Trigger Technique 101

Quick Reference
Trigger Reset
Trigger Reset (2)
Flinching
Flinching (2)
Anticipation/Surprise
Anticipation/Surprise (2)
Anticipation/Surprise (3)
Dry-Firing
Dry-Firing (2)
Dry-Firing (3)
Follow Through
Follow Through (2)
Looking for Holes
Looking for Holes (2)
Looking for Holes (3)
Looking for Holes (4)
Milking the Grip

volcanopaul -- 04-30-2000 18:34
Regular dry-firing practice. Lots of it. Really concentrate on holding the sights steady as the trigger breaks. "Follow through" by holding the sights on target for several seconds after the trigger breaks. This in and of itself has helped my shooting tremendously.
Paul
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Tactical Response -- 04-30-2000 21:35
It sounds as if you might be looking for your bullet holes. If you are going to fire one shot you should get two sight pictures, three shots get four sight pictures and so forth. Follow through is the key. Fire a string without looking at your group until finished.
You might be squeezing the gun too hard. When you get finished shooting a string look at your hand. Can you see an impression of the grip? If so you might be "milking" as was suggested.
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Neo Alred -- 05-01-2000 01:11
Chief,
You are right about the imprint of the grip on my hand. I have noticed that each time I'm done with my shooting session. It appears on my right (strong) hand. I have tried to loosen this grip a little bit, but I feel like I am limp-wristing the gun if I loosen it. I know that this analogy might not seem to apply, but in golf, I hold my right hand loosely on the grip and strong-hand my left hand. Should I be weakening my right hand, while strong-handing the left support hand?
Thanks for offering some suggestions. I appreciate them and look forward to any other suggestions you might have for me.
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Neo Alred -- 05-01-2000 01:13
And VolcanoPaul,
Thanks for your suggestion. I will try the dry-fire drills and concentrate on keeping the sights on target after applying the trigger. And again with the golf analogy...it sounds like both of you are telling me to "keep my head down" or "don't watch the ball" but concentrate on making the shot and on following through. The advice seems to make sense.
Gracias!
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volcanopaul -- 05-01-2000 11:10
That's a good analogy. Lemme see if I can explain this...The total "squeeze" from both of my hands is 100%. My support hand (left hand) is about 60% of that and my right hand is about 40% of that. So yes, my support hand is holding on to the gun slightly more firmly than my right hand.
Paul
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Neo Alred -- 05-01-2000 14:01
Thanks Paul,
I'm going to find some time this week to get back to the range to try the suggestions that you and the Chief have given. In the meantime, I'll pull out the Glock and see if I can't get used to the feel of the relaxed grip and do some dry-firings to concentrate on the proper squeeze.
Thanks so much for the help.
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DeanG -- 05-01-2000 17:33
Neo,
There have been some good suggestions offered here. I would be willing to bet you are not properly resetting the trigger, and maybe even taking your finger off the trigger between shots, thus "mashing" the second shot. Try firing your first shot, stay focused on the front sight during the follow through or recoil cycle, MAKE SURE YOU HOLD THE TRIGGER COMPLETTLY TO THE REAR while this process this happening. After the pistol settles back down so that you have a perfect sight picture and sight alignment, slowly start to release the trigger ONLY enough until it clicks/resets. Then slowly start to press the trigger to the rear again keeping your perfect sight alignment and sight picture. Your two shots, if both are true surprises, should almost be on top of each other. The second shot deserves the same respect and time to "surprise" you as the first, to guarantee your hits.
DeanG
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Neo Alred -- 05-01-2000 17:53
Dean,
Although the first part of your post isn't happening (mashing the second shot), the second part seems like great advice.
If I can run down what I've been doing, I think it would go something like this: I align the sights and squeeze the trigger to the point that all safeties are released. Then I hold at that point and try to just squeeze past the break so that the shot is fired. Then, I release the trigger, usually only to the point of trigger reset, unless I have completed my planned volley and want to take a break to assess the situation. I can see that I am probably not holding the trigger in the rear position until things settle down, as you suggest. This is one more thing for me to try at the range this week.
This is great. If you all keep this up, it won't be long before I can only count one slightly enlarged hole on top of the center "X"! I can't wait.
