Trigger Slap - what is it/what causes it?

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Walt Sherrill

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In a recent Forum discussion, one member talked about painful trigger slap owhen firing some of his Glocks. I've also heard this phenomenon discussed when folks talk about some CZs, as well.

I suspect that the "slap" experienced when shooting a striker-fired gun might have a different cause than the "slap" experienced with a hammer-fired gun (and a much-different internal mechanism), but I've had many CZs and many Glocks, and have never that this negative experience.

I think I may have experienced trigger slap once, using someone else's gun -- but it was such a rare thing, I don't remember any details.

What is trigger slap and what causes it.
 
No idea. The only pistol I have ever experienced it on was my P320 compact when firing +P ammunition. It was a faint sensation, but I did notice it. Standard pressure ammunition and I don't notice anything, nor is it enough to cause me to stop shooting.
 
I believe this is experienced with some AK (rifle) users. Probably has to do with the auto-loading firearm cycling and somehow slapping the trigger in the process. My guess is it has something to do with the disconnector.

I’ve never experienced this myself.
 
Here is what it looks like for me. This is what happens with a Glock. If I shoot a lot it will get as thick as a callous you get from playing guitar. I don't get this from any 1911 or from an XDM. I don't get much from a G21 but I will from a G19 or G30. The police guns with the New York trigger in .40 are really bad for it. More trigger time is most likely the cure.
 

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Is there a definition of "trigger slap"? I have shot light weight 9mm pistols and it feels like I smacked my finger on a table. Is that what we are talking about?
 
Trigger slap is usually cased by the disconnect mechanism... One that causes pressure to be applied to the trigger in such a way that it wants to move forward, either fully like a Glock, or a small amount... Or the trigger moves forward and then back, like a little jump.

I believe the masterpiece arms Mac 10 style pistols do this due to how the disconnect works.

I see how the Glock can have it, but I have never felt it.

It may also relate to how people hold the trigger after it breaks... The follow through as it were. They may not hold the trigger rearward with enough force... So the disconnect may be amplified or their finger may jump off the trigger a little and come back and slap the trigger face while the gun recoils...

That would not help on some firearms due to how they function... The afore mentioned Mac 10 as an example, as the action of the disconnect forces the trigger forward a small amount and then back.

On firearms that experience trigger slap, when manually cycling the action slowly, you can feel movement of the trigger.


People claim it happens on the 320... But it's not possible to have actual trigger slap on a 320. The disconnect on the 320 is wholely independent of the motion of the action/slide. Removing the slide and pulling the trigger on the 320, and comparing it to say am M&P, would show you the differences in how the 320 works for disconnect.

So what people are experiencing is not trigger slap, and I suspect it's a pinching or something that feels like or is assumed to be trigger slap.
 
I've had a bruised feeling in the pad of my trigger finger (no actual bruising apparent) after shooting my CZ 75 Compact alot. I assumed this might be what some call trigger slap, but I never perceived any actual slapping occurring. I think it has more to do with the uncomfortable recurved trigger, which is also a bit thin. The triggers on my 82/83s feel wider and more comfy, and I never notice any pain when using them.
 
Trigger slap this term has been around a long time and I've felt it but not in a long time.

It's a sharp sensation/pain in the trigger finger that usually comes as the trigger resets. I've felt it in some semis and in a couple of revolvers. I've heard that a couple semi-rifles are prone to it. It can be inconsistent and intermittent.

It comes, from what I've discussed and read, from inadequate clearance between the hammer, disconnector and trigger. It's possible that the force of the resetting hammer is transferred into the trigger via the disconnector, causing the trigger to abruptly jump or slap forward causing a sensation of pain or intense vibration.

It may also be in a wheelgun that the trigger finger leaves the face of the trigger and as the trigger resets it "slaps" the finger.

It can often go away and reappear. Sometimes with a different ammo is tried.

I have a friend who's flesh was being pinched by the trigger on his Glock and he called it trigger slap. It wasn't trigger slap, just a pinch that left a bruise.

It may be different causes for a similar phenomena.

tipoc
 
I used to have a wonderful CZ P-01 that had some trigger slap. If you'll look at the trigger on that pistol, you'll see that it has a LOT of curve to it. In my mind, the curve of the trigger sort of traps your finger inside the trigger. That means during recoil, your trigger finger is being moved pretty quickly with the movement of the pistol.

That's just my guess at what can cause trigger slap. I've never really noticed it on any of my Berettas.
 
I was under the impression that the term meant the finger slapped the trigger, instead of the trigger slapping the finger.
Like the trigger finger losing contact with the face of the trigger during rapid firing and smacking it instead of pressing it back for subsequent shots.
 
I was under the impression that the term meant the finger slapped the trigger, instead of the trigger slapping the finger.
Like the trigger finger losing contact with the face of the trigger during rapid firing and smacking it instead of pressing it back for subsequent shots.
Click to expand...

Two separate things. One is "trigger slap" the other is "slapping the trigger" you described the latter.

"Jerking the trigger" is another thing altogether. That's where, instead of a steady pull, or press, on the trigger ya jerk it. Shot goes wide.

I suppose you could combine the latter two things. Ya could slap it, then jerk it some but that starts to sound like something juvenile males get involved in not related to handguns. :o

tipoc
 
AK

I've not experienced it in any auto pistol, but had/have a budget AK that was absolutely punishing to shoot. A new fire control system (Tapco) fixed that.

I cannot advise on the mechanics, but the event itself is a painful, rapid fore/aft pulse in the trigger itself during what I suspect is the reset stage.
 
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