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Trigger pull weight vs grip size vs grip

strength: pistol shooting performance

There has long been a fear among that are too heavy force us to activate • “At 20m my grouping had a
UK police forces of reducing trigger additional muscles in the hand. The tendency to drift left; with the
weight in self-loading pistols, a fear research suggests that if isolation of the performance trigger fitted my
that stems from the unfounded view index finger becomes difficult, causing grouping is definitely more central.”
that a lighter trigger will cause an the hand to use additional muscles to • “From my years of experience of
increase in unintentional discharges. complete the task of pulling the trigger, pistol shooting and coaching I have
Unfortunately, this has led to many shooting performance deteriorates. not seen anything that has had
officers, particularly females, struggling
with qualification shoots. Many times
this has been put down to grip size
rather than grip strength.
A 2021 study of the Canadian Police
Pistol Qualification (PPQ) explored
the effect of grip strength and officer
gender on shooting performance. The
study states that an individual’s grip The new Glock Performance Trigger
strength involves several factors such (GPT) has been developed to create
as height, weight, forearm girth, and a smoother, more consistent trigger
hand length and breadth. A strong grip pull. The trigger unit is a direct drop-
ensures sturdy and static shoulders, in replacement for all Gen 5 pistols
which allows officers to maintain and maintains all three of the Glock
a steady position while aiming and built-in safeties, with a repeatable pull
absorbing recoil. weight of 5.1lbs, above the college
Officers with larger hands and longer minimum. The GPT delivers the
fingers displayed greater grip strength trigger pull in a way which reduces
and an ability to maintain stability. grip strain and therefore improves
Those with a stronger grip were better shooting performance. This has been
able to pull a trigger in a smooth and proven by forces in the UK who have
more controlled manner which directly tested and approved the GPT for use:
impacted shooting performance. • “The feedback has been
Past research has found that female overwhelmingly positive. We have
officers tend to exhibit lower levels 65 AFOs and during the National
of shooting performance compared Qualification shoot we often have
to their male counterparts. This was a number of retakes, specifically
confirmed by the study which found a the 20m discipline. During the
higher female failure rate of the PPQ. latest qualification shoot, with such an impact on group sizes as
This difference has been attributed the performance trigger fitted, we the performance trigger.”
to females, on average, having less grip have not had a single retake or Glock pistols are solely distributed
strength than males, which suggests failure of the shoot. The standard in the UK by Viking Arms Ltd,
that if grip strength can be increased, of grouping has also significantly proudly supplying and supporting UK
shooting performance would improve. improved. This means there has police forces since 1965. For further
If it's not possible to improve grip been a reduction in the need for information on the Glock Gen 5
strength through training, it may be range time, instructor time and pistols and Performance Triggers,
necessary to examine other factors such ammunition costs which we would please contact Viking Arms as follows:
as adjusting the trigger pull weight. normally require to carry out • email: pmd@vikingarms.com
Trigger pull weight directly impacts development and re-shoots.” • tel: 01423 780810
shooting performance as triggers UK force NFI • web: www.pmd.vikingarms.com