If you shoot semi-autos and want to improve your skill I hope this will help you.

When talking about trigger control we always talk about pulling, pressing or squeezing the trigger. But that really is only half the picture for quick and accurate semi-auto shooting. Many shooters have not learned, and do not practice, the other half of trigger control. Understanding trigger reset, and practicing trigger control after the shot until the next round is fired, will greatly increase your accuracy and speed of follow-up shots.

For accuracy your finger needs to touch the trigger with the center of the pad between the last joint and the tip of your finger. The trigger then needs to be pressed strait to the rear without any pressure up, down or sideways with relation to the bore. Every time. If you carefully watch shooters beside you at the range their trigger finger is all over the place during rapid fire - and so are their rounds on target. The remedy is learning trigger reset and controlling it.

So let's talk trigger reset. A properly trained shooter's finger will maintain the proper contact with the trigger for the entire string of fire. And the trigger is only allowed to travel forward far enough to reset the trigger between rounds. When the shot is fired the trigger is not allowed to go forward while the gun loads the next round. The shooter keeps the trigger pressed until after the gun has cycled - and then consciously allows the trigger to come forward until the trigger resets (you will hear and feel it click into place) - and no farther. So in training the sequence is bang, conscious trigger reset, bang, conscious trigger reset, bang etc..

Most modern semi-autos have internal safties that are disengaged while pulling the trigger. If you are letting your trigger go forward all the way between rounds you are likely changing position of your finger on the trigger and disengaging and reengaging those internal safties, Both cost time and accuracy. Understanding where the initial take-up of the safties end and where the true trigger travel starts will help you immensley.

Dry fire practice will help you get a feel for trigger reset. Unload your gun with no ammunition in the room. Verify there is no round in the chamber. Press the trigger and hold it to the rear. Rack the slide (or better have a helper do it while you maintain a two handed grip) while keeping the trigger to the rear. Now with the sights on target (watch the sight picture) consciously let the trigger travel forward (directley aligned with the bore - no up down sideways) only until you hear and feel the trigger reset. Repeat.

At the next few sessions at the range consciously practice trigger reset for every single round fired. When you do this enough to develop muscle memory of proper trigger control while maintaining sight alignment you will be pleased with your increased speed and accuracy.

Another trigger reset tip:
Try several ballpoint pens until you find one with a good trigger. LOL. Hold it in your hand horizontal to the floor with the top touching your trigger finger at the sweet spot. Practice your trigger reset to help make the connection in your brain.

With enough practice complete trigger control will become second nature, and those follow-up shots on targets or on second , third etc.. coyotes and hogs will be much more productive.

You are absolutely spot on.
Although this has only a slight relevance to your entire post I thought I’d relate it.
I reload extensively and a close friend asked if I would work up some loads for his 300 Win. Mag. I said I would so I took the rifle home and worked up a load with a .350” group at 100yds.
He then came down to test fire it.
He was getting about a 5” group at 100 yds. I watched as he shot and he was not flinching.
After maybe 20 shots I watched his trigger pull thinking he was jerking the trigger.
I said Whoa!!
He had his trigger finger wrapped around the trigger to the point that the trigger was centered in the SECOND joint in from the end of the trigger. I’ve never saw anyone shoot like that!!!!
He said he always shot that way!!!!
I explained how to just use the first pad on his trigger finger.
First 5 shots printed a group slightly smaller than my group.
He was stunned and elated.
I was stunned as well as I never thought that the way he held his finger on the trigger could make that much difference.

Good post,

work your breathing into it also , you go to the bottom of the breath

reset trigger as you suck air , exhale repeat

there is a drill we used to run where from the prone you find your NPOA then the instructor covers your sights with paper and stands right over you ready to call cease fire should anything run on the range

you fire 5 rounds having only aimed once then been told ready as they cover your sights without touching your gun.

your target tells you what you are or are not doing

you can do the same thing closing both eyes with a partner to be your safety watch.

I have been doing Mantis x dry fire training and am glad you posted this.