Drawing and Finger on Trigger? - Page 2

NC Bullseye · November 5th, 2009, 02:34 PM

And the one that many forget, after firing take the finger BACK off the trigger when your done shooting. Can't count the number of times I've seen students going to re-holster with the finger still in the trigger guard.

Janq · November 5th, 2009, 02:45 PM

The cure for this is dry fire training.

Go home, unload your carry gun removing the ammunition source and triple checking the chamber to be empty as well. But that magazine and round away preferably in your range case and definitely off body.

Next get yourself two empty spare ammunition source and place a snap cap/dummy round inside each magazine.
Holster your spare and holster your gun as you would normally for carry purpose.

Place yourself in a room with a safe area or backstop.
Check your sidearm once more to be empty of any _live_ ammunition. You don't want to wind up in the news featured at this forum in the 'Good, Bad and Ugly' sub-area being talked about poorly!

Reholster the firearm.

Next practice draw and _sight picture_ as at 5/10ths speed.
Focus on threat assessment followed by draw followed by sight picture/sight acquisition.
Do this slow speed only for say half an hour, then call it a day.

A day or two later repeat only increasing speed from 5/10ths to start to 7/10ths.
Stop at half hour mark.

Repeat in a day or two.
Start at 7/10ths and increase to 9/10ths.
Focus to think of your trigger finger placement as indexed. Followed by trigger transition and then trigger actuation management AFTER having a sight picture and acquisition.

Repeat in a day or two.
Go to 1/10ths full speed.

The only way to gain a skill is to train.
The only way to retain a skill is to train.
The only way to fix a problem is to train properly and smartly.
Repeat.

An example of optimal as related to and result of training.
YouTube - Travis Tomasie - The Perfect Reload

I personally follow the exact same regimen described above every second day though my time has extended to an hour of increased _dry fire_ trigger time.
Eventually you will get to a point where your training becomes a mental sub-routine and you will not have to actually think about it further. It becomes hardwired. As long as your training is correct to start (!).

Drawing under stress with lesser or even no training, as related to proper finger indexing, can and does result in situations such as this.

YouTube - accidental shooting

You don't want to be this person, as featured in the news. :|

- Janq

InspectorGadget · November 5th, 2009, 02:49 PM

Muscle Memory is your friend. Find an Airsoft Version of the weapon you carry, practice with it over and over until it is ingrained and it takes conscious effort to place your finger in the trigger. It will also help you in general weapons handling under stress. Also if you have a friend to work with you can work on weapons retention/Close Quarters Combat without using a real weapon.

gottabkiddin · November 5th, 2009, 03:01 PM

I've never had any real training to speak of, except for some instructions from my Navy buddy way back when. The way he instructed me was to keep my finger clear of the trigger until I have the muzzle pointed at the intended target and the finger should be at the ready when the target is lined up. That's the way I have always practiced and have never had any problems with it. It's now so embedded into muscle memory, that I don't think I could change it if I wanted to. He went over a couple of defensive draw tactics which would go against what most would consider safe operation of a firearm, but hey, he's was a Seal team instructor, so who am I to disagree. What I took away from his instruction was what I consider the most important point, (Don't put the finger on the trigger until it's pointed at the target). This can be done even from the hip or using any of the normal stances. For what it's worth.

varob · November 5th, 2009, 04:15 PM

Practice, Practice, Practice.

OLDPUPPYMAX · November 5th, 2009, 04:59 PM

Good holsters have the trigger covered for a reason. You will not gain any time by putting the finger on the trigger as the gun clears the holster.

hayzor · November 5th, 2009, 05:20 PM

Easy to remember:
On Target - On Trigger
Off Target - Off Trigger

sigtaujohn · November 5th, 2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayzor

Easy to remember:
On Target - On Trigger
Off Target - Off Trigger

im with this guy!

jhh3rd · November 5th, 2009, 09:39 PM

You will eventually need some band aids and a lawyer.

boricua · November 5th, 2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamlet

I think I've been placing my finger on the trigger too soon when drawing and shooting. I place it there when the gun is being raised to eye-level, starting at an angle about 30 degrees; watching some officers practicing at the range the other night, I noticed they were keeping their fingers on safe UNTIL the gun was at eye-level. Is this the safest practice when drawing? I tried it their way a number of times, it was hard to keep my finger on safe and not instinctively put it on the trigger earlier, really had to think about it. Also increased the time before I shot and I was less accurate.

Anyone have feedback on this?

Thanks.

More practice.

