Any of us who are parents have admonished our offspring, “Use things the way they’re meant to be used.” A target gun with a light, easy target trigger should be used for target shooting only. For any sort of serious business – such as self-defense – when we can expect to be handling a deadly weapon under extreme stress, a light trigger pull is contra-indicated. Police and armed citizens alike take criminal suspects at gunpoint far more often than they have to shoot them. We can admonish “keep your finger off the trigger” all we want, but when we feel threatened instinct may still drive that finger to that trigger, and now we’re only a startle response away from a potentially fatal unintended discharge tragedy.
I made that point in an article recently, about a 10mm pistol I’m thinking of taking to my favorite competition match, The Pin Shoot next June. With the light trigger presently in place on that gun, you can be sure it will be used for competition shooting only.
Top post on the huge gun forums is *A new gun gets a new (lighter) trigger. A single post from a women’s introduction to competition shoot buried that notion for good. All of the women that leaned toward a light trigger all changed their preference when given the light adrenaline of a competition shoot. It turned out that under even a light adrenaline rush the 7 lb trigger was not the slightest of an impedance in fact it added to their trigger control.
When I first bought a 1911 45 ACP, I was a little apprehensive towards the single action, the weight of the pistol, and the left side mag release (south paw). I’m enjoying it more now, but it takes me a second or two to unholster, safety off, and ready pos. I’m thinking maybe the same thing of situational awareness and take
a second to access the threat. I hope I’m not being too slow on the draw.??
Terry, it doesn’t sound like anything that an ambidextrous thumb safety couldn’t solve.
Best,
Mas
The ambi-safety came with the weapon, along with the extended beav./tail. The 1911 right-side mag catch did at one time exist in manufacture, but I will have to hunt one down. the only one that I have heard of came from Mitchell Customs. I would gladly go with Wilson Combat, Ed B, or whoever will be kind enough to make one, I will be glad to purchase if anyone knows of the man with the catch. Thanks Mas
Terry,
It’s too bad manufacturer’s don’t make very many left-handed guns. I think Charter Arms makes left-handed revolvers, and I think left-handed bolt action rifles exist. Even though I am right-handed, I still practice shooting left-handed with all my guns. It’s a pain, but also enlightening. I have even considered buying a left-handed revolver to wear on my left side, like a cowboy with two revolvers. I suppose lever action rifles and pump action shotguns/rifles are the most ambidextrous guns.
No, I have adapted to the right-handed world 40 years ago when I went into the Air Force and Security Police.
I had to immediately learn to adapt with all the “Right-handed” weapons in the armory. M-60, M-16, S&W 15, Rem. 870, M-203, and the M-148. We even had the M-79 still in inventory. I had to qualify and breakdown all of the listed above. When it comes to the 1911 its simply is the case that if you want to dance you’ll have to ante-up and pay for the ambi-safety and the right-side mag release (if you can find one). I don’t mind paying a little more for the parts but I simply will not give bucks out for the “name” on a weapon or motorcycle…
I agree however the current, worrisome, trend is to immediately swap out triggers on semi-auto pistols, as well as adding just about everything they can to hang on them to “Gucci” their guns! I’ve never modified anything on any of my semi autos, except for night sights , and choose to always “learn” the stock triggers, for the very reason you stated. However when it came to my EDC revolver, 4″ 686+ the trigger was very heavy, heavier than all my other revolvers, and I knew I wanted to lighten the trigger but I was also extremely cautious because of obvious reasons. Then I found TK Custom, the moon clip company, does trigger/action jobs and offers a CCW trigger package that they advertise a 10.5 lb +/- trigger pull and I went for it solely because it’s advertised as a “CCW action job appropriate for defensive use”! Will that mean anything God forbid the worst case scenario happens? I hope so but no one will ever know until/if the unfortunate happens! Thank you Mas I always look forward to reading your posts!
Biker Bob, it would be pretty tough to convince anyone that a ten-pound pull constituted a “hair trigger.”
