Hey, everyone! I'm new to the AR platform and was wondering how you guys pull the trigger on your rifle. Do you pull from the first pad, second pad, joint? And do you have any tips on making a cleaner, straighter trigger pull? Mine is sort of frustrating me cause it seems the front sight stays still when I pull the trigger, but the rear sight bounces around when the sear breaks. Thanks!

I depress the trigger with the pad of my finger. If you want to practice steadying your sight picture and steadying your trigger pull, get a laser bore sighter.



Drop it down the barrel. Adjust the laser dot to your iron sights (laser dot sits on top of the tip of the front sight post). Dry fire practice. Look through your irons, see the dot, practice your trigger pull. You'll identify what movement in your body is causing the rear sight to move out of alignment. It could be your breathing, your cheek weld, etc.

You can also aim the laser the wall, don't look through the sights, and dry fire. Try to keep the laser dot as steady as possible on the wall.

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-John

Why have I been taught not to dry fire a rifle?

Some worry about firing pin damage but many experts promote dry fire exercises. One could get snap caps to eliminate the concern. It certainly can't hurt and one could incorporate them into fail to fire exercises by randomly loading snap caps into a magazine of regular cartridges.

The firearms I would strongly urge anyone not to dry fire are rim fire firearms. The firing pin will strike the edge of the chamber and could cause damage to the firing pin and/or the chamber. Been there, done that.

Ok that's where I have picked that up. I was taught not to dry fire my 22.

Now I know the why. And I can see where a centerfire wouldn't have the same issue. Sweet, cause I liked Johns suggestions and want to try them too.

I know that if you own a Ruger MKIII or a Ruger 10/22, dry fire is ok. Ruger designed in a firing pin block that prevents the firing pin from striking the breech face. Otherwise, no dry firing any rimfire firearm.

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-John

You can use the inexpensive bore sight for pistol dry fire practice too.

Even though the laser bore sight is cheap, it's darn useful. For rifles, I use it to get on paper. For pistols, I use it to sight in a rail mounted laser and/or a RMR.

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-John

Also, using the trigger more will make it smoother. My M&P15 had a very stiff trigger when brand new, but it smoothed out quite a bit over the first 1000-1500 rounds as the trigger and sear rubbed against each other.

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Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

When I shot competition I was taught to always dry snap a couple of times when I got in position to check my natural point of aim.

I did have to replace the firing pin on one AR because it would stick in the bolt when driven forward by the hammer and tie up the gun. The money spent was well worth the benefits.

Don't pull the trigger, squeeze it.

I use the tip of my finger, like on the opposite side of my fingernail. I don't get nearly as much adverse pull by doing it that way. I do forget sometimes and almost have the middle part of my finger on the trigger. That's when I pull my shot off target.

I place the first pad of my index finger on the center of the trigger and squeeze the trigger like you do when you squeeze..........

Well, anyway, squeeze the trigger, don't snap it or jerk it.

Squeeze it gently, the break of the trigger should be a surprise.

Rule 303

What part of the finger you use to pull the trigger has varied somewhat over the decades. The general advice is that the middle of the end pad of the trigger digit should be on the trigger.

However, what's really important is that whatever part of the finger you use, the finger should press straight back on the trigger. This may require some experimentation.

Given the physical layout, I find myself placing the AR trigger at the crease of the end joint of the finger against the edge of the trigger. That's pretty much the same finger position advocated for years for double action revolver work. I find that works best for me with the service AR trigger.