Trigger Finger "Doctrine"

Merriam Webster defines doctrine as "a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : dogma.

As a student of the craft of defensive firearms use for the last 29 years and a professional instructor for the last 10 I found myself using the term "doctrine" to describe the collection of ideas and techniques that I addressed when I was training students and clients on the proper positioning, timing, and application of their trigger finger. When it comes to defensive or practical firearms use many fine instructors address industry standards on trigger application, as in the act of firing the weapon. If the instructor or teacher is above par they usually have a unique take on this concept and can articulate how they gained the competency they currently have. In my not-so-humble opinion I think where the field of firearms instruction falls down is what the trigger finger does at all times when handling and shooting the firearm. We (instructors) often pay lip-service to one of Col. Cooper's "cardinal" rules addressing what not to do with the trigger finger. What is needed is a robust explanation of what to do with our trigger finger and almost as important, when. When teaching students and clients or facilitating training for those groups, I like to think of myself as a coach. When it comes to my dogmatic beliefs in this area of trigger finger discipline I have to actively observe, remind, and critique adherence to this idea of what the trigger finger is doing at all times. One should train to an exacting standard when there is time to consciously think about what one is doing (deliberate practice). That is the only path to potentially performing to that standard when one is not consciously thinking about the desired act. In summation Trigger Doctrine is this - If the decision to shoot has not been made the trigger finger must be at "Positive Index" also termed "Register Position", "Home Position" etc. If the decision to shoot has been made the trigger finger can begin or be in the trigger process as the gun is oriented on the target. The technical decision of when and how to complete the trigger press or "break the shot" is a product of the specificity of the aiming requirement and the shooter's ability. The rate of fire should be commensurate with the shooter reasonably obtaining the desired level of accurate shot placement until the stimulus causing them to fire is no longer present. If the decision to stop shooting has been made the trigger finger must return to Positive Index. This of course should and will often occur after a short pause at trigger reset.

A clench response based negligent or accidental discharge after intentional shots is just as bad, dangerous, unacceptable, and perhaps deadly as if no planned shots had been taken. In this industry we often observe and correct bad trigger finger discipline outside of the firing act, i.e. carry weapons in hand or performing room-clearing, standing at low-ready on the firing line, etc. But in my experience when we are performing live-fire exercises or Reality Based Training using role-players when the trigger finger goes to the trigger and when it comes off the trigger tend to be ignored. This is often due to the emphasis on other topics of attention like accuracy, technique development, tactics, etc. I would posit that the correctly timed placement of the trigger finger on the trigger, as well as the correctly timed removal of that finger, are a fundamental act that should never been ignored as an observed training objective and performance absolute. While I usually tout my anti-dogma stance on most things as a positive, this area is one where we could all use a little.