Shooting question... Do or Don't?
Ok, I have an odd question. Is it better to have a finger on the outside front of the trigger guard or not, when shooting handguns? I have seen several firearms with grooves cut into that outside of the trigger guard and others that don't have the grooves. Also, I have witnessed many people put their finger there and also those that don't.
When I went through the academy the range instructors would get really upset at those of us who put our finger there when we were shooting.
I was just curious if this is a good thing to do or not.
Thanks.
When I went through the academy the range instructors would get really upset at those of us who put our finger there when we were shooting.
I was just curious if this is a good thing to do or not.
Thanks.
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When shooting, the ideal scenario is to be comfortable, accurate and most importantly, SAFE. These should be "no-brainers", but some places I have been and people I have watched (from a distance) leave a lot to be desired.
To answer your question, depending on the specific firearm, size of the shooter's hand, and recoil the shooter may actually handle the firearm differently. For example if you are shooting a baby Browning, nearly everyone must put their last two finders under the magazine to keep the slide from busting the top of their hand. The same shooter will more than likely want to keep all their fingers below the trigger guard when firing a 1911 style .45, due to recoil and ability to "control" the pistol. If you are not holding the pistol correctly, and after the first shot it gets away from you, you still have the trigger finger inside the trigger guard a the pistol could "swing freely around". Granted, that's not likely to happen, but if it did, and you have a light trigger..the negative possibilities are endless.
Since everyone is different and you may hold you pistol different that the next guy, it should not be a problem. So long as each are doing it in a safe manner. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to your question. The shooter needs to be comfortable and safe. End of discussion. How one chooses to accomplish that, is up to them.
Aaron0 -
Most importantly please always be safe, safe handling of the firearm, ammunition etc, use common sense along with maintaining muzzle awareness and control and aware of your surroundings at all times for those that may not be and don't glass and rather use a telescope, binoculars or other optical magnification device as its a bad habit to get into and is a potential accident waiting to happen.
When shooting always maintain proper trigger control technique along with proper breathing, natural point of aim, sight alignment, sight picture and focus and aim small. Keep your finger straight alongside the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to fire and squeeze don't jerk or pull which should startle you every time if it doesn't then you are anticipating the shot.
So long as you are safe then as MOONED said there is really not a right or wrong answer to your question as every shooter will develop their own technique that works for them.0 -
I believe the grooves in the front of the trigger guard are for placing a finger of the off hand (weak hand)there when shooting two handed. 0 -
Not certain if it's considered "correct" or not, but I don't think that if one were to view the finger outside the front of the trigger guard during recoil on some sort of slo-mo device; you would see the finger remain in place. It would most probably slip to the bottom outside of the trigger guard, and then during the slide's forward travel, it would slip back up to the trigger guard.
It's kinda like holding a child on your lap during a sudden stop; you are trying to hold in place (with 1 finger, mind you) a heck of a lot of energy.
Some makers have stippled, ridged, or otherwise created grooves that appear to be for grasping with a finger, but I don't actually think a person of average strength can keep the finger there.
Asb long as you're comfortable with your hold, and come back from shooting with all 10 digits; ya done good.0 -
no matter what I am useing I put my bent T finger directly behind or beside the trigger when not shooting, loose and without any tension, this allows me to slide my finger forward and shoot when I need to shoot.
with a pistol I keep it like, behind the trigger.
When I'm done shooting rifles or shotguns with a side mounted safety, bolt release or mag release, or op handle on the right side, between strings. I flip the safety, extend my index finger above the trigger and check to make sure everthing is the way it is supposed to be with my surrounding and the gun, if it is, I put my finger behind the trigger again.
Oh,[:I] I guess you mean the support hand, I dont think it is good practice, something about shooting to the left or right I think.. but if you can do it well, thats all that matters.
