Don’t Jerk It: Pistol Trigger Control Tips With Brian Zins

by
posted on January 16, 2018
Last week for Part 1 of our “Precision Pistol Tips with Brian Zins” video series, we covered pistol grip improvement. Now for Part 2, Brian, a 12-time NRA National Pistol Champion, reviews his pistol trigger control tips (watch the video above).

Part 2: Trigger control
What is trigger control? Brian Zins believes that trigger control is the ability to manipulate the trigger without disturbing the sights. Trigger control, simply put, is “getting the gun to shoot, once you get the sights where you want them.” Brian tweaks this advice to, “Align the sights as you pull the trigger.” More on this later.

Brian Zins on pistol trigger control
Stance, grip and aiming are important, but you can have a perfect grip, and hold perfect sight alignment all day long―but it only counts when the gun goes bang and only one action causes the gun to do that―pulling the trigger.


According to Brian, there are two fundamentals in shooting, aiming and trigger control. Trigger control is the more important of the two, because it’s the only part of the gun that’s actually moving before the shot breaks. There’s no sense in aiming if you can’t pull the trigger without disturbing the sights. This is not limited to precision pistol―trigger control is key for all pistol shooting disciplines.

Trigger finger placement in bullseye
Now for bullseye, where should the trigger make contact on the finger? We touched on this a bit in Part 1, so if you have not watched it yet, be sure to review it. The trigger should be centered in the first crease of the trigger finger. Why you ask? We have always been taught to place the pad on the trigger. Brian would rather have the hard surfaces of the creases on the trigger, because when pressure is applied, we know the trigger is actually moving to the rear, and we are not just feeling the fat and skin of the finger being pushed out of the way.

Brian Zins shares his tips for pistol trigger control in bullseye
In Part 3, which is upcoming, Brian will marry up his concepts of sight alignment and trigger control.


Trigger control, you should make yours nice and smooth. Learn it, live it, love it!

In Part 3 of our video series, Brian will cover the relationship between sight alignment and trigger control. The tips in these videos are taken from Brian’s instructional clinics. Learn more about Brian Zins pistol training at www.pointblankrange.com/training-instructor-bios/brian-zins

Latest

Powell Remington 1
Powell Remington 1

Brandon Powell Secures High Over All Title At 2024 NSCA Southeast Regional

Team Remington shooters shine at 2024 NSCA Southeast Regional, including Brandon Powell winning the Main Event HOA, plus Madison Sharpe as Lady Champion and Wendell Cherry as High Veteran.

Register Now For The NRA Range Development & Operations Conference

Registration is now open for the NRA Range Development & Operations Conference in Denver, Colo., Jul. 31-Aug. 1, 2024.

New: Real Avid Tools For AR-10 Rifles

Real Avid announces new tools for servicing AR-10s, including the Smart-Fit AR15 Vise Block with Sleeve for AR10, plus the sold-separately Vise Block Sleeve and Pivot Pin Tool.

2024 CAT Games: U.S. Rifle, Pistol Athletes Earn 16 Medals

USA Shooting had a medal bonanza at the 2024 Championship of the Americas, with athletes returning to the U.S. with 16 total medals. The competition was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Mar. 31 to Apr. 8.

Theo Ribbs Claims FITASC Title At NSCA Southeast Regional

Theo Ribbs of Team Winchester wins FITASC High Over All title at the 2024 NSCA Southeast Regional, held at Forest City Gun Club in Savannah, Ga., Apr. 9-14.

NRA Conducts More Than 70 Competitions: 1931 National Matches

At the 1931 National Matches, attendance continued to grow, thanks in part to growing publicity for the event from different types of media around the United States.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.