shotgun stock shims

marine6680 · June 1, 2014, 01:14 PM

Well we finally got the fiance her shotgun... Franchi Affinity in 12ga.

Now a question about the shims.

I thought shims were to adjust the drop and cast of the stock to better fit the shooter and thier body shape and how they hold the gun.

Then I read a few posts and people mention changing point of aim/point of impact relationship.

I was thinking of experimenting with shims to adjust the stock to her, but if it alters POI then I am less inclined to try it.

She liked how the gun felt... but there is always the possibility to make it better for her.

So what is the deal with the shims and should I bother with them?

Virginian · June 1, 2014, 02:46 PM

Shims can alter POI. That's what they are for. Have her shoot it and see where she shoots and go from there.
What did she do that made you want to get her an Affinity?

What do yall shoot?

BigJimP · June 1, 2014, 03:39 PM

A gun that "Fits" ...means it hits where you look ....and the point of impact needs to be where you are looking.

On a shotgun your eye is the rear sight...so get her to work on her gunmount a little at home...then take her to the pattern board, shoot at a 3" dot at 21 yds or so with a full choke ( I'd shoot 3 shells ? to verify her mount, etc )...and dial in the point of impact with the shims based on what you're finding the point of impact is vs the 3" dot.../ ideally, she'll cover the 3" dot with all 3 shots.

marine6680 · June 1, 2014, 04:44 PM

That is the one she wanted... That or a benelli.

In the end she decided that she didn't need fancy wood and scroll work on the receiver for informal clay shooting.

SCDeac82 · June 2, 2014, 07:16 AM

V-LA:

What's wrong with her choice of the Affinity? Just curious to hear your POV.

JB

Virginian · June 3, 2014, 05:59 AM

12 gauge Affinity is far from the softest recoiling gun around. They appear to work well without the Benelli sticker shock. I do not like inertia actioned guns for anything - that's just me - but you do not see any serious competitors using them in clay target competition.

marine6680 · June 3, 2014, 06:46 AM

She handles the recoil of my pump 12 well enough. Any reduction in recoil is only a bonus. She tried a Benelli in 12 and liked how it shot, so I know she won't have issues with this one.

Being informal shooting, she didn't feel like spending big bucks on a purpose built clay gun.

cdbeagle · June 5, 2014, 01:51 AM

I own two Affinity's(12 and 20 gauge) and seven gas auto's that cost more than the Franchi's. Of the nine shotguns I own I'm the most accurate with my 12 gauge Affinity so that is what I use for informal clays. I am definitely recoil sensitive and the Affinity is fine for me with target loads. I had to shim mine to give cast off and was good to go.

marine6680 · June 6, 2014, 01:58 PM

We go tomorrow to pattern the gun and I will report back how it is shooting.

marine6680 · June 7, 2014, 01:12 PM

It patterns high and to the left.

How should I shim to bring it where it needs be?

BigJimP · June 7, 2014, 05:54 PM

The manual should tell you ....which shims to insert, ivert or remove or....whatever...

marine6680 · June 7, 2014, 08:48 PM

Its...

Less than clear.

This was the first time that I was actually confused by how to use a firearm because I read the manual.

I had to just tinker with it to figure out the quirks of the system. That took just a few minutes... mostly due to the confusion the manual caused.

It is the first semiauto shotgun, and it seems to act different than the few others I have handled.

marine6680 · June 8, 2014, 11:19 PM

No general guidelines?

Virginian · June 9, 2014, 05:22 AM

You need to move the butt of the shotgun, relative to the receiver, in the direction you want the pattern to move to. For high left you want to go down right. A little goes a long way.

marine6680 · June 9, 2014, 10:57 AM

Thanks

BigJimP · June 9, 2014, 11:07 AM

From the Benelli manual for my Super Sport models....

http://www.benelliusa.com/sites/defa...affaello_2.pdf

This will give you some idea on how Benelli says to make the adjustments for drop at comb and cast. The adjustments start on page 120 ( they print the darn manual in 8 languages ...so look for the English flag in the heading...and read those sections )....usually on every other page or so.

The shim kits in the Franchi may be totally different....not sure.
----------
If you didn't get one with the gun....page 31 in the Franchi manual online discusses how to make the changes for drop and cast as well....so you should have all the guidelines you need right there....

marine6680 · June 9, 2014, 07:23 PM

I think I have it figured out.

