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The Truth About Trigger Weight

What is an acceptable handgun trigger weight? Does context change what you deem acceptable? For example, is it OK to have a 3.5 lb trigger on a competition gun, but not for a carry gun?

Gen 4 Glock 19

Aaron Cowan from Sage Dynamics, the guy who wrote the awesome article about Reality Based Training, discussed trigger weight recently in an article over at Breach-Bang-Clear.

For some reason, those of us who carry a striker fired handgun get the raised eyebrow when trigger weight comes up and we announce in conversation that we have a custom trigger or a reduced trigger pull weight.  The general consensus seems to be that anything below 4 pounds (or custom in any way) is unacceptable to  many shooters. Usually it’s for one of two reasons: safety or minimizing chances of litigation/prosecution.

I know you’ve heard this one before: don’t modify your trigger because, God forbid, if you are involved in a shoot, it’s going to look bad in a court of law. Some prosecutor is going to argue that with your modified gun you accidentally shot when you didn’t have to, that you were looking for trouble, etc, etc. To combat this perceived potential problem (alliteration on a Thursday), most guns come from the factory with a “heavier” trigger pull – sometimes you’ll hear this described as a lawyer trigger – and the general consensus is that you shouldn’t mess with this pull weight on a carry gun.

Aaron is calling BS on this one.

When it comes to litigation/prosecution concerns, I blame the internet and gun shop gossip.

What is the “acceptable” pull weight on a striker fired pistol? Glock comes from the factory with a 5.5 pound pull, XD and XD(M) varies from 5.5 to 7.7 depending on the source, and S&W’s M&P line seems to be 6.5 LBS. … When trigger pull is reduced below 4.5 LBS to say, 3.5, suddenly it is anointed with a “competition” title as if by magic.

The rest of the article is just as good. For example, according to Aaron, in order to prevent a negligent discharge, you would need a trigger pull greater than 25 lbs.

…in 1991, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center conducted a study that found  the human hand was capable of convulsing suddenly and involuntarily with up to 25 pounds of pressure under a startle response.

You can read the rest of the article here, it’s well worth your time. This is only part 1, so make sure you stay tuned to Breach-Bang-Clear for part 2 coming soon. Also, if you have modified the trigger on a gun you carry, let me know in the comments, I’m interested to what folks have done. My Glock 19 has factory everything except for sights.

Updatepart 2 has been released.

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30 Responses to The Truth About Trigger Weight

  1. 100atr October 10, 2013 at 10:45 am #

    I once though as most people that it was the lawyers who regulate everything in this country. I have learned something completely different though. It is the Insurance Companies that have the pucker values set so high. The laws get created by the insurance companies and the lawyers are just along for the ride $$$.

  2. rammaone October 10, 2013 at 11:14 am #

    I have an XDM 3.8 that is my EDC gun and I did replace the trigger with a PRP ultimate match kit. I love it.

  3. TK October 10, 2013 at 12:11 pm #

    Glock 19 with 3.5 lb connector – let the haters hate.

  4. RickyBobby October 10, 2013 at 4:10 pm #

    Shield with an Apex DCAEK.

    The prosecution thing is total nonsense. If it’s an accidental discharge and you hit an innocent, you’re in trouble no matter the trigger weight. if you pointed your gun at someone and pulled the trigger in self defense, your fate depends on a jury’s interpretation of the circumstances that led you to the point of pulling the trigger. Only people who spend too much time on gun forums think the actual force required to pull the trigger once that choice was made has any impact on the outcome. If it even comes up, it’s not difficult to say “I didn’t want my trigger to be so heavy that I’d accidently shoot a bystander that I didn’t intend to shoot, like the NYPD always does with their heavy triggers”

    • Brandon October 10, 2013 at 4:12 pm #

      Well said.

  5. JD October 10, 2013 at 4:22 pm #

    When things are more user friendly they are generally safer. If we look at trigger modification (with in reason) as making the weapon more user friendly it will more likely be easier to shoot in an accurate matter. Not hitting what you need to hit and hitting something else is bad mmmkay….

