Lloyd
Well-known member
I have been quite skeptical about gun fit. To my mind, close enough would be good enough, there being more to gain through experience and developing good technique. I think much of that still holds true, but I have to admit I was wrong to be skeptical.
Being quite a short chap, it was obvious for the outset a 14 ¾” LoP was too long. A bit of tinkering about and I was soon shooting 14 ¼” by removing the butt pad and taping a thin rubber strip to the butt in lieu of the butt pad.
From my youth, shooting rifles, I already knew I’d have comb height issues, but I just worked around it; having tried comb raisers and not getting on with them at all.
After one coaching session, it had been suggested that I need to turn my nose into the stock to center my eye over the rib. It helped, but felt a touch awkward.
After a while, I decided to modify the stock. The comb was raised ¼”, the stock shortened ½” (original pad refitted) and an extra 1/8” of cast on at face and heel added. The grip was also altered as I had a little discomfort in my thumb and the palm swell made larger.
After observing Ed Solomons commented that he felt the stock still need another ¼” off the LoP, and another 1/8” cast on, with the comb about right.
I’d started to notice a bit of recoil/muzzle flip, confirmed in a slo-mo video and thought about increasing the pitch a little.
I decided to have a gun fitting. The results we’re uncanny. Ed’s guess was spot on and my ideas about pitch confirmed. But so what? I’m skeptical right? This is just going to be so marginal and just a comfort thing. It’s not like such small changes can made a difference to hitting clays is it? After all, I can hit clays with a gun with a standard stock. Even a right handed gun!
Well, this is where the skepticism was dispelled. Ok, some easy targets, probably no more than 30 yards maximum. Teal, going away, incomer and a moderate crosser. All hittable. All missable. Well, for me anyway. That was up until the gun fit. I couldn’t miss! I mean for me these targets can be missed for sure. During those moments when I’m not really trying, not concentrating, not respecting the target. I often miss with that mindset. Gun up or gun down or just out of the shoulder, these I would typically miss one in three or four until I start putting my mind to it.
After the gun fit, clays broke without effort. Where I looked, the gun went and the clays broke. That simple. I was astonished! With a bit of effort, nothing seemed able to escape the wrath of the lead. And all so comfortable too. Gun mount was effortless. No forethought or checking required. No recoil or muzzle flip.
I’m converted. Of course I now have an(other) enormous plate of humble pie to eat. Can someone please pass the salt?
Being quite a short chap, it was obvious for the outset a 14 ¾” LoP was too long. A bit of tinkering about and I was soon shooting 14 ¼” by removing the butt pad and taping a thin rubber strip to the butt in lieu of the butt pad.
From my youth, shooting rifles, I already knew I’d have comb height issues, but I just worked around it; having tried comb raisers and not getting on with them at all.
After one coaching session, it had been suggested that I need to turn my nose into the stock to center my eye over the rib. It helped, but felt a touch awkward.
After a while, I decided to modify the stock. The comb was raised ¼”, the stock shortened ½” (original pad refitted) and an extra 1/8” of cast on at face and heel added. The grip was also altered as I had a little discomfort in my thumb and the palm swell made larger.
After observing Ed Solomons commented that he felt the stock still need another ¼” off the LoP, and another 1/8” cast on, with the comb about right.
I’d started to notice a bit of recoil/muzzle flip, confirmed in a slo-mo video and thought about increasing the pitch a little.
I decided to have a gun fitting. The results we’re uncanny. Ed’s guess was spot on and my ideas about pitch confirmed. But so what? I’m skeptical right? This is just going to be so marginal and just a comfort thing. It’s not like such small changes can made a difference to hitting clays is it? After all, I can hit clays with a gun with a standard stock. Even a right handed gun!
Well, this is where the skepticism was dispelled. Ok, some easy targets, probably no more than 30 yards maximum. Teal, going away, incomer and a moderate crosser. All hittable. All missable. Well, for me anyway. That was up until the gun fit. I couldn’t miss! I mean for me these targets can be missed for sure. During those moments when I’m not really trying, not concentrating, not respecting the target. I often miss with that mindset. Gun up or gun down or just out of the shoulder, these I would typically miss one in three or four until I start putting my mind to it.
After the gun fit, clays broke without effort. Where I looked, the gun went and the clays broke. That simple. I was astonished! With a bit of effort, nothing seemed able to escape the wrath of the lead. And all so comfortable too. Gun mount was effortless. No forethought or checking required. No recoil or muzzle flip.
I’m converted. Of course I now have an(other) enormous plate of humble pie to eat. Can someone please pass the salt?
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, but it's set up how i like it. could i buy new one off the shelf like it .... nope 
