DA trigger in LC9 in self defense.

Anaconda1492 · October 23, 2014, 03:35 AM

I have an LC9 and I have shortened the trigger pull on my pistol. However, I noticed that if I go to the range and just pull the trigger, with out staging it, I can't hit a man sized target at 25 yards or even less. What I am worried about is does the DA trigger become an issue in self defense, since your nervous. Therefore, I wonder if I will have the conscious to stage the trigger. Perhaps, if you practice enough it will become natural and you will do it even if you are scared for your life.. It is something that makes me wonder though. When I stage the trigger it works fine, it is strange how just the trigger pull can make it have for all practical purposes zero accuracy. Any thoughts about this?

AK103K · October 23, 2014, 04:46 AM

Sounds like you just need some more practice stroking the trigger.

I normally dont stage the trigger when I shoot DA, even at longer distances. I just focus on the sights and keeping them aligned as I stroke the trigger.

Dry fire is your friend. A little daily practice, and before you know it, you wont even be thinking about it.

Snyper · October 23, 2014, 05:53 AM

Quote:

I can't hit a man sized target at 25 yards

Stop shooting at 25 yds

Start shooting at 5 yds

When you get so good at 5 yds you start to get bored, move it to 10 yds

Repeat the process until you get to the max distance where you can keep all your shots in a 6" or smaller group.

kraigwy · October 23, 2014, 08:40 AM

My daughter carries a LC9. She asked me about her little bitty hands having problems pulling the heavy (sic) trigger pull causing her sights to wiggle all over the place.

I got her to quit "staging" and just use a quick smooth trigger pull.

Her shooting improved tremendously.

If you feel the need for "staging" get a single action pistol.

DaleA · October 24, 2014, 01:48 PM

Yes.

Pulling the trigger can definitely pull the gun off target.

Just a little wiggle where YOU are results in a LOT of movement at the target.

Like everyone else has said, practice, practice, practice and you'll get better. Concentrate on the sights while you're doing it, dry fire, at the range take a shot or two with no round in the chamber and watch you sights. Work at it and you WILL get better.

Cheapshooter · October 24, 2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

I can't hit a man sized target at 25 yards

If you hit a man @75 feet away you better have a very good, and expensive lawyer!
Practice at a more realistic SD distance. Something 10 yards or less.

AK103K · October 24, 2014, 03:28 PM

Quote:

If you hit a man @75 feet away you better have a very good, and expensive lawyer!
Practice at a more realistic SD distance. Something 10 yards or less.

I agree, you should really spend most of your practice closer in, but you still need to practice at the longer distances, so you can make reasonable hits at them, if the need should arise.

If you think 25 yards is a long shot, next time youre in your local market, pace off the length of an isle, or across the front of the store, and see what you come up with, I think youll be surprised at the distances you come up with.

If youre a reasonably proficient handgun shooter, you should really be able to put all your rounds on a man sized target at 50 yards.

Shadi Khalil · October 24, 2014, 07:40 PM

I keep my EDC practice real close, around five yards. I think you should spend some time dry firing.

Bill DeShivs · October 24, 2014, 08:01 PM

If you can hit a target at 25 yards, you can damn well hit it at 5 yards. Don't cheat yourself by only practicing up close.

51.50 · October 24, 2014, 09:45 PM

Maybe the answer is the LC9 S???

Dragline45 · October 24, 2014, 11:15 PM

Sounds like you need some practice, and don't stage the trigger. Your goal should be one smooth consistent trigger pull. Dry fire practice can be just as beneficial and in some cases more so than live fire practice. Pick a spot on the wall, dry fire the gun, and watch what the sights do in relation to dry firing. Eventually with enough practice you will notice those sights barely move at all when dry firing. Next time you go to the range you might be amazed at how much better you will be shooting.