November 5th, 2009, 02:45 PM	#12
Janq VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,530	The cure for this is dry fire training. Go home, unload your carry gun removing the ammunition source and triple checking the chamber to be empty as well. But that magazine and round away preferably in your range case and definitely off body. Next get yourself two empty spare ammunition source and place a snap cap/dummy round inside each magazine. Holster your spare and holster your gun as you would normally for carry purpose. Place yourself in a room with a safe area or backstop. Check your sidearm once more to be empty of any _live_ ammunition. You don't want to wind up in the news featured at this forum in the 'Good, Bad and Ugly' sub-area being talked about poorly! Reholster the firearm. Next practice draw and _sight picture_ as at 5/10ths speed. Focus on threat assessment followed by draw followed by sight picture/sight acquisition. Do this slow speed only for say half an hour, then call it a day. A day or two later repeat only increasing speed from 5/10ths to start to 7/10ths. Stop at half hour mark. Repeat in a day or two. Start at 7/10ths and increase to 9/10ths. Focus to think of your trigger finger placement as indexed. Followed by trigger transition and then trigger actuation management AFTER having a sight picture and acquisition. Repeat in a day or two. Go to 1/10ths full speed. The only way to gain a skill is to train. The only way to retain a skill is to train. The only way to fix a problem is to train properly and smartly. Repeat. An example of optimal as related to and result of training. YouTube - Travis Tomasie - The Perfect Reload I personally follow the exact same regimen described above every second day though my time has extended to an hour of increased _dry fire_ trigger time. Eventually you will get to a point where your training becomes a mental sub-routine and you will not have to actually think about it further. It becomes hardwired. As long as your training is correct to start (!). Drawing under stress with lesser or even no training, as related to proper finger indexing, can and does result in situations such as this. YouTube - accidental shooting You don't want to be this person, as featured in the news. :\| - Janq __________________ "Killers who are not deterred by laws against murder are not going to be deterred by laws against guns. " - Robert A. Levy Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Op Ed -- The Washington Post

November 5th, 2009, 02:49 PM	#13
InspectorGadget Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: PENSACOLA, FL Posts: 513	Muscle Memory is your friend. Find an Airsoft Version of the weapon you carry, practice with it over and over until it is ingrained and it takes conscious effort to place your finger in the trigger. It will also help you in general weapons handling under stress. Also if you have a friend to work with you can work on weapons retention/Close Quarters Combat without using a real weapon. __________________ Colt 1911 New Agent, CTLaser You do not work for them, they work for you. Senators http://senate.gov/general/contact_in...nators_cfm.cfm Congressmen http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

November 5th, 2009, 03:01 PM	#14
gottabkiddin Distinguished Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Earth, 33°46'18.21"N 84°23'21.87"W Posts: 1,349	I've never had any real training to speak of, except for some instructions from my Navy buddy way back when. The way he instructed me was to keep my finger clear of the trigger until I have the muzzle pointed at the intended target and the finger should be at the ready when the target is lined up. That's the way I have always practiced and have never had any problems with it. It's now so embedded into muscle memory, that I don't think I could change it if I wanted to. He went over a couple of defensive draw tactics which would go against what most would consider safe operation of a firearm, but hey, he's was a Seal team instructor, so who am I to disagree. What I took away from his instruction was what I consider the most important point, (Don't put the finger on the trigger until it's pointed at the target). This can be done even from the hip or using any of the normal stances. For what it's worth. __________________ When seconds count, a Cop is only minutes away. Never hit anyone in anger unless you're sure you can get away with it. "Russell Ziskey" Glock 36, Kahr CW9, Glock 23, Taurus 24 7 Pro DS, Ruger LCP, S&W 642...ect

November 5th, 2009, 04:15 PM	#15
varob Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,275	Practice, Practice, Practice. __________________ Don't believe what you hear and only half of what you see! -Tony Soprano

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November 5th, 2009, 02:34 PM	#11
NC Bullseye Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 162	And the one that many forget, after firing take the finger BACK off the trigger when your done shooting. Can't count the number of times I've seen students going to re-holster with the finger still in the trigger guard.

November 5th, 2009, 04:59 PM	#16
OLDPUPPYMAX Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 73	Good holsters have the trigger covered for a reason. You will not gain any time by putting the finger on the trigger as the gun clears the holster.

November 5th, 2009, 05:20 PM	#17
hayzor Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 32	Easy to remember: On Target - On Trigger Off Target - Off Trigger

November 5th, 2009, 09:39 PM	#19
jhh3rd Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: nc Posts: 420	You will eventually need some band aids and a lawyer.