When do you place your finger on the trigger?

As I am also involved in other action shooting sports, I have conditioned myself not to have my finger go into the trigger guard until I'm on target.  I am wondering if this is the same for BE.  I guess I read another thread here with a similar question but it went in a another direction. 

Is your finger on the side of the gun until your exhaling and settling on the bull, or are you on it sooner?  I think I've seen some guys working on grip position and perhaps trigger position while still on the bench.  Others I see maybe reaching for the trigger upon lifting up. 

Is there a rule/best practice/personal preference/etiquette on this?

I find it cumbersome to maintain the finger outside the trigger guard. does not easily bend that way.
I think most keep off the trigger, but, in the guard, until necessary.
think about .22 EIC where a lift is required. You better have your trigger ready to press upon the lift.

I practice both methods, but prefer my finger inside the trigger guard while on the bench as I have large hands and long fingers and find it awkward to snake my finger into the guard while lifting.

I do both because at my home range I've never had an issue inserting my finger while on the bench prior to lifting, but I shot a match at a different range one time and was called for having my finger inside the trigger guard while on the bench. I was also the "new guy" there, so I don't blame them for doing so and happily complied.

I put my finger on the trigger on the bench. It never leaves the position until I reload my magazine. I use one magazine only. 
Jon

I keep my finger out until I'm on target.

"Ready on the left"... raise the gun
finger goes in
"All ready on the firing line"... finger settles in position start squeezing first stage

This thread should probably be in the fundamentals Topics

Raise gun, finger goes in as the gun is at the top, squeeze first stage as i lower it on target (breathe out), on target get the 2nd stage wall and squeeze gently as I settle on sights / dot, breath out done - commit - squeeze fully. Stay on targer for a second more, lower gun and remove finger.  Took that from ISSF manual, works well for me.

I have been keeping the trigger set. From before the time the magazine is inserted (with barrel pointed downrange while operating the slide/bolt to load first cartridge) until the string is finished my trigger is held back.

Jon Eulette wrote:I put my finger on the trigger on the bench. It never leaves the position until I reload my magazine. I use one magazine only. 
Jon

That’s exactly how I was taught when I shot for the Corps. They spent several days with a couple of guys who would not listen! One of the best shooters in the world was one of them! Lol! We were told to place you finger on the trigger and play yes play with the little bit of slop. Before timed and rapid fire during the load command we was taught to not load and pull the trigger a few times and use breath control. 

So to answer your question I place my finger ON the trigger and don’t remove it until the reload

SingleActionAndrew wrote:I have been keeping the trigger set. From before the time the magazine is inserted (with barrel pointed downrange while operating the slide/bolt to load first cartridge) until the string is finished my trigger is held back.  

I’ve always found this chilling. Sorry

dpelletier wrote:This thread should probably be in the fundamentals Topics

Yessir, I didn't notice where I originally posted this.  Is there a way to modify?

Trigger71 wrote:

dpelletier wrote:This thread should probably be in the fundamentals Topics

Yessir, I didn't notice where I originally posted this.  Is there a way to modify?

Probably, but it needs to be done by the moderators, if doable.

I enjoy reading what people had to say.

DA/SA wrote:but I shot a match at a different range one time and was called for having my finger inside the trigger guard while on the bench. I was also the "new guy" there, so I don't blame them for doing so and happily complied.

This was the scenario I was wondering about.  Knowing my mental game, getting called out would hurt my score, it shouldn't necessarily but it would if I were not at my home club.

Tripscape wrote:Raise gun, finger goes in as the gun is at the top, squeeze first stage as i lower it on target (breathe out), on target get the 2nd stage wall and squeeze gently as I settle on sights / dot, breath out done - commit - squeeze fully. Stay on targer for a second more, lower gun and remove finger.  Took that from ISSF manual, works well for me.

This is almost exactly my process for the SF stage, and it has worked great for me.
However, for TF/RF I'd like to (if allowed) start feeling the trigger sooner.  Yes, I could start raising my arm sooner in the call outs, but then the weight of the gun increases my wobble area more than I'm used to.
 