Anaconda1492 · October 25, 2014, 03:02 PM

Sorry the target I was shooting at was actually closer to 10 yards. I am rifle shooter, so I am always thinking 25, 50, and 100 yards etc. Anyways, I will try stroking the trigger I must be flinching as I pull the trigger.

Snyper · October 25, 2014, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Sorry the target I was shooting at was actually closer to 10 yards.

Then start practicing at 4 yds, and try some different loads until you find one the gun really likes

AK103K · October 25, 2014, 08:17 PM

I believe its more of a technique issue, than it is a load issue.

Dry fire until the sights dont move when the trigger breaks, and I think you'll see a major improvement when you next go to the range.

jglsprings · October 26, 2014, 02:10 AM

Quote:

I have an LC9 and I have shortened the trigger pull on my pistol

I'm confused. What do you mean by "I have shortened the trigger pull"?

Have you modified the gun? Or are you talking about staging the trigger?

Anaconda1492 · October 31, 2014, 08:06 PM

The trigger bar and hammer were replaced. This gives the gun 30% less trigger travel if I remember correctly. I went out today and simply shoot the gun like a glock or any other semi auto, with out staging the trigger. It shoot fine 2 inch groups at 10 yards or so... Either, I really got used to the trigger or the shorter trigger pull helps. I do have a revolver and that teaches great trigger discipline, thanks guys.. No need for striker fire LC9 lol Did Ruger plan all this on purpose..

Ruark · November 2, 2014, 02:19 PM

When you're sitting in front of a grand jury wondering how you're going to pay $75,000 in legal bills and explaining why you had to shoot somebody75 feet away in self defense, the trigger pull will be the least of your worries.

Seriously, though, I think a LOT of people buy self defense guns and don't think about trigger pulls; I've pointed out the different between double action only (DAO), double/single, single, etc. to several people and they stared at me like I was explaining particle physics: utterly clueless.

In the crushing, paralyzing, suffocating stress of a face to face self defense situation, you won't be aware of your trigger pull, but a long double action pull can still throw your accuracy way off, for obvious reasons. It won't be that much of a factor at point blank range, but anywhere past 4 or 5 yards some DAO guns will require a ton of practice and feel to hit a target.

This is why I personally prefer a double/single gun like my SIG 2022. The long DA first shot acts as a safety, then subsequent shots are nice, crisp, SA pulls. Or, if I have a half second, I can just thumb the hammer back and the first shot's SA as well.

manta49 · November 2, 2014, 03:50 PM

I don't think you will notice how heavy or how long the trigger pull is if you need to use it. There is a lot of rubbish talked on this subject, a good trigger in a target pistol yes , on a service pistol adequate is fine IMO.

October 23, 2014, 03:35 AM	#1
Anaconda1492 Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Posts: 46	DA trigger in LC9 in self defense. I have an LC9 and I have shortened the trigger pull on my pistol. However, I noticed that if I go to the range and just pull the trigger, with out staging it, I can't hit a man sized target at 25 yards or even less. What I am worried about is does the DA trigger become an issue in self defense, since your nervous. Therefore, I wonder if I will have the conscious to stage the trigger. Perhaps, if you practice enough it will become natural and you will do it even if you are scared for your life.. It is something that makes me wonder though. When I stage the trigger it works fine, it is strange how just the trigger pull can make it have for all practical purposes zero accuracy. Any thoughts about this?

October 23, 2014, 08:40 AM	#4
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	My daughter carries a LC9. She asked me about her little bitty hands having problems pulling the heavy (sic) trigger pull causing her sights to wiggle all over the place. I got her to quit "staging" and just use a quick smooth trigger pull. Her shooting improved tremendously. If you feel the need for "staging" get a single action pistol. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

October 24, 2014, 08:01 PM	#9
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	If you can hit a target at 25 yards, you can damn well hit it at 5 yards. Don't cheat yourself by only practicing up close. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

October 25, 2014, 03:02 PM	#12
Anaconda1492 Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Posts: 46	Sorry the target I was shooting at was actually closer to 10 yards. I am rifle shooter, so I am always thinking 25, 50, and 100 yards etc. Anyways, I will try stroking the trigger I must be flinching as I pull the trigger. Last edited by Anaconda1492; October 25, 2014 at 03:22 PM.

