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Makes My Trigger Finger Sore

9K views 35 replies 18 participants last post by  Jaysq 
#1 ·
My new M&P Pro 9mm is one terrific gun ... 300+ rounds and it has shot and ejected every one perfectly. Various kinds and brands of ammo, from FMJ to cheap wadCutters ... all work perfect.



However ... it sure makes my Trigger Finger sore ... I think the way the tip of the trigger is "hooked" is partly at fault, and that, coupled with the way the finger rubs against the bottom of the Trigger Guard, combine to make my finger sore.



Any of you experience that ?

Anyone have modifications made to ease the problem?

I think a Gunsmith should be able to smooth off that little "curved tip" and mabe smooth out the inside bottom of the Trigger Guard .... does not seem like it would be a big job.





Thanks
 
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#4 ·
I have dealt with several M&P's including 1 Pro and they all have a single radius to the lower trigger half which appears to equal the radius of the upper portion.



Are you by chance pressing back on the tip of the trigger rather than placing your finger in the curve?



The lower half pivots a small amount to release the safety feature built in. once the safety function is complete upper and lower should yield one continuous radius.



Do you view the bottom half as hooking upward when not activated?
 
#5 ·
I have dealt with several M&P's including 1 Pro and they all have a single radius to the lower trigger half which appears to equal the radius of the upper portion.



Are you by chance pressing back on the tip of the trigger rather than placing your finger in the curve?



The lower half pivots a small amount to release the safety feature built in. once the safety function is complete upper and lower should yield one continuous radius.



Do you view the bottom half as hooking upward when not activated?




I agree with your comments and try to do as you suggest, as best I can they way my hand fits in the Trigger Guard.

And YES, it is pointed (or hooked) upwards when at rest.

In thinking about what you said it dawned on me ... maybe I should try one of the other Palm Swells to see if the Med. or Small place my finger on the trigger differently.



On another note ... I wonder if anyone is having success reach Dan Burwell ... I also need one of his Trigger Treatments as mine is gritty and pretty unpleasant in an otherwise great gun
 
#6 ·
Your finger should fit in the curve of the combined (Upper/Lower) trigger. It certainly should not drag on the trigger guard unless you have much larger fingers than most.



The small grip insert will place your finger farther forward but do not attempt to press the trigger by the tip of the bottom portion.



Good luck
 
#7 ·
Your finger should fit in the curve of the combined (Upper/Lower) trigger. It certainly should not drag on the trigger guard unless you have much larger fingers than most.



The small grip insert will place your finger farther forward but do not attempt to press the trigger by the tip of the bottom portion.



Good luck




I just tried all 3 Palm Swells and the Medium may place the trigger finger in the most comfortable position, at least it facilitated getting the tip of the trigger finger onto the trigger ... I've been using the Large.



The only way one can avoid the uncomfortable upward swell on the tip of the trigger is by placing "just the tip of your finger" in the very center of the trigger ... middle of the tip of your finger (lengthwise) must be on the jointed part of the trigger to avoid the upward tip.



Even if you just hold the gun in one hand and observe the tip of the trigger by viewing from the side , or feel it while being held that way for observation, you can see and feel the hard upward tip.

I cannot imagine anyone designing a trigger this uncomfortable.



And by the way, I am avergae sized and have strictly average size hands so that is not the problem, and, I have several other guns, (S&W's 1911's and revolvers) )am an experienced shooter, and have never felt anything like this.



One cannot be expected , I don't think, to shoot with just the very tip of their trigger finger, extra carefully placed to avoid the pain.... especially not in IDPA type shooting.



And, the Trigger Guard appears to have a seam on the inside bottom so if your finger is through the trigger, it rubs on the seam, irritating.

Ugh.
 
#8 ·
I just tried all 3 Palm Swells and the Medium may place the trigger finger in the most comfortable position, at least it facilitated getting the tip of the trigger finger onto the trigger ... I've been using the Large.



