Position Your Finger Somewhere Other Than the Trigger
Craig DouglasDescription
For several decades, shooting instructors in every discipline have repeated the mantra, “keep your finger off the trigger.” While experienced shooters usually find a place to keep their finger when they are not actually ready to shoot, the truth is that novices may not have any idea exactly what “off the trigger” means. Craig Douglas joins Rob Pincus to discuss his idea of “keep your finger somewhere other than the trigger.” This directive actually informs the shooter that they need to find a specific place for their trigger finger when they are not shooting.
Here comes another important tip from the Personal Defense Network. I've got Craig Douglas from Shivworks here with me on the Personal Defense Network today, to talk about an important training and real-world consideration: what do we do with our trigger finger when we're not actually shooting? Thanks, Rob. Historically, we've been taught that if we're not shooting or we're not on sights, we probably, there's some version of that, that we've all heard in gun safety. Where we need to keep that finger away from the trigger, unless we're actually firing. Now, something we do more often than not with people, is hold them at gunpoint. In fact, we probably do that more than we actually shoot people. So, the last thing we want to do is have our finger in some kind of undefined position, 'cause when you think of off, well, off could mean here, off could mean here, off could mean here, okay? And certainly as we're giving verbal commands something I've seen, and a friend of mine refers to as trigger checking, where people gradually move that finger to the trigger. So, what we'd like to do is think about our trigger finger instead of being off the trigger, how about we think about it and phrase it like this? Why don't we put our trigger finger on something that is definitely not the trigger. Now, in the case of this Glock auto pistol that may be the disassembly lever. Something I feel and know is not the trigger. Or, that may mean hooking the ejection port and putting that finger here. But I want to touch something tangible, that I know for a fact is not on the trigger. So, instead of thinking of it as finger stays off the trigger, why don't we think about it as: finger stays on something that's not the trigger, until the decision to fire has been made. The last thing I want to do is inadvertently shoot somebody that I don't mean to shoot, or God forbid say, I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm trigger checking. I've heard a noise and maybe shoot a loved one. So, that's kind of my safety tip for the Personal Defensive Network. That makes sense. You know, that's a great safety tip. And then the reality is that that consistency, your finger being in the same place all the time is going to make it more efficient and more consistent when you actually do go to shoot, we're much less likely to end up slapping the trigger, fumbling that movement from our trigger finger actually down onto the trigger. I think that's a great point. Really important that you integrate this into your training. Don't just have your finger off the trigger, have it on something consistently. Be sure to check out the Personal Defense Network for more important tips, just like that one.
I carried Glocks for nineteen of my twenty-six years in LE. I always tried to index my trigger finger on the takedown latch if it was a prolonged situation with my gun at a high ready, or if doing a building search I would actually put it up on the bottom of the ejection port. There are too many studies and instances of a sympathetic response (balance disruption, startle effect and sympathetic grip effect) that make keeping your trigger finger well out of the trigger guard unless you decide to shoot. You have to practice this way and it is tough to do when your stress level is up in anticipation of finding someone in the next room you are clearing. Discipline is what it is about. I've seen too many bad shoots from cops with their finger dangling too near the trigger and negligently fire that resulted in damaging something or hitting someone when it wasn't called for. Not worth it. Great topic and easy to teach the way it was presented. Thank you.
Good presentation IMO. Even some of us more experienced 'shooters' or CC'ers need to reinforce the basics. This is a good one
great tip! I have a piece of gun tape on the side of my frame I use as tactile location point. I also like the use or re-phrasing keep your finger on the tape dont use the terms you are trying to avoid it is a subconscious thing and has proven very useful I find it the same as when checking for clear, make sure you say to yourself I am checking for a clear or empty chamber and mag well! don't say I am looking for bullet in the chamber you my find yourself dropping the slide a chambered round thinking it was empty do to the fact your looking a bullet.
great tip! Have a piece of gun tape on the side of my frame I use as tactile location point. I also like the use or re-phrasing keep your finger on the tape dont use the terms you are trying to avoid it is a subconscious thing and has proven very useful I find it the same as when checking for clear, make sur you say to your self I am checking for a clear or emty chamber and mag well! don't I am looking for bullet in the chamber you my find yourself dropping the slide a chambered round thinking it was empty do to the far your looking a bullet.
Great tip, as a relative new shooter I have to think about my trigger finger location. I put a piece of skate board tape on the frame of my M&P 40c, it helps me alot by giving me something I can feel with my finger.
Very instructive, I like the positive position of where the trigger finger should be when you don't want to discharge the gun, that way it won't creep or move around, it will stay put and provide for a better safety position.