Trigger discipline

[Dennis]

Mine sucks. There, I've said it. I've been shooting most of my life. Mostly in controlled environments. I've come to realize that I have poor trigger discipline. When I'm thinking about, I'm mostly good, but I've even caught myself using bad technique even when trying to be correct. I've done a bit of reading and know what I should be doing. I've even thought about taping my finger so it wont bend.

I can't be the only one to cross this bridge. I guess what I'm asking is what have you done to correct this? What worked? What, not so much? I know it's about repetition, but lately Ive become a bit frustrated with myself. I could use some help with this.

[OldFinger007]

Not making any claims nor do I work for them.

I did some research and decided to try MantisX.

Worth a peek.

[G-forceJunkie]

Take formal training classes. As an instructor, the people i saw with the worst trigger discipline were 'I've been shooting my whole life" or 'I shot some in the military" guys. What can you do, practice taking your finger out of the trigger guard!

Hold the firearm at the low ready with your finger out. bring it up on target, align your sights, then put your finger in. lower the weapon. Pull your finger out as you lower the weapon back to a low ready position. Do this 100 times. Everyday. Every week. Every Month untill you beat it in your head to pull your finger out as soon as your done shooting and the gun comes off target. Muscle memory through repetition is how you learn physical things.

Also, when the finger is not on the trigger it should not just be anywhere. When holding a firearm, your finger should feel one of two things at all times: The trigger when your ready to fire, and the side of the gun where your straightend finger should be touching as you hold it. Most guns, especially handguns, have a specific, tactile object you can train your finger to feel. Assuming your right handed:
On a glock, its the take down lever.
On a 1911, CZ, Kahrs etc. its the rounded end of the slide stop
On S&W revolvers its the screw head on the frame above the trigger.
On an AR its the mag release.

You have to know where your finger is at all times by feel: on the trigger or straight and on the reference point. No where else. Not floating in space, not hovering in the trigger guard, etc. 2 spots, period, end of story.

[mk2dave]

What exactly do you mean "trigger discipline"? While shooting are you slapping the trigger, are you allowing your finger to be in the trigger guard, something else?

If in fact you are violating one of the 4 universal firearm rules, buy a blue training gun of your type, and practice as advised. They are about 30 bucks, and money well spent in my mind. I find practicing to pick it up off the table with my fingers in the right place is the best way to start. You could even walk around the house like that. I sometimes struggle to have the patience to go through a dry fire sequence 100x a day for several days. But I've drilled it into my own thick skull that if I'm holding the firearm at all to do anything (move it, clean it, look for the serial number, etc.), that finger is clear of the trigger guard. I got there by doing mundane stuff holding a blue gun my fingers clear of the guard.

This is posted in the non-CCW section, so I'm assuming you typically wouldn't be starting from a holster. I hope you find a method that works for you.

[hermosabeach]

Classes

4-5 days of reminders and practice.

[rodralig]

Mine sucks. There, I've said it. I've been shooting most of my life. Mostly in controlled environments. I've come to realize that I have poor trigger discipline. When I'm thinking about, I'm mostly good, but I've even caught myself using bad technique even when trying to be correct. I've done a bit of reading and know what I should be doing. I've even thought about taping my finger so it wont bend.

I can't be the only one to cross this bridge. I guess what I'm asking is what have you done to correct this? What worked? What, not so much? I know it's about repetition, but lately Ive become a bit frustrated with myself. I could use some help with this.

Huh? What do you mean by trigger discipline...? Or are you referring to trigger control?

If what you are referring to is the latter, you'd be amazed that there are lots of misconceptions on what is trigger control.

For me - rather than going through textbook NRA-style "techniques/fundamentals," I'd take reference from those that have demonstrated performance. Check out the training videos from a couple of the best shooters in the country - Rob Leatham and Mike Seeklander

https://the-bigger-circle.myshopify.com/collections/videos

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[SigSauerP226]

Me thinks it's trigger control while shooting, not keeping the booger hook off the trigger. I was pretty confused at the OP and not being able to keep his finger off the trigger, which is what I understand as "trigger discipline". After reading the replies I believe it is actually shooting he struggles with...? Maybe OP can confirm.

[IronsightsRifleman]

i certainly won't argue against good safety, especially where firearms are concerned. But the kind of trigger discipline that is in vogue today was not what was taught when I was learning to shoot as a boy and, if you watch the firearm training films of WW2, you will see it wasn't taught then either.

[Dennis]

My finger hooking onto the trigger is whats causing me problems. It became apparent when I first tried working with a holster for CCW. Since that time, I've noticed the problem is more prevalent than I'd like to admit. I know it's about reps, but it's nice to hear how others have dealt with this as well. I like the idea about picking up a blue practice pistol just for working around the house. I also like the idea about never letting the finger float. Only giving it one of two positions. Simple, yet something I've never thought about. I plan on taking professional training as my shoulder heals a bit more. I'm only a few months out from my last surgery. All that said, I need to address this before moving forward. This is really a go/no go obstacle that I need to get past. That, and well, while I admit this on a public forum, it's probably something that many wouldn't want to ask about. Maybe your tips and insight might help someone who wouldn't ask the same question. It is kind of embarrassing for me. I should know better, yet here I am.

[SigSauerP226]

Okay so sounds like you are having difficulty keeping the finger off the trigger. I'm honestly not even sure how or if I ever made a conscious effort to place my finger along the frame until I was ready to move my finger to the trigger to shoot, but that's how I am naturally now. Doesn't matter what kind of gun, my trigger finger is always pointing toward the target just above the trigger guard area, until I'm ready. I suppose just handling a blue gun often around the house with the mental focus on the finger never being on the trigger could help. Draw and point, finger along the frame. Need to do whatever will help it become the natural positioning of your finger.

[sigstroker]

Index your finger on the slide stop pin unless you're shooting. You get used to the feel of the round bump.

[rodralig]

Index your finger on the slide stop pin unless you're shooting. You get used to the feel of the round bump.

(yup, not on the trigger guard)

#wordsOfWisdom!


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[XDJYo]

[Vinnie Boombatz]

i certainly won't argue against good safety, especially where firearms are concerned. But the kind of trigger discipline that is in vogue today was not what was taught when I was learning to shoot as a boy and, if you watch the firearm training films of WW2, you will see it wasn't taught then either.

Things change, and usually there's some evidence-based reasons that initiate the change. Just ebcause you did it a certain way years ago doesn't mean it's the right way to do it.

Go on YouTube and watch some of these old military training videos. They're standing in a semi-circle with the instructor standing FACING THE STUDENTS demonstrating grip, stance, how to hold the 1911, etc. The instructor essentially breaks several of the 4 rules of firearms right there. Instructor has his finger on the trigger and it's pointed at the students!

[200Apples]

Mine sucks.

I could use some help with this.

1. Every shot should be a surprise

2. You can't miss fast enough


Think of these two ideas as a philosophy of slowing down when in a hurry when shooting.

#1 has even been debated, argued about here on CGN because folks seem to take the phrase literally, when it should be read with an eye for "between the lines". As the shooter, you are commanding the gun to fire, but you do so ONLY by BEGINNING the trigger stroke. Let the gun do the rest.

Like F1 World Champ Alan Jones once said about driving a racing car: "Driving a racing car is like using a steak knife. You let the knife do the work." - more "between the lines" thinking... which admittedly is something I'm not always good at recognizing, but for sure these two philosophies work for me and my shooting.