XD Talk

Baudiod · 03-04-2010, 03:16 PM

"keep the bugger picker off the noise maker"

XDBill51773 · 04-24-2010, 07:44 PM

When I went shooting with my wife and our friends we had a nice cure for the primary safety (Trigger finger) not being engaged (Off the slide).

The head slap. When you weren't firing, you policed...Brass, and technique.

scott7278 · 04-25-2010, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDBill51773

When I went shooting with my wife and our friends we had a nice cure for the primary safety (Trigger finger) not being engaged (Off the slide).

The head slap. When you weren't firing, you policed...Brass, and technique.

I handle my XD 40 subcompact just like I'm making the shape of a pistol with my hands. My thumb goes on the cocked indicator on the back of the slide, and my trigger finger rests on the lever pin on the right side, just under the slide. This allows me to bend my finger slightly to have better control of the weapon.

Using this technique, my palm is never in contact with the grip safety. This is the way I always hold the weapon when it's out of the holster. The only time the grip safety is depressed is when I need to rack the slide or I'm ready to shoot.

I usually have the problem of trying to rack the slide and forgetting that the grip safety has to be depressed. That's how ingrained it is in my mind to hold the weapon in a particular manner. I can even find the place for my finger trigger finger in dark and low-light situations.

I've thought about putting a small felt sticker on the lever pin to make it even easier to find.

TexasScout · 08-08-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcb

So I have been around firearms my entire life and I believe I have been a fairly safe shooter. After being part of an accidental discharge where a friend end up shooting himself in the foot with my shotgun when I was 17. (Luckily it was a slug and not a shot shell.) After this AD I believe I have become an above average shooter as far as safety go.

That said the recent purchase of my XD-40 has shown myself a slight weakness in my safety awareness. The fact that the XD does not have manual safety I have become more aware of my somewhat lacking trigger finger discipline. I know that you should only have your finger on the trigger when address a target. I find that in practicing with my XD using snap caps I sometimes end up with my finger still in the trigger guard while clearing or reloading. I am working very hard to completely break this habit.

So does anyone have any good ideas or drills that will help reinforce the habit of keeping my finger out of the trigger guard expect when actually ready to shoot. I would like to get in the habit of doing this far more strictly than I do know with all my firearms but especially the XD since it has no manual safety.

Comments and Suggestion appreciated

mcb

I'm 54 years old and I had the exact same experience. I have always shot "Wheel guns" and bolt/lever rifles. I have never had a gun without a safety or was not a DA. This has taught me that my gun safety is not up to par. It is said that "it takes 30 days to make a habit permanent", so for the next month, I will work on the drills listed here. Thanks to all that posted.

cskillz · 12-09-2010, 05:01 AM

Im feeling exactly the same as you Texas, all DAs n safety's , and ill be doing the same,, I have a habit of trigger fingerin my rugers with a hot pipe

its a new day...

SURVIVOR619 · 06-28-2011, 02:13 PM

Thanks to whoever made this thread a sticky. It was an important read.

Smoakie976 · 06-29-2011, 11:58 PM

I learned from an early age about trigger and muzzle discipline. I used to get the old smack in the back of the head by the old man when I messed up. I have not bee around guns in a while and went to the gun shop the other day and it is still there, so it worked and I am glad that I don't have to break a bad habit, but I will be conscious so that I don't eff up! Good info here!

DLBConductor · 11-18-2011, 12:06 AM

As a Newbie to handguns, this post is a fantastic reminder of developing the skill and habit of keeping the trigger finger on the slide.

Very important and helpful post!

Thanks.

locoyon · 11-24-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tater77

My Drill Sgt. was pretty persuasive in teaching trigger-finger discipline!
But that my not be a good option for you.

Yup, my Senior DS had a certain persuasive quality that remedied many shortcomings for me

EriktheBlonde · 03-12-2012, 06:58 PM

I just finished a tactical pistol class, first class on guns in 30+ years, and I noticed that I've cultivated at least one habit that I'm not sure I want to break.

After engaging my target, placing rounds downrange, I come to the low ready position with my finger resting on the trigger (by resting I mean that I'm not depressing the trigger safety on my XD(M)) while I perform my after action check, head to both sides, glance up, glance back, and then I remove and index my finger to the side off the trigger. Holster safely and slowly.

My thinking in this is that if there is an additional threat that my after action drills spot, I want to be able to go directly to a sight picture and depress the trigger again, and I don't want to have to move my hand from it's already perfect position. I'm holding the muzzle down range and down.

Comments, corrections?