Trigger Finger and Finding the Master Eye
Trigger Finger
The pad of the finger should press the trigger, not by the tip or at the first joint. The pad of the finger has the best combination of sensitivity and strength and therefore gives the best control over the trigger press. The trigger finger should be placed on the center of the trigger face, both vertically and horizontally.
The trigger must be pressed straight back, with the pressure being uniform and uninterrupted until the shot goes off. If pressure is applied in any other direction or is executed in an abrupt manner, it can cause the firearm to come off target.
Your trigger finger is the only safety that you can trust, as any other safety could break or be worn, and fail to stop the firearm from firing. The trigger finger should never be inside the trigger guard unless you are actively engaging a target. When the firearm comes off target, the trigger finger should come out of the guard. This trigger finger discipline must become completely reflexive.
Finding the Master Eye
Do you know which eye is your master, or dominant eye? A quick test that you can do to find your master eye is:
- With both eyes open, point at an object and focus on the pointing finger.
- Now cover one eye.
- Still pointing, cover the other eye.
One eye will see the finger pointing at the object. The other will see the finger jump to the side. The eye that sees the finger stay still is the master eye.
The right eye is usually dominant for righthanded people. If you have a dominant eye that is different from your strong-hand, you will need to turn your head slightly in order to see the front sight correctly from your shooting stance.
