Trigger Control-finger placement - USAMU

[CarrollMS]

"Finger placement...(1) When firing with a light trigger (less than 12 ounces), the finger is placed on the trigger between pad and first joint... (2) When using a heavier trigger (greater than two pounds), the finger should be placed on the trigger further back from the tip, usually at the first joint"
[International Rifle Guide by USAMU and printed by CMP ST 23-9-7]

Comment:  The first joint is taught by the USAMU to troops for the M4 at unit courses. Most of the rifles at Applessed will have trigger pull equal to or greater than 3#  I (e.g. 3# is the minimum- CMP Rimfire  sporter category rule 8.2.5). I have a Colt Walter M4 22LR with a heavy trigger pull of about 8 pounds, which is within the standard set for USGI M4

[USNAVYCHIEF(Ret)]

As of late, AMU shooters teach that the trigger finger should be aligned wherever it is the most comfortable to not disturb sight alignment.

I know some that break the match grade 2 stage AR triggers with the middle pad on the index finger.  Some use the 2nd joint, and some use the first joint.

Grip plays a lot with this as well, and dependent on the grip of the rifle, that will determine where I align my index finger with the trigger.

That has been my experience, I used to teach/and break the trigger with the middle of the first pad, and that works OK with some rifles and triggers, but not my AR.

Restated:
Align the trigger finger with the trigger wherever it is most comfortable and will not disturb sight alignment during the squeeze.  The grip will determine where that is.

R/
Chris

[pblanc]

As above.  Army training circular TC 3-22.9 for the M16 rifle/M4 carbine, last revised May 2016 states the following:

"Firing Hand. Proper placement of the firing hand will aid in trigger control. Place the pistol grip in the ‘V' formed between the thumb and index finger. The pressure applied is similar to a firm handshake grip. Different Soldiers have different size hands and lengths of fingers, so there is no set position of the  finger  on  the  trigger.  To  grip  the  weapon,  the  Soldier  places  the  back  strap  of  the  weapon's  pistol  grip  high  in  the  web  of  his  firing  side  hand  between his thumb and index (trigger) finger."

[USNAVYCHIEF(Ret)]

I found that to be contradictory to what I had initially been taught.

But, after discussing with a few AMU shooters it was an eye opener.

The AR15, with the A2 Grip.....many shooters I know that shoot that rifle VERY well in competition, actually get all 3 fingers above the "nub" on the grip.  But, Rob Mango (very accomplished shooter) advised me that another option is to simply get an A1 grip without the "nub".

With a high grip on the AR with an as issued grip, that trigger finger for me gets a lot longer...and trying to break it in the first pad, or joint is not good for me.

Another reference on YouTube would be Kirsten Joy Weiss....her "Joy of Shooting videos", she has one on the AR15 and discusses what an awful grip it is as issued.

One glance at a match rifle, palma rifle, small bore rifle, etc....and one will find that the grip is customized to the shooters hand.  It is actually molded to the proper grip, to allow the trigger to be moved straight back to the rear and not disturb sight alignment.

Lots of little muscles in the hand, and the trigger squeeze with a poor grip, can absolutely disturb sight alignment.

R/
Chris

[Lomshek]

My approach has been to have shooters try both methods (pad of finger and crease of first joint) to decide what works best for them.

We start with the trigger hand floating in air then place their finger on the trigger so that the part of the finger we want on the trigger is on the trigger then figure out where to place their hand so that the finger stays ideally placed.

This is preceded by a demonstration on a flagged rifle on various hand locations and how they affect trigger finger placement.

[USNAVYCHIEF(Ret)]

My approach has been to have shooters try both methods (pad of finger and crease of first joint) to decide what works best for them.

Agreed.  But....some students will not benefit from trying different positions with the trigger finger, until they get the rest of the fundamentals down.

So....I'd say for whatever type of rifle it is, say a 10/22 in a sporter stock...advise em to use the joint in 1st finger.  For an AR, advise em to use the pad on 2nd joint.

Then look to the target for the feedback.

Assuming one has the fundamental position, and the 6 steps down....the target will be the feedback.  Then the shooter can experiment with finger placement.

I think for most, it won't matter much as long as they are executing a nice squeeze.  Personally, when I swapped from the middle of the first pad, to the 2nd joint on the AR, it felt a lot more comfortable at first but was also "new to me". 

I advise for new shooters (meaning anyone not scoring Rifleman), to just keep that finger position the same for each shot.  Wherever they decide to place it.

I don't believe that movement of the trigger finger from first pad, to second joint will cause anyone to not make Rifleman, nor will it likely be the thing that places one over the edge (209) to make Rifleman.  But, at some point....it will affect the score.

R/
Chris