    Glock for instance, 2/3 sear engagement is safe per the armorer training. You can modify the sear surface so there is less than two thirds engagement resulting in a better feeling trigger with reduced pull distance to the trigger break. I have no problem staying with in the 2/3 parameter with some modification of the sear surface.

    I call BS in the unsafe pull weight too. At the end of the day you need to be able to articulate why you made the modifications as well as why you felt it necessary to shoot someone. This needs to be explained to the satisfaction of a jury of people you don’t know from all walks of life, so there is no guarantee.

    Having said that, if there are no modifications to the weapon then that is an argument you never have to have.

    My setup: G19. 5 lb connector polished and trued flat, trigger bar polished and trued flat w/slight sear bevel, extra power trigger spring, reduced power striker safety spring, extra power striker spring.

    My.02.

    JD

  6. Frank Sharpe October 10, 2013 at 6:39 pm #

    …and so no one here thinks there could quite possibly be a fraction of a second during your defensive trigger press where you might want to abort the shot? My personal experience says yes, and a 3.5lb trigger would have completely changed my life 8-years ago.

    Light triggers mean once you’ve committed, you’ve committed.

    There is also some basic physics at work. If you put a 3.5lb trigger on a 2lb gun vs. a 5lb trigger on a 2lb gun, the gun can literally become too easy to shoot. Yes, when we have a two-handed perfect grip on a pistol, and our body is balanced behind it, our light triggers can be useful. However, once we find ourselves in a serious fight, perhaps having to shoot support-side only, ND’s can happen with ease – usually during recoil of the shot before. I’ve seen it a dozen times over the years. You pour on the stress and are forced to use a dumber finger to run the gun…well, it often times results in an “oops.” And we all know that “oops” belongs nowhere in a professional gunman’s vocabulary.

    • Jeff Campbell October 10, 2013 at 10:48 pm #

      That’s why the 2 times I needed to draw my finger was in the ready position and not on the trigger. My personal preference is a 4 to 4.5 pound pull.

      • Frank Sharpe October 11, 2013 at 1:17 pm #

        I’m not talking about during the shoot/no-shot decision pre-process. I’m talking about badguy charging you with a knife and it suddenly registers with him he has a gun pointed in his direction (which the operator is taking trigger slack up on), so he decided to go find something else to do.

    • Robbie October 11, 2013 at 3:50 pm #

      I’m with you on this one Frank also from personal experience. Long story short I am face to face with a man with a knife refusing to drop it. It ended with him being arrested and me going on with my shift. Gun was a factory G22 with the 5.5lb trigger. To this day I don’t know what made him decide to drop the knife but he did. Had it been a 3.5lb he would probably be dead and I would have been dealing with a shooting investigation.

      • TK October 11, 2013 at 3:57 pm #

        Perhaps I’m just a bad person, but if someone pulls a knife on me and is within 21 feet or so, they’re getting shot, 3.5 lb trigger or 5.5 lb trigger. I’m not waiting around to see if they’re feeling frisky or not – pulling a deadly weapon on me shows intent to cause me great bodily harm or death.

        Side note: I’m way more scared of knives than handguns, and you should be too.

        • Frank Sharpe October 11, 2013 at 4:55 pm #

          Really!? Knives are dangerous?

          …I’ve never heard that before.

          • TK October 12, 2013 at 9:40 am #

            LOL

  7. Jeff Campbell October 10, 2013 at 10:46 pm #

    I think the NYPD shooting awhile back is a perfect example of what a heavy trigger pull can do, You loose more control under stress and can injure innocent people because its hard to keep a heavy trigger on target.

    • Frank Sharpe October 11, 2013 at 1:18 pm #

      We’re not talking about a 5-7lb press with NYPD, it’s a ridiculous 12+.

      …and I agree that such a trigger can exacerbate shooting problems, but truth be told, NYPD misses because their training SUCKS.

