Need help pulling the trigger

[Steelshooter2]

I have a decent hold but sometimes I can't make my finger pull the trigger. I am shooting a 2oz trigger but sometimes I freeze up and it feel like it 10lbs. Does anyone have tips or tricks to help me.

[dustinflint]

Que Dustin's broken record - I'm a one-trick pony always giving the same advice, but here goes:

You need to practice more. Passing up good shots is something that everyone does - it's a timing and confidence issue that gets better the more you shoot. If you're only shooting once a week or only at matches, it's going to be hard to get better.

Two things to remember:

1) timing is the most important thing to shooting well - you'll hear everyone talk about their hold but if you dont pull the trigger the hold is irrelevant. The way to hit targets is to pull the trigger when the rifle is aimed at the right spot. Shooting a lot is the only way to improve your timing.

2) Confidence is important - The only way you're going to take good shots (or actually pull the trigger when a good shot is there) is to have confidence in the shot. If you're constantly second-guessing the shot, you're thinking too much and not giving your brain what it needs to see the good shot and react. Again, this is corrected by shooting a lot. You need to have watched yourself (through the scope) take thousands of good shots so that when you're in the match and you see the good shot, you instinctively pull the trigger. Of course the only way to take thousands of good shots is to take thousands of shots.

Both of those are basically the same tip but the only way to get good at shooting is to shoot. You can try all the voodoo and equipment changes you want, but there is really only one way. A lot of folks will give you a lot of specific tips which will fill your brain with noise; but finding your own methods by shooting and shooting and shooting some more will do a lot more for your score.

Dustin

[Steelshooter2]

Thanks Dustin that's great advice. I may not shoot for months. The only time I shoot is at matches. I will follow your advice and sure that will solve my problem, thanks again.
Randy

[ywltzucanrknrl]

I always had this issue and I think it was the worst with the light triggers on my KKMS and Anschutz’s. I still have this issue on occasion—great sight picture, holding really still, but can’t pull the trigger! Dustin’s advice is sound---practice until it becomes second nature. Here’s one suggestion and I can’t take credit for it as it’s published in several shooting books---try a firmer grip. When I started shooting high power XTC I had a time with the five pound trigger, I really struggled with it until I was reading one of the shooting books I have and I saw the statement about trying a firmer grip---I started dry firing that way and paying attention when I shot and if I was having trouble breaking the shot, I firmed up my grip---sure worked for me.
Jon Carlisle
Cody, Wyoming

[Steelshooter2]

I have noticed that a firm grip makes it easier to pull without jerking. Thanks Jon I'll work on that.

[boats]

My break through with that issue was Visualization. Last thing I do before putting my cheek on the stock is look at the target for just a instant visualize what I want the sight picture to look like. Cheek on the stock soon as I see that image pull the trigger.

Go on line and look up "The quiet eye" method, Joan Vickers, it's all about visualization. Video is not shooting specific but in her book she goes into it for shooting sports.

http://www.pbs.org/saf/1206/segments/1206-1.htm

Boats

[Evelio Mc Donald]

Boats,
I shot Sil. for over 40 years, and don't really know of anybody shooting Sil. with a 2 OZ. trigger, in Sil. competition you have to be able to put your finger on the trigger, and wait for the perfect target picture and squeeze the trigger. With a 2 OZ. trigger, you know that the slightest touch will make it go off, so you are scare to even touch it. I would suggest you increase the pull weight to about 8 to 10 OZ. so you feel more comfortable feeling the trigger, and relaxing waiting for the desire target picture.
For the last 4 years, I have been shooting practically nothing but bench rest matches, 22LR and centerfire with 1 and 2 OZ. triggers, and I don't touch the trigger until time to fire, and even though I am sitting down, and the gun on a practically solid bench, sometimes it goes off without thinking about it, just by starting to touch the trigger when the conditions starts to look good, and sometimes my finger starts to shake, and I am scare to touch it when the conditions are perfect.
Increase you weight of pull, and you will feel a lot more comfortable in the offhand position.
Good luck.
Evelio.

