The old quick test for shotgun fit.

[Big Bad]

Short of buying a custom made gun, getting one that fits you at least closely seems to be a matter of luck and shopping in the market where you're an average size. You also need to have your dominant eye on the side you're handed on and there are probably other issues, but length of pull and drop at comb and all that stuff are the basics. Which leads me to the basic test I learned back in the 19th century, or at least I think it comes from there, and that is you hold the gun you're considering in a basic cross-body safety pose, turn to a reasonably distant object (something overhead that's within normal shotgun range), then close your eyes and quickly mount the gun to your shoulder to where you think it's pointing at said object, Then you open your eyes and look and if the gun is indeed pointing where you thought it was, you have a decent fit. It's the test I've always used with double barrels.

Reason I ask about it is that I was doing this in a big store, name rhymes with Crobellas, and I do believe I completely freaked out the already anxious salesman who had no idea what I was doing, especially when I turned at a slight angle to the counter to get a reasonably good range in view.
I believe Crobellas must have lined the top edge of their gun counter wall, their approved safe fire zone, with 5 inch armoured plate and are convinced that a shot at an angle (from a verified unloaded gun with a trigger lock on it) will kill dozens. But I'm going OT....

Do people not do this little test anymore? Is the test a myth I've never caught on to? Or is there another reason I haven't seen it done since Reagan was president, failing nervous salespeople?

 

[Londonshooter]

I don't close my eyes. Rather, I keep them both open to mount a gun while focusing on a distant spot. Maybe where two walls form a corner with the ceiling. Then look at the bead and rib to see if aligned with that spot. I think that is pretty common practice before dropping $$ on a gun. If seriously interested in buying, person can always ask ahead of time if such a check is ok and then not surprise/freak-out sales associate.

 

[Kenny]

Sometimes for some people there is a learning curve. I switched to a heads up gun with higher rib, about 7 years back. I was almost to the point of dealing it, out of frustration. Received a little coaching about heads up guns, and things vastly improved. I would not switch back now. Totally sold.

 

[Butcherbill]

Oh geez, they must have had a heart attack behind the counter. I still do it, hell I do it with any gun I shoulder that had irons of some sort to get a feeling for fitment. The mom and pop stores don’t mind at all, same with dry firing I find. I always ask if I can or if they have snap caps on hand.

 

[straightshooter]

I still use the same idea for a quick and easy evaluation of fit. I would add that when you open your eyes, you want to be looking down the rib at the target, but I suspect that's what you meant.

I don't think the technique has fallen out of favour, but it wasn't widely known to begin with and many shop employees aren't especially experienced these days. If you want to see them faint dead away behind the counter, try pulling the forend and barrels off a side by side (assuming you can even find a sxs at the big box stores such as you describe). That, or stripping down a pistol, causes them to react like you're damaging the merchandise.

 

[nowarningshot]

I also try mounting the gun with my eyes closed, open them, and see if im looking down the rib with beads aligned.

When it comes to golf drivers and shotguns, my fit is your basic " everyman".

 

[stubblejumper]

I don't close my eyes. Rather, I keep them both open to mount a gun while focusing on a distant spot. Maybe where two walls form a corner with the ceiling. Then look at the bead and rib to see if aligned with that spot. I think that is pretty common practice before dropping $$ on a gun. If seriously interested in buying, person can always ask ahead of time if such a check is ok and then not surprise/freak-out sales associate.

The problem with keeping your eyes open, is that most people will subconsciously make adjustments as they mount the gun. With your eyes closed, that doesn't happen.

 

[9.3 Hunter]

yup - always works

 

[Londonshooter]

The problem with keeping your eyes open, is that most people will subconsciously make adjustments as they mount the gun. With your eyes closed, that doesn't happen.

I guess I'm not most people then. Interested in knowing if the gun shoots where I look - not where I imagine when my eyes are closed.

