The trigger is one of the most overlooked, yet most important, aspect of shooting a firearm. A bad trigger pull can turn a perfectly good shot into a miss. At Intuitive Self Protection, we’re not about wasting ammo or hoping for the best. We teach proven techniques that help everyday people shoot like pros. Let’s break down trigger control and how you can improve yours today.
#1 Rule
Before we dive into performance, let’s talk safety. Good trigger discipline keeps you and everyone around you alive and intact.
Rule #1: Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
Your trigger finger should rest along the frame or slide, not hovering near the trigger until you’re locked on target. Make this muscle memory. Practice it with primary weapon systems, your carry to your trainers. Bad habits get people hurt. Good habits become reflexes that could save lives.
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Trigger Control
Trigger control is what separates accurate shooters from spray-and-pray amateurs. You need to manage how you press the trigger so the gun stays steady, your sights stay on target and a you control that trigger all the way through and break and reset.
Here’s a way to do it right:
Use the center of your index finger pad; not the joint or tip.
Take up the slack- Most triggers have some "pre-travel" before they engage. Gently pull through this without moving the gun.
Smooth, steady squeeze- Imagine squishing a stress ball, not pulling a lever.
Follow through- Keep pressing to the trigger’s natural stopping point (don’t just stop at the "bang").
Reset and repeat- Ease the trigger forward until you hear or feel the reset click, then you’re ready for the next shot.
Understanding these steps helps you stay in control, reduce movement, and improve follow-up shots.
Top 3 Ways to Improve Your Trigger Pull
Dry Fire Practice: With an unloaded gun (no ammo), just practice smooth pulls at home. Snap caps (dummy rounds) help protect your firing pin. You can even use a dry fire mags to better mimic shooting without having to charge your firearm after every shot.
Mix in Dummy Rounds: At the range, load dummy rounds randomly with live ammo. This helps expose flinching and bad habits.
Slow Down: Fast and sloppy trigger pulls wreck accuracy. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast, once you build muscle memory.
Summary
Mastering trigger control means shooting smarter and safer. It starts with proper trigger discipline, which prevents accidental discharges and builds a foundation for safe handling. From there, understanding the steps of a trigger pull helps you fire more consistently and with greater precision. Avoiding bad habits like jerking the trigger or anticipating recoil takes practice, but dry fire drills and focused, slow repetitions can help retrain your muscle memory. At Intuitive Self Protection, we train real-world skills, with no gimmicks. If you want to hit your target, not just hope for the best, come train with us and level up your shooting. Whatever level of training you currently have, there’s something at ISP for you.
About The Author
Hank Hayes is a Combat Arts Hall of Famer and inventor of the No Lie Blade. He is the founder and CEO of both Intuitive Self Protection and NLB Tactical and creator of the ISP/NLB viscous fighting system. Since 1998, he has trained well over 30,000 Military and Law Enforcement personnel via Government contract mainly at the elite special teams level and continues to train both civilians and MIL/LE how to come home safe.
