MARKSMANSHIP BASICS - Trigger Control

[kdstitt]

Honestly I don't think about any of those things. I take a deep breath, maybe two or three then slowly exhale until I have pressure in my lungs but oxygen left to stress about having oxygen. (while doing that I am acquiring the target) I have in ear plugs and can hear my heart beating, everything Is set, on target now everything is timing because I have to make my heart skip a beat at the same time the trigger goes off... but this also needs to be a surprise with no movement. It's tricky... But it usually works, I have no clue what my thumb is doing.

 

[Mike Matteson]

Honestly I don't think about any of those things. I take a deep breath, maybe two or three then slowly exhale until I have pressure in my lungs but oxygen left to stress about having oxygen. (while doing that I am acquiring the target) I have in ear plugs and can hear my heart beating, everything Is set, on target now everything is timing because I have to make my heart skip a beat at the same time the trigger goes off... but this also needs to be a surprise with no movement. It's tricky... But it usually works, I have no clue what my thumb is doing.

You don't? It's either over the stock or along side the stock. If you have up straight, that should make your eyes water.

 

[kdstitt]

You don't? It's either over the stock or along side the stock. If you have up straight, that should make your eyes water.

LOL, it's just not something that I have ever thought of, maybe I should read a book on how to shoot better. It's over the stock.

 

[Cstew1975]

I would sincerely appreciate the experienced shooters on this site giving me a few minutes so we can discuss some basics. Very simple. Please answer the following questions, doing so will provide info for new shooters and perhaps also for the experienced guys. Plus this will give me something to think about for the book I am working on.

#1 Describe what portion of the trigger finger touches the trigger. (My personal description is 'the trigger should be placed directly under the cuticle of the trigger finger'). Agree?

#2 Describe the position and tension applied by the thumb.

#3 Describe the position and tension applied by the bottom three fingers.

#4 Describe the importance of follow-through and how long you consciously remain on the trigger after the shot.

#5 Do you try to cup your palm if your stock does not have a palm swell? Some instructors teach that you should have "air in your palm", no direct contract with the pistol grip. Comments.

#6 Do you practice trigger control by dry-firing?

The cuticle for #1.

2# depending on the grip being used depends on finger location

 

[Hal The Slayer]

I would sincerely appreciate the experienced shooters on this site giving me a few minutes so we can discuss some basics. Very simple. Please answer the following questions, doing so will provide info for new shooters and perhaps also for the experienced guys. Plus this will give me something to think about for the book I am working on.

#1 Describe what portion of the trigger finger touches the trigger. (My personal description is 'the trigger should be placed directly under the cuticle of the trigger finger'). Agree?

#2 Describe the position and tension applied by the thumb.

#3 Describe the position and tension applied by the bottom three fingers.

#4 Describe the importance of follow-through and how long you consciously remain on the trigger after the shot.

#5 Do you try to cup your palm if your stock does not have a palm swell? Some instructors teach that you should have "air in your palm", no direct contract with the pistol grip. Comments.

#6 Do you practice trigger control by dry-firing?

Sheesh! Ian M: if I did all that ;I'd be ready for a beer and a nap!

 

[PowrB8]

for the book I am working on. (I figured something was up. Its about time)

#1 Describe what portion of the trigger finger touches the trigger. (My personal description is 'the trigger should be placed directly under the cuticle of the trigger finger'). Agree?

Agree. (after some anatomic study of my thumb)

#2 Describe the position and tension applied by the thumb.
I'm a stickler on this one. I build my own thumb holes with palm swells for both hands. When finished it amazes me how different the swells are on each side. How does one describe position and tension? Think of testing 'doneness' of a grilled steak w/pressure. I'm right handed. My right thumb muscle is medium well and the left is medium rare. It takes great attention to that difference to achieve similar accuracy when switching sides. Thumb tension is important!

My other LR rifle is one sided (lefty) and is designed with a straight/vertical pistol grip w/swell. The swell is the "indexer" for consistent thumb position. The forearm and elbow follow the thumb as indexed by the grip and swell.

#3 Describe the position and tension applied by the bottom three fingers.
With the vertical pistol grips and thumb holes w/vertical pistol grips, position of the bottom finger is against the small ridge that I build in to the grip with the thumb gently fitted into the thumb hole or thumb groove and very delicate three finger pressure kind of like gently squeezing a with a gentle straight pull back to the shoulder. Note, all of this after checking the "natural POI" that is, none of this moves the natural point of aim. If it does then the shot is being forced.

And, if your pinky is ever under the pistol grip, you have problems, IMO.


#4 Describe the importance of follow-through and how long you consciously remain on the trigger after the shot.

My next expected experience after the trigger clicks is seeing the impact of the bullet. What ever I do to achieve this experience must be follow-through. Mostly I concentrate on not blinking at the shot. I am on the trigger until its time to reload.

#5 Do you try to cup your palm if your stock does not have a palm swell? Some instructors teach that you should have "air in your palm", no direct contract with the pistol grip. Comments.

My opinion is that since one can't 'feel' air' is what drove the development of the palm swell. I have an very hard time coming to grips with a sporter stock.

#6 Do you practice trigger control by dry-firing?

Roger that, big time? I do way more dry firing that I do actual shooting. I have a 1200yd dry firing range in my back yard. That's where I imagine many different shots under all kinds of conditions. I've made some wonderful shots well beyond 1.2k with an empty 222. because it has the same well adjusted trigger as my LR guns.

Does dry-firing cause degradation to your firing pin assembly?

 

[2robate]

Really appreciate everyone who put the time into writing these guides. Super helpful.