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Mike Havas -- 05-01-2000 20:07
To all,
Treat DeanG like E.F. Hutton. When he talks, Listen. Dean is a "Trigger Scientist". It is always a learning experience, when I have the pleasure of training with, or under Dean.
Try to imagine a smooth trigger press, (hit) reset, second press (HIT !) on steel, at 25 then 50 meters sometimes even a 100.
We can all agree, this is well out of the realm of the average gun owner. This would take a good deal of trigger control to repeatedly make the hits. Dean teaches a level of trigger control to accomplish this feat while the shooter has his, or her EYES CLOSED! Most people will find this hard to believe, but it is true. I know he has done this with several hundred shooters, and some are GT readers. Feel free to chime in.
It is not magic, it is trigger control.
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Neo Alred -- 05-02-2000 01:38
Thanks Mike,
I appreciate your second of Dean's suggestions. I'm honored that all of you have taken some time out of your busy lives to help me get more lead through the center of the target! I've got some time scheduled for the range on Wednesday morning, at which time I hope to be able to put all of this together. I'll be back for clarifications and refinement after that session, I am sure.
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DeanG -- 05-02-2000 11:53
Neo,
From your testimony you are "feeling" for the break. You are adding pressure then adding a bit more and so on, trying to anticipate going only to the exact point at which the shot will break. This then cannot be a true surprise break. In a true surprise break you will be applying smooth, consistent pressure rearward and at some unknown point during this process, the shot will break surprising you. This difference sounds subtle but makes a huge difference in your shooting.
A mash while caused by many things, feeling for the break, not taking the slack out of the trigger before truly starting your true trigger press, squeezing the trigger/pistol thus using all of our firing hand fingers in a squeezing motion, slapping the trigger especially on the second shot, using 12 lbs of pressure on a 5.5 lb trigger, or the most common reason, having perfect sight alignment and sight picture and wanting to make it happen NOW, will always manifest itself for the right hand shooter with a low, left shot. For the left-handed shooter it will go low right. The proof is in the target.
Good luck in your practice tomorrow.
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Neo Alred -- 05-02-2000 13:01
Dean,
After reading your last post I think that I have figured something else out about my routine. I think that I am anticipating the recoil and consequently, gripping the gun tighter just slightly before the trigger breaks. This would translate into milking the grip and causing the shot to go low and left. I need to stop anticipating AND get used to not knowing exactly when the gun is going to fire AND hold the trigger at the back of the pull until things settle AND continue to hold a clear sight picture AND... this is the point in golf where you ask your buddy, "By the way, do you inhale or exhale in your backswing?" It certainly turns into a lot of stuff to think about while shooting!
Would you recommend practicing the individual skills separately, and then add them together, or should I try to achieve all of them at once?
GT sure is a neat forum. On mornings when I go to the range, I'm usually the only guy there and I don't get to ask questions like this. Having this resource is great. Thanks.
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Tactical Response -- 05-02-2000 13:51
This might sound silly but I feel most people are thinking "trigger, trigger, trigger" as they press it to the rear. Try thinking "front sight, front sight, front sight" and forget about the trigger. If it surprises you then it was a perfect shot.
As you begin to practice the trigger reset you will have several "bangs" when you "weren't ready". They will all be in the bullseye.
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DeanG -- 05-02-2000 14:21
Neo,
You are indeed inducing a "pre-ignition" push or mash by feeling for and anticipating the shot breaking. Listen to Chuck, focus on the front sight, and let yourself be surprised. What you really need is less range time and more time doing perfect, SLOW, DRY practice. The perfect DRY practice will train your brain to learn that nothing bad is going to happen when you press the trigger. Perform each step slowly and perfectly. Speed is a function of smoothness and consistency, which comes with time. You can't MISS fast enough to win a gunfight
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Mike Havas -- 05-02-2000 19:47
Neo,
Dean and the Chief have both given you great advice. It will be slightly, mentally awkward, to really feel a new style of trigger manipulation, while maintaining sight alignment. Your willingness to learn will carry you through. The benefits of perfect dry practice cannot be overstated.
Soon you will operate your trigger the same perfect way repeatedly, without giving it a second thought. Then, as the Chief said, front sight, front sight, and those surprise breaks will be "on the money". As you read your target, and catch old habits sneaking back, STOP! Take one step back to basics, (dry practice), get it perfect, and then take your next two forward.
