Designing the trigger shoe involves selecting the proper material and making sure the overall shape of the trigger shoe works. It is important to select material that will fit your trigger. It is recommended to use a piece of PVC pipe or a coupler. There are different colors (usually gray or white) to choose from if you aren't going to paint your shoe. Due to the varying shape of triggers you will have to measure to make sure the inside diameter (ID) and outside diameter (OD) will be correct. The ID of the pipe needs to be smaller than the curve of the finger rest on the trigger and the OD needs to be larger. Leave enough material inside and out to make the part strong. You also need to make sure the OD will not interfere with the operation of the trigger by hitting the frame or trigger guard. Make the shoe wide enough to be comfortable but not so wide that the shoe is outside the protection of the trigger guard.

You need to drill a hole for the set screws if you choose to use them. This hole needs to be far enough away from the edges to give the threads enough material to grab in. It is recommended that you put the hole as far to the outside of the pipe as possible. Make sure the material is cut square before placing the material in the drill press. Sand or file the material square before drilling. Once the hole is drilled thread it for the set screws that you selected. If you are going to glue the shoe on you can skip this step.

Cutting the groove in the outside of the shoe is the most important fit up step of the process. Pay close attention to the shape of the trigger. Some triggers have varying thicknesses and some have odd shapes. The groove must fit the trigger snug in order for proper mounting. Go slow when shaping the grove. It is easier to remove material than to correct a loose fit. Be sure to get the groove centered in the material.

Shaping the trigger shoe is where your personal taste comes in. The trigger shoe is where you will interact with the mechanism of the trigger. A shallow curve is usually added to the face of the shoe and all sharp edges should be removed. Again, take your time. You may want to shape a little and then install the shoe on your airgun to test it. Shape a little more to fix any problems and then test it again. Continue this until you get the feel that works for you.

The fit and finish is where you get to choose the looks of your shoe. You can leave it fine sanded, you can paint it, or you can polish it. Once the shoe is finished the way you desire it is time for final mounting. You may need to clean up the threaded hole before inserting the set screw. It is recommended that you use thread locker with set screws. If you decided to glue your shoe on now is the point of no return. If you are unsure if the shoe is the way you like, use a glue that can be removed.