If you are aiming to be an ace competition shooter, you need to do whatever it takes to reduce your overall time. Everything from your stance to the swing of your body from target to target takes time, however minuscule it may be. Surprising to many first-time shooters is how much time it takes to pull the trigger and have it reset between shots. Although it seems like so little time, a little change with the trigger can help you see results in your final course time. Here are 3 ways that you can increase your shooting speed as you gain more experience in competition.
1. Reduce Trigger Weight
When we talk about weight, we’re not talking about the actual weight of the trigger when it’s on a scale, but we’re referring to pull weight. Pull weight is the pounds of force it takes to pull the trigger back and release the firing pin. There is a little bit of give at first for most triggers, which means you can start to pull it back until you feel that stopping point, which if you pull through, causes the firing pin to strike the primer of a loaded cartridge. The average pull weight for, say, a Glock is around 6 pounds. By installing a lighter Glock trigger kit, however, you can make it easier (and thus faster) in a competition to pull the trigger and fire a round.
2. Minimize Trigger Reset Length
The reset length is how far you need to release the trigger after pulling it for it to reset to the firing position. Many people may say the reset length doesn’t matter in a real-world defense situation, but in a competition, it may shave off some time. After all, reset length is measured in millimeters, but it’s all about what you practice with and how much force the trigger requires. Some Sigs boast a reset length of 3 mm while some Glocks have 4 mm, with 12-13 mm being the length of the entire trigger stroke. Choose a length that allows you to get the firing rate you’re most comfortable and efficient with.
3. Practice
Even the best competitive shooting professionals practice all the time, but ammo can get expensive. It is probably a good idea to get a quality dry firing setup so you can practice with your competition gun safely at home, without needing to go to the range or use up any valuable ammo. The only way to know if your setup is going to work or if you need to customize some parts is to practice, practice, practice. Experiment with different weights and find the methods that help you shoot your fastest.