I need to go and do my dry practice. Good Shooting, Neo. I'm looking forward to a recap of your range success.
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Tactical Response -- 05-02-2000 23:57
Neo,
A good, but unexpected, bi-product of trigger reset is very fast split times (the time between shots) as you master it. My current split times are .15 -.17 and I am beginning to dip lower and have had days where they were .05 -.06
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Neo Alred -- 05-03-2000 01:28
Thanks everyone,
I again want to thank you for your support and for your suggestions. I'm looking forward to my range session tomorrow (Wednesday). I've been doing dry-fire drills at home and I feel like I've been holding everything very steady. I'll do some more at the range before loading up the first magazines and really try to work in the methods listed in our discussions. I'll let you know how I score.
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harrydog -- 05-03-2000 07:29
This is some great information which I know will help me but I have another very basic question. Probably so basic it will seem stupid, but.......when concentrating on the front sight, do you use your dominant eye only or both eyes? Thanks.
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Neo Alred -- 05-03-2000 14:41
HarryDog,
There are two good discussions going in Tactics and Training that deal with your question about dominant eyes. The first is called, "Beating a left-eye dominant horse." The second is called, "Eyes wide open." As I'm the one that asked for help in this thread, I'm certainly not the expert, but summarizing what I've learned in the other two threads, you should use the method that works best for your eyes. If that means using only the dominant eye, then keep the other closed. If it works for you to use both eyes, as it seems to work for me, then you should use that method. Whichever you use, you should practice that way exclusively and get used to doing it that way every time.
Be sure to check out the other threads, as well.
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Neo Alred -- 05-03-2000 15:22
Results of Wednesday morning shoot:
I tried to make the rubber hit the road this morning and put the suggestions that I've received here to work. First, I did about 50 dry-fires while aiming at the same target I'd be using during the actual shoot. I seemed to have the feel of the pull, though this of course did not give me the feel of the trigger resetting. The sights did not move at all during the dry-fire drills. I feel pretty good that I was pulling smoothly, since the barrel stayed in place very well. I also concentrated on holding the trigger against the rear guard for a count of one before I'd release the squeeze. This, so I'd get used to Dean's suggestion. Then it was time to load up. I just have the two 10-round mags that came with my Glock, so I loaded them both. I decided to shoot volleys of 5, then pull the target in for assessment and try to make changes in the next group of 5. The first 20 shots had very little consistency. For these drills, I'm using the Alco targets for right-handed shooters that give diagnostics as to why your shot landed where it did. In the first group of 5, I hit center twice, though the shots were spread. The rest landed left, without dipping below the target line of where I was aiming. The diagnostic reads: "Too much or too little trigger finger."
In the next 5-shot grouping, I noticed that I wasn't releasing the trigger to just the point of reset. Dean, I have never actually noticed the "click" until today. Thank you. Once I noticed that, I concentrated on getting just to the reset click. Chief, I also concentrated on "front sight, front sight, front sight," and on getting a clear sight picture after the shot was fired, trying to hold my line while pressing the trigger against the rear stop. I noticed that my shooting was smoothing out quite a bit, so my groupings in the next few mags were much tighter, though some were still erring to the low-left again. Not as far south as they were last week.
After shooting about 4 mags, I switched to a clean diagnostic target and started again. This one has a lot more holes in the center 10 zone, including a few enlarged holes where multiple shots passed through the same hole.
For the last few mags I switched to a police training silhouette target with the internal organs marked on the target. I like to practice shot placement by shooting two in the chest and one in the head. Warning to all intruders: I've become really good at this! A Mesa cop was at the range this morning and as he walked out of the range he commented, "Nice shooting." Warmed my heart. After I was out of the 100 shells I'd purchased at the range, I decided that since I'd never actually fired any of my carry ammo, it would probably be useful to get a feel of how it performed, so I loaded up two mags (everything I had). Shooting the first mag (Federal Hydroshock) I noticed that the recoil didn't seem as bad. My shot grouping was pretty tight. I was aiming at the left shoulder so I could separate out the shots from the center of mass rounds that I'd fired with the target ammo. The group was fairly tight and the reduced recoil brought the gun back to target more quickly. In the second mag of the Hydroshocks, I aimed for the bridge of the nose and fired all 10 rounds. This was the most impressive shooting of the day. 7 out of 10 are touching in a small line on the bridge of the nose. Of the other 3, one hit the center of the left eye. One was just below the right eye, and one is dead center in a patch marked, "Medulla Oblongata". That is actually 1.5 inches below the target, but in a fight, I'd be quite satisfied with that result.
