Fitting a o/u shotgun bought sight unseen

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lbj88

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I am currently in the market for a nice 20 gauge o/u shotgun and I have seen a couple come up on some different forums that were good deals but I wasn't near them so I couldn't go look at/try them. Should this be a deal breaker or is it usually simple to have these made to fit you after you buy them?
Also what would the price be to make these fit?
If it is any help I am looking at something in the line of Browning cynergy/citori, Winchester 101, or Beretta used price range.
 
If looking at used guns, the availability of adjustable stock guns is limited. Also what is it for. If not for trap or skeet shooting you don't see many guns out in the field with adjustable stocks, (that's if you are talking adjustable comb etc).
 
Mostly the gun will be used for pheasant hunting so lighter is better with the occasional round of sporting clays tossed in. As gunsaholic said finding the adjustable stock on a used gun is difficult so I am looking at what my options are with a straight stock.
 
I have to adjust every shotgun I own because I need a short LOP which means cutting the stock and fitting a recoil pad. On many the comb is too low for me so I add a cheek pad to make it fit. Its a PITA but I have no choice. A gunsmith can shorten the stock for you or add a spacer to lengthen the LOP for you. I have also seen adjustable butt plates that can be added to adjust the fit. See h ttp://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/stock-work-finishing/stock-accessories/adjustable-butt-plates/index.htm
 
Off the rack shotties don't fit me well either (at least not the ones I like), so I have used two solutions:
1. I bought a synethetic stocked Beretta with shims and a selection of LOP spacers and adjusted LOP, cast and drop to fit me.
2. I sent both of my wood-stocked Beretta OUs to a gunsmith in Quebec to have the stock steam-bent to fit me. He guided me through taking measurements at home (with help) and I sent him the first one without actually going to see him. It fit me perfectly by the time he was done with it. When I bought a second, more expensive, OU, I took advantage of a trip to Montreal for other reasons to actually go and visit him and have him re-measure me in person. The measurements that he had me take at home and the ones that he took in the store ended up being VERY close - nearly identical. He steam bent that one for me too and it also fits me perfectly, of course. He charges 150$ for steam-bending, including the measuring and all that of course, which I think is VERY reasonable. The cost of cutting the stock to adjust LOP was extra, and varies depending on the cost of the recoil pad that you want. In my case I wanted a fairly expensive recoil pad added so it and needed a shim as well so it was 210$, but that cost would likely depend on what you need done exactly (shorten? Lengthen? keep existing pad? etc...). Anyhow, I have been very happy with the work that he's done for me (I've had other stuff done as well - all great work). Alain Combes just north of Montreal http://www.armurier-quebec.com/indexgb.html Once you've had shooties that shoot where you look you'll never go back.
He speaks good English, by the way.
-Dave
 
dreamwaters said:
Off the rack shotties don't fit me well either (at least not the ones I like), so I have used two solutions:
1. I bought a synethetic stocked Beretta with shims and a selection of LOP spacers and adjusted LOP, cast and drop to fit me.
2. I sent both of my wood-stocked Beretta OUs to a gunsmith in Quebec to have the stock steam-bent to fit me. He guided me through taking measurements at home (with help) and I sent him the first one without actually going to see him. It fit me perfectly by the time he was done with it. When I bought a second, more expensive, OU, I took advantage of a trip to Montreal for other reasons to actually go and visit him and have him re-measure me in person. The measurements that he had me take at home and the ones that he took in the store ended up being VERY close - nearly identical. He steam bent that one for me too and it also fits me perfectly, of course. He charges 150$ for steam-bending, including the measuring and all that of course, which I think is VERY reasonable. The cost of cutting the stock to adjust LOP was extra, and varies depending on the cost of the recoil pad that you want. In my case I wanted a fairly expensive recoil pad added so it and needed a shim as well so it was 210$, but that cost would likely depend on what you need done exactly (shorten? Lengthen? keep existing pad? etc...). Anyhow, I have been very happy with the work that he's done for me (I've had other stuff done as well - all great work). Alain Combes just north of Montreal http://www.armurier-quebec.com/indexgb.html Once you've had shooties that shoot where you look you'll never go back.
He speaks good English, by the way.
-Dave
Click to expand...

I thought "shotties" was, how shall I say it - effeminate enough. But "shooties"!?! Just shoot me now!!! d:h:
 
dreamwaters said:
Off the rack shotties don't fit me well either (at least not the ones I like), so I have used two solutions:
1. I bought a synethetic stocked Beretta with shims and a selection of LOP spacers and adjusted LOP, cast and drop to fit me.
2. I sent both of my wood-stocked Beretta OUs to a gunsmith in Quebec to have the stock steam-bent to fit me. He guided me through taking measurements at home (with help) and I sent him the first one without actually going to see him. It fit me perfectly by the time he was done with it. When I bought a second, more expensive, OU, I took advantage of a trip to Montreal for other reasons to actually go and visit him and have him re-measure me in person. The measurements that he had me take at home and the ones that he took in the store ended up being VERY close - nearly identical. He steam bent that one for me too and it also fits me perfectly, of course. He charges 150$ for steam-bending, including the measuring and all that of course, which I think is VERY reasonable. The cost of cutting the stock to adjust LOP was extra, and varies depending on the cost of the recoil pad that you want. In my case I wanted a fairly expensive recoil pad added so it and needed a shim as well so it was 210$, but that cost would likely depend on what you need done exactly (shorten? Lengthen? keep existing pad? etc...). Anyhow, I have been very happy with the work that he's done for me (I've had other stuff done as well - all great work). Alain Combes just north of Montreal http://www.armurier-quebec.com/indexgb.html Once you've had shooties that shoot where you look you'll never go back.
He speaks good English, by the way.
-Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I have not heard of the steam-bending before. is this a common practice with many gunsmiths or something that Alain specializes in? I am just wondering if I have to send my gun to Montreal or whether I can have it done closer to home (Calgary)?
 
It's not something that is widely available - especially since the rising popularity of synthetic stocks. It requires a relatively specialized (and probably expensive) piece of equipment that Alain uses to apply steam while also applying measured pressure in the right direction(s). He's the only one that I could find, altough I heard that there was and old German 'smith who does this as well, but he's also in Montreal. There are so many western Canadian members on here you might try posting a "anyone steam-bend stocks in Alberta" thread here on in the gunsmithing forum - if there is someone nearer to you I expect there will be a CGNer out there who knows about it.
-Dave
 
Just be careful when you get someone to bend a stock. I had a horrible experience with a 'smith who wrecked a very nice Merkel stock for me. The stock broke when he was bending it. The only explanation I got was " whoops"! It cost nearly $2000 to replace it.
 
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