Need Advice - Overcoming Chicken Finger

[K22]

I'm not a competitive shooting. I'm a varmint and predator hunting where precision shooting is required. I have excellent and accurate rifles for this purpose with good triggers adjustable down to about 2 1/2 lbs that break without creep.

I'm looking for advice from guys who do a lot of precision shooting especially shooting where there is some wobble of the cross hairs on the target. I'm seeking advice on how to avoid the "chicken finger" syndrome i.e. trigger finger freezing creating the false sensation of a hard trigger pull and resulting in a poor shot.

I practice and hunt off shooting cross sticks while seated on a sportsman's chair resting both elbows on my knees which creates quite a stable position but some wobble of the cross hairs is unavoidable.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[CharlieNC]

Do a lot of dry fire practice at home to get/keep the trigger finger tuned.

 

[CaptainMal]

Stop the breathing and start the squeezing. Squeeze (add pressure) when the sight is good then hold that pressure when the sight moves off the target. Practice, practice and then practice some more. Each shot, unless in a panic to get something off, MUST be a surprise when it goes off.

From the "stop breathing" you have maybe 8 seconds or you start over.

 

[JEFFPPC]

In the archery world this is know as target panic. I call it the fear of failure. Its a mental thing. Don't freeze, once you start squezzing don' stop just concentrate on a good sight pixture and let the shot surprise you. Just read a good article in the bulletin about this in reganrd to handgun shooting.

 

[Rsadams]

Fire in between the exhale and inhale... As you finish your exhale and before you start the inhale...That and learning to relax combined with a ton of doing... Dry fire or real fire , practice , practice and more practice...

 

[expiper]

get a Jewell triger and set it at 20oz,,,Roger

 

[jelenko]

What CharlieNC and CaptainMal said.

I would add to just watch the wobble and release the shot. If you're wobble isn't the same size or smaller than the target, it's going to be tough => work on your position/support so the wobble is small enough.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Get a 2 stage trigger. Thats how its done offhand

 

[jds holler]

Tons of dry fire for me. I even do a lot of it when squirrel shooting. I'm so convinced, that I think dry fire is more important than live fire for good marksmanship. Cheaper too. jd

 

[1shot]

If you have someone that will load for you, try the ball and dummy drill. Let you buddy load either an empty or a live round while you look the other way. I have used this drill successfully for years to correct the problem you have as well as flinching.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[stork]

Don't freeze, once you start squezzing don' stop just concentrate on a good sight pixture and let the shot surprise you

We have a winner!!!!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Get a 2 stage trigger. Thats how its done offhand

I have shot a lot of offhand, bought a single shot Sako years ago, got it home to discover it had a two stage tigger. I shot it a bit but did not like the trigger, to many yrs shooting a crisp 2 oz trigger offhand. I would stick to a crisp trigger regardless of the weight of pull.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have shot a lot of offhand, bought a single shot Sako years ago, got it home to discover it had a two stage tigger. I shot it a bit but did not like the trigger, to many yrs shooting a crisp 2 oz trigger offhand. I would stick ti a crisp trigger regardless of the weight of pull.

It is a whole different animal thats for sure

 

[JEFFPPC]

Yes, at the time it was the most accurate rifle I had ever shot. I bought a couple boxes of Sako ammo to get cases. I could not load ammo that shot as well. Between that and the trigger I sold it. It was s#10x. Well, years later and not long ago found one new in the box with a 2 digit serial number. Now I am in the bench game, worlds ahead of where I was in loading and tuning, so I paid a lot of money for it. Yep, it was a dud. Live and learn. Sold it to a farmer to shoot 200 yd groundhogs , he loves it.

 

[Fast14riot]

I agree with a 2 stage trigger. I use both, my sling/position guns have 2 stage in them, my rest supported guns have crisp light (about 6oz) single stage triggers.

I occasionally get the target panic when I switch to my AR with single stage 4lb trigger as I'm used to a much lighter one, but after 20-30 rounds of dry fire it goes away.

Also, try practicing with a 22lr or airgun. I do not subscribe to being surprised by the trigger break, I want it to break exactly when I decide that my wobble is crossing into the x ring, not be surprised by it as its leaving the 9 ring.

 

[243Mendoza]

I have the same problem which developed recently despite years of experience and it's because my wobble has increased with age, my mind is stopping my finger from pulling the trigger when the sights are off center because of wobble. So now I have a very light trigger in the 2-5oz range...no more chicken finger! But warning, don't touch the trigger until you're on target!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have the same problem which developed recently despite years of experience and it's because my wobble has increased with age, my mind is stopping my finger from pulling the trigger when the sights are off center because of wobble. So now I have a very light trigger in the 2-5oz range...no more chicken finger! But warning, don't touch the trigger until you're on target!

That makes people slap the trigger in my experience trying to catch the wobble in the right spot. I can usually show folks the difference and make them a believer with a few dry fires from one of my annie silhouette rifles

 

[jds holler]

Everybody with trigger trouble ought to get a double action revolver and master it -- using double action. jd

 

[JEFFPPC]

Everybody with trigger trouble ought to get a double action revolver and master it -- using double action. jd

There is a gentleman in my area who is a retired St.Policeman who shoots BR with us. I shot in a pistol league with him a few years ago and like everyone else I shot a semi with a red dot. He shot iron sights, double action, with a revolver. Humbling experience.

 

[243Mendoza]

That makes people slap the trigger in my experience trying to catch the wobble in the right spot. I can usually show folks the difference and make them a believer with a few dry fires from one of my annie silhouette rifles

I am not advising to 'slap' the trigger. One needs to be careful not to put the finger on a light trigger when the crosshairs are not on target where an early release can occur. I am advising putting the finger on the trigger once you are ready to pull the trigger.