So, although I would have liked to have bought another 100 rounds and practiced some more, I think that things are looking better. I've decided that I can spend about 40 bucks a week on practice range time and ammo. I saw some clear improvements in my shooting. I re-read all of your comments about 25 times before going to the range--enough that I could almost hear your voices in my head as I pressed the trigger.
Now I need to drill the methods over and over.
Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I feel better already, but I'm excited to learn anything else you have to offer. It looks like others are beginning to gain useful info from our discussion, so I'd like to continue it for as long as we can. I know that I have more to learn, and others do too.
Again, thank you.
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Mike Havas -- 05-03-2000 20:17
It is good to hear of your accomplishment, Neo. Actually "feeling " the reset is a big step ahead. You will get the best results when you shoot controlled pair to COM, opposed to "vollies". You saw the proof of that on your last target. If two good legitimate COM hits (any caliber) aren't getting the job done, there is no reason to think #'s 3-10 will help. If two doesn't work "Failure to stop" (head) is your only hope. In our new and safer world of low-cap
mags / multiple targets , Ammo conservation is on my mind. Being on an ammo budget is in your favor. Dry practice will yield you the greatest, and longest lasting benefits...and it is FREE! Rarely should you need more than a box to verify your DRY practice. Good Job Neo! Your progress will amaze you, on your next few trips to the range!
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Tactical Response -- 05-05-2000 00:05
Neo,
Another problem to avoid is looking for your bullet holes as you are recoiling. If you "string" your bullets in a line that is most likely what you are doing. You are watching your bullet holes and shooting at them. Continue aiming at ONE spec on the target. Even if you shoot it out keep shooting where it was. If you get trigger reset, trigger press, and sight alignment, sight picture correct it will be no problem to do 10 shot groups at ten feet into a quarter sized hole.
P-P-P-r-r-r-e-e-e-s-s-s
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toro -- 05-05-2000 12:06
Wow! I just stumbled onto this thread and boy, am I glad I did! I'm the sort of "scientific" shooter (for that matter, scientific everything that drives everyone crazy with questions). I've been trying to get a better understanding of trigger pull, breath control and other issues that impact or affect shot placement and this thread has answered close to 95% of my questions! Thank you ever so much.
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Neo Alred -- 05-05-2000 12:47
Thanks Chief,
I thought I was concentrating on the front site, but I guess I could still be looking at the bullet holes. The target seemed blurry to me while focusing in the site picture. I tried to keep my aim on center and bring the gun back to that point during the recoil. The string of holes that I described actually only spreads slightly more than an inch from one end of the string to the other. I had to push the paper around the target together to be able to count rounds as there wasn't much left on the bridge of the nose.
The greatest thing that I got from my practice was the confirmation that all of the suggestions made here are very sound tactics and they helped me a great deal. Getting back to a golf analogy, I feel as if I was shooting 140 before asking my question, and after some great coaching, I've shaved 40 points off my game in one practice round. The next 20 points probably won't come off as quickly, but with practice, I'll see a few strokes come off here and there until I can consistently shoot par of 82. I hope that made sense.
I'm learning a lot and having fun at the same time. Thanks to everyone, and welcome to any and all new readers who are interested in learning the great info presented in our little thread. I'm always pleased to see it near the top when I drop into check on the latest contributions.
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robear -- 05-07-2000 14:05
I was at the range yesterday. Even though I hadn't read this thread in about 2-3 days. A great deal about it was still playing in my mind... After re-reading the ENTIRE thread again just now I realized that there were some things I forgot to do yesterday, and that some of the things I did remember to concentrate on really made a difference.