The only way one can avoid the uncomfortable upward swell on the tip of the trigger is by placing "just the tip of your finger" in the very center of the trigger ... middle of the tip of your finger (lengthwise) must be on the jointed part of the trigger to avoid the upward tip.



Even if you just hold the gun in one hand and observe the tip of the trigger by viewing from the side , or feel it while being held that way for observation, you can see and feel the hard upward tip.

I cannot imagine anyone designing a trigger this uncomfortable.



And by the way, I am avergae sized and have strictly average size hands so that is not the problem, and, I have several other guns, (S&W's 1911's and revolvers) )am an experienced shooter, and have never felt anything like this.



One cannot be expected , I don't think, to shoot with just the very tip of their trigger finger, extra carefully placed to avoid the pain.... especially not in IDPA type shooting.



And, the Trigger Guard appears to have a seam on the inside bottom so if your finger is through the trigger, it rubs on the seam, irritating.

Ugh.






The hook on the end of my trigger is like a mini-Rhinoceros horn .... that is the best analogy I can think of.

Ugly and incredibly uncomfortable.
 
#9 ·
The hook on the end of my trigger is like a mini-Rhinoceros horn .... that is the best analogy I can think of.

Ugly and incredibly uncomfortable.


I am not doubting you but have not seen any as you describe.



Can you post a picture so we can talk about the same animal?
 
#10 ·
Maybe you need to send alot more lead down range more often and build up a caluse on the trigger finger so it won't hurt anymore - hope you get it figured out soon
 
#11 ·
Maybe you need to send alot more lead down range more often and build up a caluse on the trigger finger so it won't hurt anymore - hope you get it figured out soon




My gun is being shipped to Burwell for a Trigger Job and a request to grind that knob off the tip of the trigger, and, to see if he can smooth out the seam on the inside bottom of the trigger guard underneath the trigger, which is also very irritating to the skin.

I won't post any more on this topic until it returns from Burwells and I can then offer some observations.

Probably sound like a "cry baby" whining about this but unless you experienced it for yourself you would not know how uncomfortable it is .

.... I have owned a lot of handguns and shot even more and have never had anything as uncomfortable as this. Like trying to hike with a pebble in your boot.... hurts immediately and with every passing step it gets worse, eventually becoming unbearable.
 
#12 ·
The bottom of the TG on my 9c was a little rough on the side of my middle finger so I smoothed it over with #600 sandpaper. Worked like a charm and looks exactly the same.
 
#13 ·
The bottom of the TG on my 9c was a little rough on the side of my middle finger so I smoothed it over with #600 sandpaper. Worked like a charm and looks exactly the same.




Mine is "Off To Burwells" today for afull treatment on the Trigger, including that bump on the tip of the trigger.



In packaging it for Dan I tried gripping it sevveral different way and what I found was , DUH, it was the Trigger Guard that was causing a lot of the problem, maybe even most of the problem.

When my finger goes through, with the 1st joint on the Trigger, the rest sticks out through the Guard and rubs on the sharp edge of the trigger guard. That needs to be rounded off and I think a lot of the problem will be eliminated. The M&P has a very wide trigger guard in comparison to my 1911's etc and the edge is sharp and abarasive to the skin on the bottom of the trigger finger. Should be simple for dan to round that off, or bevel it.
 
#14 ·
When my finger goes through, with the 1st joint on the Trigger, the rest sticks out through the Guard and rubs on the sharp edge of the trigger guard.


For what it is worth, I'd say you are using way too much finger on the trigger. Every instructor I have delt with has said to use the pad of the finger not the joint to actuate the trigger. Do you have really large or long hands where this would be difficult?
 
#15 ·
Mine is "Off To Burwells" today for afull treatment on the Trigger, including that bump on the tip of the trigger.



In packaging it for Dan I tried gripping it sevveral different way and what I found was , DUH, it was the Trigger Guard that was causing a lot of the problem, maybe even most of the problem.

