Is Slapping Your Trigger A Bad Trigger Control Technique?

[@rbm6184]

"I hate it when people blame everything on not seeing the sight and jerking the trigger. To shoot fast you're going to jerk the trigger. So learn how to jerk the trigger without moving the gun. Its that simple." - Rob Leatham 6 time IPSC World Champion

[@jamesriggs6210]

Hear! Hear!

[@vettepilot427]

That's sort of like a concert pianist telling you that the only thing you need to do to play Carnegie Hall is to hit the right keys at the right time. Technically true, but far from the whole story. Watch Rob and Jerry Miculek shoot. Their finger never comes off the trigger. Why? It's slower. If you follow the instructions in this video, you wind up with a rapid controlled press, not a slap.

[@onpsxmember]

That's true at a certain distance and a certain target. With different circumstances that's not an option. If one keeps the different context in mind there is far less misunderstanding if two people come from different backgrounds. Others need consistency across a whole season at a further distance with utmost precision in mind or they'll lose their rank and there is nothing making up for the trigger control. If you train for speed, some precision is always lost and some pros add static zen-like shooting to keep a balance and being able to switch 'modes' based on circumstances.

[@rogerturner6737]

Experience helps with this but novices need to find accuracy first yes I understand what you are saying if you can't hit the target more often than not trigger action don't matter

[@geerux]

A friend's 12 year old has been shooting since he was 6 years old we shoot production division in IPSc he slaps the trigger fast and with pin point accuracy, I thought about "correcting him" pinning the trigger and knowing where reset is but slapping works for him so we leave him to it

[@glassboxes]

that’s pretty well explained as usual

[@shootinbruin3614]

Great points. I would add #5 (arguably #1 since it’s so important): establish a firm and consistent grip. A good grip is not only for recoil control; it’s also key to shooting accurately at speed. A solid grip prevents any disruptions caused by he trigger pull from affecting the sights as much. Think of a pistol mounted on a vice: it doesn’t matter how hard you smack that trigger - that thing’s not moving!

[@johnhalpin1847]

Well that's great for target shooting however there are issues with that as well squeezing too hard forces blood out of your hand and the muscles need blood to be used and also causes trembling due to loss of blood. How long can you properly hold the firearm with a vise type grip? Yeah I know long enough. I don't believe in 70/30 or 60/40 as everyone is different

[@onpsxmember]

True. Same grip pressure before during and after. But that's not that easy.

[@shootinbruin3614]

@@johnhalpin1847 Grip pressure is only fully applied as the pistol is presented immediately prior to firing; with practice it becomes part of the same process as acquiring the sights together with (if applicable) deactivating the manual safety. Fatigue is not an issue and no one made any mention of the pressure split between hands.

[@TheRealSlowhand]

Great info Myles, thank you...

[@robertdinicola9225]

If the desired result is achieved, nothing is "wrong".

[@antonw-uw4ov]

But that only holds true when you are at the top tier. Telling the average shooter that it is not wrong to slap the trigger is just doing them a disservice.

[@JG54206]

Please do a video on the other 3 methods you mentioned. I only recently discovered the concept of resetting the trigger. I have always naturally just let it go once it breaks.

[@Paladin1873]

I've found the greatest challenge with handguns is teaching people to shoot at the right pace without anticipating the shot, losing their sight picture, weakening their grip, or flinching. At extremely close range one can argue that none of the basic marksmanship rules are critical on a stationary target, but start increasing the range or making the target dynamic and suddenly everything is critical. It's always a challenge trying to figure out what the shooter is doing wrong because it can vary from shot to shot. I suspect the single most common problem, even with highly experienced shooters, is flinching. The more hurried or panicked we are, the more likely we are to flinch. The most effective tool I know for countering it is follow-through, but it's hard to follow-through when some person or animal is trying to kill you. I believe you can build your speed with practice until you reach a point at which your accuracy and precision significantly fall off. But how many people know where that point is for them in any given situation? And how many shooters develop different techniques to master speed and accuracy for specific ranges or dynamic targets? Perhaps one shooting style does not fit all scenarios, thus one needs to know when to transition to a different style.

[@GarusPKMNchannel]

What about fanning hammers?

[@rogerturner6737]

I was tought take up any slack pull gently so that the shot is. A bit of surprise you can't hold a good sight on the target with a slap

[@mikereese15]

Great principles Myles.

[@gregggibson3109]

The constant pressure technique IMO produces the most accurate shot; however, as anyone who competes under a timer knows, the faster you move your trigger finger the more difficult it becomes to keep pressure constant…virtually impossible, so, what tips might you employ to mitigate this?

[@fromthefuture9353]

Your are very helpful, Sir!

[@frankbutta9344]

The king of slapping is Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat. Search for his 4 minute video on a three target drill. Bill’s trigger finger comes out of the trigger guard COMPLETELY between EVERY shot. It looks crazy, but he said it’s a habit he can’t break.

[@onpsxmember]

Bill is used to shoot revolvers at a high level with huge reset and that's why he comes off the 1911 trigger.

[@fanman8102]

My opinion. If you are three yards (five steps) or less and you can’t point shoot five rounds into a man size target in five seconds, you need to work on your grip. ‘Point shooting’ meaning you’re target focused and slapping the trigger. Once you can do that begin again at five yards.

[@johnhalpin1847]

No it means you need to practice fundamentals, Eye hand coordination and repetitive motion to create a muscle memory.

[@fanman8102]

@@johnhalpin1847 - OK, I guess all that is true but if your grip sucks you can’t control recoil which means you won’t be able to maintain a natural point of aim. At five yards stand in front of your target, close your eyes, present the pistol and fire. If you miss, it’s your grip.

