I’m constantly amazed at how many shooters don’t understand the proper technique
for trigger control, also known as trigger squeeze. Regardless of the firearm, the fundamentals are the same. If you don’t control
your trigger, you won't hit your target.
What is trigger control? Trigger control is the ability of a shooter to properly manipulate, or pull, the trigger through the entire trigger cycle, while not distorting sight-alignment, or sight-picture. Now, how many out there were taught, or believe, that a constant, never stopping until the weapon fires, pull on the trigger is the correct method? Would the person sitting next to those who raised their hands slap those individuals in the back of the head! Sorry, it’s what Marines do when someone just said or did something that makes no sense at all. But, it’s what I was taught you say? Well, allow me to teach you the correct way to control your trigger and improve your downrange accuracy, while avoiding those slaps to the head.
There are two types of trigger control; interrupted and un-interrupted. Right? Well, only if you want to miss your intended target. Ask yourself this question. Why would you continue to pull the trigger if your sights have wondered off your intended aiming point? You wouldn’t, right? Can you hold perfectly still? Of course you can’t! No one can! Therefore, why is un-interrupted trigger control, the never stopping of the trigger pull until the gun fires, even if your sights are not on your intended aiming-point, taught at all? Beats me! So here’s what I recommend.
Interrupted trigger control; the intentional stopping of the trigger-pull when the sights of the weapon have left the intended aiming-point. Imagine that! You actually stop pulling the trigger when your sights are not on your intended aiming-point. But here’s the trick. Not only do you stop pulling the trigger when your sights leave the intended aiming-point, but you also hold the trigger where you stopped pulling it during the trigger cycle. That’s right. Stop pulling and hold the trigger where it was when your sights left the intended aiming-point. Why? This shortens the trigger pull for the next time your sights are back on your aiming-point. Now, bring your sights back onto your intended aiming-point and again begin squeezing the trigger. If your sights leave their intended aiming-point again, and they will, again hold the trigger where it was when your sights left your intended aiming-point and stop pulling, and then again start your trigger squeeze when you are once again back onto your aiming-point. See the pattern? Squeeze, hold, squeeze, hold, squeeze, BANG! If you properly apply this method until the weapon fires, the weapon cannot, and will not, fire unless your sights are on their intended aiming-point. This is called interrupted trigger control.
Now, you need to understand that this technique takes discipline and practice. The first few times you try this technique you may find yourself firing-off a shot when you should have been holding the trigger in place until you are back in your aiming-area. This is not a big deal. Just keep practicing this technique and you will see a drastic improvement in your trigger control, and the accuracy of your shots.
Here’s your assignment: During your next shooting excursion I want you to concentrate on your trigger control and the interrupted technique. I also want you to pay particular attention to the muscles you use to squeeze the trigger. Concentrate on only using those muscles that make your trigger finger work. Most people tend to squeeze the entire hand like they are making a fist, instead of only moving the trigger finger.
Speed comes after first practicing accuracy, and accuracy begins at the trigger. So, slow down and concentrate on your trigger technique first, because after all the fastest guns in the West didn’t survive because they were fast alone, the survived because they were first accurate.
What is trigger control? Trigger control is the ability of a shooter to properly manipulate, or pull, the trigger through the entire trigger cycle, while not distorting sight-alignment, or sight-picture. Now, how many out there were taught, or believe, that a constant, never stopping until the weapon fires, pull on the trigger is the correct method? Would the person sitting next to those who raised their hands slap those individuals in the back of the head! Sorry, it’s what Marines do when someone just said or did something that makes no sense at all. But, it’s what I was taught you say? Well, allow me to teach you the correct way to control your trigger and improve your downrange accuracy, while avoiding those slaps to the head.
There are two types of trigger control; interrupted and un-interrupted. Right? Well, only if you want to miss your intended target. Ask yourself this question. Why would you continue to pull the trigger if your sights have wondered off your intended aiming point? You wouldn’t, right? Can you hold perfectly still? Of course you can’t! No one can! Therefore, why is un-interrupted trigger control, the never stopping of the trigger pull until the gun fires, even if your sights are not on your intended aiming-point, taught at all? Beats me! So here’s what I recommend.
Interrupted trigger control; the intentional stopping of the trigger-pull when the sights of the weapon have left the intended aiming-point. Imagine that! You actually stop pulling the trigger when your sights are not on your intended aiming-point. But here’s the trick. Not only do you stop pulling the trigger when your sights leave the intended aiming-point, but you also hold the trigger where you stopped pulling it during the trigger cycle. That’s right. Stop pulling and hold the trigger where it was when your sights left the intended aiming-point. Why? This shortens the trigger pull for the next time your sights are back on your aiming-point. Now, bring your sights back onto your intended aiming-point and again begin squeezing the trigger. If your sights leave their intended aiming-point again, and they will, again hold the trigger where it was when your sights left your intended aiming-point and stop pulling, and then again start your trigger squeeze when you are once again back onto your aiming-point. See the pattern? Squeeze, hold, squeeze, hold, squeeze, BANG! If you properly apply this method until the weapon fires, the weapon cannot, and will not, fire unless your sights are on their intended aiming-point. This is called interrupted trigger control.
Now, you need to understand that this technique takes discipline and practice. The first few times you try this technique you may find yourself firing-off a shot when you should have been holding the trigger in place until you are back in your aiming-area. This is not a big deal. Just keep practicing this technique and you will see a drastic improvement in your trigger control, and the accuracy of your shots.
Here’s your assignment: During your next shooting excursion I want you to concentrate on your trigger control and the interrupted technique. I also want you to pay particular attention to the muscles you use to squeeze the trigger. Concentrate on only using those muscles that make your trigger finger work. Most people tend to squeeze the entire hand like they are making a fist, instead of only moving the trigger finger.
Speed comes after first practicing accuracy, and accuracy begins at the trigger. So, slow down and concentrate on your trigger technique first, because after all the fastest guns in the West didn’t survive because they were fast alone, the survived because they were first accurate.
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The author is a U.S. Marine Gunnery
Sergeant with 17 years of service. He was trained by the Marines as both a Small Arms Weapons Instructor, and as a Primary Marksmanship
Instructor. Are you interested in learning how to shoot like the Marines? If so, contact us at 417-887-8131, or firerarms@cheapascanbe.com