For some reason, I completely forgot to hold the trigger all the way back between shots, and then just move it forward to the "click" (I realized this while driving home. I actually smacked myself on the head! ) I did realize while shooting that I am anticipating the trigger break and recoil. I was even able to catch the entire gun SHAKING at the moment I expected it to fire! :o Sometimes it would fire (for a lousy shot) and other times I would catch myself, release the trigger and try again, concentrating more on my technique. These shots were much better. One question. When I dry-fire, I KNOW the gun isn't going to fire, so all I am anticipating is the "click" and am able to eliminate my anticipatory "shake" When shooting live ammo, I KNOW it is going to fire, and the "shake" seems to return. It feels like this is the crux of my problem. Do I just need more dry firing? (I'll be the first to admit that I probably don't do enough.)
I also found it difficult not to look for my bullet holes after each shot. I didn't even know I had that habit until I tried to break it. I kept the mantra "front sight, front sight, front sight" in my head.
There was a great deal to try and combine at once, but the results spoke for themselves. Even after only the 100rds I brought with me. The last target I took down was considerably better than the first!! My shooting is definitely improving. Thanks a million to everyone here who took the time to help us with your GREAT advice and wisdom. I'll let you know how my next session goes! Stay Safe!!
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Neo Alred -- 05-07-2000 16:31
robear,
I knew that someone else would get some great advice from this thread. So glad that you saw some improvements, too.
It sounds to me like you are nervous about the gun discharging. I noticed this in my own practice before I purchased my 22 and while I was renting guns from the range. It took getting back to the basics of proper gun handling for me to stop worrying about the trigger so much. I got used to being in control of when the gun was going to fire, and knew that I was making it happen WHEN I wanted it to happen. I also tightened my grip some, but later learned that I should relax it a bit. Anyway, once I got more comfortable with the explosion, I stopped shaking and anticipating the recoil so much. As Dean suggested above, nothing bad is going to happen when the gun fires, so stop sweating the recoil so much. The key seems to be "controlled surprise"--being in control of the trigger, but pressing it so smoothly that you are surprised when it the bullet actually lets loose. This is where the dry practice really helped me, and continues to help me. Since you concentrate on pressing smoothly, without any recoil, you get used to doing the same when firing live rounds. You still don't really know where the trigger break is, so you are still surprised. Then hold the trigger against the stop during the recoil, and then release until you feel the click. I didn't feel the click until Dean and the Chief pointed it out for me. Once it was there, I couldn't miss it and started returning the trigger just to the reset click.
Keep it up. This has been helping me a lot, and it sounds like it is starting to help you a lot, too.
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robear -- 05-07-2000 17:38
Neo--
I know the shaking is just a psychological phenomenon... To be honest, I hadn't even fired a gun in about 5 years before I bought my G22. (well, except for the few rentals.. once I fired the Glock, I knew that's what I wanted) So I know that I will need to work my way up to being comfortable firing a pistol again... (I wasn't that great of a shot before my "hiatus" anyway) Thanks for the encouragement. I can already see progress after just learning a few proper techniques, so I'm sure the rest will come with repetition and practice, dry and live... Stay Safe!!!
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Mike Havas -- 05-07-2000 19:18
To the readers,
It pleases me to read all the positive range feedback. As you can gather from this thread, a lot of individual processes have to come together to repeatedly make your hits. Sad, but true, most gun owner don't even realize how easy it is to miss, even up close. All we have to do is look a few of the actual videotapes to substantiate that.
Recoil anticipation can be a recurring problem that sneaks up on all of us. You can't shoot yourself out of a "flinch". Again dry practice is the cure. As you dry practice fix, or improve your other processes. While you're working on the surprise break, you also need to do everything else perfect, Follow through / reset, front sight. Practice a lighter grip, so you don't try to crush the magazine, in anticipation of the second shot. A portion of this squeezing translates to your trigger finger as sympathy movement, NOT GOOD.
Check your bullet holes in your "after action" target assessment. They will be there. You will not see holes in a real target so train your self out of looking for them. As far as breath control. That really is a non-issue in the defensive shooting arena (conversational distances). You will naturally pause for the 1-4 seconds it takes for the winners and losers to be decided. That is just one less thing to clutter our minds with. Now that I harped on Dry practice, I have to go do some.
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Tactical Response -- 05-07-2000 19:49
Beating flinching......
Dry fire will help to a great degree. But, as mentioned earlier, you KNOW when the gun is loaded. There is a drill you can try. It is called the "Ball and Dummy Drill". You should purchase (or make if you have a reloader) some inert rounds. "Safe-T" and "Snap-Cap" brands work well.
