proper fitting gun?
- Thread starter Huggyd
- Start date
As daft as it sounds, a long gun that fits you, just feels right.
Simply put, it's a long gun that, when shouldered, your eye comes naturally in line with the sights and you can easily reach the trigger with no stress on your arm or hand. A quick 'gun shop' test for fit is to close your eyes, shoulder the rifle or shotgun and open your eyes. Where are the sights? If your eye is in line with 'em, the rifle/shotgun fits.
Shotguns are a bit different than rifles, but not by much. Length of Pull(LOP) applies to both, as does the height of the comb.
LOP is the distance between your shoulder and the trigger. Easily tested, for you, by putting the butt stock in your bent elbow and grasping the stock. How easily can you reach the trigger? Also easily measured by doing the same thing with a yard stick(few stock measurements are in mm's because the Americans don't use metric.). Where your trigger finger comes on the stick is very close to your LOP. Shouldering a yard stick like a rifle and looking where your finger is works too. Most commercial hunting rifles/shotguns have an LOP around 13.5".
Too short of an LOP can be adjusted by installing a recoil pad. There are plastic spacers(usually 1/8" thick) that can be put on under the pad to get a bit more length if you need it. Too long involves cutting or changing the stock. Cutting doesn't always work well with synthetics. Not all of them are solid. Especially the lower priced synthetics.
The comb is the top edge of the butt stock where your cheek goes. Its height determines where your eye will be in relation to the sights. Iron sights need a different height than a scope. Most commercial hunting rifles come with a comb height for use with a scope. Battle rifles, usually, have a comb for iron sights. You can get aftermarket cheek rests to raise it, if you put on a scope.
Simply put, it's a long gun that, when shouldered, your eye comes naturally in line with the sights and you can easily reach the trigger with no stress on your arm or hand. A quick 'gun shop' test for fit is to close your eyes, shoulder the rifle or shotgun and open your eyes. Where are the sights? If your eye is in line with 'em, the rifle/shotgun fits.
Shotguns are a bit different than rifles, but not by much. Length of Pull(LOP) applies to both, as does the height of the comb.
LOP is the distance between your shoulder and the trigger. Easily tested, for you, by putting the butt stock in your bent elbow and grasping the stock. How easily can you reach the trigger? Also easily measured by doing the same thing with a yard stick(few stock measurements are in mm's because the Americans don't use metric.). Where your trigger finger comes on the stick is very close to your LOP. Shouldering a yard stick like a rifle and looking where your finger is works too. Most commercial hunting rifles/shotguns have an LOP around 13.5".
Too short of an LOP can be adjusted by installing a recoil pad. There are plastic spacers(usually 1/8" thick) that can be put on under the pad to get a bit more length if you need it. Too long involves cutting or changing the stock. Cutting doesn't always work well with synthetics. Not all of them are solid. Especially the lower priced synthetics.
The comb is the top edge of the butt stock where your cheek goes. Its height determines where your eye will be in relation to the sights. Iron sights need a different height than a scope. Most commercial hunting rifles come with a comb height for use with a scope. Battle rifles, usually, have a comb for iron sights. You can get aftermarket cheek rests to raise it, if you put on a scope.