  8. Clyde October 11, 2013 at 8:39 am #

    One of my carry guns is a M&P9c with an APEX DCAEK, AEK Trigger and RAM for tactile reset. With that all springs have been changed, the sear, striker block and trigger bar modified.
    It shoots well, and has a 4.5lb trigger pull.
    My other carry gun is a G19, still stock, as it is nearly brand new.

  9. dgdimick October 11, 2013 at 3:43 pm #

    Does anyone have any case law where Trigger Weight was a deciding factor in the verdict? Even with Zinmmerman, Trigger Weight was not an issue.

    I’ve had a double tap caused by recoil with my Ruger P-89dc, however, I blame this on poor gun handling on my part – not Trigger Weight.

    I agree with Aaron, this is BS

    • Frank Sharpe October 11, 2013 at 5:11 pm #

      Zimmerman didn’t modify his trigger. However, they did go after him for carrying a round in the chamber…which was easily parried by his legal team.

      I personally know of no case where a person was convicted of murder in any degree, in a defensive shooting, simply because they had a modified trigger. It’s not something I’m arguing here.

      I will argue, and can say from experience, that attempting to shoot a 3lb trigger with your support-side hand, commonly results in an unwanted second shot, especially in 1911-style guns.

      I also see things like shirt tails get caught in holsters on a regular basis. To me, this is just like everything else in this business, a compromise. I would suggest that just about anyone can learn to shoot a defensive pistol with a 5 to 6lb trigger, and get proper hits regularly with little problem. Having a lighter trigger does not improve those hits enough for me to think it worth the risk.

      Sometimes – just sometimes – it seems like those espousing things like light triggers are coming at it from the same angle as those who insist on adding enlarged this and extended that on their guns. They simply aren’t happy unless they are spending money and modifying things. Personally, I’m not convinced I’ll even have MY GUN during my next fight – I may just have to use whatever POS is laying around, so I’d better know HOW to run a trigger. Any and all triggers.

      But, to each his own.

      Now go forth and do what thou will.

      • Aaron Cowan (@SageDynamics) October 11, 2013 at 6:04 pm #

        Frank,

        You have brought up some good points and I thank you for reading. I can disagree on set/release of a 3.5 LBS trigger from personal experience in two separate situations not unlike the one you experienced. In both situations I was using my Glock 19 with a 3.5 LBS trigger and in both I set the trigger to fire while yelling a verbal and in both situations the individual changed their behavior and was not shot. Again, my personal experience and I do shoot more than the average person. However, I can say that support hand trigger control issues are attributable to training, as is trigger control in general and “setting up” the trigger is not a technique instructed across the board, in fact I have seen some LE departments with a policy expressly prohibiting it “At no time shall an officer engage the trigger of their duty weapon, be it handgun, patrol rifle or shotgun, and remove trigger slack in preparation for firing unless it is in the course of consciously firing a round.”

        Will a 3.5 lbs trigger make an individual faster and more accurate? Not in and of itself, however it may. I wouldn’t recommend it to a beginning shooter, though I see no issue with an experienced and trained shooter adopting a lighter pull if they so desire.

        Respectfully,

        A. Cowan

    • Petercat October 11, 2013 at 7:52 pm #

      Exactly. Outside of the NYPD, has anyone ever come out of a gunfight saying “I wish I’d had a lighter trigger!”?
      Under stress, does anyone even notice?
      Ruger LCR, 9lbs+
      Various others, .380-.45ACP, unknown. But they work.

  10. JD October 11, 2013 at 7:07 pm #

    Good points all the way around.

    Aaron is spot on, in my opinion, as far as his assertion that training is the key when shooting support hand-or any hand. This is true of “limp wristing” malfunctions and unintentional second shots. True that a heavier trigger weight may help alleviate it, the real way to address a deficiency like that is through training.