Don't look down as you load the mag and gun or have a shooting buddy do it. Now you have put "X" amount of dry fires in your mag at unknown locations.
The key to making this help you is to watch that front sight. After you "click" make a mental note of what the front sight did and which way it moved if at all.
So you don't inadvertently train yourself to just stop when your gun goes "click" instantly do a "Tap - Rack - Bang/Assess". Now you have done a few extra pieces of training with little or no extra trouble and the training rounds will be useful in many other areas.
And remember if you are shaking instead of flinching you are probably gripping the gun far too tight. Imagine how you might hold a bird in your hand to keep it from flying away. You hold it snugly but not with great force. THAT is how the gun should be held. The odds are if you are flinching because of being nervous of the recoil you are also gripping the gun too hard.
Press on....
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robear -- 05-07-2000 20:05
Chief---
Sounds like great advice. I will pick up some snap-caps tomorrow... A quick question. I have heard the Tap-Rap-Bang mentioned many times here and on other forums (TFL) but am not well versed on the mechanics of it. Could you (or anyone else) go over it in detail??
Your "too tight" grip theory is probably spot on... I just went through a few minutes of dry-fire, and tried to put myself into the mindset of actually being on the range... My grip would kill any bird!!! (LOL) I will work on that aspect also... Thanks again for all of your help...
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gunmart -- 05-07-2000 23:07
To avoid looking for the hits or the bullet holes. Place an old t-shirt over your target. It will be impossible to see the holes. When you complete your firing string then you go and ck your hits.
On milking the grip:
Practice some one handed 3-finger shooting. That is, shoot the gun strong-handed. Use only your thumb index finger and your traffic finger to hold the gun, (these are your strongest fingers, just try and shake somebody's hand.) Next incorporate the next two fingers on your next firing string. You will see your shots going low and to the left. This will prove if you're milking the grip.
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Tactical Response -- 05-08-2000 01:00
Type one malfunction (Tap-Rack-Bang) is when you pull the trigger and get a "click" instead of the desired "bang". It could be caused by an empty chamber, misfire, hangfire, broken firing pin, and (I am sure I forgot something). The first thing you should do is MOVE. Don't stand still when your gun does. Fix the gun while running, to cover preferably, but running regardless. TAP the magazine firmly. RACK the slide sharply to the rear and release. Now BANG or ASSESS the situation.
Type two malfunction is a "Stovepipe". It is recognized by the piece of brass obstructing your view of the front sight or sticking out the side of the ejection port. Some people say to "wipe" the piece of brass away with your weak hand. That works sometimes but you can cut your hand, accidentally engage the safety, or cover your hand with the muzzle. Use the TAP-RACK-BANG method described above.
Type three is a "Double Feed". Time to go to back-up gun. This one takes a minute! It occurs when there is a piece of brass already in the chamber and is not extracted or a faulty magazine tries to put two rounds in at the same time. Lock the slide back. Pull the magazine out of the gun (you'll have to pull harder than normal). Cycle the gun 4-5 times to extract the piece of brass. Insert a new mag and rack the slide.
Type four happens when the slide doesn't go all the way forward. Slap the action forward or TAP-RACK-BANG.
Remember to MOVE when your gun malfunctions.
Gabe Suarez is having a special on his four books. I suggest you buy the set. It will be money well spent I assure you. I have a large library of tactical books but Gabe's stay on the top of the pile.
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Neo Alred -- 05-08-2000 01:27
Wow.
If I'd known what this thread was going to turn into, I'd have titled it something like, "Proper Shooting 101" or something equally descriptive. Some may find the skills we've discussed basic, but I am still learning more with every post that gets added to the list. I'm really glad to see that the weekend readers have arrived to bring more into the discussion. Sunday must be a good day for reading GT!
Chief, thanks for explaining Tap, Rack, Bang (Assess). I need to practice that action, too.
Robear, I was away from shooting for 12 years before buying my 22. I think that anticipating the recoil is perfectly normal for those of us who remember firing guns, but have lost the skills it takes to pick up where we left off. It is starting to come back to me, though I am firing a much better gun today!