Again, my other shooting disciplines would not allow the finger even inside the guard until on target--I just feel I'm rushed then to really get the perfect finger placement.  I guess I'd like to at minimum have my finger in the guard if not feeling for position on the bench or even the way up with my inhale.  ...but I don't want to get called out or DQ'd being that guy.

I didn't know if there was an official ruling, or local club standard.  From the responses so far, it appears it's personal preference along with particular club rules.  Does that sound about right?

Trigger71 wrote:

DA/SA wrote:but I shot a match at a different range one time and was called for having my finger inside the trigger guard while on the bench. I was also the "new guy" there, so I don't blame them for doing so and happily complied.

This was the scenario I was wondering about.  Knowing my mental game, getting called out would hurt my score, it shouldn't necessarily but it would if I were not at my home club.

I would say “ How many minutes have you been doing this? Because you don’t have a fucking clue what you are talking about”

It wasn't presented as a "Bullseye" rule, but a range safety rule in general. "Finger off the trigger until on target"

Jon Eulette wrote:I put my finger on the trigger on the bench. It never leaves the position until I reload my magazine. I use one magazine only. 
Jon

Same here. I use more than one magazine,though.

Outthere wrote:

Jon Eulette wrote:I put my finger on the trigger on the bench. It never leaves the position until I reload my magazine. I use one magazine only. 
Jon

Same here. I use more than one magazine,though.

Here is why Jon and I do this. 

Have you ever sandbagged a 10 shot group and there was 2 distinct groups? If you use 1 and only 1 magazine at 50 yards it will help your groups. It’s all about consistently doing the same thing. I will also go on record that I reload my magazine after the 4th shot that way the guns own lock up is the same for 9 of the 10 rounds going down range. Hope this helps

DA/SA wrote:It wasn't presented as a "Bullseye" rule, but a range safety rule in general. "Finger off the trigger until on target"

This happens to be the NRA second rule of gun safety. It actually reads "until ready to shoot".

-TT- wrote:

DA/SA wrote:It wasn't presented as a "Bullseye" rule, but a range safety rule in general. "Finger off the trigger until on target"

This happens to be the NRA second rule of gun safety. It actually reads "until ready to shoot".

Yes it is but go to the nationals and walk the line. You will be super surprised. I say that the NRA has this rule for normal everyday people to shoot

I was a guest at a range I hadn't been to before, and the Match Director is the one that tapped me on the shoulder during slow fire and gave me the word. I simply said "thank you" and went on to do it the way he asked me to.

My normal procedure at my home range is as Jon described.

I think it needs to differentiate between”on the trigger” and in the trigger guard, also.

James Hensler wrote:

-TT- wrote:

DA/SA wrote:It wasn't presented as a "Bullseye" rule, but a range safety rule in general. "Finger off the trigger until on target"

This happens to be the NRA second rule of gun safety. It actually reads "until ready to shoot".

Yes it is but go to the nationals and walk the line. You will be super surprised. I say that the NRA has this rule for normal everyday people to shoot

Oh, I have, and I know. Along with the guys who raise the pistol at, like, 45 degrees coming down on-target. Shrug.

So I am no High Master, but here's what I do:

After the LOAD command, my finger is inside the guard.

As I raise the pistol on READY ON THE FIRING LINE my finger is starting to pull to the edge of the first stage. It is there when the buzzer sounds/targets turn.

Until the magazine is empty, my finger never stops touching the trigger.

I too was of the belief to place my finger on the trigger only after I was on the target, for the purpose of safety. I have since been advised by no less than three high master bullseye competitors/instructors that as an accomplished marksman in a bullseye competition event, placing your finger on the trigger was a part of acquiring your grip and that your grip is not to be changed until the slide locks to the rear. If you do change your grip, then put the gun down and regrip. I also use only one magazine for SF that has been RR tested at 50 yds and rest my gun between shots on a home-made rest, not the bench. As a new (old) bullseye shooter, I am still anticipating my performance to catch up with what I have learned. Joe

After the load command I insert the magazine then hold the trigger back while releasing the slide. I then release the trigger allowing it to reset. Finger is inside the trigger guard as it is being raised to the target. Finger is back on the trigger as soon as the edged target comes into the sights.