Rifle stock LOP discussion thread

SuperCub

SuperCub

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Most factory rifles come with 13.5" to 13.75" LOP.

I'm 6' tall with longer arms. You would think that a longer LOP would work fine for me but I find that between 13" and 13.5" seems to fit better, even when wearing just a t-shirt at the bench. Also, a longer LOP seems to have more recoil for me but that's not a for sure observation as there are a lot of other variables.

I shot a lightweight 30/06 this week with heavy loads from the bench. It handled very well and recoil was negligible. I was surprised later to find the LOP was only 13".

Thoughts/observations/otherwise.
 
I am 6' tall and can fit myself to a variety of firearms. I have rifles asa short as 13.2" and combination guns close to 15" - so I think it depends on the form of gun, other stock fit variables, and personal preference. I also choose shorter stocks for winter shooting, longer for summer, just because of the clothing variable.
 
I'm 6'4"... and I like 13 3/4" for my rifles... I tend to "snug down" more with rifles than shotguns... I also find that a little shorter LOP makes recoil easier to manage or perhaps more comfortable to manage. My shotguns LOP are all at 14 1/4", which with my Citori's puts my eye down the rib without any contortions. I find going to a shorter than normal LOP to be easier and more comfortable than going to a longer than normal LOP... so I would rather err on the short side than the long side.
 
Shooting from the bench is a terrible way to gage recoil... For example, our club recently put in new benches on the 100 metre range and the first time I used them they felt a little off and I was right. They were taller than the old ones and as the result, for the first time in my life, I got beaten up by recoil. LOP is important for control and mounting of the rifle or shotgun. The ideal LOP will have the knuckle of your thumb on the dominant hand about 3" from your nose and your dominant arm at a 90 degree angle at the elbow. The rifle or the shotgun should be firmly closer to the pectoral muscle just shy of the shoulder joint and your shot should be followed through with the entire body and not just the shoulder.

13 - 13.5" seems short for a person who is 6' but if it works for you, who is to argue. but with that short of LOP, you might benefit even more by moving the firearm a little closer to your centre of mass. There are youtube tutorial on the subject. Experiment and have fun. Sounds like you are on the right track.
 
For me about 13.5 " to 13.75 " seems about right, I do have a couple with 14" LOP and they are comfortable because the butt has a more pronounced drop.
I have one with a 13" LOP that is particularly nice to shoot in sub-zero weather when I'm all bundled up.
As for my size I'm 5' 7.5" and 160 lb., vertically challenged compared to you fellas !!
 
There's more to gun fit than just a person's height. When I was younger and a lot skinnier, at 6' tall, I preferred stocks of at least 14", and anything under that tended to shove my thumb up my nose on firing. Now older and heavier, I find that the "standard" l.o.p. of factory rifles isn't so bad after all. A big muscle bound guy is going to prefer a shorter stock than a skinny rail of the same height.
 
How does LOP negatively affect bolt guns? Is see a huge affect on pump actions, because too long can inhibit your ability to cycle the action when turning your body.
 
SuperCub said:
Most factory rifles come with 13.5" to 13.75" LOP.

I'm 6' tall with longer arms. You would think that a longer LOP would work fine for me but I find that between 13" and 13.5" seems to fit better, even when wearing just a t-shirt at the bench. Also, a longer LOP seems to have more recoil for me but that's not a for sure observation as there are a lot of other variables.

I shot a lightweight 30/06 this week with heavy loads from the bench. It handled very well and recoil was negligible. I was surprised later to find the LOP was only 13".

Thoughts/observations/otherwise.
Click to expand...

Super you're observations are the same as mine. I'm shorter than you but my arms may be close to same length(pit pony build) and I've always favored shorter LOP's especially in the recoil absorbing department. The 12.5 on the 336Y will be deadly with my heavier fall gear, and a 13" is best with shirt only prone.

Reaching for the trigger may keep a heavy recoiling rifle with a too short eye relief scope out of your face, but in standard calibers if accuracy is your game, than a more relaxing, more retracted strong arm, with shorter than standard LOP is the ticket. The extended reach does nothing except provide safety for the scenario I described and you pay the price on the shoulder.
I think shotgun LOP's have had way too much influence on rifle makers for too long. It wasn't till I started shooting rifles with 6 position butt lengths that I realized the sweet spots.
Again this is not sporting rifles but LOP versus comfort and accuracy for me still applies, I changed out the Standard butt length stock on a Colt AR15 for the Colt S stock and what a difference prone, wow.
 
9.3mauser said:
There's more to gun fit than just a person's height. When I was younger and a lot skinnier, at 6' tall, I preferred stocks of at least 14", and anything under that tended to shove my thumb up my nose on firing. Now older and heavier, I find that the "standard" l.o.p. of factory rifles isn't so bad after all. A big muscle bound guy is going to prefer a shorter stock than a skinny rail of the same height.
Click to expand...

My sentiments, also.
 
Drop of the stock matters a lot as well.

When I was shooting service rifle matches with an AR-15 (bore in line with stock) I used a very short length of pull.

Rifles with an American style sporter stock I like 13.25" or 13.5".

With an English or Bavarian style stock that drops a fair amount a 14.25" LOP feels pretty good.

Here is a good link on stock design for heavy recoiling rifles:

http://recoilisnotyourenemy.########.ca/2009/03/theres-no-reason-why-you-cant-shoot-505.html?m=1
 
I'm 6' 1" and like a LOP of 13 7/8". Its not a 100% thing, anything from 13 3/4 to 14 is close enough most of the time. Subtle changes like the curve of the pistol grip affect what feels perfect. A slender open grip that slides my trigger hand back feels better at the long range of the LOP range, and a tighter curve feels the opposite. If a rifle has a meaningful amount of recoil and is much shorter than my optimum its just a matter of time before I get clobbered by it. I can adapt to a stock that is too long easier than too short.
 
A more "open" grip makes a difference as well. Standard double guns often run around 14 inches LOP but with a more open pistol grip than some rifles or even the straight grip popular on British guns. I don't like being belted in the nose by my thumb off the bunch with the shorter LOP's but having the butt hang up on your jacket when shouldering a rifle at game is even worse. Especially with the "sticky" rubber recoil pads mounted on some rifles. For hunting I think shorter may work better for speed. The old 94 Winchester carbine is very short but seems to fly to your shoulder in the woods.
 
Interesting reading, I just cut like 2" off the Norinco bolt .223 for a shorter stature lady shooter, I tried shooting it myaelf and couldn't find anything wrong with it, other then I was worried about poking myself in the face with the bolt if I wasnt a left handed shooter
 
I am 5'10" and my measured LOP is 12.75". Have shot a lot of magnums, and i have noticed that the length of pull in magnums always seems very long. Apparently only giant men shoot magnums.

One of the reasons i prefer wood stocked rifles over synthetic. Much easier shortening a wood stock.
 
The 13" stock I mentioned was on a 358NORMA before I put it on the 30/06. I had no trouble with that rifle either while shooting at the bench. I was always careful to have my scopes as far foward as possible on a rifle like that.
 
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