The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

MrBorland · March 11, 2013, 02:30 PM

Most people I see struggling with DA accuracy are doing so because they're really yanking the trigger - either from the beginning, or because they've staged it first (pulling partway, getting sight picture, pull the rest of the way).

Let's start with the 1st scenario: The DA pull itself should obviously should be controlled and steady. From the beginning. And completely through to the end. That may sound obvious, but it's very common for folks to really yank that trigger, as though the travel is something that must be bypassed somehow. Picture using your fingertip to move a flat coin to a precise spot on the other side of the table. Giving it a good hard jab and letting it fly won't be nearly as effective as smoothly pushing it all the way to it's target.

As far as staging the trigger, count me in as one who thinks it's a bad habit to get into. It essentially amounts to timing the shot, which target shooters will tell you is a futile endeavor. It also suggests you haven't fully committed to the shot before you started pulling, and indecision kills accuracy.

Ironically enough, staging the trigger isn't the most accurate way to shoot DA; a smooth consistent pull through the break will yield better results. While practicing, you can abort the shot if anything's not right, but - and this is key - mentally commit to a proper sight picture & trigger control before you start your pull, not during the pull.

Something not mentioned yet is a good high stronghand grip. When looking from the side, you shouldn't see exposed backstrap. Once you get your high grip, experiment with finger placement. A good place to start is the 1st joint, but really, what's best is whatever gives you the most control, which you can determine via dry fire, so long as you really watch that front sight.

At the range, try the ball-and-dummy drill, where the cylinder is randomly loaded with a mix of live & dummy rounds. It's very effective for diagnosing a flinch as the sear breaks. If you are flinching, it may be because you're thinking about when the shot will break, or perhaps because you're thinking about trying to make a good shot. If so, ditch the target altogether for a bit. Simply shoot slow, controlled shots into the berm or the backstop while you focus on a smooth trigger pull with good sight alignment.

Finally, I agree with the suggestion to dry fire a lot, but be sure it's quality dry fire. Just mindlessly clicking away at the TV may do more harm than good (assuming the TV survives

).

March 11, 2013, 02:30 PM	#6
MrBorland Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 2,614	Most people I see struggling with DA accuracy are doing so because they're really yanking the trigger - either from the beginning, or because they've staged it first (pulling partway, getting sight picture, pull the rest of the way). Let's start with the 1st scenario: The DA pull itself should obviously should be controlled and steady. From the beginning. And completely through to the end. That may sound obvious, but it's very common for folks to really yank that trigger, as though the travel is something that must be bypassed somehow. Picture using your fingertip to move a flat coin to a precise spot on the other side of the table. Giving it a good hard jab and letting it fly won't be nearly as effective as smoothly pushing it all the way to it's target. As far as staging the trigger, count me in as one who thinks it's a bad habit to get into. It essentially amounts to timing the shot, which target shooters will tell you is a futile endeavor. It also suggests you haven't fully committed to the shot before you started pulling, and indecision kills accuracy. Ironically enough, staging the trigger isn't the most accurate way to shoot DA; a smooth consistent pull through the break will yield better results. While practicing, you can abort the shot if anything's not right, but - and this is key - mentally commit to a proper sight picture & trigger control before you start your pull, not during the pull. Something not mentioned yet is a good high stronghand grip. When looking from the side, you shouldn't see exposed backstrap. Once you get your high grip, experiment with finger placement. A good place to start is the 1st joint, but really, what's best is whatever gives you the most control, which you can determine via dry fire, so long as you really watch that front sight. At the range, try the ball-and-dummy drill, where the cylinder is randomly loaded with a mix of live & dummy rounds. It's very effective for diagnosing a flinch as the sear breaks. If you are flinching, it may be because you're thinking about when the shot will break, or perhaps because you're thinking about trying to make a good shot. If so, ditch the target altogether for a bit. Simply shoot slow, controlled shots into the berm or the backstop while you focus on a smooth trigger pull with good sight alignment. Finally, I agree with the suggestion to dry fire a lot, but be sure it's quality dry fire. Just mindlessly clicking away at the TV may do more harm than good (assuming the TV survives ).