Finger on or off trigger during WW2

[Kourosius]

Hiya, guys,

Got a kinda arcane question here.

During WW2, was it standard practice to have your finger on trigger or off trigger when you are holding your weapon, but not aiming at a specific target yet?

The reason I'm asking is cuz in a lot of old pictures and footages, you see G.I.s on foot patrol with their fingers on the trigger.

So, I'm just curious.

Thanks.

[cold100onhw1]

I don't know since I'm not a WWII vet. I would carry an m1 with my finger in the trigger guard so I could work the safety in a combat situation. Might be the wrong answer.

[The Wingnut]

'Trigger discipline' is a recent thing. Plenty of photos out there of G.I.s with their finger resting on the trigger.

[Hoshnasi]

I would carry an m1 with my finger in the trigger guard so I could work the safety in a combat situation. Might be the wrong answer.

No practical knowledge of this either, but I'd bet you are correct.

[Condorguns]

Lol, I asked this same question to my Grandpa (RIP) years ago.
It went like this.

Me: How come in all the old pictures you guys always had your finger on the trigger.

Grandpa: *insert your not to bright look* Cuz that's how you make the bullets come out.

Me: didn't you worry you might shoot your buddy?

Grandpa: we weren't that stupid, and he owed me money most of the time so I couldn't shoot him.

lol welcome to life in my family.

[Josh3239]

'Trigger discipline' is a recent thing.

This. Wasn't Jeff Cooper the one who made it, or atleast made it an acceptable practice?

[Kourosius]

Cool. Thank you, guys. Learn something new everyday.

[strongpoint]

in a lot of old pictures and footages, you see G.I.s on foot patrol with their fingers on the trigger.

also not a WWII vet, but i would guess that the rules are modified somewhat in a combat zone.

[cmichini]

also not a WWII vet, but i would guess that the rules are modified somewhat in a combat zone.

And if your Garand safety is working, you need some oomph to disengage the safety before you even have a prayer of discharging a round.

So, you have low risk of ND and high risk of needing to deploy lead pronto!!

[Mitch]

'Trigger discipline' is a recent thing.

As is eye protection, ear protection, and Rule #2:

[Josh3239]

also not a WWII vet, but i would guess that the rules are modified somewhat in a combat zone.

Maybe then. My Army shooting buddy doesn't flip off the safety until he brings the rifle up to fire. As soon as he is done shooting the safety gets flipped back on.

[CrippledPidgeon]

This. Wasn't Jeff Cooper the one who made it, or atleast made it an acceptable practice?

Jeff Cooper coined the 4 safety rules for Gunsight, so they didn't become popular until after the war.

[strongpoint]

Maybe then. My Army shooting buddy doesn't flip off the safety until he brings the rifle up to fire. As soon as he is done shooting the safety gets flipped back on.

what is your friend shooting? note that compared to an AR or similar rifle, the safety on the garand/M14 family of rifles a) is located in a less-ergonomic position; b) requires a less-natural motion to deactivate; and c) requires significantly more force to toggle.

[JDay]

[Plisk]

Research how the safety works on the M1 Garand rifle. It was intended to be carried finger on the trigger and GIs were trained to do so.