Trigger Speed Development
Have you ever seen someone who shoots fast and maintains accuracy? Most shooters can be accurate, but once they go fast, that accuracy quickly opens up, and the target looks more like a round of buckshot was fired than accurate handgun rounds. The method outlined below is a “scalable” way to increase trigger speed while maintaining accuracy using a limited amount of rounds. Using the target attached, load up and see which tempo you are currently shooting.
Break the Shot on the Number
When first starting, have a partner dictate the shot tempo by counting aloud. For example, for the first bar, the count would be one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, and so on. So, following a tempo of one-one-thousand, the shooter will shoot when they hear ONE, pause during the one-thousand, fire again on TWO, pause during the one-thousand, etc.; the tempo takes approximately 1 second to say.
The second tempo is slightly faster, one round per half-second or one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and-five pressing the trigger when saying “and” during this sequence.
Fire the final five rounds at an accelerated tempo of one round per 1/4 second or one-two-three-four-five firing on each number.
The goal for each set of five rounds fired is to keep all five in a tight group in the middle of the first vertical bar. You may notice that each group becomes a little bigger than the last as the shot tempo increases. Do your best to keep all rounds in the vertical bar.
Download the PDF, print it out, and take it to the range. Eventually, the shooter should be counting the tempo to themselves. Directions for all tempos are on the target.
See also Maximizing the Combat Pistol Grip
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