DA Trigger Pull

[mbrown]

So, I'm still relatively new to handguns, having bought my S&W 686 revolver last March. So far I haven't shot many rounds with double action trigger pulls. As I've gotten better with SA shooting, I'm now more ready to improve my DA shots.

The question I have is, what is the proper technique for pulling the trigger when shooting DA? Is it a slow pull, controlling each stage of the action, or is a quick pull considered better? Advice? Wisdom? Tips?

[Quiet]

Watch the videos.

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/pdk/web/smith.html?feedPID=00zG15zm84msK0GbWemanhJ0KNWQYqM4

[oghl888]

So, I'm still relatively new to handguns, having bought my S&W 686 revolver last March. So far I haven't shot many rounds with double action trigger pulls. As I've gotten better with SA shooting, I'm now more ready to improve my DA shots.

The question I have is, what is the proper technique for pulling the trigger when shooting DA? Is it a slow pull, controlling each stage of the action, or is a quick pull considered better? Advice? Wisdom? Tips?

If you are new, then take this up in a few stages. First get your grip correctly. Ask someone knowledgeable to show you the proper grip. Then:
1) very slow pull to get the feel of the DA trigger through the entire range of motion, while keeping the sights on target. This will be very tiring for the trigger finger. You will probably do well by shooting one shot at a time and resting the gun and relaxing your hand between shots. Catch your breath at the same time.

I would do this for at least a couple of sessions, more sessions would be even better if you have the patience. Not only does it give you a good feel for the DA trigger, it will also build up your trigger finger muscles. I still do this as an exercise after many years of shooting.

2) Once you are comfortable with #1 (as measured by being able to put a few cylinder full into a small hole), you can then work on speeding up the shot: pull through 80% of the DA travel rapidly. Rapidly as in 2/10th of a second, and you should be able to keep the sights on target also. If the rapid pull moves the gun off target, slow down. You can squeeze the trigger for the remaining 20% to get that surprise bang.

This will help speed up the shooting, but take your time. Focus on techique rather than the number of rounds you burn.

3) When you are proficient in #2, you can progressively increase that first rapid pull to 90-95% of the total DA travel. The remaining few percent of travel will happen more quickly as well as you practice more.

The trick is being able to pull through most of the DA travel while keeping the sights on target. Slow down if you are not able to keep the sights on target. This is what they mean by "you go fast by going slow". Smoothness and steadiness is the result of practice and muscle control. If you take your time, you will get their eventually. If you don't take your time, you will develop bad habits and be hopeless for the rest of your life

Keep in mind that you probably will not achieve professional shooters' speed with a stock revolver. Not because you are not gifted, but because the equipment needed is much more than stock revolver and stock ammo can offer. If you want to shoot like the guys in national competitions, take a lot of training classes and upgrade your equipment.

[rayra]

Always a slower controlled pull/press, with the pad of your fingertip, not your first joint.

As you shoot more with the full DA pull, you'll develop a feel for the stages of it, and learn to adjust the level of force you are applying so that you take up most of the trigger pull with more force and ease off a bit before it breaks for more control and accuracy.

[sorensen440]

slow and controlled
also you should pick up a snap cap and toss it in randomly while shooting
you can really tell alot about your pull and grip when there's not the recoil you expect

[mbrown]

Thank you

Thank you for the advice. I will use it.

[ByTheNumbers]

I have a newb question along these lines. Once you've gotten proficient with the DA revolver trigger, is this a less or a more perishable skill than say, proficiency with your typical DA/SA pistol trigger (starting with DA first, of course)? Maybe it just depends on the person, but I'm curious if there's a generally accepted answer for this question.

While there are pros and cons for a revolver vs semiauto for, say, HD purposes, with a clean gun with reliable ammo, it seems like rusty trigger skills from insufficient practice could end up being the most significant factor when it comes to surviving an actual incident. Well, then again, if most encounters are going to be close enough to smell the bad guy's breath, maybe it's not that critical a point. Or, how many people who keep a DA revolver for protection ever became truly proficient with the trigger in the first place? Dunno...

[oghl888]

I have a newb question along these lines. Once you've gotten proficient with the DA revolver trigger, is this a less or a more perishable skill than say, proficiency with your typical DA/SA pistol trigger (starting with DA first, of course)? Maybe it just depends on the person, but I'm curious if there's a generally accepted answer for this question.

While there are pros and cons for a revolver vs semiauto for, say, HD purposes, with a clean gun with reliable ammo, it seems like rusty trigger skills from insufficient practice could end up being the most significant factor when it comes to surviving an actual incident. Well, then again, if most encounters are going to be close enough to smell the bad guy's breath, maybe it's not that critical a point. Or, how many people who keep a DA revolver for protection ever became truly proficient with the trigger in the first place? Dunno...

It's only a perishable skill if you don't practice it. Revolvers are mostly dry-firing safe, meaning you can drive fire them without worrying about breaking them. Personally I believe that DA revolver dry firing is the best exercise to keep your trigger finger in shape. Shoot a stock revolver DA well, and your other pistols will be much more enjoyable. So don't let it perish !!!

[9mmepiphany]

once properly learned, the DA trigger stroke is less perishable than a well controled SA trigger press.

with a SA trigger, assuming your skills have gotten equally "rusty", there is more of a tendency to "snatch" at the trigger because you know there is "only" a lighter/shorter pull needed.

in the wheelgun vs. DA/SA comparison, your first shot is still DA...and your first shot is always the most important. this is a major advantage to triggers like the Sig DAK for folks who aren't willing to practice as much

[Beelzy]

It is all in the squeeze, not squash or squish, but the squeeze. Smooth and
consistent. Pratice dry firing with snap caps, it will help show you the nuances
of the D/A mechanism.

[jazman]

This is all very good advice, great thread. Patience and breathing is key to me.

[tankerman]

Most people shoot double action revolvers single action because they don't know how to shoot.

Double action is a pleasure.

[ByTheNumbers]

once properly learned, the DA trigger stroke is less perishable than a well controled SA trigger press.

This statement is really fascinating to me and not what I expected to hear anyone say. In some HD situation with a rusty shooter, a DA/SA pistol, and a quick string of shots fired under stress, I would have thought that the first shot--in DA--would be the most susceptible to being pulled off target. I hadn't thought of the SA shots being the ones more likely to be jerked off target.

[9mmepiphany]

once you've learned how to stroke a DA trigger correctly, you really tend not to jerk it because you're concentrating on being smooth.

in SA, you tend to blow right past the point of engagement and mash the trigger into the back of the frame. that's why you need some between travel engagement and let off.

at least this has been our experience during training classes

[rayra]

It isn't 'perishable' in that it isn't something you forget, providing you learn how to shoot properly in the first place. When it's the only way you know, and the way you always practice, you develop enough 'muscle memory' or subconcious repetition (or whatever label you want to apply to it) that you'll do it without thinking about it.
I attribute the oft repeated saw about 'loss of fine motor control' to be more often a case of folks caught out without sufficient practice. If a high-stress situation means you fall apart under pressure, that means you were still having to apply too much conscious effort to what you were doing. Learn and practice until an action becomes almost as automatic as breathing, and you'll do much better under stress - or when it's months between later practice sessions.