Just received my first issue of "Shotgun Sports" an outstanding magazine. Anyway, in it is an article on "SHOTGUN FIT". I pick up my Beretta 686 and WHAT? My beads don't line up! They are strait on the rib but what I see is the rear off center to the left of the front and slightly down. I am now to led to believe I need an adjustable comb for 4 directions ( up, down, left, right). I'm O.K. with that but what kind? Has anyone had after market units put on their guns - what kind and are you happy with them.
Adjustable Comb?
- Thread starter Super Scout
- Start date
Before you start down that road have you patterned the gun? Does it shoot where you look? If so don't worry about how the beads line up.
I've owned two guns with adjustable combs -- one was a factory unit from Browning, the other, installed by a previous owner, was a Graco. Both worked fine.
Here's a link to Graco's hardware for adjustable combs.
http://graco-corp.com/adjustable-comb-hardware.aspx?CategoryId=23
Before you order however find the gunsmith you want to do it. This is more important than which hardware you use. I've seen some that were done well others that were not. Then decide what hardware you need for the gun.
You might also consider relieving some of the wood on one side of the gun if your gun is not shooting where it should be. If a gun doesn't fit I prefer to have the stock shaped or bent before considering an adustable comb but many shooters feel differently.
I've owned two guns with adjustable combs -- one was a factory unit from Browning, the other, installed by a previous owner, was a Graco. Both worked fine.
Here's a link to Graco's hardware for adjustable combs.
http://graco-corp.com/adjustable-comb-hardware.aspx?CategoryId=23
Before you order however find the gunsmith you want to do it. This is more important than which hardware you use. I've seen some that were done well others that were not. Then decide what hardware you need for the gun.
You might also consider relieving some of the wood on one side of the gun if your gun is not shooting where it should be. If a gun doesn't fit I prefer to have the stock shaped or bent before considering an adustable comb but many shooters feel differently.
Gun fit is the most important factor for consistent succes shooting clays. You must hav your gun fitted to your body. An adjustable stock will get yout to thinker when you should be shooting. You must find a good stockmaker/gunsmith that can adjust your exisiting stock so that you have a 50-50 pattern. Stock bending is not permament. In our area, we are blessed to have an Austrian stockmaker and gunsmith: Klaus Hiptmayer.
http://www.herosarms.comKlaus_Hiptmayer_Stockmaker
Most European and British gunshops have a gunsmith/stockmaker onboard. You will get fitted before leaving with your purchase.
Best regards,
Henry
http://www.herosarms.comKlaus_Hiptmayer_Stockmaker
Most European and British gunshops have a gunsmith/stockmaker onboard. You will get fitted before leaving with your purchase.
Best regards,
Henry
I looked at having a Graco installed on a trap gun before I got one with a factory installed comb on it. As I remember Graco does the installation at a fairly reasonable cost. Probably even more reasonable with the high dollar. I think their website has some photos of their work. On the other hand, I set the comb when I got the adjustable comb gun and haven't found a reason to change it in the last 4 years, so if you are planning to keep the gun for the long term bending or shaping the stock might be a better option.
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beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Holy jumpin ! ... one magazine article and you wanna' spend a few hundred bucks on an adjustable comb and some gunsmithing ???
How do you shoot that gun now ? ... what's your average score? how much have you shot ? how regularly do you shoot ? do you shoot gun up or gun down ? have you even patterned the gun for "fit" ( as opposed to "does it feel comfortable" and/or "does it shoot straight in the first place" ? ... is your mount consistant each and every time ? How is your gun for length of pull & pitch ? ... are you able to get a quick, smooth, efficient & repeatable mount every time ? Ever had any knowledgeable coaching or on the range help to see where you're actually shooting ... as opposed to where you're looking ?
Claybuster's advice and the assistance of a knowledgeable shootgun shooter/coach will go a lot further than spending the money on an adjustable comb ... to fix a problem that may either be different than what you initially think, or perhaps not even exist !!!
Go pattern for "fit" to be sure ... and work on your shotgun mount technique.
Find out if the gun is indeed "shooting where you look" or, where it in fact shoots, in relation to where you are pointing. Do your patterning at exactly 16 yards on a 3 or 4 foot square of paper, with at least a modified choke.
( And no more magazine articles on gun fit 'till you've done your homework ! )
How do you shoot that gun now ? ... what's your average score? how much have you shot ? how regularly do you shoot ? do you shoot gun up or gun down ? have you even patterned the gun for "fit" ( as opposed to "does it feel comfortable" and/or "does it shoot straight in the first place" ? ... is your mount consistant each and every time ? How is your gun for length of pull & pitch ? ... are you able to get a quick, smooth, efficient & repeatable mount every time ? Ever had any knowledgeable coaching or on the range help to see where you're actually shooting ... as opposed to where you're looking ?