    There are a lot of people out there who search for a hardware solution to a software problem. I did in the past then started spending money on training and reps not the next best nitnoid thing. The mission should drive the gear train as Pat Rogers says. Get equipment that helps accomplishes the mission efficiently and reliably. We should fight the badguy and not our equipment when in a critical incident and under stress. The equipment should always be an enabler not a disabler- same for training.

    I have also had experiences similar to Frank and Aaron as far as taking out the slack on a trigger and not found the modifications I have made to be a problem. I had made the decision to fire but the events unfolded which I perceived to be a de-escalation on the part of the suspect and eventually received compliance. Experiences like opinions and perceptions vary.

    JD

  11. Phil Wong October 12, 2013 at 1:59 am #

    This is the rebuttal I just posted on Part II:

    Well, since Massad Ayoob has been mentioned so often in connection with this issue – I’ve taken 3 different classes with him, and assisted him with about 7 others, so I’ve heard what he has to say on the subject quite a few times. The cases Mas cites most often are the ones he’s worked on where a “hair trigger” was brought up as an issue(among many others in each case) are these:

    – New York V. Frank Magliato(http://www.leagle.com/decision…, http://scholarship.law.stjohns

    – Crown(Canada) V. Gosset(http://scc.lexum.org/decisia-s

    – MI V. Chuck Chase(acquitted of Manslaughter at trial)

    – FL V. Alvarez(http://www.leagle.com/decision…, http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-

    – GA v. Crumbley(no true bill)

    – KY v. Rucker(acquitted of Manslaughter at trial)

    Other cases where Mas was not involved:

    http://www.atlawblog.com/2011/
    (in your neck of the woods)

    http://cjonline.com/news/2012-

    Since I don’t happen to have access to Westlaw or Lexis/Nexis, I had to find these cases here: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ayoob+hai
    ;^)

    You might choose to disregard most of these cases because they involve revolvers that were(allegedly) fired after being manually cocked(which any shooter who still uses a revolver for duty/defense should know better than to do), but I would note that a cocked revolver usually has a trigger pull of around 3-4.5 lbs – which is essentially the same as your off-duty Glock 19, yet I don’t believe that you or any other instructor would recommend that your students carry revolvers with the hammers cocked, relying only on trigger finger discipline and a holster that covers the trigger guard for safety…

    For all the heat that Mas gets for his stand on triggers, his position is pretty simple: as long as the pull weight meets or exceeds the minimum stipulated by the manufacturer for that model and for its intended use, it’s perfectly fine and defensible. The times I’ve trained with or assisted him, if he carried a M&P or an XD/XDM, the trigger was pretty much stock, with maybe some burnishing from dry-fire and live-fire. If he carried a 1911, its trigger would scale at least 4 lbs. If he carried a revolver, it would have a very smooth trigger job of around 8-9 lbs. DA, with factory-weight springs. And, if he carried a Glock, it would simply be fitted with a stock 5.5 lb. connector and the NY-1 trigger spring he prefers for durability and positive trigger reset, and shoots best with, possibly smoothed and polished a bit, but weighing right around 8 lbs.

    Thing is, most of the light-trigger fans that have spoken up on this and other threads(like this one, which I also spoke out on: http://www.handgunsmag.com/201… ) seem to carry on like a trigger weighing 6, 8, or 10+ lbs. is an insurmountable handicap, when it is clearly not – as you yourself pointed out in Part 1, “in 1991, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center conducted a study that found the human hand was capable of convulsing suddenly and involuntarily with up to 25 pounds of pressure under a startle response.” Obviously, that 25 lbs. of pressure is more than enough to stabilize a 2-3 lb. pistol against a 10-12 lb. trigger pull, with just one hand(let alone 50 lbs. pressure from both hands), as long as the shooter has been trained to exert a convulsive, max-force crush grip on the gun(which Mas also teaches, in his “StressFire” method). A week ago, I was in his MAG-120 class, where I shot his own qualification and the OPOTA pistol qualification at triple speed with my Glock 26, equipped with a NY-1 trigger spring and 3.5 lb. connector, which has been approved for duty/defense use by Glock and which weighs about 6 lbs. – that “heavy” trigger didn’t keep me from posting 90%+ scores on both qualifications, and it also let me put 3 out of 6 rounds on a B-27 silhouette at 100 yds., shooting two-handed standing. I also used the same gun to teach a 12-year -ld boy named Brandon how to shoot a pistol – good thing he didn’t know how hard it is to shoot such a “heavy” trigger, otherwise he might not have shot a ragged hole out of the bullseye like he did. Granted, he’s a healthy Hoosier boy every bit as big as me, but he had no prior experience with centerfire pistols before that day, and his targets after 100 rds would have made a lot of older, more experienced shooters proud.