It has been my experience that armed citizens who feel the need for deadly force will have their finger on the trigger before reaching full extension. Only immediate changes in perp behavior will prevent their being shot if a civilian draws. Cops on the other hand, have loads of experience pointing loaded guns.
Do they, though? The cops round here (SW Minnesota, NW Iowa) have negligible experience with guns. They just simply don’t have much practice/experience and don’t expect to need them, I guess.
Pistol affectionados, like me, trounce them in handgun knowledge and skill.
Hi Mas,
This brings to mind a question that I have wanted to ask you. I have been considering purchasing either the Canik TP9 DA or the Tarus G3, both with double action, for use with a G-Sight Laser Training System. The DA trigger pull on the Canik is about 12 lbs., if memory serves correct. I forget what it is on the Tarus. From what I understand with Tarus is that with the G-Site system, it would function much like SIRT pilots with the laser in the barrel, but with the heavier trigger pull for each DA shot. Some have cautioned against this idea as it might work against me with my Glock G45 or G43X with the standard 5.5 lb. trigger pull.
Do you have any thoughts on using a DA automatic in this manner and could result in negative training with pistols like the Glock, or even the Taurus when it does operate in single action?
Thanks!
Rich
Why is your gun pointed at someone you do not intend to shoot?
Amplify on your comment please, Tom.
If you are referring to the Springfield Armory pistol shown at the top of the text, how do you know it’s pointed at anyone or anything, unless you were present when the photo was taken? Besides, none of the holder’s fingers are near the trigger.
Yes!!!. The 10mm. Mr. Jeff Cooper started the ball rolling n the 10. Thanks for your article Nr. Ayoob. I’ve owned a Colt Delta Elite since about 1987 and am happy to hear that you also admire it
I agree 100%. A few weeks ago I got a chance to shoot a few rounds with a friends AR with a “light” trigger and realized very quickly that I didn’t want one for one of my new AR’s.
I even went out and bought a digital trigger gauge to check my own guns. It has been very informative.
Anyone who has ever attended Mas’s class knows trigger modification could mean big trouble. Anyone who has studied under Andrew Branca also knows the lighter the trigger, the deadlier the gun in the prosecutors eyes, which ultimately the jury will agree with.
Keep it “…outta the box and stock.” As for a pin shoot? I’d rather shoot at needles. Suffice to say I will be on pins and needles before the shoot.
Stay safe and Lets Go Brandon!
Spot on !
Like most people who have taken a MAG-40 class, I know the potential legal and tactical dangers of carrying a firearm, for self-defense, with a “hair trigger” or with a bunch of special modifications. An unscrupulous prosecutor can exploit such details to suggest that a shooting was a negligent discharge (leaving one open to a manslaughter conviction) or, else, that you eagerly modified your firearm into a “Killer’s Weapon” out of a desire to be bloodthirsty (leaving one open to a murder conviction).
My routine concealed-carry firearm is a S&W 642-1. This is a double-action only .38 Special revolver so there is no chance for a prosecutor to say that I cocked the gun and then fired it negligently.
Mine is a performance center model and, as purchased, came with a factory trigger job. The double-action pull on my 642 is smooth as butter. No stacking or creep at all. The trigger pull measures 9 3/4 lbs. per my trigger-pull gauge. It is a great trigger for double-action work but no one can ever claim that it is a “hair trigger”.
If asked, I can truthfully state that the revolver is unmodified. Except for some sight paint, on the front sight, it is exactly as it came from S&W.
If the paint you put on the front sight of your S&W 642 is white, better take it off immediately as it may be considered extremely racist by some ambitious prosecutor or liberal bureaucrat.
“The defendant planned and intended to viciously murder my innocent client by putting white paint on his gun’s front sight so it shows up better on the victim’s dark skin!”
@ Tom606 – “If the paint you put on the front sight of your S&W 642 is white…”
Ha! The American Left cannot catch me so easily!
