What Part of Finger to Pull Trigger?

Z

zebco

New member
Someone in another thread made this quote in a post:

This is like what part of the finger does one use to pull the trigger - pad or first joint?

Both are fine, both have their uses - it depends on the application.
Click to expand...

This got me thinking a little. When I first started shooting, I received some help from a range guy who is an NRA instructor. He told me to use the padded part of the forefinger, and not the joint. So what do you guys think? And according to the guy who made the above quote, what are the various uses and applications?
 
It depends on the gun , auto , revolver ,SA, DA .Dimensions of your hand ,dimensions of the gun --- Whatever works best for you !!!:)
 
PAD, use your pad always. The shots will alway be better because you will feel the trigger more. The only reason I can see using the inside joint is strength issues, for women/elderly. If thats the case get some snap caps and start dry firing, or a firearm with a lighter trigger pull. I have never used it and consider it improper technique.
 
The latest I read from Massad Ayoob was use the bone of the joint. I've never read this from anyone else, but the guy has a lot of cred.

That said, I personally feel less than comfortable using the joint and prefer to use the pad of the forefinger.

There are some people - Mas being one, Todd Green being another - whose points of view are worth considering. The problem comes when good and proven shooters and coaches have divergent opinions on the best way to shoot.
 
Using the joint is the incorrect way to shoot, at least for me. I dont even consider it and when I see people shooting like that I think its foolish. To me it seems it would move the firearm around way more. I'll stick to my PAD, thank you.
 
I agree, bearone2. I didn't know how it would affect it exactly but figured it would pull to the right. Maybe even wave back and forth with subsequent shots.
 
Ever since being taught, I instinctively use the padded part of the finger and do fine. Next time I go to the range I'm going to try with the joint just to see what happens.
 
To give an unequivocal answer, I'd say, "it depends." For shooting that doesn't require leverage, the pad or even the tip of the trigger finger works very well. For example, my wife's Smith & Wesson Model 41 has an extremely sensitive single action trigger. I'd be surprised if the pull on that trigger was as much as 3 pounds. Firing that requires a surgeon's deftness and, absolutely, using the pad of the trigger finger works best with it.

On the other hand, I fire primarily double action revolvers. Some of my revolvers have relatively heavy pulls in da, 12 pounds or so. To fire them accurately I must rest the trigger on the crease between the first and second joint of my trigger finger. Why? Because I need the leverage supplied by a deeper hold in order to pull the trigger straight back and not torque the gun out of alignment. If I were to put just the pad of my trigger finger on the trigger I would not have enough leverage to pull the trigger straight back. The effort of pulling the trigger would inevitably cause me to break my wrist in the direction of my trigger finger. That means my shots would be off to the right, inasmuch as I'm right handed. By inserting the trigger finger more deeply, I cure that problem.

If you doubt me on this, try firing a double action revolver with just the pad of your finger on the trigger. I think you'll see what I mean very quickly. Btw, Jerry Miculak recommends the crease on the trigger method for double action shooting, so I'm not alone in this.
 
For me it depends on the firearm.

My MarkIII .22 trigger is so light that I can only shoot it with the pad. If I use the joint I will have no control of the trigger.

For all my CF handguns I use the first joint, especially with revolvers. I get far better consistency this way.

Except for Jerry Miculek, every top shooter that I am aware of says to use only the pad. This generally does not work for me. I believe that a lot depends on the shooter's hand dimensions and the handgun's trigger and grip characteristics.

Here is a link to some of Jerry's advise on trigger placement.

http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/MICULEK4/miculek4.html

H.
 
It depends on how your hand fits the gun. All the sporting shooter techniques say use the pad, not the tip or the joint as the pad should give you the most direct pull BACK. If you use the tip of your finger you will push the gun away from your hand as the trigger is pulled, and hooking it more in the joint will pull it toward the hand, pivoting around your grip, which throws sighting off.

However different guns work differently. I used a friend's .22 revolver and in single action if I didn't use the tip of my finger and instead used the pad I would have been pulling the gun almost completely sideways. The reach was VERY short. When using my 1911 I need to put the trigger against the joint, not quite right in the joint, but up to it, to get the most direct, rearward pull.
 
When training with a Glock 22 it was drilled into my head to use the pad, and it did help my accuracy, but with my double action revolver my accuracy was fine using the first joint. I don't think there is a clear cut answer on this one.
 
For accuracy I use the 1st pad of my index finger. In a self defense situation. I find that it really doesnt matter. Point,shoot, pull that darn trigger!
 
What Mete said - it depends on the gun. It's nice to instruct people to use only the pad of their finger when they are taking a basic shooting course, but if you tried to do that with my .45 AMT DAO backup - good luck - it ain't no Les Baer 1911!
 
Jerry Miculek is a freak of nature...no human can possibly shoot like he does.

There are one or two people like him in each generation.
 
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