Looong fingers-placement on trigger

[k31scout]

This seems to be the best place to post this so here goes. I have big hands and long fingers. I have an M&P22 and XD9 and a 1911 none with adjustable back straps.

When I grip the guns my trigger finger naturally goes well past the pad to the first crease in my finger or further. I have to pull my trigger finger away from the gun quiet a bit to get the pad on the trigger which is creating tension in my hand. I have a better feel of the trigger with the pad but it seems more natural to go all the way to the crease.

I'm not an accomplished shooter yet and don't want to build bad habits. I know I need to experiment with this myself but wonder what other giant handed shooters do.

 

[Old cop]

I have hands the same size, XL gloves are a tight fit, and have always used the first joint as opposed to the pad. I don't know if that is a bad habit but I've been shooting this way for over 40 yrs and am considered a pretty good shot.

 

[k31scout]

Thanks Old Cop. I've shot Olympic recurve style archery for 20 years and know how hard bad habits are to break. Not sure how well archery translates to pistols but ingrained form is everything. Anyway, I think I'll work on the relaxed, shoot from the finger crease trigger pull for a while.

 

[mcnee229]

I've heard everything from using just the very tip of the finger to area opposite the nail bed or the first joint and everywhere in between. The best advice I ever heard came from a WW2 training film for the M1 Garand. The instructor told his students to use whatever felt right. The most important thing is that trigger squeeze (not a pull!) should be smooth and straight back. If the motion you use influences the front sight at all, you need to work on either placement or the mechanics of the pull. If you want the shot to go where the sight was pointing when you decided to shoot, it still has to be there when the trigger breaks and hammer falls.

If you want, see if you can find some bigger/bulkier stocks/grips to make up for sasquatch sized hands.

Scott

 

[k31scout]

Have a Hogue grip sleeve on my XD and have one coming for the M&P22; they help but not much. I'll work on dry fire from the crease and see how it goes.

 

[manyguns]

Using the pad of your finger on single action or stiker fired pistols gets you the potential for a straight back pull. If your trigger finger is away from the side of the gun you have a much better angle for the large joint to do the work. Check that with sustained dry fire against a lit background so you can see the sights.

 

[H Richard]

People with different length fingers need to pay attention to what part of the finger in the trigger will allow them to pull the trigger "straight" back without pulling right or pushing left. That is the key. As long as you can reliably move the trigger "straight" back you are good. With most people is in the center of the pad of the front joint.