Claybuster's advice and the assistance of a knowledgeable shootgun shooter/coach will go a lot further than spending the money on an adjustable comb ... to fix a problem that may either be different than what you initially think, or perhaps not even exist !!!
Go pattern for "fit" to be sure ... and work on your shotgun mount technique.
Find out if the gun is indeed "shooting where you look" or, where it in fact shoots, in relation to where you are pointing. Do your patterning at exactly 16 yards on a 3 or 4 foot square of paper, with at least a modified choke.
( And no more magazine articles on gun fit 'till you've done your homework ! )
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
BCFred ...
No, I wasn't "aiming", per se, but find it incomprehensible someone might think a couple of hundred bucks in gegaws to be the "holy grail" or a "quick fix" to whatever their shotgun ills might be.... based on a magazine article.
My apologies if it came across "snotty ...or snooty" it wasn't intended to be.
No, I wasn't "aiming", per se, but find it incomprehensible someone might think a couple of hundred bucks in gegaws to be the "holy grail" or a "quick fix" to whatever their shotgun ills might be.... based on a magazine article.
My apologies if it came across "snotty ...or snooty" it wasn't intended to be.
Beretta boy, my apologies for bad English. I never saw anything snooty in what you were saying and didn't intend to imply such. Just appreciated straight talk. Heart in mouth I cut the butt of my stock at a bit of an angle a couple of days ago and have been amazed what a difference it has made to the mounting and sight picture of my Citori. In fact, I keep going to my shop and throwing it up to my shoulder every hour or so. When I mounted the shotgun before the surgery I would see 3 or 4 inches of the rail. Now I see one aiming dot directly under the other. I had been thinking of adjustable this and adjustable that right up to doing that one simple modification. It also occurred to me while reading your questions, that I've done patterning and so on but I haven't simply shot the gun at a target off hand to see what happens. So thank you. I'll be more careful with my language next time. So it goes...fred
When I read that article in shotgun sports, the only conclusion I came to is that I have no need for a adjustable comb. With out my shooting cap I am almost bald I sent in a coupon for a no obligation free copy of the mag. and they keep sending me renewal notices and more free copies. The only thing I really like is the phone adds for odds and ends.
I sent in a coupon for a no obligation free copy of the mag. and they keep sending me renewal notices and more free copies. The only thing I really like is the phone adds for odds and ends.
I have only used the factory Beretta "memory system" adjustable comb. My 682 gold e x trap has it on the monte carlo stock, and after tweeking it, and practcing mounting the gun, here in the shop, I've been able to get this gun to fit like a glove.
It allowed me to make the gun shoot where I look, which is exactly what a shotgun should do. Anything you can do to a shotgun, to make it naturally shoot where you look, will allow you keep your head in a more upright position, with both eyes open, which will increase your scores drastically, in my opinion.
I would reccamend an adjustable comb on almost any sporting gun.
It allowed me to make the gun shoot where I look, which is exactly what a shotgun should do. Anything you can do to a shotgun, to make it naturally shoot where you look, will allow you keep your head in a more upright position, with both eyes open, which will increase your scores drastically, in my opinion.
I would reccamend an adjustable comb on almost any sporting gun.
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You don't need an adjustable combWhen I read that article in shotgun sports, the only conclusion I came to is that I have no need for a adjustable comb. With out my shooting cap I am almost bald
You need Hair Care for Men 
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Just cuz your "treatment" is working Win/64!
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Lucky me ... full head of hair ... and it ain't grey either ... must be living right.
I'll be the first to agree the shotgun has to "fit" ... and would rather "do" anything to one ( cut, bend, re-shape, re-stock) than add an adjustable comb ! Owned a couple of Browning Sporters with them ... So fugly they had to go ! Strictly a matter of choice.
I'll be the first to agree the shotgun has to "fit" ... and would rather "do" anything to one ( cut, bend, re-shape, re-stock) than add an adjustable comb ! Owned a couple of Browning Sporters with them ... So fugly they had to go ! Strictly a matter of choice.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Are you taking your ###### as a suppository ? ... the "stiffening" seems
to be too low in the extremeties ....
A Helpfull thread
so the big 3 most helpful gents (C.B; henry & B.B.) have all spoken about patterning before going off on a money spending jag.
they helped me emensly in this little thread that may be germane to the topic of comb adjustment.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178129
shoot some cardboard with a dot on it! cheers
so the big 3 most helpful gents (C.B; henry & B.B.) have all spoken about patterning before going off on a money spending jag.
they helped me emensly in this little thread that may be germane to the topic of comb adjustment.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178129
shoot some cardboard with a dot on it! cheers
