Making a shotgun fit

Shmackey · October 29, 2002, 08:34 PM

How exactly does one get an "off-the-rack" shotgun to fit their wingspan?

HSMITH · October 29, 2002, 10:02 PM

Man, you have asked a tough question.

My response is that unless you are an accomplished shooter you need help finding out what fits and what does not. The old thing where you hold the gun in your firing hand and if the butt just touches your forearm and such are nonsense. Nearly all of the range "tips" are equally useless. If you don't KNOW what you need get some help from a pro. Most all gunshop help is useless as well. Go to a trained shooting instructor that fits shotguns.

I know my response is not a lot of help, but it is the most sound advise I can give. You can do it one of two ways, shoot a nice truck worth of shells to find out on your own or spend a range session in cash to know now.

Dave McC · October 30, 2002, 06:14 AM

H is mostly right, but....

Grab some masking tape, cardboard, a tape measure and head for the patterning board. Stand back about 15 yards and shoot with your load of choice and the tightest choke tube you have, if applicable. When shooting, mount the gun and fire, do not try to aim at whatever mark you're using for reference.

If the stock is long enough you're not bumping your nose with your thumb at launch and short enough you can mount it w/o difficulty, let's leave length alone for now.

Work on elevation first, adding tape and cardboard to the comb until the pattern's as high as you want it to be.

Then check windage. This is where the can of worms opens with a soft and sibilant hiss...

If you're hitting to the right of your mark, add a layer or six of tape and see how that affects impact. If to the left, one has to shave a little wood off the inside of the comb, or shim the area between receiver and stock on a repeater.

Adjust the pitch for comfort by using shims between the pad and stock at toe or heel.

Once you're satisfied here, go shoot a few clays and note how they break. Example, if the big piece goes down time after time, you're hitting high. Take off a little tape and try again until you're in the middle of all targets. Then measure all the things like length, drop at nose, face and heel, pitch, caston or off(whether the stock is directly in line with the barrels or slightly offset to put the master eye in the right place) and write the measurements down TWICE. Post one set on the wall of your gun safe,etc, and put the other in the stock behind the pad.

Now, make the stock fit those measurements w/o tape by having a custom stock built, shimming the stock on a repeater, or using those neoprene thingies from Kick Eez to make it work.

Thanks to the Technoid (Bruse Buck over on Shotgun Report)for this method....

October 29, 2002, 08:34 PM	#1
Shmackey Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,117	Making a shotgun fit How exactly does one get an "off-the-rack" shotgun to fit their wingspan? __________________ "Kid, watch out for the 'conservative' who decries big government and then tells you what you can put in your body, when you should pray, and where you can put your johnson. And kid, follow the money."

October 29, 2002, 10:02 PM	#2
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Man, you have asked a tough question. My response is that unless you are an accomplished shooter you need help finding out what fits and what does not. The old thing where you hold the gun in your firing hand and if the butt just touches your forearm and such are nonsense. Nearly all of the range "tips" are equally useless. If you don't KNOW what you need get some help from a pro. Most all gunshop help is useless as well. Go to a trained shooting instructor that fits shotguns. I know my response is not a lot of help, but it is the most sound advise I can give. You can do it one of two ways, shoot a nice truck worth of shells to find out on your own or spend a range session in cash to know now.

October 30, 2002, 06:14 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	H is mostly right, but.... Grab some masking tape, cardboard, a tape measure and head for the patterning board. Stand back about 15 yards and shoot with your load of choice and the tightest choke tube you have, if applicable. When shooting, mount the gun and fire, do not try to aim at whatever mark you're using for reference. If the stock is long enough you're not bumping your nose with your thumb at launch and short enough you can mount it w/o difficulty, let's leave length alone for now. Work on elevation first, adding tape and cardboard to the comb until the pattern's as high as you want it to be. Then check windage. This is where the can of worms opens with a soft and sibilant hiss... If you're hitting to the right of your mark, add a layer or six of tape and see how that affects impact. If to the left, one has to shave a little wood off the inside of the comb, or shim the area between receiver and stock on a repeater. Adjust the pitch for comfort by using shims between the pad and stock at toe or heel. Once you're satisfied here, go shoot a few clays and note how they break. Example, if the big piece goes down time after time, you're hitting high. Take off a little tape and try again until you're in the middle of all targets. Then measure all the things like length, drop at nose, face and heel, pitch, caston or off(whether the stock is directly in line with the barrels or slightly offset to put the master eye in the right place) and write the measurements down TWICE. Post one set on the wall of your gun safe,etc, and put the other in the stock behind the pad. Now, make the stock fit those measurements w/o tape by having a custom stock built, shimming the stock on a repeater, or using those neoprene thingies from Kick Eez to make it work. Thanks to the Technoid (Bruse Buck over on Shotgun Report)for this method....