Does Benchwork require it's own LOP?

tokguy

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Afternoon all.
Starting out and admitting to be an infrequent visitor to this forum. But I have a conundrum that needs dealing with... and I'm guessing this is a good spot to ask
I've acquired a rifle that will only be fired from a resting position for the most part. A Ruger No. 1 in 220 is about 8 lbs sans scope ... and even the cartridge sorta lends itself toward precision work. Realizing that it's not very sought after as a benchrest type rifle... it's accuracy reputation is suspect compared to what frequent poster's likely run.
But it's what I got.
I'm thinking coyotes now and gophers in the spring.
I digress though.
Some well meaning and ill informed ( most likely) individual has sawn of the butt and shortened the LOP to 12". I need to deal with this...likely a block will be fitted and installed.
But it is not likely to see much offhand shooting...hence the 'Rule of thumb' formula's that are intended for hunting rifles may not be ideal for a rifle that sees most of it's work from prone or seated positions.
I'm going to install a block...what is the best method to obtain a well fitted LOP for this intended purpose? Might as well get it right, no?
Regards
Tokguy
 
May be easiest to simply replace the stock...

That jack's the cost up...if I'm going that route, I'm going with a different caliber too. 220 Swift is 85 years old, it was the trick in it's day...22-250 does it as good and easier too. Neither of which can hunt deer in AB
I've got lots of wood options to choose from as far as the block.
 
That jack's the cost up...if I'm going that route, I'm going with a different caliber too. 220 Swift is 85 years old, it was the trick in it's day...22-250 does it as good and easier too. Neither of which can hunt deer in AB
I've got lots of wood options to choose from as far as the block.

Spend some time, use some dowels and a couple screws and add a block. As for length, I seem to shoot better if I am square to the gun, which requires a shorter lop than if my left shoulder is forward.
 
Well if the stock has already been shortened and you are creating a bit of an odd-ball bench rifle, the world is your oyster. The typical solution is to figure out your preferred LOP for bench shooting and glue/blend a block. As someone else mentioned, you can also fit an adjustable buttplate system (which aren't necessarily cheap either). The middle of the road method and actually most economical solution that affords you adjustability would be to get an appropriate buttplate/pad and a number of spacers to add/remove as you are figuring out your preferred LOP.
 
OP,
Bend your arm to a 90 deg angle.
Measure from inside of your forearm to your index finger w/ a yard/meter stick.
That is your LOP.

Clean up the hacked butt stock cut.
Find a piece of walnut that closely resembles the grain structure of the butt stock.
Epoxy glue,dowel & screw your walnut block w/ their cleaned up surfaces & let cure for 24hrs minimum.
Whittle/blend the block & add a butt plate to finish the project.

Your biggest issue will be the fore end since it is not floated.
One day you may get sub MOA groups.
The next outing will probably render 1.5-2 MOA groups.
It's a Ruger #1 & accuracy should not be used in the same sentence....for various known reasons as they are an off hand rifle...at best!

Prone shooting will not be a comfortable option since you can not configure the scope accordingly in the Ruger ring set up.
 
If you're "handy' you can make your own BUTT PLATE with LOP adjustments. I've made a couple, NOT pretty but very functional. Basically it's an aluminum plate screwed to the BUTT, with a drilled/tapped hole in the centre for 1/2-13 screw. Your actual shoulder pad is also an aluminum piece (whatever size to fit your shoulder, smaller than you'd think) also drilled/tapped to fix a length of 1/2-13 all-thread rod, perhaps 3" long. The shoulder piece just screws IN-OUT for LOP, use a nut as a stopper piece.
Standing, you require the shortest stock.....sitting/kneeling a bit longer and prone much longer. Nice to be able to adjust the stock to your position.
 
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