 

[Westward1]

I don't close my eyes. Rather, I keep them both open to mount a gun while focusing on a distant spot. Maybe where two walls form a corner with the ceiling. Then look at the bead and rib to see if aligned with that spot. I think that is pretty common practice before dropping $$ on a gun. If seriously interested in buying, person can always ask ahead of time if such a check is ok and then not surprise/freak-out sales associate.

You should’nt close your eyes. Your eyes give direction to your hands and body to mount the gun. Pick an object, mount to it and check your eye alignment to the rib or barrel. Have someone check cheek and shoulder contact, head position. It helps if you have a good understanding of mounting a gun.

 

[Westward1]

I guess I'm not most people then. Interested in knowing if the gun shoots where I look - not where I imagine when my eyes are closed.

I am not “ most people” as well.

 

[Big Bad]

I guess I'm not most people then. Interested in knowing if the gun shoots where I look - not where I imagine when my eyes are closed.

You should’nt close your eyes. Your eyes give direction to your hands and body to mount the gun. Pick an object, mount to it and check your eye alignment to the rib or barrel. Have someone check cheek and shoulder contact, head position. It helps if you have a good understanding of mounting a gun.

I am not “ most people” as well.

Oh my. I wasn't describing how to shoot, I was describing a specific quick test for basic shotgun fit. Which I guess is still in good use, eyes closed or eyes wide open.

 

[guntech]

Nothing wrong with closing your eyes when testing...

Close your eyes and shoulder the shotgun and lightly 'cheek' the stock as if you were on a trap shoot... that will be how the gun fits naturally to you... now open your eyes. If you find yourself looking down the barrel you will have very little adjustment required...

You will have to practice your cheek weld and pressure... usually done with your eyes open.

 

[Pinfire]

...you hold the gun you're considering in a basic cross-body safety pose, turn to a reasonably distant object (something overhead that's within normal shotgun range), then close your eyes and quickly mount the gun to your shoulder to where you think it's pointing at said object, Then you open your eyes and look and if the gun is indeed pointing where you thought it was, you have a decent fit.

Yes.

 

[medvedqc]

the way i ve been taught and shown is similar to the OP except you start by shouldering and aiming with eyes open then you close your eyes and when you open again you should still be at the same aiming point if not without fitting there is no fit ...

 

[canvasback]

I’ve been fitted by two gunsmiths, both qualified to fit you. Both had me mount the gun with eyes closed.

 

[Juster]

That's what I always do with any gun. It's a marksmanship principle in that it should not require effort to keep the gun on target.

Which leads me to the basic test I learned back in the 19th century

You are lookin' real good for your age!

 

[Longwalker]

I just bought a shotgun at Cabelas. Same experience as you had. But I nevertheless insist that I am able to evaluate fit with eyes closed, and also with eyes open, and from low mount position, and from mounted, and with several foot / body positions. And with the muzzle pointed at a variety of spots, low and high, and with a swing from left to right and right to left and incoming. Any store employee that doesn't understand that process is not worth dealing with, but sometimes we have no other choice. Sadly, Cabelas treats potential gun buyers as a potential liability.

 

[Falconflyer]

I don't close my eyes. Rather, I keep them both open to mount a gun while focusing on a distant spot. Maybe where two walls form a corner with the ceiling. Then look at the bead and rib to see if aligned with that spot. I think that is pretty common practice before dropping $$ on a gun. If seriously interested in buying, person can always ask ahead of time if such a check is ok and then not surprise/freak-out sales associate.

This method has served me well over the years. While it's true that you may subconsciously make small adjustments to get the right sight picture, it's easy to exercise some discipline to not do that and just mount the gun to where it wants to naturally sit. After the gun is mounted, then I move my eyes back to the rib and beads to see where they are. I can usually tell with one mount whether I have any chance of shooting the gun well, if it's close then a few more mounts tells me if it's worth taking to the range or not.

 

[Big Bad]

That's what I always do with any gun. It's a marksmanship principle in that it should not require effort to keep the gun on target.



You are lookin' real good for your age!

I first read about how to test fit in a disintegrating old book that seemed to be from that period. It was one of two books about firearms in the local school library. Most of the books were about that old.