Relatively new shooter....finger placement on trigger

So I have been shooting league about a year+.  Using a Ruger MkIII with a Majestic trigger upgrade, I've been using the middle of the 1st pad of my finger to pull, press, engage, whatever the trigger.  Reading Zins post on BE encyclopedia, and topics here I see that it is recommended to use the 1st bend of the trigger finger. I've tried this before and was pulling the gun to the right and was convinced it was not going to work with my stubby fingers and small hands.  Was I doing something else wrong? Am I missing something? Thanks in advance!

I always used the middle of the pad trigger finger placement up to about 3 months ago. Saw the Zins video on placing the crease on the trigger, so I decided what the heck, things can't get worse. It really felt strange, but I kept trying. Took a month, and a ton of dry firing, but I'm glad I made the change. What I did during dry fire, is place my finger where it needs to go, then grip (if that makes sense). Once I got the sub conscience habit of what the grip should feel like, I started live firing. I didn't want to place my finger on the trigger first with a loaded gun. So a ton of dry fire first. It works for me, but may not for others.

What the AMU says.

If you put your "bone" over the trigger (the first joint), it's a hard surface against a hard surface, and all you feel is what the trigger does.

If you put the fleshy part of your finger over the trigger, you are feeling a combination of what the trigger is doing, overwhelmed by the "squishing" of the finger.

Grouse wrote:...... I've tried this before and was pulling the gun to the right and was convinced it was not going to work with my stubby fingers......

Try this - put your trigger finger in many different places, hold the gun up as if you're going to shoot, but before the gun "fires" (dry fire) release the trigger slowly, while watching the sights.  You will find places where it pulls the gun to the right, or pushes the gun to the left (if you're right handed) and eventually will find a place to position your hand so all is well.

Many people have said that the gun may not fit you.  Maybe it's the wrong gun, or the wrong trigger.  That's also something to consider. If you the the book "The Perfect Pistol Shot", he goes into explaining this at length, but I'm sure others do it just as well.  I was getting confused and not getting things to work, until I tried the trick up above.  From then on, it was mostly a matter of always placing my hand and trigger in just the right spot for each gun.

Don't be afraid to try different trigger lengths.. the 1911s have long, medium and short.. with the proper grip find the one that works for the correct trigger finger position

jglenn21 wrote:Don't be afraid to try different trigger lengths.. the 1911s have long, medium and short.. with the proper grip find the one that works for the correct trigger finger position

That was on my mind when I wrote what I did, but I've got so many concerns.  The first is that I've never taken a 1911 apart that far, although I've watched all the videos, and think I can do it.  The second, is that I worry if I take it apart and re-assemble, will it work the same way as it does now, or will anything change?  As to the different triggers, how can I measure the gun to know what I have now?  And without buying and having all three, how would I decide which one is "best" for me?  

As to what I posted, I'm not comfortable suggesting anyone take their 1911 completely apart, until I can do it myself.  And while I'm asking, how does one find a "better" trigger?  What makes one better than another?  If I, or the OP were to buy one, does one start with one of the large parts vendors, or with a custom builder?  .....and what work, if any, is needed to replace one with a newer one?  Does it just drop in, or does it need to be fitted?

I have a feeling the OP is doing what I do - adjust my hand where it needs to be, in order to get the trigger finger in the best position.  Maybe he (and I) need to consider what you wrote more seriously.  Now that you've got me interested in this, I'll do some searching....

If you don’t want to change the trigger, keep the grip and adjust for the worse finger position. There’s more allowance in finger placement than there is in grip. Your grip is a major part of the foundation to shooting accurately. You can adjust your finger position on the trigger and adjust your pulling motion to not disturb the system.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody! Gonna have to give her a shot!