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Neo Alred -- 05-08-2000 01:35
Mike,
I have been wondering about this and I'm sure that an explanation will help everyone else, as well. When doing dry fire practice, how do I practice the reset? My trigger, I assume properly, does not reset unless I cycle the slide after the trigger locks back. I just can't get it to reset unless I release my grip and pull the slide back. This, of course, breaks all concentration on proper technique!
So, do I just mime the action of moving my index finger forward to the reset, or is there something that I'm missing?
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gunmart -- 05-08-2000 09:47
Double feeds with a Glock:
There is a neat trick for Glock shooters when a double feed is induced that will speed your recovery time up a lot. Just pull the magazine down about 2 inches. The slide WILL shut every time on a live round. Tap the magazine home then fire. It works every time.
This will not work on any other style gun so if you run multiple gun systems you need to stick to the other way so you don't get confused when your shi3## is in the crapper.
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tackdrivr -- 05-08-2000 16:59
Neo,
To dry practice the trigger reset on a Glock pistol try this:
After the trigger is pressed, maintain your grip with the firing side hand and hold the trigger to the rear. With the support side hand, cycle the slide (rack) and then reestablish the firing grip. At this point you can reset and press again.
Its also good to practice racking the slide with the support side hand while at the point position as this transitions well to clearing malfunctions.
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Mike Havas -- 05-08-2000 21:14
Neo,
Fred is right on, with his suggestion about support side hand doing a slide rack. That will help you in malfunction clearances later. That is a handy way to feel the reset.
I advise doing this a reasonable amount of time to feel the reset but, not every time.
You certainly don't want to ingrain this to the point of racking after a real shot. Sound silly? We are creatures of habit, (good or bad) and old habits tend to show themselves when we are tired or under stress. With that being said, I am compelled to bring up this point. (With no disrespect to the Chief) Malfunction clearance is definitely an important part of firearm proficiency. Many people still teach the, time honored," tap rack bang" clearance.
As the Chief stated, "bang, or assess".
I submit, Tap rack assess (still pointed in) bang as required. A trained person can clear the first two malfunctions in 1-1.5 seconds, and the double feed considerably longer. Even in a second, a real scenario could change drastically. BG drops the weapon, throws hands up, turns and runs. A justifiable shooting could quickly be twisted into what looks like an execution. Worse yet, an innocent bystander may pass into your line of fire, during the confusion. Sure as s__t, the whole event would be caught on tape, by a video camera (ATM, Parking lot, store etc.). If you train to reflexively shoot after a clearance, you may not be able to stop yourself for real. Weapons manipulations should be reflexive, but shooting must be based on an intellectual decisions to shoot. This thread is starting to get into areas that no one can really do justice to outside of "classroom environment" where you get the whole pie, not just pieces. I can't recommend training in one of the fine schools enough. We all have out favorites, me too! In fairness to every one, I can respond to that via personal e-mail.
I have gotten a pretty good feel for reset on my own pistol, so... in dry practice, I press the "shot" hold the trigger to the rear a little longer than it would take to cycle, release pressure, and press again.
True, I don't get a true reset, but it is an effective muscle training exercise.
It is great to see the interest in learning.
Like Gabe has stated, nobody knows all there is to know. Good Shooting, Mike
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gunmart -- 05-09-2000 09:46
Sorry mike I just don't agree with the tap rack and assess. It doesn't make sense.
If you're in a deadly situation and you ARE shooting for defense. Taking a moment to assess the situation, lowering your gun could cost you seconds. (see how many rounds you can get off in 2 seconds from the ready.) I know it is politically correct to lower your gun and access the situation but for Pete's sake the reason your firing in the first place is because you were in fear of your life. If you're justified in firing in the first place your justified in continuing to fire until the threat stops. The gun stops, you perform the best tap, rack and guess what the bad guys still in front of you, you go BANG.
WHAT IS THERE TO ACCESS?
If he was a threat before you started firing and you have a malfunction, (now your really in fear of your life) you clear it and he is still standing in front of you he is still a threat.
I think a lot of the assess on the malfunction drill comes from the shoot two, assess and one to the head comes from the old days of training. A fight is a fight and everyone should fight to win.
Some will think I am endorsing spray and pray technique. I AM NOT!!!!!
I simply think that you should continue to deploy SIGHTED FIRE until the threat stops.
END OF STORY!!!!!!

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