Finger placement on trigger

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dlau

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I saw a video of a Spec forces sniper explaining how he uses only his fingertip to squeeze the trigger. I believe he also had his thumb on the right side of the grip instead of wrapped around, but let's focus on one variable at a time.

I was taught to use the first pad, but this idea got me experimenting between fingertip, first pad, and first joint. I haven't put in enough time to tell which is better for me, but like golf, I imagine some of this is what works for the individual, and the other part is sound fundamentals.

What do the gurus of this forum recommend?
 
The pad of the index finger has the most nerve endings of any of the digits so one is going to develop the most sensitivity using the pad. Depending on the trigger pull weight the 1st joint shouldn't be used because of nearly no sense of feel. But like many aspects of shooting, practise on a regular basis is required to make consistent performance.
The book "The Way of the Rifle" goes into extensive detail in the creation and physiology of shooting positions and techniques.
 
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New military shooters are often taught to use the first joint or second pad on stock rifles because it is less prone to twitch (shorter "length of pull" so to speak). It helps develop trigger control on heavy military triggers.

Once you progress to advanced tactical or sport shooting with tuned rifles and light triggers, the pad or tip is more useful. Since you require less leverage, and are better able to feel the intricacies of the trigger mechanism, you are less likely to pull your shots. Experience and sound trigger control is generally key here, or you could develop a tendency to pull or flinch that is difficult to break.

Try different styles and see what works for you. Some Military marksmen never deviate from the first joint technique once they have honed it, so there is no "right" answer.
 
I have been experimenting too between first pad, first joint, and second pad and have yet to come to any conclusion that one is better. I just fire in a way that i am the most comfortable and get a straight pull. It usually ends up being the first pad because like has been said, i get the most control and feel with it.

I have tried the finger tip method and it works for me if the rifle is very stable and the trigger pull is light
 
Panman said:
New military shooters are often taught to use the first joint or second pad on stock rifles because it is less prone to twitch (shorter "length of pull" so to speak). It helps develop trigger control on heavy military triggers.

Once you progress to advanced tactical or sport shooting with tuned rifles and light triggers, the pad or tip is more useful. Since you require less leverage, and are better able to feel the intricacies of the trigger mechanism, you are less likely to pull your shots. Experience and sound trigger control is generally key here, or you could develop a tendency to pull or flinch that is difficult to break.

Try different styles and see what works for you. Some Military marksmen never deviate from the first joint technique once they have honed it, so there is no "right" answer.
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Couldn't have said it better. This is what I showed new shooters when I shot competitions and its how I started as well. However, I quickly moved to using the 1st pad because I have short, fat sausage fingers and couldn't use the second pad or even the first joint on some rifles.

To answer the second question in your post, the "thumb on the right side" is to try and eliminate thumping from your blood pressure. There is a major vein that runs through your palm and down your thumb, that's why when you take some one's pulse you never use your thumb, just the finger tips. Anyway, by wrapping your thumb over the stock onto the left side and grip the stock as we tend to do, the thumping of the blood can affect the shot. By resting the thumb on the right side you cannot grip the rifle and it helps to eliminate this thump. You're not gripping the stock as much as you are just cradling it with your fingers.

Try it sometime. For dramatic effect, put a death grip on the stock and aim at say 500 yards and watch your reticle bounce. I know you don't shoot with a death grip but its a way to see what I mean.

Hope that helps.
Cheers
 
Much depends on the type of rifle you are shooting. I like the finger tip contact myself if for no other reason than it eliminates dragging wood. If you are cursed with shooting a rifle with a difficult trigger, the second pad of the finger may reduce the amount of creep felt and makes it easier to overcome the resistance of a very heavy trigger. If you are shooting an military stocked rifle like an AR, FN, HK, etc, dragging wood is not an issue, so using the second pad on the finger is a less grevious sin.

As for the thumb on the right hand side of the stock, that's me. Shoot a rifle that has enthusiastic recoil and a stock that has a shortish LOP for fast handeling, and it won't be long before you begin to keep your thumb on the correct side of the stock either.
 
On some military rifles (AR's) folks with big hands are forced to put more of their finger on the trigger due to the shortness of the reach (or whatever it's called.) Gives little people a bit of an edge in these rifles.
 
Pretty much everything has been said I think. People have different hand sizes and stocks are different with respect to size where you grip the rifle so I think there is no definitive answer. I think you need to experiment with the equipment you are using and whatever position works resulting in the trigger being pulled straight back with no contact and movement of the stock works best for that individual. Dry firing and having a coach observe helps alot.
 
...they probably kept their finger on the the same side as the trigger hand because in many rigs, the thumb and nose-eye-cheek connect whe they touch off the gun. I hate sporter style stocks for that reason and love thumbholes. I cannot shoot a model 94 without hurting myself.
 
Great advice! For my setup, I find the Accutrigger is sensitive enough to use the fingertip; and the Choate stock is pretty big that I'm probably better off to keep my thumb on the right side. I'll work with this technique and see if I can be more consistent.

I have a .22 bolt for practice, I'll try to remember to use the same technique.

Interestingly enough, I find that I use first joint with semi-auto pistols; and second pad with revolvers. I'm sure some use the same placement regardless of what they shoot, but part of the fun is finding out what works.

Cheers all.
 
Rimfire practice is excellent training. With bullet travel time in the barrel being 3x,roughly, the duration of centrefire,consistency in hand,trigger finger, cheek weld,followthrough are even more critical .
 
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Obtunded said:
...they probably kept their finger on the the same side as the trigger hand because in many rigs, the thumb and nose-eye-cheek connect whe they touch off the gun. I hate sporter style stocks for that reason and love thumbholes. I cannot shoot a model 94 without hurting myself.
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I remember watching the video. The guy was shooting a Barrett M82 .50
 
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