The trigger is the mechanism that releases the striker and fires the shot. Trigger control is one of the main parts of technique, and it is where most athletes disturb the aim a fraction of a second before the shot.
How a trigger works
Pressure from your finger moves the trigger blade, which releases the sear holding the striker or hammer. When the sear lets go, the shot fires.
Triggers are single-stage or two-stage. In a single-stage trigger, pressure builds until the shot. In a two-stage trigger, you first take up light slack, then reach a stop, and a small extra press fires the shot.
Weight and travel
Several parameters matter when you set up a trigger.
- Weight. The force needed to fire the shot.
- Take-up. Blade travel until you reach the stop.
- Let-off travel. Blade travel from the stop to the shot. The shorter and crisper it is, the easier it is to predict the moment.
- Overtravel. Blade travel after the shot, until it hits a limit.
- Reset. The position the blade returns to after the shot.
A crisp trigger breaks like a glass rod: no noticeable creep or jerk. Softness and crispness are a matter of taste, but your coach can help match them to your technique.
Rules
ISSF rules limit the minimum trigger weight, and the limit depends on the discipline. Do not reduce the weight without checking the current rules: ISSF and rules and regulations.
Finger work
The general technique is the same for pistol and rifle. The finger touches the trigger with the pad or the first joint, depending on the weapon and your habit. Consistency matters most.
- Press straight back, along the barrel, with no sideways load.
- Increase pressure smoothly, not in a jerk.
- Do not release the finger right after the shot; keep the movement going.
- The other fingers of the hand must not take part in the press.
The shot should surprise you but not your technique: the aim already holds, and the finger keeps working. For more on the hold, see grips.
Trigger adjustment
Most sport triggers are adjustable: weight, travel, blade position, and sometimes length and angle. Change one parameter at a time and check the result with dry-fire.
Safety
Adjust the trigger only on an unloaded weapon, with the magazine removed and the chamber empty, or without the cylinder and pellet. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. If you are not sure what you are doing, hand the weapon to a gunsmith.