New to bullseye shooting

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Hello from New York City. I've been an avid combat, home defense shooter for several years and was recently introduced to bullseye shooting. I've got a Colt 1911 GI model with a long trigger which has been accurized by Dave Salyer, and a Nelson .22 conversion kit on the way.

I have medium-large hands, and recently switched to the grip suggested by Brian Zins, which I find is excellent even for my two handed shooting. However, using that grip and putting the base of the last bone of my trigger finger on the trigger face has brought up a question. With the long Colt trigger, I have to reach with my trigger finger just a bit to get the desired part of my finger on the trigger face. It's not uncomfortable but noticeable; the first bone of my finger rests on the right hand grip panel.

Trying the short trigger on a friend's target 1911, I find that my trigger finger is no longer in contact with the grip, and the first finger bone (first phalanx) is now off the grip and parallel to the slide. Trigger compression is very comfortable.

Should I switch out the long trigger to the shorter one for any reason?

Yes.  Without clearance, the movement of the metacarpal could move the pistol.

There is only one answer, use the one that pulls straight back.

Right now, you are just learning a new grip.  Over a few months you may find yourself settling into it or maybe not.  You may make many changes as you perfect it.  What feels odd now may start to become normal.

 I guess what I am saying is that it can take time for a change in your grip to become your new “natural” grip so don’t be in a hurry to make changes and when you make them, keep them small and give yourself time to get used to the change before deciding it is or isn’t working for you.

That being said, maybe you’d like a medium length!  Collect them all! https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/trigger-group-parts/trigger-parts/triggers/1911-v-series-match-trigger-prod20228.aspx

I started with a stock size “long” trigger.  After a while I moved one pistol to a short trigger to try with a trigger shoe over it.  Then shot without the trigger shoe on the short trigger and liked it.  Then I changed my BE pistols to short a few months later. 

A year later, I have been shooting a few guns with long triggers and had thoughts that as my overall grip has improved the past year that my trigger finger may be pretty happy on a longer trigger now and I am thinking of switching my main BE pistols back to long.  



Now I’m going to tell you that all of the above may be 100% BS.

What really changed?  Did the short trigger really give me a 10% score bump over the course of a year?

Or was it the year of experience that made me shoot a pistol better with ZERO regard for trigger length?  

Interesting story, willnewton. I'll try the long trigger some more as I continue with the grip change. I'm still a little concerned that first phalanx of my trigger finger is resting on the grip as I squeeze the trigger back.

my experience has been with a zins grip style you need a shorter trigger. more behind the gun medium to long.

Chris Miceli wrote:my experience has been with a zins grip style you need a shorter trigger. more behind the gun medium to long.

Chris, sorry, I don't understand the comment in red.