My front sight paint is GREEN. So, they can only accuse me of being racist if they are Vulcans.
In fact, the Green color denotes my solidarity with the Greenpeace movement and is a clear sign of my dedication to saving the Environment here on Mother Earth! Hence, my favoritism regarding green reticles in optic sights. A RED dot, of course, would be racist against Native Americans.
I once thought Martians were green, but was told they are gray colored.
As a self admitted greedy capitalist, the color green means money to me.
I have the same model S&W 642 Performance Center model. I replaced the gaudy silver colored thumb latch and sideplate screws with blued units, and added a Crimson Trace laser grip to mine. I carry it loaded with Speer 135 grain +P ammo in an old Renegade ankle holster for a backup piece.
Point well taken, Mas — and in practice here. Thank you for reiteration.
Joe
Agreed. The one mod or feature i usually talk people out of is the “light” trigger. I think that a shooter should at least learn the Crush Grip as taught by MAG before chasing the light trigger fairy, it may save them a ton of cash and problems once they realize how much more control they can get out of nearly any trigger using it. I disagree with the prevailing doctrine (from my own experiences) of “squeeze until the sights start to shake then back off until they stop”. I’ve added “squeeze that d@mn%d thing until the oil bubbles out of it and runs over your hands” as one of my main fixers. I also like what Clint Smith said about cutting an inch off of everyone’s rifle stock and cutting everyone’s scope power in half. From now on when asked about triggers and similar items I’ll say “you can have one after you snatch the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper”. Thanks to Mas for the wise reminder that there is a time and place for all things.
I have a S&W M&P 9 that I occasionally carry. It was manufactured to be compliant with the Socialist Republik of Taxachusetts, so the original trigger pull was about twice that of my S&W 586 L-Frame. I took it to a professional gunsmith to have an Apex “carry” trigger installed. The difference is a much longer but lighter and smoother pull. I could have done it myself but did not want to be in that “modified the killer weapon” situation if I ever have to defend myself or others.
If pull weight is not below minimum S&W factory spec for that model, and take-up has not been reduced, it should not be a problem.
Yes, I live in said Republik, and I can confirm that every gun sold comes with a mandatory tax of about $100 to have a trigger pull job done to make it actually usable.
And the worst part is that it’s not even a law, but the AG who insists that this is a “safety issue”. My wife’s gun she couldn’t even pull the trigger reliably until we had it fixed.
Speaking of the relevance of “tailoring the tool to the task”, read about the harrowing experience of an Iditarod rookie musher in Alaska who attempted (without success) to use a series of bullets shot from a 380 ACP pistol to stop an enraged bull moose that had attacked the musher’s dog team and had then spent an extended amount of time pounding on the dogs still tethered to the rookie musher’s abandoned sled.
In the end, after much time had passed, one well placed shot from a high power rifle wielded by a first responder (a well armed friend) put the still riled bull moose down for the count.
It is not my place to criticize the rookie musher for her reaction to the moose’s ambush attack or for her decision to pack a 380 pistol as a last ditch CCW piece while out in the Alaskan bush.
I am betting that, from this point onward, the rookie musher will be packing a pistol capable of dealing with a full range of four legged and two legged threats when out in the AK boonies, where an individual’s 911 mobile phone call for help likely sends an instantaneous auto-reply text message to the 911 caller: “So sorry, for now, you are 100% on your own.”
Could there be a Glock 29SF 10mm pistol, or a similar “tool tailored to the task”, in this rookie musher’s future?
https://nypost.com/2022/02/09/moose-attacks-iditarod-rookie-bridgett-watkins-sled-team-injures-4-dogs/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20220209&lctg=607d8f3270302947037efe8f&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts
Fortunately, many gunmakers have begun to make defensive handguns & rifles with much better triggers than they used to. Much easier and safer to be able to accurately place your shots with a crisp, consistent trigger than a gritty, creepy one.
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