When my finger goes through, with the 1st joint on the Trigger, the rest sticks out through the Guard and rubs on the sharp edge of the trigger guard. That needs to be rounded off and I think a lot of the problem will be eliminated. The M&P has a very wide trigger guard in comparison to my 1911's etc and the edge is sharp and abarasive to the skin on the bottom of the trigger finger. Should be simple for dan to round that off, or bevel it.


I'll bet you will be quite pleased with the results. From all indications, he's a top-shelf smith.
 
#16 ·
For what it is worth, I'd say you are using way too much finger on the trigger. Every instructor I have delt with has said to use the pad of the finger not the joint to actuate the trigger. Do you have really large or long hands where this would be difficult?




No, I have strictly average sized hands, maybe even a shade on the smaller size for a guy 6'2".



I respectfully disagree to some extent with the concept of using just the pad of the finger, if, by that "pad" means the skin from the 1st joint to the tip, but more the middle of that section.



Maybe that would be the preferred style or practice for Target Shooting, or slow fire, timed fire etc, but not for IDPA or more rapid, active shooting ?



When grasping the gun in a quick situation, it seems to me the intent is to get a good solid grip, which included putting the trigger finger all the way through the trigger guard and not holding the finger back so just the tip pad is on the trigger.



Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the matter but I sure as heck am no expert and am entirely willing and anxious to learn from you all ... and, I will try your suggestions on the range.

Thanks .... keep em coming.
 
#18 ·
Here's a vid that should help a bit, Todd Jarret discussing proper pistol grip. He briefly touches on trigger finger at 45 seconds in and further discusses it at 2:45.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48



Speed does not do away with proper technique, in fact, it will be aided by proper technique.






Thanks ... that was a very good instructional video and I will definitely work on that in the next day or two, before the IDPA Match on Sunday.

If I used just the pad like he was instructing, my "sore trigger finger" problems would be resolved.

thanks again,

Ken
 
#21 ·
Are you still out there Ctkenc? Here it is five years later. I found your thread because I am having the same trigger experience and I'm wondering if you ever found a solution to the excessive curve on the M&P trigger. I bought three M&P's in the last six months because I like these guns enough to endure the discomfort that the shape of the trigger causes. The end of the trigger pokes into the bottom edge of my trigger finger enough to draw my focus away from the other things I should be paying attention to while firing my weapon.

I'm reluctant to entertain advice about "proper grip" because I've never come across anything this pronounced in any other gun I've fired, not even my older Smith's.

I'm considering modifying the trigger's tip with a jeweler's file.
 
#23 ·
Thanks Coco. I'll have to take a closer look at the Apex. The thing is I like the stock M&P trigger. For SD/HD I like the weight and travel that will minimize the chances of an unintentional discharge during a panic situation. I like everything about the M&P trigger except for the shape of it's lower half.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Several years ago I was having a similar problem with the trigger guard rubbing my finger. :cry: I mentioned it to my instructor who suggested that I coat my finger with New Skin liquid bandage before shooting. Very simple solution that really worked. :clap:
 
#25 ·
I believe your hand is too large for the grip surface. Try a larger palm swell or get a Hogue rubber grip to go over the standard grip surface. I have to say that I have 7 M&P handguns and they all have Hogue grips on them because the standard grip is just too small. But with the Hogue grip installed, I want to throw rocks at the Glock. I love the M&P frame and its feel in my hand with a Hogue grip. Try it you will like it.... M&P FOREVER!.....
 
#26 ·
I have the same issue with my Full size M&P 9MM. tip of the trigger hurts the bottom of my finger pad in the exact same way. Not overly painful, but is a distraction. Have a Shield and it does not. Have other firearms and none do this. Would like to modify the trigger if possible before ordering an Apex. Have the Apex Duty/Carry mod. now. Any help from somebody that has overcome this issue would be great!! (First post here - was searching the interweb for solution.)
 
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