    Yes, conventional wisdom on trigger weight has been formed to a great extent by tradition – Glock’s stock 5.5 lb. trigger was what they started with in the mid ’80’s, Jeff Cooper spec’ed his 1911 triggers to be “four pounds, crisp,” the U.S. Army spec’ed their 1911 triggers at 6-8 lbs. when they first accepted the design, S&W spec’ed the SA triggers on their revolvers to be no less than the loaded weight of the gun itself(for drop-safety). In the arena of the courtroom, “tradition” takes on a different name and meaning – “common custom and practice.” And, if one of the elements of the case against you is that a human being was allegedly injured or killed, due in part to your deviating from common custom and practice, you need to be able to articulate why you did so. As an experienced firearms instructor and highly proficient shooter, you can speak intelligently in court about the benefits of a lighter-than-stock trigger, but what about Joe Flincher the novice shooter? He’s gonna need an expert like yourself, who advocates lighter-than-stock triggers, to counter and offset a bunch of other instructors and expert witnesses, who will be testifying about why they concur with “common custom and practice” regarding trigger weight. In a perfect world, if Glock had standardized on the 3.5 lb. connector, and every Glock in the local gun stores and agency armories were so equipped, it would be simple to point that out as being “common custom and practice” – unfortunately, it is not, and will not be so unless and until you and everyone else who prefers 3.5 lb. connectors can convince Glock that they need to make it standard on ALL commercial, LE and military contract pistols. As matters stand now, any Glock armorer or engineer that provides a deposition or testimony about the design and specifications for such a trial, will have to answer honestly that the company only installs 3.5 lb. connectors in the G17L, G24, G34 and G35 pistols, and only recommends them for recreational target/competition use, rather than duty/defensive use – and the defense will have to convince the court that their lone expert(s) are more knowledgeable about the design and tactical use of Glock pistols than the company itself, which has built and sold millions of pistols over nearly 3 decades…

    Obviously, you prefer a 3.5 lb. trigger on your off-duty Glock 19 because you shoot better, faster and more accurately with it than you do with the stock trigger – otherwise, you wouldn’t have bothered with the 3.5 lb. trigger, and with your background in firearms training you can explain and articulate the difference. The question is, how much better does the 3.5 lb trigger let you shoot, and is it an incremental or a quantum improvement? As a prosecutor or plaintiff’s attorney, I might argue that the lighter trigger was not necessary, unless you could demonstrate that said trigger made such a difference in your shooting ability that with it, you could meet or exceed a necessary performance standard(e.g. department/POST qualification, SWAT qualification, etc.) that you could not meet or exceed with a stock trigger – only then might the higher risk of negligent discharge be outweighed by your need to qualify and be armed with your lighter-triggered gun. However, I strongly suspect that is not the case – the service pistol issued to you by your agency for ON-duty carry probably does not have the same light trigger as your OFF-duty G19(otherwise you would have also mentioned it in your argument), and in all probability is a stock M&P(without an Apex trigger) or a stock Glock(maybe a SIG or H&K, with 6-8 lb. DAK or LEM triggers). Obviously, you can and have qualified to your agency standard with your duty pistol and its stock trigger, otherwise you and that pistol would not be on duty on the street together – that being the case, the best argument you can put forward for the lighter trigger in your G19 is simply the incremental increase in your shooting performance, and the increased confidence it gives you.