[Evelio Mc Donald]

Sorry Boats, my posting was directed to Steelshooter2. Not you.
Evelio.

[boats]

No Worries, and agree with you on the too light trigger weight.

Boats

[Jerry G]

I believe that if you are looking for the perfect shot it makes it hard to pull the trigger when the dot is on the animal. To many of us, a perfect shot doesn't exist except on Cathy's targets.

[Dee]

You don't need to pull a 2oz trigger you just need to think about it going off when the sites are on the spot you want them and it should. Way to light IMO, you breath funny and it will go off!

Dee

[boats]

I shoot a 4 oz set trigger in my 14 lb Schuetzen Rifle. Has a trigger finger rest on the trigger guard to keep you off it when handling the gun after setting. I have to come off the stock and look at it when setting or will get AD's
Settle on target slap it and the rifle fires.

That method would never work with a light silhouette rifle. Don't know how I could measure the 2nd. Stage on my 1712 guessing it's about a pound. Lighter would be difficult for me.

Boats

[Steelshooter2]

I want to thank everyone for the responses. I have shot a 2oz trigger in silo for the last 15 yrs and have never had a problem with it being to light. As for making the trigger heavier I don't see where that would help. I lost my finger tip on my trigger finger in 89 and only have a numb on the tip. Don't get me wrong I am a decent silo shooter and it only happens on a couple of targets during a match, but one or two misses are the difference between winning or not. I think I just need to practice more and I'll be fine.
Thanks guys, Randy

[ldholton]

[quote="Evelio Mc Donald"]Boats,
I shot Sil. for over 40 years, and don't really know of anybody shooting Sil. with a 2 OZ. trigger, in Sil. competition you have to be able to put your finger on the trigger, and wait for the perfect target picture and squeeze the trigger. With a 2 OZ. trigger, you know that the slightest touch will make it go off, so you are scare to even touch it. I would suggest you increase the pull weight to about 8 to 10 OZ. so you feel more comfortable feeling the trigger, and relaxing waiting for the desire target picture.
For the last 4 years, I have been shooting practically nothing but bench rest matches, 22LR and centerfire with 1 and 2 OZ. triggers, and I don't touch the trigger until time to fire, and even though I am sitting down, and the gun on a practically solid bench, sometimes it goes off without thinking about it, just by starting to touch the trigger when the conditions starts to look good, and sometimes my finger starts to shake, and I am scare to touch it when the conditions are perfect.
Increase you weight of pull, and you will feel a lot more comfortable in the offhand position.
Good luck.
Evelio.[/quote]I agree I personally shoot about 6oz I've tried the 2oz route but I felt there was a mental block for me and seem to be "scared" to touch the trigger for fear it would go off when I really wasn't ready but at 6oz I can feel the trigger very well but still light enough as not to effect hold when it "pulled "

[RBriscoe]

There are two things at play, but Dr. McDonald's diagnosis is correct. You have what is known as "chicken finger". This condition can be aggravated pressure on the nerve between the thumb and trigger finger resulting in reduced sensitivity. This aspect is more commonly seen in pistol shooters though. An international level free pistol competitor who used to shoot with us said there were days when he seemingly could not make the gun go off even though the trigger pull was so light that the weight of the trigger blade itself would make the free pistol discharge if the muzzle was much higher than the breech of the pistol.

Anyway, as Dr. McDonald prescribed, heavy up your trigger. 6 to 8 ounces is good, but 8 to 12 ounces may be even better. You will be able to touch the trigger blade and know you have touched it without making the gun go off. You should be able to begin applying pressure such that your finger will depress without breaking the trigger. This will allow you to "ride" the trigger until you are ready as you go on and off the animal.

If you are shooting a hunter rifle, the transition between a very light trigger and a two pound trigger can be more difficult than switching back and forth between a heavier standard trigger, perhaps in the 10 to 16 ounce range and a hunter trigger. Just which combination best suits you is a matter for experimentation while practicing.

While you are at it, check your hand position and the position of the trigger blade.

Have fun,

Rick