Trigger control is one of the fundamental skills required for accurate shooting. Even if you aim perfectly, you are going to compromise your accuracy if your trigger pull is inconsistent. The good news is that proper trigger control is relatively simple in theory, although it does take regular practice to perfect.
Here are some tips for improving your skills:
Know How to Squeeze the Trigger Properly
Before you can start improving your trigger pull technique, you need to know how what correct trigger control looks like. When you place your finger on the trigger, it should fall in the middle of the fleshy part of your index finger, between the last knuckle and the tip of your finger.
The act of “pulling” the trigger is less of a “pull” and more of a squeezing motion. You should apply pressure with your index finger and keep the rest of your fingers and your hand steady. Learning how to isolate your trigger finger can be tricky, but practice makes perfect. Continue to squeeze until the trigger breaks, which is the point where the weapon fires, and then keep squeezing until the trigger stops moving. It is important to keep in mind that the trigger break and trigger stop can vary depending on the model of the gun. One popular saying is that when you are squeezing the trigger properly, it should almost be a surprise when the gun actually fires. This is because the goal is to not flinch in anticipation or stop squeezing and remove your finger right at the point where the gun fires.
Practice Consistently
Like any skill, proper firearm handling requires effort to develop and maintain. Going to the range infrequently probably won’t be enough to keep your skills sharp. However, the cost of ammunition and the time commitment to get to the range make it difficult to shoot every day. Luckily, you don’t need to actually fire your weapon to practice your trigger pull. Dry fire is incredibly useful to accommodate daily practice into your schedule without using ammo. Make sure your gun is unloaded and complete a set number of trigger pull drills each day. 50 is often a good target, although you can lower or raise this depending on how much time you have. One great drill to try if you tend to jerk the gun while firing is to place a coin on the front sights. This should not fall off and if it does, you need to work on controlling your trigger squeeze and not flinching.
Work on Your Grip As Well
Your trigger pull technique is strongly related to your grip. If you are holding the firearm correctly, you are more likely to keep your aim consistent even if you slightly jerk the trigger. Likewise, if your grip is not strong, you aren’t going to be able to keep your sights on the target even with a perfect trigger squeeze. A proper grip also allows you to place your index finger on the trigger at the correct point.
Consider Training
Reading about how to use your gun and practicing at home with dry fire or at the range can be very helpful. However, it’s easy to develop bad habits if you don’t have an expert pointing out when you make mistakes. Whether you are a new shooter or are more experienced, anyone can benefit from the help of a professional.
Gun Training at The Hub
The Hub offers one-on-one firearms training as well as group classes to help you improve your skills. We also have shooting ranges at both of our stores and a MILO virtual range in Tucson.