October 31, 2014, 08:06 PM	#16
Anaconda1492 Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Posts: 46	The trigger bar and hammer were replaced. This gives the gun 30% less trigger travel if I remember correctly. I went out today and simply shoot the gun like a glock or any other semi auto, with out staging the trigger. It shoot fine 2 inch groups at 10 yards or so... Either, I really got used to the trigger or the shorter trigger pull helps. I do have a revolver and that teaches great trigger discipline, thanks guys.. No need for striker fire LC9 lol Did Ruger plan all this on purpose.. Last edited by Anaconda1492; October 31, 2014 at 08:18 PM.

October 23, 2014, 04:46 AM	#2
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Sounds like you just need some more practice stroking the trigger. I normally dont stage the trigger when I shoot DA, even at longer distances. I just focus on the sights and keeping them aligned as I stroke the trigger. Dry fire is your friend. A little daily practice, and before you know it, you wont even be thinking about it.

October 24, 2014, 01:48 PM	#5
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	Yes. Pulling the trigger can definitely pull the gun off target. Just a little wiggle where YOU are results in a LOT of movement at the target. Like everyone else has said, practice, practice, practice and you'll get better. Concentrate on the sights while you're doing it, dry fire, at the range take a shot or two with no round in the chamber and watch you sights. Work at it and you WILL get better.

October 24, 2014, 07:40 PM	#8
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,210	I keep my EDC practice real close, around five yards. I think you should spend some time dry firing.

October 24, 2014, 09:45 PM	#10
51.50 Member Join Date: December 1, 2010 Posts: 66	Maybe the answer is the LC9 S???

October 24, 2014, 11:15 PM	#11
Dragline45 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Posts: 3,513	Sounds like you need some practice, and don't stage the trigger. Your goal should be one smooth consistent trigger pull. Dry fire practice can be just as beneficial and in some cases more so than live fire practice. Pick a spot on the wall, dry fire the gun, and watch what the sights do in relation to dry firing. Eventually with enough practice you will notice those sights barely move at all when dry firing. Next time you go to the range you might be amazed at how much better you will be shooting.

October 25, 2014, 08:17 PM	#14
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	I believe its more of a technique issue, than it is a load issue. Dry fire until the sights dont move when the trigger breaks, and I think you'll see a major improvement when you next go to the range.

November 2, 2014, 02:19 PM	#17
Ruark Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2010 Posts: 227	When you're sitting in front of a grand jury wondering how you're going to pay $75,000 in legal bills and explaining why you had to shoot somebody75 feet away in self defense, the trigger pull will be the least of your worries. Seriously, though, I think a LOT of people buy self defense guns and don't think about trigger pulls; I've pointed out the different between double action only (DAO), double/single, single, etc. to several people and they stared at me like I was explaining particle physics: utterly clueless. In the crushing, paralyzing, suffocating stress of a face to face self defense situation, you won't be aware of your trigger pull, but a long double action pull can still throw your accuracy way off, for obvious reasons. It won't be that much of a factor at point blank range, but anywhere past 4 or 5 yards some DAO guns will require a ton of practice and feel to hit a target. This is why I personally prefer a double/single gun like my SIG 2022. The long DA first shot acts as a safety, then subsequent shots are nice, crisp, SA pulls. Or, if I have a half second, I can just thumb the hammer back and the first shot's SA as well.

November 2, 2014, 03:50 PM	#18
manta49 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2011 Location: N Ireland. UK. Posts: 1,809	I don't think you will notice how heavy or how long the trigger pull is if you need to use it. There is a lot of rubbish talked on this subject, a good trigger in a target pistol yes , on a service pistol adequate is fine IMO.