Defensive Arts ~ the Most Difficult Skill, Trigger Manipulation

Opinion

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- The most difficult skill we teach.

My colleagues and I struggle daily as we energetically articulate fundamental principles of our defensive Art, from personal philosophy to selection of critical equipment.

Most agree that the chief among challenging concepts we do our best to explain to our anxious students is the correct way to manipulate a trigger, as sight/reticle alignment is maintained.

We use colorful terms like:

• “Surprise break.”
• “Stabbing”
• “Watching your front sight.”
• “‘Jerking’ the trigger.”
• “‘Forcing/fighting with’ the trigger.”
• “Bayonetting”
• “‘Milking’ or “heeling” the grip.”
• “Straight, flat, back.”
• “‘Anticipating’ discharge/recoil.”
• “‘Riding’ (exaggerating) recoil.”

In a (sometimes vain) attempt to communicate to students the criticality of maintaining sight/reticle alignment with the target, as the trigger is simultaneously, smoothly pressed directly to the rear, all the way through discharge, then catching the link immediately after discharge as sight/reticle alignment is re-established in preparation for/anticipation of the next shot.

Absent adequate/detailed explanation, the preceding terms, while commonly used, are confusing, meaningless, and unhelpful!

Happily, there are several devices I employ and have found useful in accelerating the process of the student’s understanding of important maxims of trigger manipulation.

While I don’t “endorse” products, nor services, I’m happy to recommend those I like and find applicatory and useful.

Here are three useful training tools:

• Shotkam
• Coolfire
• Mantis [read AmmoLand's review of the Mantis Training System]

“Shotkam” is a video camera that attaches to a pistol’s rail. I record the shooter’s aiming point through discharge. When the student is subsequently able to review the video, slowed-down to frame-by-frame, muzzle movement microseconds before discharge becomes visible and obvious.

This visual exposure provides a way for the student to see what he is doing, and what is happening as he presses the trigger.

Merely describing the phenomenon is often confusing to the student, but seeing it is convicting.

“Coolfire” attaches to a functional pistol and, via compressed gas, simulates normal recoil.

I find Coolfire enormously useful in getting students past their fear of recoil. They can experience normal recoil associated with discharge (absent the noise) thousands of times without having to be on a range, all at fractions of a penny per “shot.”

While there is, of course, no substitute for live fire, Coolfire goes a long way in preparing students to hold steady through recoil, catch the link, and then resume firing- all before going to the range and experiencing the real thing.

The Mantis System consists of a small rail attachment that goes on pistols. It contains an electronic gyroscope that faithfully records the slightest movements, and then subsequently displays the entire episode graphically, including normal “drift” or “wobble” associated with the shooter’s sincere attempt to hold sights “steady.”

Like the Shotkam System, Mantis makes plainly visible to the student what we instructors find so difficult to describe verbally.

Using both Mantis and Shotkam, I’ve had many students say, “Oh! So that’s what I’m doing.”

This refreshing revelation, after frustrating hours of trying to explain in so many words what is happening.

All three of these training aids are highly recommended to serious instructors!

“The goal of the student and the instructor is always the same: The improvement of the student.” ~ Anon

/John

About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.

It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com

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