Improving alignment on a plain barrel?

[ninepointer]

After missing more than the usual number of clays with my new-to-me Ithaca Model 37 plain barrel, I finally noticed that I was canting the gun a bit. Without a rib on the barrel, it was not obvious to me when I had things out of aligment before calling for the bird.

Some plain barreled guns have a distinct contour (such the knurled approach to the non-existent rib) cut into the top of the receiver which makes proper alignment obvious, but my Model 37 does not. The knurled approach on the M37 is very shallow, making the receiver look almost smooth when looking down the sighting plane.

Any suggestions for improving the sighting plane? I was thinking of a tiny dab of flourescent orange nail polish on the receiver.

 

[a j cave]

long fiber optic sight might help.

 

[sir_springer]

You might have a gun smith measure you and the stock for proper length of pull that suits you.

Most firearms are made with a standard one size fits all...and usually this works, more or less.

But if the length of pull on yours is too short for you...or too long...it can seriously affect your shooting, certainly with regard to proper sight alignment.

A good smith can fix this without too much trouble or expense, generally with a new recoil pad with some spacers added in. Or shortening the stock and replacing the recoil pad.

Length of pull is particularly critical with a shotgun due to the nature of how one shoots, which is reflexive, quick, and a matter of "point and shoot".

All other modifications won't matter one iota if the shotgun doesn't come to shoulder properly.