[@DefZen343]

Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat "Slaps" the trigger and hits A Zones at a pretty fast pace 🤭 anything is fine as long as the sights are not disturbed by your trigger press enough to miss your target 🤭

[@antonw-uw4ov]

I have not seen anything from him when he is youger: but now a days he is very slow and not very accurate. And he never double taps.... I don't know when he picked up that techniques but what Bill Wlison does is one of the oddest shooting techniques around.

[@bshadrick]

Been training under Frank Garcia for a few years. 7 yards and in are non-danger target. Point and pull the friggin trigger. Beyond that prep the trigger, beyond 7 yards are considered a danger target. Bill

[@TheHanshotfirst]

I can comfortably shoot a revolver (especially in single action) with precise sub two inch groups, but for some reason I am absolutely terrible with the SIG p365. I mean I can still land general torso shots at ten yards, but unless I really focus they tend to fall about six to eight inches below my point of aim.

[@onpsxmember]

What revolver, caliber and sight radius and at what distance? What hold do you have with both? Might be just that the sights are off or that they're meant for a 'combat' hold using the dots instead of the top of the front sight. Other than that, have it in a rest and if it's the same also with different ammo, get a different height front sight or send it in if there is still warranty.

[@TheHanshotfirst]

@@onpsxmember S&W Model 29, 6.5" .44 Magnum, 20yrds. Thumbs up with revolver, standard thumbs forward on Sig. It's definitely me, not the pistol; others have fired it same day, same ammo, same target with expected results. I can only assume it's because the Sig is so small, light & snappy I'm flinching/dipping?

[@johnshue8082]

'it depends'

[@kellywalker8407]

For me personally, I routinely yank the trigger when shooting close at speed, (.18 hundreds split times.) To help with my flaws and sloppy trigger control, I always add shooting at longer ranges during every range session. The "dickens drill" is something I've been doing for decades.

[@johnhalpin1847]

LOL so called Dicken Drill is nothing more than practice a longer than than usual distance target shooting, wait to you hear if it comes out what the real distance was. Why do you think the sheriff didn't give a distance just said a considerable distance. I hear it was exaggerated it was actually 24 Yds which doesn't take away that he saved lives and did an excellent job.

[@vettepilot427]

If you follow the instructions in this video by the numbers, you wind up with a controlled press, not a "slap". Watch Jerry Miculek and Rob Leatham actually shoot. Their finger never comes off the trigger. Why? It's slower. They aren't "slapping" anything. It's a rapid controlled press straight through the trigger break.

[@rom14141]

I kept waiting to see him pinch a little belly skin into his holster as he reholstered. Click it and feel the sting! Lol

[@OAGG10]

Got a spelling error or "it" instead of "is"

[@TacticalHyve]

Thanks, corrected.

[@OAGG10]

@@TacticalHyve np, love your content and would also like to see more coch gunsmithing and rifles

[@markvickroy6725]

No one is slapping a rifle trigger on a fast draw, or taking 100-200 yard shots with a pistol

[@sqeekms6186]

You're the first Myles I've seen that doesn't have a man bun...

[@thegrantula1781]

I thought we were slapping and different trigger, wrong video

[@antonw-uw4ov]

I think you should strive for exellence, not good enought. Competition shooting has shown us that the fastest way to get shoots on target from a draw or low ready with a heavy "service trigger" is to start pressing the trigger on the way up untill you are past the takeup. An important note is to roll the pistol over while you are doing that so that the RO can't see your finger 😄 Slapping the trigger on a pistol is never good and the reason it is discouraged is that it usually makes you inaccurate from a draw and your splits get longer.

[@tangomantactical]

I'm not former military. I'm not a professional shooter. I watch Guntubers and emulate them. My understanding is your finger never leaves the trigger face. Precision shots or rapid fire. I've shot 0.8 splits before. How? Tons of practice, tons of ammo and gleaning from others. You can't have an ego. Geissele SD3G flat bow triggers are the best triggers in the world IMHO. Hiperfire is second and JP full roller trigger third. Imo. Warning though, before you get infatuated with speed make sure your putting 1-2" groups on paper with your rifle of choice at 35~50yds. Accuracy 1st, Speed second.

[@glockasauruswrex6362]

I'm lookin to ride the reset, not slap my trigger. You only default to something if ur training on it...most people's default is to panic...because they don't train. ya don't practice mistakes...unless you wanna be real good at making them

[@krisswegemer1163]

Slapping your trigger is always a bad trigger control technique.

[@gunnierunner1]

Grip harder.

[@DefZen343]

depends on your skill level, range, target size and pace, many high level competition shooters "slap" the trigger when the targets are very close 🤭 prepping the trigger on a target 5 feet infront of you is wasting time, perhaps time you may not have in a fight. Many advance shooters can slap triggers and still make 15 yard "A Zone" shots too but a less skilled person will definitely miss the whole target. all depends.. 🤭

[@mikev2761]

Tell me you don’t really know much about shooting without actually telling me.

[@onpsxmember]

@@mikev2761 In his context it may be utterly true. And a lot of other factors make up for it. Like the grip, the big target at a short distance and the goal to do it fast into a larger zone of that target makes it valid. In a different context that option costs you matches and even whole seasons if something else has to make up for it. They trained to one extreme while others chose another. You'll see it rarely that a speed demon can get anywhere near a precision zen shooter hitting the same hole 10 times shooting between heartbeats and sub MOA groups at 50m or more. As soon as the distance changes, the dynamic shooters change their pace and trigger control. More tools for the toolbox.

[@shootinbruin3614]

@@onpsxmember OP said "always," which removes all context. As it is with many absolute statements, he's wrong, full stop.