target load and work your way up to full power loads as you become more comfortable.
- Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. This is especially important when practicing trigger control, as an accidental discharge could cause serious injury or death.
- Be patient and take your time while practicing this important skill. It may take some time to master, but it’s well worth the effort!
Trigger control is best learned by dry firing your firearm. By doing this, you will learn how much pressure you need to apply to the trigger in order to get a desired result.
Dry firing also helps you to become more familiar with your firearm and the way it feels when the trigger is pulled. As you continue practicing, you will find that your accuracy improves and your shots are more consistent.