    So, what about Joe Flincher the novice shooter who has turned to a lighter trigger because he DOES shoot sufficiently better with it to pass, say, his CCW or armed-guard qualification? Well, he can certainly articulate a need for it, because without it he would not have satisfied the marksmanship requirements needed for him to be armed in the first place. However, I would argue that such a novice is using the light trigger as a crutch to mask an underlying problem with anticipating recoil, trigger control, or some other flaw in their marksmanship basics, and he really ought to be properly re-trained before he learns to anticipate the lighter release weight and starts flinching again(which would send him chasing an even lighter trigger, etc. ad nauseam). That novice might have more confidence in his shooting with a lighter trigger, but without a solid command of the basics and fundamentals, how far is that false confidence really going to take him?

    I guess I’d have to summarize this long-winded rebuttal thusly: If a couple pounds of trigger weight truly make the difference between hitting and missing the vital zone of a human being(approx. 8” circle) within typical defensive-shooting ranges(under 10 yds), that shooter needs remedial training and practice more than a slightly lighter trigger. If a shooter has the skill to get good hits on target at speed, they can probably do almost as well with a stock trigger as they can with a lighter trigger.

    • Frank Sharpe October 12, 2013 at 7:31 pm #

      Bravo, Phil!

    • KAOSTheory March 4, 2015 at 9:52 am #

      I get a kick out of instructors who believe students should learn “the hard way” first. All shooters shoot better with a better trigger, and novice shooters need the better equipment more than those who are experienced.

      Indeed, every student should be exposed to “stock” triggers, which in popular carry guns are often over 7 pounds, and then have the chance to shoot a 2-4 pound trigger. I guarantee the majority will choose the lighter trigger, because they are not stupid. A suggestion they be forced to use heavy trigger pulls is akin to suggesting a beginning swimmer should wear a weight belt.

  12. hardh8 October 12, 2013 at 1:28 pm #

    I’ve fired an H&K 9mm at the range with a light trigger and it double fired. Once intentional and the second on the recoil. I was a little scared to carry the gun after that.

  13. 82ndPara October 13, 2013 at 3:16 pm #

    I am a long time shooter, firearms instructor, LEO, SWAT, military, etc. I don’t profess to be an expert as I am continuously learning and developing my weapons proficiency, however, I have a number of years or training and real world experience with firearms that the average shooter does not.

    I use stock and modified triggers on duty weapons and off-duty weapons. What is the correct trigger weight for a weapon? A lot of that is preference. There is such thing is a trigger weight that is too heavy, just as there is a trigger weight that is too light. It is going to depend on the training of the shooter and the application of the weapon.

    For example, I have a 2.5lb trigger on my sniper rifle, but I would not recommend that for an M4. I have a 3.5lb Geissele in my SPR, but would not recommend one for an entry rifle. Having been trained on multiple weapon platforms, I have learned that the more time you spend on a trigger, the more chance of human induced error. I can shoot effectively with stock triggers for combat and target applications, however, I do prefer a slightly lighter trigger. Does it make a difference? Of course it does. Is the difference marginal? Yes, but it is marginally better. In a self-defense situation, why would you not want every edge you could get over the other guy that is trying to take your life?

    Trigger weight will not be an issue in a shooting unless you discharge your weapon unintentionally or at the wrong target. I have seen negligent discharges with stock triggers on the firing line plenty of times, just as I have seen shooters handle modified triggers effortlessly with no unintended consequences. If you are not training to handle your weapons ALL the time with a “master grip” (trigger finger out of the trigger guard and extended along the frame) then you are setting yourself up for failure, regardless of trigger weight.

