Defensive Handgun Trigger Considerations Dave Montalbano Retired SAC

I have been a law enforcement officer since the days of the revolver; a Firearms Instructor for the Feds; an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; current Georgia POST Firearms Instructor and Concealed Carry Instructor. I am used to teaching police and qualifying law enforcement using the firearms that their departments have chosen. When I began teaching the civilian population I all of a sudden gained experience with lots of different handguns and manufacturers. I bought a Lyman trigger pull meter and began testing the guns that people were carrying. I also became an NRA firearms instructor and got to see what the civilian world was doing.

The following are my observations and thoughts on what I think make up a good tactical trigger system and the pro’s and con’s by looking at the various types of handguns currently being used by police and civilians for protection. This is a “tactical” analysis and not an “NRA” range day analysis.

What makes a good handgun for Carry

The following characteristics make a good tactical handgun in my opinion.

1. Handgun Ergonomics. This includes how the handgun “fits” your hand. The grips; texture; grooved front strap; plain front strap; size; how well does it point, etc.

Things to consider: a. Handgun must fit hand so you can reach the trigger without changing/shifting your grip. A great fit is when your trigger finger “tip” can touch the trigger and be perpendicular to the trigger before pressure is applied. You should never have to change your grip to shoot the handgun. b. Smaller hands may find the “single stack” handgun design a better fit than the wider “double stack”. c. Can you reach the magazine release without changing your grip? Tactical reloading requires the gun remain pointed in direction of threat while changing magazines. For a button release this means your strong hand thumb can reach and function the release. For European style, same requirement or your strong hand index finger on opposite side. The point is not to have to change grip or pointing of firearm to accomplish a tactical magazine change.

2. Sights. For a “Carry” handgun, sights need to be “fast” and “highly visible” to “look over”. What this means is that Defensive “Carry” guns are most likely to be used at distances of about 3 yards and whoever gets “first lead” most probably will win. This is why a handgun that is a natural pointer is so important because your first shot should be before the handgun is brought all way up to eye level and then you should look over the sights while watching the threat. In target shooting your taught to let the target be blurry and focus on front sight. Tactical shooting is different if you want to survive the encounter.

I personally like the multi-color 3 dot sights with large front dot. They glow and can be used in night encounters. They are the “fastest” I have found to “acquire”.

3. Trigger. At last we come to the “trigger”. Experienced shooters know that a lighter trigger pull doesn’t disturb the sights as much as a heavy trigger pull. The handgun “action” type will determine overall “feel” of the trigger so let’s look at some basics. a. Single Action Only (SAO) hammer fire revolvers and semi-auto pistols. The trigger pull releases the hammer which hits the firing pin. SAO must be pre-cocked. The most famous example handgun in SAO is the 1911. Trigger weight for these handguns are on the “light” side typically around 4.5 lbs for a carry gun. These guns usually have an external safety that prevents the cocked hammer from moving forward. b. Double Action Only (DAO) hammer fire revolvers and semi-auto pistols. The trigger pull both cocks the hammer and releases it. Typical trigger weights are around 8.5 lbs. c. Double Action/Single Action hammer fire pistols (DA/SA). The first trigger pull is double action and once the slide has functioned it pre-cocks the hammer so subsequent trigger pulls are single action. Typical trigger weights are 10 lbs for the DA pull and 5-6 lbs for the SA pull. These guns may or may not have an external safety but will have a “de-cocking” lever to put the handgun into hammer down DA mode for safe carry. d. Striker Fire. The example of this trigger system that comes to most people’s minds is Glock. HK actually came up with the first striker fire handgun in the 70’s. With this type of action there is no hammer and like the SAO the slide must function to preload the “striker” (firing pin.). In some ways it is like a SAO without the hammer. Some folks call it a type of DA but it is different and different makers of these guns may use different methods. Typical trigger weight for most of these handguns are 6-8 lbs and some up to 12 lbs. Many manufacturers offer lighter trigger weights as aftermarket modifications. These guns may have an external safety or a trigger safety and are the most common law enforcement carry gun. Since there is no hammer that drops, the trigger “feel” is sometimes described as “spongy”. e. HK LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger system. I am including this since it is what I carry. This is a unique system in that it has a hammer that is two piece and the slide is functioned to pre-load the hammer much the same as the “striker”. There is a long light first pull like the DA handgun but then a single action pull releases the hammer. The DA pull is less than 2 lbs and the single action is adjustable with different springs ranging from 4.5 lbs to 8 lbs. It has a hammer feel without the first heavy double action pull. Other characteristics of the trigger that should be considered and are individual choice are:

Take-up: This is the travel distance of the trigger until it meets resistance. SAO guns generally have a short take-up while the DA pull on the DA/SA pistols will have longer take-up. Trigger Break: Also called pull weight is the distance from initial resistance to the hammer or striker falling. Most experienced shooters like to describe their ideal trigger break as crisp and predictable. Over-Travel: The rearward movement of the trigger past its break point. Some handguns allow this to be adjusted. Reset: The distance it takes the trigger going forward after the break point where it can be fired again. A short reset and unfamiliarity with the trigger can result in an accidental second shot from recoil. Reset is both audible and “tactile” and experienced shooters will know their handgun reset well.

The Tactical Carry Gun

What follows are my opinions on the best “Carry Gun” by trigger type.

The 1911 and other SAO Designs

This 100 year old design is still one of the best tactical handguns made. It has great ergonomics, and has been refined to the amazing pistol examples we find offered today. It is however NOT a Carry Handgun except for those willing to put in the time and training. The safety must be removed as the weapon is drawn in a tactical situation and this requires muscle memory and practice. The other con frequently mentioned about these guns is the lack of magazine capacity compared to most modern pistol designs.

The DAO Designs

Semi-auto pistols that are DAO are sometimes used by Law Enforcement but the design is not popular because of the trigger pull weight that is usually at 7-10 lbs. SIG makes a DAK system that is a DAO system but has not caught on and most law enforcement folks dislike it.

The DA/SA Designs

This design is very popular with some like SIG designed versions that were used by law enforcement all across the country. SIG’s design included a de-cocking lever but no external safety. Other designs added a safety and a de-cocker. The heavy double action first pull was regarded as the “safety” and was 10 lbs+. In my experience the officers/agents first shots were always problematic because of this heavy first pull. You can train around this heavy pull first shot but in a life and death encounter that first shot was rarely on target at distances over 5 yards. Like the 1911, constant training is the key with these weapons types.

Striker Fired Pistol Designs

This design is the most common handgun design carried today by both law enforcement and by the concealed carry public. Most designs have no external safeties but may have a trigger safety. They generally have triggers on the “heavier” side at 7-8+ lbs. Triggers at about 5-5.5 lbs that are smooth and crisp are what most experienced shooters carry. The best examples currently on market are the Walther PPQ and the HK VP9. These guns have triggers that are highly regarded. I have carried a PPQ 45 and it is a fast accurate shooter.

HK LEM

This is a proprietary system by HK and HK also makes guns that are DA/SA and striker. The LEM system has no external safety but a very light long initial trigger pull like the DA handguns then the trigger break (usually 5-7 lbs) depending on the set-up. So it behaves like a SA at the break point. The gun has a short reset and then SA break. So it overcomes the heavy DA first shot of the DA/SA handgun. It takes some getting used to. When I first shot this type handgun I did not like it. Now it is what i carry because I put the practice time in to learn the trigger and reset.

Summary

It is personal preference what you carry but whatever system you decide upon you must train to shoot with that system. I see gun shops selling new shooters 1911 type weapons and then see them on the range trying to figure out how to safely carry. I get the question by these folks all the time about carrying it with no round in chamber so they feel safe. Wow! In my opinion, new shooters should look at the striker fired or DA/ SA options. As they gain experience they can then try the other trigger system designs.

Finally, about “Carry” size. I personally do not believe in carrying a gun with a less than 3.5 inch barrel. That is the “Compact” size designation by most manufacturers. I usually carry a 4 inch barrel gun. I know people worry about concealment but there are ways and I personally do not wish to be part of a gun fight with a little subcompact gun.