I’m relatively new to the gun world. I’ve just completed a half-day of instruction with Dave Starrin at Gunsite. We started with dry fire practice and progressed to controlled pairs at three and seven yards. Dave emphasized the need to feel the trigger reset after the first trigger pull. For the dry fire exercise using the Glock platform, I first unload and check the weapon. With the magazine out, I then go through the draw stroke, put sights on target, and perform a controlled pull of the trigger. The trigger is then held in full compression while I pull the slide to reset the system. Then the trigger is carefully, released but only to the reset point and no further . . .
The finger is held in this position until it is determined that a threat is no longer present, then removed from the trigger as the sights are removed from the target or low ready position.
I have heard steady compression of the trigger emphasized many times, but have never before noted the emphasis on releasing it only back to the reset point and no further. Releasing only to this point allows one to make a second (or third or any shot to follow) more quickly and with more control since you are not going through a complete trigger pull again.
As we did the live fire controlled pair (aiming between each shot, but not reholstering) exercise using this technique, I found my first shot was typically slightly low. Routinely, the second show was dead center. This tip improved my marksmanship.
Throughout the half day of instruction, I always tried to release the trigger just to the reset point until I was sure the shooting was done. This will now be a dry fire exercise for me. It makes sense and works well. As always, train as you mean to fight.
Often we emphasize the importance of leaving the finger off the trigger until sights are on target and the decision to shoot has been made. Just as important and worthy of practice is keeping the finger on the trigger, just at the reset point until the decision to stop firing has been made.