help on shotgun fit...

R

ruger22

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BC, sunshine coast
Years ago I owned a nice pump but found I shot it poorly with multiple targets, ie ducks or 2 clay birds in the air.

I read an article on the cool history of the browning auto 5.
I traded up right away.

The problem is I have a long neck and dropping shoulders. If I shoulder the gun naturally I shoot quite a bit high. So I had to compensate by shooting low.

I really enjoy shooting clays for fun with a hand thrower. But I could only hit 50 to 60%.

I shouldered a benillie nova. It felt perfect. I do not know how well it would shoot for me though. I own I shotgun and love shooting clays, occasional ducks and grouse.

One day I tried to shrug my shoulder up like saying "I do not know".
I suspect how much shrug will change day to day and even 1st few shots to the last few.
But my score went up to 95%, best ever.

Question: Is this bad form?
Will this hold me back from getting better?
Is there an adjustable but plate with recoil pad for this problem?
Stock mods?
Do some guns naturally fit a guy like me better?

Any feedback welcome...
 
You need a Morgan adjustable butt pad. The pad consists of an aluminum plate which screws to the butt stock, and another plate which holds the pad. The pad can then be moved up or down to accommodate the shooter. The things come oversize, and you have to file or grind away the excess aluminum to match the profile of the stock, but then you are good to go.

Your technique of shoulder shrugging will work, but it will be difficult to do it exactly the same each time, therefore providing an obstacle to improvement. Nothing works as well as a well fitted stock.

Sharptail
 
It's possible to fit one yourself with careful use of a belt sander. Personally I'd take it to a gunsmith but you may have more talent with a sander than me.:redface:

The curved model is better for skeet and trap where the gun is premounted. For hunting or games were you start with a low gun I think the straight pad would be better.

The bad news however is getting one from Cabela's. Their site for the Morgan Pad says "Some Restrictions May Apply." This most often means they won't ship the item to Canada. Their rules are stupid and contradictory but there isn't much point arguing with them about it. I've tried with no sucess.
 
"How you shoulder" the gun should not make as much difference to how you shoot as does "how the stock comes to your face". Ideally, the comb of the stock should snuggle firmly under your zygomatic arch (cheekbone) so that your eye is looking straight down the rib, with the rib appearing as a flat plane right out to the bead. Your shoulder really just "backs up" the gun and absorbs part of the recoil. Of course if the gun does not fit your shoulder comfortably, you will undoubtably feel more recoil. Rather than "shrugging" your shoulders, try raising your elbow ( of the hand that holds the shotguns grip) to at least horizontal. You may find that this will put the stock of the gun in a more comfortable position.

Your eye position over the rear comb must be repeatable, each and every time, and in the right place, as in essence, the position of your eye is the "rear sight" of a shotgun. Proper gun mounting and fit are essential to good shooting. If not, you can not and will not shoot well, as basically you and the gun are not looking at the same thing. In other words, the gun must shoot where you're looking, with the gun properly mounted - and you must be able to mount the gun consistantly in this manner. Any thing less will yield mediocre results.

Best advice ... go find/see a good shooter at a local Club who is cognizant of what good gun fit is ... and how to achieve it, or alternatively, a competant gunsmith/stockmaker who is also a good shotgun shooter. ( There are some very good, highly skilled stockmakers who really don't know diddly about shotgun fit !)
 
ruger22 said:
Does sporting clays require a low gun position?
Click to expand...
It's not mandatory in sporting clays with the exception of FITASC. It's also required in International Skeet.

Low gun though has some advantages in sporting clays and it's a good thing to learn.
 
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