Pulling the trigger. Pad of finger tip or first joint?

S

Sling Shot

New member
I noticed last night while dry firing my DA Sig that I could pull the trigger straight back better by using the joint of my forefinger instead of the tip. At first I tried tip and joint in DA, and I could aim a lot better using my first joint of my forefinger. I figured this was because of the heavy pull in DA, so I tried it in SA which is a 4.5 pound pull. I still did a lot better with the joint of finger even in SA. I could stay on aim better without moving all over the place. Anyway, I think this method of finger placement is going to work better for me especially when shooting my pistols. Anybody that wants to add to this topic, please feel free to do so.
Sling Shot
Sling Shot
 
I have heard the argument that using the tip of the finger is the "correct" way, whereas using the finger joint is the way that “actually works.” Another example of personal choice.

I also use the joint of my finger to pull the trigger, as does every other shooter I have ever known in the entire world. I figure for me that it's just a poor, unbreakable habit from my days of shooting evil-doers with my Roy Rogers cap guns and my trusty Red Ryder. Why everyone else has the same bad habit I don't know.
 
Slingshot, when I was in the military, they taught to "squeeze" the trigger using the pad of the finger. They surmised that (for a right handed shooter, reverse for LH) the if you used the tip, you'd push the gun left striking left. And, if using the joint, you'd pull it to the right.

BS. What's comfortable? Do you still hit where you aim? That's all that's important. I still use the pad because it's comfortable to me and I hit what I aim at. I guess you can be trained to do it whichever way you want.

Good luck.

------------------
"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
It will frequently depend on the gun.

At least part of the reason for using the tip of hte finger is that you're less likely to PUSH on the trigger laterally.

Most of my handguns I shoot using the tip/pad of the finger. But I have an excellent custom 1911 that simply shoots better using the joint. (I sometimes forget this, when shooting it, and don't shoot as well as I expect to, until I remember.)
 
I've found that the "right" way for my finger to engage the trigger depends upon several factors:

1) Trigger reach, which is a function of grip size and shape

2) Trigger weight

3) Length of trigger pull

When I can, I adjust things so that I'm using the pad of my finger to press the trigger. But I can also shoot reasonably well with the joint if I have to.
 
While "doctrine" generally states that you should use the pad of your finger, in reality you should use whatever allows you to pull the trigger with the least motion of the sights. As others said above, it depends upon the size of your hand, the reach to the trigger, the weight of the trigger, etc.

On some guns, I use the pad of my finger (e.g., M1911s). On other guns, I use the joint (e.g., double-action revolvers).

Whatever works best for you.

M1911
 
Hi, guys,

The pad of the finger technique is carried over from pure target (bullseye) shooting. With light trigger target pistols, using the pad will cause less pistol movement than using the joint and the finger is less likely to press the side of the pistol.

But in DA shooting using the joint provides greater trigger control and is simply easier. In defense shooting, use of the joint also provides better control and less likelihood of accidental firing. This presumes that light trigger target pistols will not be used in defense shooting, as they should not be.

So, depends.

Jim
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In defense shooting, use of the joint also provides better control and less likelihood of accidental firing. [/quote]

I understand that using the joint gives the finger better leverage, which in turn means better control. But what reduces the likelihood of accidental firing?

It seems to me that since you have more leverage and less sensitivity by using the joint rather than the pad, your odds of firing by mistake go up, not down.
 
IMHO the odds of an AD are only affected by how brain dead the shooter is. Using the pad
is great for bulles eye shootin" w/ the right
gun, but when you are face to face w/ the
bad gut you need quick, accurate, hits.
 
I tend to use the tip of my finger (It is more sensitive than the meaty part by the joint) I either center it on the trigger at the bottom where the trigger curves up or I glide along the bottom of the trigger guard
and pull the trigger straight back.
The gliding method seems to work very good for me, especially on my HK MK23.
Maybe the tip works for me because I have very big and strong hands.
I can't shoot good by the 1st distal joint because I don't have a lot of sensitivity there.

------------------
ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SHOT
AND MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT
 
To some extent, the choice of finger pad or first joint of the trigger finger may be dictate by the particular weapon and size of your hand.

My current .45 is a Para P12, which uses double-stack magazine, and fatter grip than single-stack 1911s. I shoot much tighter and centered groups with this gun by using the finger pad. If I use the first joint, groups get pushed toward the 8 o'clock quadrant and groups open up.

On single-stack 1911, the finger joint is just fine for me.

Hand-size and grip ergonomics seem to dictate the choice, at least in my case.
 
Hi, MattVDW,

In my experience, pulling a light trigger with only the pad can result in an inadvertent "twitch". With experienced shooters this does not happen often, but sometimes it seemed that at least once in every match someone would let go a double.

Jim
 
With Glocks, the joint. If you use your finger pad, the trigger safety will cause your shot to wobble - at least for me.
 
It all depends on the length of one's fingers and on the trigger.If you have a "combat" trigger (smooth surface,and slim) it will be much more likely that you will put more finger through it and operate it with the joint.The fatter "target" trigger lends itself to the finger pad,especially when shooting single action.I use both methods--IPSC style auto shooting= joint.
Single action target= finger pad.
 
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