Unless the shooter is ready to aim and shoot at a target, their trigger finger should not be on the trigger. The finger should be rested above the trigger along the side of the weapon on the slide. This is the safest way to handle a weapon and to prevent an accidental discharge.
The truth of the matter is that trigger finger placement does matter but it's not always going to be the same on every firearm for every person. When it comes down to it, the optimal placement is always going to be what works best for you with the particular gun you're using on that day.
Almost all new shooters who have learned how to shoot the ubiquitous striker-fired pistol within the past couple of decades have been told to place the pad of their index finger on the face of the trigger. Revolver shooters are taught to place the crease of the first distal joint on the face of the trigger.
Most experts recommend using just the pad of your index finger to pull the trigger. This tends to give you more control and better accuracy than wrapping your finger around the gun trigger. However, there are some shooters who prefer to squeeze the trigger with the indent of the first knuckle on their index finger.
By using a night splint to keep the finger straight, it can prevent painful locking during sleep. However, keeping the finger straight all night could result in the need to spend some time and effort getting it to move smoothly the next morning.
Pulling the trigger causes the gun to bend in toward the shooting hand, as the force of your finger squeezing hard on the trigger causes the barrel to turn. By squeezing softly on the trigger, you have less chance of such drift, and should hit your target just fine.
Do not slap or jerk the trigger. Squeeze the trigger directly toward the rear of the gun. Uneven pressure on the trigger can shift the sight picture and cause the shot to go wide of the target.
Thumbing is when the shooter applies too much trigger finger or thumb pressure when firing the shot. The point of bullet impact is dependent on the movement of the shooter's trigger finger, thumb, and hand when the trigger is pressed. To help prevent thumbing, we recommend practicing proper grip.
If trigger finger is not treated, the pain, swelling, and stiffness will get progressively worse. In severe cases, you'll no longer be able to straighten the affected finger.
If your finger or thumb is locked, you may be able to use gentle pressure to force it straight or bent. If your finger or thumb is locked, you're not able to force it straight or bent, and you're feeling catching or popping, the next level of treatment is a steroid injection to calm the irritation and swelling.
If your sights aren't correctly aligned, you may have frequent issues with shooting low and left. With traditional pistols, the front sight resembles an I, and the rear one resembles a U. An easy way to remember correct sight alignment is to line the sights up so the I combines with the U to form what looks like a W.
Avoid activities that require repetitive gripping, repeated grasping or the prolonged use of vibrating hand-held machinery until your symptoms improve. If you can't avoid these activities altogether, padded gloves may offer some protection. A splint. Wearing a splint can help rest the tendon.
Another study presented 30 consecutive adult trigger thumbs managed without treatment and found that 80% of the trigger thumbs had complete spontaneous resolution without any treatment, after waiting an average of 7 months (range: 2-15 months).
To do this, take a few slow, deep breaths. Then when you're ready, exhale about half of the breath, hold it, and then take your shot. Once you've followed through on the shot, finish your exhale and continue breathing normally.
In some cases, like with semi automatic handguns or revolvers, if there is no bullet for a firing pin to strike, it will strike the hard steel chamber and cause damage. However, in most cases, dry firing is completely safe for your gun.
Poorly designed rifles, shotguns, and handguns can fire a round even when the trigger has not been pulled. The most common unintended discharges occur when the firearm is bumped or the safety is moved. Other defective firearms can discharge even with the safety on.
Trigger Pull Weight for a Handgun
> As a general rule, a serious use pistol should have a trigger no lighter than 4 pounds and ideally no more than 6 pounds.
A light trigger pull is a crucial component of long-range accuracy as the force needed to move the trigger is less likely to move the gun. A heavier pull, though, is often beneficial for those who hunt on the move, or in heavy brush, or from shooting positions that require solid grip in the shooting hand itself.
Trigger finger gets worse with overuse. So persons should recognize any triggers and avoid activities causing the pain. Over-the-counter medicines like NSAIDs can help at this point. Proper pain management can restore range of motion in many cases.
It is common for catching or locking of the digit to be worse at night or in the morning while the tendon is more swollen. This is because when you sleep at night, tendons tend to swell a little bit more, and the swelling may resolve throughout the day, causing less catching or locking of your fingers.
Trigger finger is a painful condition that makes your fingers or thumb catch or lock when you bend them. It can affect any finger or more than one finger at a time. You can also have it in both hands. You might hear it called stenosing tenosynovitis.
Having a Loaded Handgun Helps with Defense
The gun can be kept loaded and ready to access within seconds, but still safe from children or adults. Make sure guns are always secured where no one else can access them, never point them at anyone, and never place your finger on the trigger until ready to shoot.