Trigger Pull - Is Doing What's Natural Messing Up Your Shot?

I must have been told a hundred times in various firearms trainings, to pull the trigger straight back. I always thought I was following instructions but until this summer, I didn’t really know what they meant.

In my last post, I shared a technique taught by Achilles Heel Tactical, that helped me finally understand how to manage recoil- Gripping the gun tightest with your pinky finger. Well, the very same tip can help you pull the trigger correctly.

To understand why, first think about this – have you ever held something out for a baby to grab? They clench their little fist and hold onto the item with all fingers. It would look unnatural for a child pick something up with just two fingers because it’s a human tendency to curl all fingers simultaneously.

Over the summer I learned just how this impulse affects the way we shoot. We SHOULD be pulling the trigger directly back, but exactly how? With three fingers curled around the grip, your trigger finger is likely to curl too. Squeezing your whole hand when pulling the trigger like this can add movement to the gun during the firing cycle and affect your accuracy. If you’re right-handed and your shots are hitting left of the target (or, if you’re left-handed and your shots hit to the right of the target), this could be one reason. I really need a break.

How to Pull the Trigger

In the Performance Baseline Pistol class, Rick Crawley showed us the key to pulling the trigger - keep the first knuckle of your index finger (under the nail) straight and bend at the second knuckle in the middle of your finger.

Let’s try this together – hold up your pointer finger as if to say, “number one.” Clench your hand like you would if you were holding a gun. Now, try to pull the imaginary trigger straight back by articulating only the second joint.

Left: Squeezing all my fingers and attempting to keep the knuckle by my fingernail, straight. There was still a bend.
Right: Squeezing my pinky finger only, and bending my second knuckle. It was easier to keep the first knuckle (by my nail) straight.

For me, it was difficult, felt awkward, and even though I was really trying, there was still a bend in my knuckle (pictured on the left). Rick’s second tip made the concept “click.” He suggested gripping the gun tightest with our pinky finger (pictured on the right). This helps relax the middle three fingers and makes it easier to keep the first knuckle flat.

Ok, try the exercise again but this time, squeeze your pinky finger and relax the other three fingers. Was it easier?

It was for me! Who would have thought that squeezing your little pinky could have such a huge impact? After this, I started to realize the importance of fine tuning my technique. Of course, knowledge is not equal to skill. I know I need to get to the range and practice.

This is my challenge for you – try this drill and get to the range!

"Chime-In!"

What do you guys think of this tip?