Stock fitter in Owen Sound / Barrie area
- Thread starter GCJ
- Start date
X2. Slap in a full choke. Pattern your gun at 16 yards. Every 1" of adjustment in the pattern equals 1/8" adjustment in the stock.
And here's the best advice I've received about an adjustable stock: Once you get the pattern where you want it THROW THE WRENCHES AWAY!!!!!
Willy Tincup
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Owen Sound
Did you try Mike Hunter in Meaford? I think hes retired now but he just might help you with something like that.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Once I had mine adjusted I used a micrometer to measure the space between the cutout and had a set of plastic washers made that fit over the adjustment pins so if I had to take the comb off for any reason or it came loose while shooting (which I have had happen) the comb would always stay at the correct height or be able to be returned to the same spot without all the tweeking again.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
I agree ... do your own patterning & adjusting ... and if you're in Meaford, by all means give Mike Hunter a call. He is very approachable.
From the "Stock Fitter's Bible" by Jesper Greth, there is actually a mathmatical formula relating to how much POI change there is for change in comb height.
At 40 yards, a 1/8" change in comb height will change the POI by 4.1". At 16 yards, I think you'll find a 1/16" change in comb heigh will affect the POI by
approximately 1" ... a 1/8" change by approximately 2" ... so proceed with small increments.
There is inevitably a difference between "static" patterning, i.e., "benchresting" your shotgun and carefully lining up the beads with the aimpoint and that of a more
"dynamic" pattern, i.e., bringing up the shotgun and touching-off just as soon as you have established a sight picture. The difference ... everyone mounts their shotgun
in a different manner with variation in stance, foot position, placement & pressure of their face on the stock, whethehr they line up or stack the beads, etc. etc.
The point of dynamic patterning then is to try and establish "where your gun is shooting compared to where you are looking." A few different authorities recommend
setting up your pattern sheet at 16 yards as indicated, then mounting the gun as you normally would in the field, raise the gun to your aimpoint rapidly, without dithering about
to attemp to "aim" andthen touch off the shot the instant you have a sight picture ... or as one might say, pretend it's a rising pheasant ... just get on it and shoot as soon and as smoohly as you can. Inevitably, the gun that patterns "dead-on" from a rest with firm cheek pressure will shoot a triffle high from a dynamic mount. The firm, virtually "aimed" gun mount is virtually never achieved in the field. For the Trap shooter or Skeet shooter who premounts their gun, this is not often as noticeable a diffeernce, however it shows up more in a field or Sporting Clays situation where the gun is not premounted.
I would try both methods, ... patterning at 16 yards with a full or as tight a choke as you have, and adjust the comb height and cast-off to where the gun is shooting where you are looking.
At least 5 patterns each both from a static rest and from a fairly fast but relaxed gun mount should show the difference. Don't bother counting pellets, your usual Trap or Skeet loads will be fine. Just look for the tendency of where you center the pattern in relation to the aimpoint, and adjust accordingly. Relativel small adjustments to comb height and cast-off are usually required
and they are fairly easy to "track" by repeated patterning.
From my own experience, this "dynamic" type of patterning (if you can call it that) gives me better results on clay targets and in the field situations. I don't require quite as much comb height as I think I do from a bench-rested gun, and also find I like a bit more cast-off than I thought I needed. I try to keep the comb relatively level (or parallel to the barrel) as it makes cheek placement on the stock less critical. What works for me may not for you, however patterning & adjusting will give you a much better "picture" of where your gun is shooting and a lot more confidence in it.
Cheers !
From the "Stock Fitter's Bible" by Jesper Greth, there is actually a mathmatical formula relating to how much POI change there is for change in comb height.
At 40 yards, a 1/8" change in comb height will change the POI by 4.1". At 16 yards, I think you'll find a 1/16" change in comb heigh will affect the POI by
approximately 1" ... a 1/8" change by approximately 2" ... so proceed with small increments.
There is inevitably a difference between "static" patterning, i.e., "benchresting" your shotgun and carefully lining up the beads with the aimpoint and that of a more
"dynamic" pattern, i.e., bringing up the shotgun and touching-off just as soon as you have established a sight picture. The difference ... everyone mounts their shotgun
in a different manner with variation in stance, foot position, placement & pressure of their face on the stock, whethehr they line up or stack the beads, etc. etc.
The point of dynamic patterning then is to try and establish "where your gun is shooting compared to where you are looking." A few different authorities recommend
setting up your pattern sheet at 16 yards as indicated, then mounting the gun as you normally would in the field, raise the gun to your aimpoint rapidly, without dithering about
to attemp to "aim" andthen touch off the shot the instant you have a sight picture ... or as one might say, pretend it's a rising pheasant ... just get on it and shoot as soon and as smoohly as you can. Inevitably, the gun that patterns "dead-on" from a rest with firm cheek pressure will shoot a triffle high from a dynamic mount. The firm, virtually "aimed" gun mount is virtually never achieved in the field. For the Trap shooter or Skeet shooter who premounts their gun, this is not often as noticeable a diffeernce, however it shows up more in a field or Sporting Clays situation where the gun is not premounted.
I would try both methods, ... patterning at 16 yards with a full or as tight a choke as you have, and adjust the comb height and cast-off to where the gun is shooting where you are looking.
At least 5 patterns each both from a static rest and from a fairly fast but relaxed gun mount should show the difference. Don't bother counting pellets, your usual Trap or Skeet loads will be fine. Just look for the tendency of where you center the pattern in relation to the aimpoint, and adjust accordingly. Relativel small adjustments to comb height and cast-off are usually required
and they are fairly easy to "track" by repeated patterning.
From my own experience, this "dynamic" type of patterning (if you can call it that) gives me better results on clay targets and in the field situations. I don't require quite as much comb height as I think I do from a bench-rested gun, and also find I like a bit more cast-off than I thought I needed. I try to keep the comb relatively level (or parallel to the barrel) as it makes cheek placement on the stock less critical. What works for me may not for you, however patterning & adjusting will give you a much better "picture" of where your gun is shooting and a lot more confidence in it.
Cheers !
- Location
- Southwestern Ontario
I disagree with saying "throw away the wrenches" it is adjustable for a reason, and even minor weight gain or weight loss can effect your POI to one side or the other. The easiest way I find to set the combs offset is to mount the gun with my eyes closed so that I feel comfortable, open eyes, then adjust comb as necessary to align my mid bead to my muzzle bead. Just my opinion
Totally agree here. I'm a mechanic by trade, and run my own shop. I go through stretches where all I do is work in the office, and hardly do any labour in the shop. I can have my shotguns all set up perfectly, if I go back on the floor for a month or 2, the combs require tweaking to be perfect as my shoulder muscles change.
Doesn't take much of a change in your body to throw off your shotguns POI.
The reason to throw away the wrenches is to avoid the temptation of adjusting the stock if you are not shooting well. If I see a competitor reaching for his wrenches during the middle of a competition I know that he's out of the running.
Beretta687EELL
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I've lost 75 lbs., well, at least I had up until last week, and the only thing I have changed on my stock is I put on a new, thicker recoil pad. I have a custom stock on my Kolar. I have always pulled the stock in tight and put my face down hard on the stock. I've always been a big proponent of gun fit and once the gun fits, leave it alone. The targets that I miss are almost always mental error.
- Location
- Sudbury Ontario
Steve Milton with precision arms in king city he's the only actual shotgun fitter in ON. Used to be a stock maker in England where he learnt the trade.
Correct, Milton is good, if you want, and really need a stock fitted, he is your man. If you just need a few tweaks then try Mike Hunter right there in Meaford, a nice fella and knowledgeable.
