Shotgun fit

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grosenbaum

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Montreal, QC
I am looking to buy my first shotgun. In the forums there’s lots of talk about how important it is to get a gun that fits you but I am unsure how to do that. I don’t have access to a bunch of different guns to shoot and I wouldn’t know what to look for anyway. I’m not sure if it matters in terms of how adjustable a gun will be but I am looking to spend <$800 (was considering a nova or supernova). I shot 50 rounds with a pretty old 870 and haven’t done much more than that. Don’t have anything to compare it to so don’t know if it was good or bad, fit-wise. Had a lot of fun though!

I am medium build and 5’10”. Maybe just being not really big or small will mean most guns will fit me?

All advice is welcome. Thanks!
 
grosenbaum said:
I am looking to buy my first shotgun. In the forums there’s lots of talk about how important it is to get a gun that fits you but I am unsure how to do that. I don’t have access to a bunch of different guns to shoot and I wouldn’t know what to look for anyway. I’m not sure if it matters in terms of how adjustable a gun will be but I am looking to spend <$800 (was considering a nova or supernova). I shot 50 rounds with a pretty old 870 and haven’t done much more than that. Don’t have anything to compare it to so don’t know if it was good or bad, fit-wise. Had a lot of fun though!

I am medium build and 5’10”. Maybe just being not really big or small will mean most guns will fit me?

All advice is welcome. Thanks!
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You should probably be okay. Also, the Benelli pump guns you are considering usually come with stock shims that allow for adjustments that will fit most people.

Here's a video where they are shown.

 
It's not an exact method by far, but the following will tell you if the gun definitely does not fit you. Pick up the shotgun, close your eyes and shoulder it. Then without moving anything but your eyelids, open your eyes. Are you looking along the rib or at It? Can you see the front bead? Is the rib centered left to right? If you are not looking along the rib with it centered left to right, the gun doesn't fit you. If you are looking along the rib and the rib and it is centered left to right, there may still be fit issues, but at least the gun should shoot where you are looking. If you are looking down at the rib, the gun will shoot high, if you can't see the front bead, it will shoot low. If the rib is angled left or right, it will shoot left or right. At that point, you no longer require the beads on the gun for wing shooting . Concentrate only on the target , trying to aim a shotgun like a rifle when wing shooting is a sure way to fail miserably.
 
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stubblejumper said:
It's not an exact method by far, but the following will tell you if the gun definitely does not fit you. Pick up the shotgun, close your eyes and shoulder it. Then without moving anything but your eyelids, open your eyes. Are you looking along the rib or at It? Can you see the front bead? Is the rib centered left to right? If you are not looking along the rib with it centered left to right, the gun doesn't fit you. If you are looking along the rib and the rib and it is centered left to right, there may still be fit issues, but at least the gun should shoot where you are looking. If you are looking down at the rib, the gun will shoot high, if you can't see the front bead, it will shoot low. If the rib is angled left or right, it will shoot left or right. At that point, you no longer require the beads on the gun for wing shooting . Concentrate only on the target , trying to aim a shotgun like a rifle when wing shooting is a sure way to fail miserably.
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Great info Thanks, I'm looking at getting an Upland shotgun and find fit to be an issues as I'm of smaller stature. This idea seems to make more sense than some of the LOP measuring ideas on the web. Ideally it would be nice to be able to get properly measured and sized. Cheaper than buying and selling guns ;)
 
North60 said:
Great info Thanks, I'm looking at getting an Upland shotgun and find fit to be an issues as I'm of smaller stature. This idea seems to make more sense than some of the LOP measuring ideas on the web. Ideally it would be nice to be able to get properly measured and sized. Cheaper than buying and selling guns ;)
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What I would do if I was you, is check and see if they are still shooting trap and skeet at the Fort McMurray range. If they haven't shut down for the season, and you are a member, go out Sunday at noon, and I am sure that the members will let you shoulder their guns if asked, and some may even let you shoot a round of trap or skeet with their gun.
 
As for the OP my SX-3 came with a full set of shims and spacers to allow for quite a bit of adjustment. If the SX-4 is the same, Cabelas had the SX-4 on for $850 for the 3" model, and Winchester has a $100 rebate on. That brings the cost down to around $725 , which is about the same as a pump action Benelli.
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stubblejumper said:
What I would do if I was you, is check and see if they are still shooting trap and skeet at the Fort McMurray range. If they haven't shut down for the season, and you are a member, go out Sunday at noon, and I am sure that the members will let you shoulder their guns if asked, and some may even let you shoot a round of trap or skeet with their gun.
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Ya it's a good crowd at our club and have tried many different firearms this way and vice versa. I think something with a compact stock and around 26" length works best for me just have to decide between O/U , Semi or pump and 20 or 28 gauge....
 
North60 said:
Ya it's a good crowd at our club and have tried many different firearms this way and vice versa. I think something with a compact stock and around 26" length works best for me just have to decide between O/U , Semi or pump and 20 or 28 gauge....
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Look at the Browning micro series Silver and Citori. The club actually owns a Citori micro.
 
grosenbaum said:
I am looking to buy my first shotgun. In the forums there’s lots of talk about how important it is to get a gun that fits you but I am unsure how to do that. I don’t have access to a bunch of different guns to shoot and I wouldn’t know what to look for anyway. I’m not sure if it matters in terms of how adjustable a gun will be but I am looking to spend <$800 (was considering a nova or supernova). I shot 50 rounds with a pretty old 870 and haven’t done much more than that. Don’t have anything to compare it to so don’t know if it was good or bad, fit-wise. Had a lot of fun though!

I am medium build and 5’10”. Maybe just being not really big or small will mean most guns will fit me?

All advice is welcome. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Simple method: Close eyes and shoulder the gun, then:

1. Open eyes and check alignment. You should be looking straight down the barrel.
2. Check length of pull. If you cannot touch the tip of your nose with your thumb easily, the length of pull is too long!

When looking at shotguns, try a youth model. These are often shorter than most factory buttstocks, but will often fit adults who encounter a gun that has a long length of pull. Saves having to modify a perfectly new firearm a lot of the time... Good luck.
 
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