Trigger length - why it can affect your accuracy

[cougartex]

Thanks for posting.

[A-R]

Great post Andy. With your permission, I'd like to share this with my future CHL students when they ask such questions.

[duns]

Excellent information, thanks.

[Ldy AlliDu]

Thanks.

[pmacelad]

Thanks, for the info, it will be very helpful.

[threoh8]

Fit is one of those subjective things about firearms. Some just feel better, and some might not feel as good, but shoot better for you.
I don't have large hands, but much prefer the long M1911 trigger and flat mainspring housing over the short M1911A1 style trigger and arched mainspring. It might have something to do with the time I spent shooting Dad's plain old M1911 (made in 1917).

1911's were modular before modular was cool.

[loneranger4x4]

that was very informative, thanks for the lesson, I will definately be paying more attention at the range.

[papajohn1964]

[OldCannon]

Well-known in shotgun-shooting circles is the concept of length-of-pull - and how greatly it influences one's ability to hit the target. It's almost never mentioned in handgun shooting, however, which is a great pity;

True, but length-of-pull on long arms refers to the distance from the trigger to the butt of the stock. Different animal

You've written a nice article though, so don't take that as criticism about what you've written!

[TexasGal]

Thanks! That is a great way to explain it and I am glad you don't mind anyone using your examples. I, too was going to ask.

[Choctaw]

Well, if you want to get anal about terminology, handguns have butts, don't they? :)

Length of pull refers to the distance from gun butt to the trigger. While the term is almost always used to refer to long-guns, I'd argue that it's exactly the same concept - from the face of the trigger to where the rearmost part of the fiream physically abuts against the body, wouldn't you agree?

Feel free to come up with a better term of your choice, I care not; my concern is in describing the effects of that distance - something that's rarely if ever mentioned or made public, and I think it's critical to be aware of it in order to understand why a shot goes where it does.

Great post Andy. I've only heard this mentioned a couple times before and as you say never in public IIRC. I shoot Sporting Clays competitively and LOP is one of the first things you learn about.

I think with all the different trigger choices in the 1911 platform and many other platforms for that matter, it is a real concern. However, in the recreational world of pistol shooting, LOP is very misunderstood. Comfort is not always what is best. We are not educated on LOP as it pertains to accuracy while shooting the pistol, we are shown the "wheel" and told how to correct it...However, if we had the correct LOP we would have a lot less to correct.

I would be willing to bet that competitive pistol shooters are all too aware of LOP.

Great Post!

[Jumping Frog]

This discussion points out how the adjustable palm swells are an ergonomic help with the S&W M&P line and similar competitive products.