June 1, 2014, 01:14 PM	#1
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	shotgun stock shims Well we finally got the fiance her shotgun... Franchi Affinity in 12ga. Now a question about the shims. I thought shims were to adjust the drop and cast of the stock to better fit the shooter and thier body shape and how they hold the gun. Then I read a few posts and people mention changing point of aim/point of impact relationship. I was thinking of experimenting with shims to adjust the stock to her, but if it alters POI then I am less inclined to try it. She liked how the gun felt... but there is always the possibility to make it better for her. So what is the deal with the shims and should I bother with them?

June 1, 2014, 02:46 PM	#2
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	Shims can alter POI. That's what they are for. Have her shoot it and see where she shoots and go from there. What did she do that made you want to get her an Affinity? What do yall shoot? __________________ What could have happened... did. Last edited by Virginian; June 3, 2014 at 05:59 AM.

June 2, 2014, 07:16 AM	#5
SCDeac82 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2010 Location: Southeast-USA Posts: 222	V-LA: What's wrong with her choice of the Affinity? Just curious to hear your POV. JB __________________ "No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- Thomas Jefferson

June 3, 2014, 05:59 AM	#6
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	12 gauge Affinity is far from the softest recoiling gun around. They appear to work well without the Benelli sticker shock. I do not like inertia actioned guns for anything - that's just me - but you do not see any serious competitors using them in clay target competition. __________________ What could have happened... did.

June 5, 2014, 01:51 AM	#8
cdbeagle Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2012 Location: Justin Texas Posts: 313	I own two Affinity's(12 and 20 gauge) and seven gas auto's that cost more than the Franchi's. Of the nine shotguns I own I'm the most accurate with my 12 gauge Affinity so that is what I use for informal clays. I am definitely recoil sensitive and the Affinity is fine for me with target loads. I had to shim mine to give cast off and was good to go. __________________ Assistant Secretary - U.S. Dry Bean Council

June 1, 2014, 03:39 PM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	A gun that "Fits" ...means it hits where you look ....and the point of impact needs to be where you are looking. On a shotgun your eye is the rear sight...so get her to work on her gunmount a little at home...then take her to the pattern board, shoot at a 3" dot at 21 yds or so with a full choke ( I'd shoot 3 shells ? to verify her mount, etc )...and dial in the point of impact with the shims based on what you're finding the point of impact is vs the 3" dot.../ ideally, she'll cover the 3" dot with all 3 shots.

June 1, 2014, 04:44 PM	#4
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	That is the one she wanted... That or a benelli. In the end she decided that she didn't need fancy wood and scroll work on the receiver for informal clay shooting.

June 3, 2014, 06:46 AM	#7
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	She handles the recoil of my pump 12 well enough. Any reduction in recoil is only a bonus. She tried a Benelli in 12 and liked how it shot, so I know she won't have issues with this one. Being informal shooting, she didn't feel like spending big bucks on a purpose built clay gun.

June 6, 2014, 01:58 PM	#9
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	We go tomorrow to pattern the gun and I will report back how it is shooting.

June 7, 2014, 01:12 PM	#10
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	It patterns high and to the left. How should I shim to bring it where it needs be?

June 7, 2014, 05:54 PM	#11
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The manual should tell you ....which shims to insert, ivert or remove or....whatever...

June 7, 2014, 08:48 PM	#12
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Its... Less than clear. This was the first time that I was actually confused by how to use a firearm because I read the manual. I had to just tinker with it to figure out the quirks of the system. That took just a few minutes... mostly due to the confusion the manual caused. It is the first semiauto shotgun, and it seems to act different than the few others I have handled.

June 8, 2014, 11:19 PM	#13
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	No general guidelines?

June 9, 2014, 05:22 AM	#14
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	You need to move the butt of the shotgun, relative to the receiver, in the direction you want the pattern to move to. For high left you want to go down right. A little goes a long way. __________________ What could have happened... did.

June 9, 2014, 10:57 AM	#15
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Thanks

June 9, 2014, 11:07 AM	#16
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	From the Benelli manual for my Super Sport models.... http://www.benelliusa.com/sites/defa...affaello_2.pdf This will give you some idea on how Benelli says to make the adjustments for drop at comb and cast. The adjustments start on page 120 ( they print the darn manual in 8 languages ...so look for the English flag in the heading...and read those sections )....usually on every other page or so. The shim kits in the Franchi may be totally different....not sure. ---------- If you didn't get one with the gun....page 31 in the Franchi manual online discusses how to make the changes for drop and cast as well....so you should have all the guidelines you need right there.... Last edited by BigJimP; June 9, 2014 at 11:15 AM.

June 9, 2014, 07:23 PM	#17
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	I think I have it figured out.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search