    Glock, like any other weapons manufacturer, does not have any control over the skill level of the end user of their product. For liability reasons, it makes sense for them to set their trigger weights at the minimum acceptable standard required by most law enforcement and government agencies. That does not mean that a 5lb trigger is the golden standard, and that if you use anything less than that you are inviting an extended prison sentence for taking legal intervention. If you are criminally responsible in a shooting, the weight of your trigger is not going to sway the jury one way or another. You either made a responsible decision and took action, or you did not. Your equipment is not going to matter, unless you are one of those idiots who tries to blame your ND on the weapon, rather than your own lack of weapon handling skills, and you are trying to get yourself out of jam you put yourself into.

    My opinion, and yes it is strictly my opinion based on my experience, is that if you want to run a lighter trigger, do it. Have a qualified armorer or smith install the trigger. Take it to the range and practice with it. If you find that it helps you perform better, than that’s what it is all about. If you find that you are uncomfortable with the trigger, then don’t use it. As a citizen, you only have to be able to explain why you were in fear for your life or the life of another and why you chose to use deadly force. If you are concerned about sending the wrong message in the aftermath of a shooting, then be careful what you adorn your firearm with. No Punisher handgrips or “Kill em all let God sort em out!” laser etched on the frame. If you are LEO or military, just make sure your weapon specs are within your department or organizational policy. It won’t make a difference criminally during a shooting investigation, but you can be in violation of policy and the department can choose not to represent you in any subsequent litigation. You can also be terminated for policy violation, even if you are exonerated in your shooting.

    I prefer a 3.5lb trigger in a Glock. It actually weighs in a little heavier if you put It on a trigger gauge, around 4-4.5lbs. It is lighter than a standard trigger, but not so light that it is considered out of the “normal” trigger range. I have found that a short trigger reset has more benefit in combat and speed drills than a lighter trigger, to be honest. I can shoot as accurately with a stock trigger, but under induced stress, I am less likely to mash the trigger, meaning more effective hits. If you are modifying your weapon, be prepared to explain why, not just because your buddy did it or you thought it would be cool. If you can give a valid explanation as to why it enhances your performance in a deadly force encounter, then roll with it. “So let me get this straight, your 3.5lb trigger enables YOU to shoot more accurately under stress and reduce the likelihood of errant rounds off target?” Hmmm, I could see where a jury member would want you to carry a weapon that makes you more likely to miss your intended target and hit grandma crossing the street downrange. NYPD did their officers a huge disservice with 12lb triggers.

    Know your limitations with your abilities and your equipment, train to improve deficiencies, and make good decisions. Remember, bad guys don’t worry about their trigger pulls. Do what you need to do to make sure you go home to your family each night.

  14. Ben Branam October 13, 2013 at 11:10 pm #

    There are some big. Ames that suggest not modifying your carry gun’s trigger weight like Massad Ayoob.

  15. David Baker September 7, 2014 at 2:11 pm #

    I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments and insights on this subject. I’ve been debating on getting a ZEV Tech Fulcrum Fully Adjustable or Duty Trigger for my EDC. I really like the idea of a lighter trigger pull and being able to adjust the take up and reset but ultimately I feel it is more responsible of me to go with the duty trigger. Thanks again everyone.

    • David Baker September 7, 2014 at 2:46 pm #

      I guess what really drove the point home for me was the analogy of having a revolver in the cocked position in your holster.

  16. KAOSTheory March 4, 2015 at 6:23 am #

    Good BS call. There appears to be no criminal or tort precedent where the defendant loses because of a usability enhancement.

    I’ve read some very strident religious claims that a trigger pull weight below four pounds is not appropriate for carry for safety reasons: because you might snag the trigger on a holster strap or clothing. Anything is possible, but if you could put a strain gauge on your reholstering technique, you’re likely to find the difference between 2 or 3 pounds and 4 or 5 is going to make no difference: you’ll either detect the snag, or the weapon will discharge, regardless of the pull weight.

    But admittedly, that’s speculation on my part, based on a carrying a 1911 with a <2lb trigger pull for 40 years–and particularly in the early days, rather sloppily and with lots of gear entanglements.