It is better to have an equal amount of force going both ways, or slightly more strong side depending on your shooting style, it is best acheived by haveing full contact between both hands to get consistant and well controlled shots.0 -
When shooting handguns my finger is always on the trigger. 0 -
My real experience is with a side arm. I was taught among other things to always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. I learned to keep my index finger along side the trigger guard until up on target. This has become muscle memory now and I don't have to think about it. I have had one negligent discharge in training (it's NEVER an accidental discharge). The instructor stopped the entire course and brought it to the attention of all persons there. (about 30)He asked me if I was aware what had happened and why. My weapon was pointed down range and the round went in the dirt 10-12' in front of me. It was a high speed very specific exercise that involved three silhouette targets at 10', 13' and 40'. The second target was half blocked by the first. You did this.. 3 rounds on the first two on the second and third. I had a stove pipe round in my Glock 19 on the second shot. As I "slap,roll and racked" the weapon, my finger was still in the guard. As the slide went forward I fired off a round. I have not repeated this mistake since and had I learned the rules better at the time it would not have happened.
I believe that you should learn to remove your finger every time your weapon comes to the "low ready" position. Again this applies to side arms and tactical long arms. I do not know if this would apply in hunting situations as the training and tactics are completely different. You carry, present and discharge you weapon from different positions and in a different way. I fire my long arms from a position on my chest directly under my right eye not over on the shoulder as is traditional. I never tip my head to acquire a site picture.0 -
brute187,
That space for an off-hand index finger, as seen on many glocks & verious others, only has any practical use in Hollywood.
Your hands are complementary & tend to work together. When you pull with one index finger, it's only natural reflex for the other hand to move/try to help. (remember the drill of "bet you can't rub your belly with one hand while patting with hte other")
There is only one handle on most pistols, best to learn to shoot that way. If you want to add the support of your off-hand, cross your thumbs at the center joint & wrap all fingers across the lower 3 fingers of your primary hand in front of the grip frame. Center line of your second hand will be at a right angle to the first one gripping the gun thus bracing from a second direction. Also thusly positioned, your thumb will be off-side & out of the way of the slide when shooting autos.
Any contact with the gun of your second hand only complicates control. Use it to increase the lock grip on the stock & gently pull, not squeeze< but pull the trigger with one finger. Squeezing as one would do with a rifle will change the attitude & position of the gun just when you want it the steadiest.
Jim
PS - Takes practice for it to become second nature but I'll bet your scores will improve!0 -
The US Army, US Navy and US Marines all teach pull the trigger by slow steady squeeze whether its rifle or pistol and I am expert rifle and pistol, even in military police and corrections including sniper training the same applies and was taught and we hit our targets every time exactly as the instructors taught us.
Here is an excerpt from the Marine Corps Shooting Team:
Maintain proper sight alignment and sight picture, Focus on the front sight post, Maintain proper stock weld and eye relief, Know your battle sight zero and make proper adjustments, Know your natural point of aim and maintain it, Practice proper trigger pull (slow, steady squeeze), Control your breathing, Do not anticipate the shot, Take advantage of snapping-in time.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Herschel
I believe the grooves in the front of the trigger guard are for placing a finger of the off hand (weak hand)there when shooting two handed.
Of course they are. Try shooting with a finger of your "shooting" hand on the front of the trigger guard.0 -
As mentioned, the squared off or hooked front trigger guard on pistols is supposed to be for the NON shooting hand index finger to rest on. This "feature" became popular in the 80s, but you still see in in many current and new production guns.
The idea is that the shooting platform is going to be a little more stable with both hands working at the exact same height, and that pulling with the NON trigger index finger on the triggerguard is supposed to reduce recoil flip.
Personally, I've tried shooting this way, and I find it difficult to impossible to actually keep my front finger on a squared-off triggerguard while shooting any pistol with actual recoil. I also find it noticeably less comfortable to try and hold the gun this way, and I do better with a more traditional grip.
Empirically, I think its fair to say that most of the high-level tactical/combat sporting shooters also do NOT use this hooked-triggerguard two handed grip (though a few still do).
If this were really a good way to control recoil, or increase accuracy, you'd think the "big names" would all be using it.
My take is just try it and see if it works for you. If so, shoot that way. If not, don't.
In general, the most important things about your grip should be that it is SAFE, COMFORTABLE (and that includes recoil management), and CONSISTENT. If it meets those three criteria, its a good grip, and if not, it isn't.0
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