Stage the trigger

[Old Deere]

I have heard the term "stage the trigger " a few times when talking about Smith and wesson revolvers. What does this mean and is it something that could be used with my model 586? Is it the act of pulling the hammer back like a single action revolver or something else?
Thanks

 

[muddocktor]

It's when you slowly pull back the hammer in double action, you can feel a spot where it gets lighter and you can also hear the cylinder stop click into the cylinder, but before the hammer drops. It generally doesn't take much more trigger movement from that point until the hammer drops.

 

[bigggbbruce]

^ yep..

It's where you can settle the sights before you drop the hammer..

 

[atx357]

Yup^^^ that is the thing. With a very very good action job it gets slightly harder but that is how to do it. You can shoot nearly as well in DA as in single action if you stage the trigger, though some folks think it's cheating!!!

 

[Old Deere]

OK I understand. I sounds sort of like a compound bow where the cam reduces the draw pull weight. Thanks everyone for the information.

 

[kraynky]

OK I understand. I sounds sort of like a compound bow where the cam reduces the draw pull weight. Thanks everyone for the information.

Very good analogy. My model 28 will stage so easily, with a notable faint click, that it can be done fairly quickly. Then it's up to me to get it on target and hold it still while I complete the pull.

 

[Jessie]

Note that not all revolvers stage well and they're better to just steadily pull the trigger until hammer drop.
I have a couple that I shoot much better that way.

 

[armorer951]

Please don't try this with your favorite Colt revolver.....they don't carry up.

(caution: S&W armorer opinion)

 

[Pisgah]

If staging the trigger works for you, do it; fact is, though, it doesn't work for everybody. I was frustrated with DA shooting for years until I chanced to meet at the range a retired law officer who had been a competitive shooter for several decades. He watched me shoot for a while, then offered to coach me a bit. His first comment, "Stop staging the trigger!"

Instead, he counseled a smooth, continuous, straight-through stroke while concentrating on keeping the front sight where I wanted the bullet to go. It seemed too simple, and too good, to be true, but he knew whereof he spoke. Within just a few rounds my DA shooting had improved exponentially, and from that day to this if I can hit a target SA I can hit it DA.

This method teaches you an important fact -- a smooth action contributes far more to accurate shooting than a light trigger pull. Much better to spend your time/money on smoothing an action than on lighter springs.

 

[Fishinfool]

Back when I shot a lot of PPC, staging the trigger was popular with some shooters. I tried it, and found I didn't shoot any better than I did with a straight, full DA pull. YRMV.

I think its a bad idea on a revolver you may use for self defense, as it does slow you down slightly, and the fine motor skills needed to stage a trigger would probably go out the window during a real life, adrenalin filled event.

Larry

 

[oink]

I wonder if that's what I always referred to as "pull-squeeze". I was quite good at it back when I shot profusely. I pretty much jerked the trigger back to that point where the stop clicks in and then squeezed. I don't think doing it so quickly was particularly good on the stop or cylinder but at least in my case it helped immensely with accuracy and time. Pretty much have to learn the technique for each individual gun.

 

[s&wchad]

Most instructors will advise against staging a trigger and recommend a steady pull. I believe even S&W advises against it in their owners manuals. It relates to liability.

I'm guilty of doing it at the range when shooting groups with a DA revolver, but I would never do it in a self defense situation. When I practice defensive shooting, I pull all the way through with a continuous smooth stroke.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I've been building and shooting revolvers in competition since 1979. I used to stage the trigger on the longer shots for PPC. In an effort to find the best techniques for me, I tried just a straight through, smooth, controlled pull. I found that with practice, I could shoot just as well or better that way than single action or staged double action.

I figured out that on single action, I'm more likely to jerk the trigger and pull the shot. On staged double action, I found it is more difficult to get the trigger going again once you stop, than to just keep it going. Again, more likely to jerk the last little bit. Also, it's much harder to shoot fast if you're staging than just pulling straight through. Everyone is different, you have to start with solid basics, then work out the details over time. This is what works for me.

Ignore this code snippet. It's for debugging. I'll remove it later.

[IMG]http://protocalldesign.info/photos/Smith_Wesson/Other/trophy_room_sm.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Jessie]

I wonder if Jerry Miculek stages his triggers?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I think its a bad idea on a revolver you may use for self defense, as it does slow you down slightly, and the fine motor skills needed to stage a trigger would probably go out the window during a real life, adrenalin filled event.

I agree. I only do it at the range when I am trying to prove to myself that I can get some tighter groups. Otherwise, there's no time for that in a self defense situation.

I wonder if Jerry Miculek stages his triggers?

Doubtful in the extreme. But he will be using special triggers most of the time although, in his case, a stock revolver will still sing like a songbird - a speedy songbird!

 

[Protocall_Design]

I wonder if Jerry Miculek stages his triggers?

No, he doesn't. I shot the Bianchi Cup with him for several years. At least he wasn't doing it for that type of shooting.

 

[UncleEd]

Mssr. PIsgah, Fishinfool and Protocall Design

are very wise gentlemen (if one or more a lady,
I apologize ) and I recommend following
the trio's advice.

Staging a shot just might prove you a jerking
shot-misser. (Is shot-misser a word? Please
advise.)

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I wonder if Jerry Miculek stages his triggers?

He doesn't have time!

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[Protocall_Design]

Staging a shot just might prove you a jerking
shot-misser. (Is shot-misser a word? Please
advise.)

We always just called it "The Jerk Behind The Trigger".

 

[kthom]

I am decidedly NOT a fan of staging the trigger on any revolver. It's really hard to do quickly and requires concentration that i need for other purposes. A smooth and consistent trigger pull or press or what ever you like to call it from start to surprise finish will do nicely, and it can be done quickly with one less thing to think about.