Eric

 

[bowrunner81]

Im enjoying reading this. very helpul

 

[8x57IS4Me]

I would sincerely appreciate the experienced shooters on this site giving me a few minutes so we can discuss some basics. Very simple. Please answer the following questions, doing so will provide info for new shooters and perhaps also for the experienced guys. Plus this will give me something to think about for the book I am working on.

At 14 I learned from the ROTC Major at Hardin Simons College as a Boy Scout.

1. Hold rifle with trigger hand. If I can jerk the unloaded rifle out of your hand you aren't holding it correctly. What works best for you to hold on is the best grip.
2. Trigger control &pratice. Shoulder the rifle have someone put a quarter on the end of the barrel. Dry fire until the coin stays on the barrel consistently.
3. Trigger control. Squeeze like it is a mini marshmallow.
4. Tuck rifle into meaty area inside shoulder, snug rifle to body. Caliber determines the amount of snug. The heaver it kicks the more snug is required
5. Breath. Deep slow breaths, time trigger break with end of exhale. Keep the quarter on the barrel.
Pratice makes perfect.

 

[Shootin4fun]

I came across this thread after watching some LR shooting vids on YT wherein I noticed (prone and bench) shooters laying their shooting hand thumb on the RIGHT side of the receiver as opposed to being wrapped around the stock. They were all doing it, so despite my 60+ years of shooting, I thought I should look into it. It is very foreign to me but I will try it.

I will say, a lot of these LR shooters on YT have 10lb weights on their 13lb rifles so I guess no need for moderate-heavy recoil control as when we are out hunting, spotting, stalking, and shooting standing up. All my rifles are 9.5 lbs or under, purposed for hunting in mountainous terrain.

Nathan Foster says "Hold that fore end!", contrary to how I see everyone else shooting from a prone position or on a bench these days. Nowadays it's hard for me to imagine shooting a mid-high recoil caliber like 7RM in a hunting rifle weight without holding the fore end. I can shoot 2" groups @500 yards from my Savage 7RM off a bipod & bench holding the standard sporter monte carlo stock fore end, but forget about it if I don't hold the fore end. A 6.5CM or 243 is another story. So I guess it all depends on the position you're shooting from and the rifle type and caliber.

Thanks for all the good posts, folks! Still learning!!!

 

[Shootin4fun]

it's starts with placement of firearm. Putting the firearm where it's steady is always a must. All the trigger control doesn't do a thing without the firearm being steady. Then breathing and trigger control are next. Dry firing is a must to learn breathing control and and the holding of the firearm. Placement of the thumb should run with the stock and not over. The thumb over the stock can get you a bloody nose. Holding the firearm butt tightness to your shoulder, should be about equal to the recoil of the firearm with the 3 remaining fingers so it doesn't bounce or jump out of your hands.

When I go to a range and set up. I dry fire several times before sending a round down range.

Triggers: The set up of lighten triggers should be done by a gun smith. Generally requires a different trigger installed. Even with that the gun smith should cleanup and smooth the shear so there isn't any hard spots. If a round is in the chamber and the firearm is dropped or the butt hits the floor or ground hard the trigger should not allow the firing pin to be released. Almost all of my firearms have lighten triggers install or worked over including my Colt Phython. if anybody knows about them. The trigger is very light to start with.

Back to placement of firearm: Bench rested to work on trigger control can be done at home "DRY FIRE ONLY" . You can find a table around home to work off of to rest the firearm and dry firing for trigger control rather than waiting to go to the range "MAKE SURE THE MUZZLE IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AT ALL TIMES". Support devises will needed to support the front and rear of the firearm at home and the range. When hunting that a difference thing. Most of the time laying down isn't possible. Standing and shooting isn't good either. Learn to sit and use you knee's and elbows to support your firearm. Neal and using one knee and elbow to support is good. The other is be aware of rocks, tree's and tree branches that can support your firearm. Holding your offhand on a tree truck creating a notch with your thumb works good too. It you are carrying a day pack can take a place or rocks or other things. Laying down you have to see over the brush. all these styles should be practices and applying breathing and trigger control.

You will need all this to work up loads for your firearm if you are hand loading your ammo to shot.

Mike

Yes, this ^^^ Practice for hunting in probable hunting positions. I have noticed a POI shift when shooting from a bench or prone vs. standing or kneeling. MV may change too, though not much due to a different amount of resistance that your body presents when standing vs from seated behind a bench or prone.

 

[Hal The Slayer]

I would sincerely appreciate the experienced shooters on this site giving me a few minutes so we can discuss some basics. Very simple. Please answer the following questions, doing so will provide info for new shooters and perhaps also for the experienced guys. Plus this will give me something to think about for the book I am working on.

#1 Describe what portion of the trigger finger touches the trigger. (My personal description is 'the trigger should be placed directly under the cuticle of the trigger finger'). Agree?

#2 Describe the position and tension applied by the thumb.

#3 Describe the position and tension applied by the bottom three fingers.

#4 Describe the importance of follow-through and how long you consciously remain on the trigger after the shot.

#5 Do you try to cup your palm if your stock does not have a palm swell? Some instructors teach that you should have "air in your palm", no direct contract with the pistol grip. Comments.

#6 Do you practice trigger control by dry-firing?

Should include what is trigger pull weight,some are horrible. Seems all manufactures are raising poundage.Just a thought Happy Shooting.

 

[Critter Picker]

I can tell you what improved my shooting more than anything else. I had a really good friend that we would go out shooting several times a week. We were both handgun hunters ( trigger control is trigger control,not weapon specific) specifically revolvers. We would load each others gun,putting fired brass in some chambers,loaded rounds in the rest. You never knew if you would get a click or a bang. If the gun moves when you pull the trigger,you would have missed anyway.