Trap Shooters! What do you think? (Update post 12)

james01

james01

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Hoping to gather some opinions on adjustable stocks and butt plates.

I have a 1980's Beretta S682X O/U I like very much. I shoot well (22's- 23's are my 16 yd average score, and 44's in dbls) with it, BUT, I noticed that I am shaving the left sides of straight aways with it. I patterned the gun, and see that my pattern is low and to the left.

I tried to compensate by smashing my face over the stock more to move the pattern to the right, but found that the gun is kicking me in the cheek pretty hard when I do that. I was ink balling the straight aways, but I know I can't keep doing that, or I'll develop a flinch from the cheekslap.

I can have an adjustable Graco comb installed for 200.00. I can also have an adjustable Graco adjustable plate installed at the same time for anther 200.00.

Should I bother with the butt plate, or just get the comb done? OR, should I save up a bit more money and buy a used Precision Fit Stock?

With a PFS, can I also adjust the pitch of the pad? I have a barrel chest, and I am wondering if I can increase the pitch on the pad it might help with the cheeck slap. I tried a friends Beretta with the PFS, and was impressed that there was no recoil, although it did feel quite "loose" and spongy when mounted into my shoulder. I assume I would get used to the different feel of the PFS.

What say you?

Thanks in advance for any insights/experience you want to share.

James
 
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If your not worried about the FUGLY FACTOR and can afford it buy the PFS. They definately do there job and in my 30 year trapshooter carreer I have never heard anyone say they hate how they work. I personally have Soft Touch system on my ljutic and would never dream about having anything else. Graco's are also a very decent system but depending how far you press yourself into the gun you will feell the comb move on your face. They do a nice job of recoil reduction though and as I remember most Berettas need it. If you go graco get the stock and the recoil pad ajustable , you will definately want the stock adjustable if your shooting LOW so you can get a higher POI especially for doubles. Good luck and keep burning up shells .

Bog
 
I have a PFS and agree on the "spongy" feel. However it can be adjusted for a less "spongy" feel almost to the point of being as solid as a standard stock. If you don't go with the PFS I'd suggest getting the comb done, shooting it and then decide if you need the adjustable butt plate.
 
I would opt for the Graco comb ... you'll soon find out if a little more cast off and a little more comb height cures your
"low-leftedness" !


Rule of thumb...
Pattern at 16 yards with full ... every inch the pattern is out requires 1/16" inch of movement in the stock to correct.
 
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The adjustable butt plate is nice to have (to adjust the gun for the relationship between your shoulder and your cheek bone). The adjustable comb is imperative if your eye is not properly centred over the rib at the height required for the POI you are trying to shoot. If your gun is patterning to one side (assuming you aren't just jerking it to the side with a bad trigger pull) then run, don't walk, to get the adjustable comb.

As to the PFS, they are great pieces of equipment IF you have the discipline to set it and forget it. If you're the type of guy who will tweak it every time you shoot a bad score stay away from them. Also prepare yourself for everyone to ask where the rest of your gun is.
 
Edgey's comment made me think. I don't regret installing Gracoil butt pads on my Citori or my BT-99. But I was advised on this forum to be sure about my gun mount before trying corrective procedures many years ago and it made good sense. Both of my guns shot 2 inches to the left at 16 yards with the patterns being 60/40 high. So, the height was pretty much perfect for what I wanted, but the left bias bothered me. I ran the gamut of trying stuff, of course, and sometimes I don't really regret that and other times I do. We're all interested in our tools, after all, so we do try things. But later on I ran into Kay Ohye's video on gun fit. In the video he talked about mounting the gun and 'turning' one's head into the stock 'a bit' to bring the eye in line with the beads. I found this helpful and a slight turn of my head settled me down quite a bit. Of course, mashing one's head into the stock is bound to be wrong, mostly because it would be impossible to keep doing this for any length of time. But I thought a slight turn into the stock and a slight modification in body position, i.e. a slight turn that brings the gun a little more across the body, might be something to experiment with.
 
too much adjustability is not a good thing either unless you can resist the tempatation of constant tinkering...how about getting the stock bent or have some wood removed---if poss
 
bangbang said:
too much adjustability is not a good thing either unless you can resist the tempatation of constant tinkering...how about getting the stock bent or have some wood removed---if poss
Click to expand...

This makes some sense to me, especially if adjusting things leads to 'over-tinkering' and obscures what change(s) actually need to be made. Best to do things systematically, one at a time and trying the simple things first. Getting a higher point of aim can be tested by putting a temporary piece on the comb using duct tape, for example, and if an elevation of the head in relation to the back site works, one can even figure out what height of pad to add to the stock. The method is cheap, doesn't hurt the gun and it is easily reversible. Getting a good gun mount, or trying some changes in how the gun is held doesn't cost one anything either, just practice, some measuring of patterns and maybe a book or video. A fun way to do testing for left/right bias after making some change in stance or head position etc. is to shoot birds from station 7 on the skeet field using your gun with a full choke and watch the breaks. Or set the trap machine to give straight aways and shoot these. I can tell quite easily whether I am centering the shots or moving the pattern off-centre.
 
If you don't have an issue with recoil or a problem with the butt pad, you don't need the adjustable plate installed. The problems that you mention are all related to the comb.

I bought my current Kolar with the PFS on it, I much prefer the custom stock that I had made. The PFS are a great product, but in my case, the grip is too big for my pudgy little hands. If you go the PFS route, the above posters are correct by saying that you need to stay away from the constant tinkering. Get some help setting it up properly and then just check all the screws every couple of months to make sure they are tight.

My PFS is for sale ... it is the new style unit and has had a new top rod bushing installed by VDT and also has his doubles device and a wood cheek piece. I sold the Kolar grip, so you would need to buy a Beretta grip. $850. PM me if interested.
 
The PFS stock transformed my game. I could finally dial in a set up, perfect for me.
Also having the ability to fine tune for winter or summer gear has proven to be very helpful.

It's not for everyone, but for me it made a huge difference. Very glad I went with it and can't imagine not having one now.
And if peeps ask where the rest of the gun is, just let the plumes of black smoke on 4 do the talking :p
 
Update...

I shimmed the heel of the buttpad with some quarters (3) to increase the pitch of the stock to where it felt more comfortable for me. Got some teasing about the quarters, but read on, I had the last laugh.

I had both an adjustable comb and an adjustable buttplate installed on my gun. Hardware by Graco. Had the pitch changed as well to compensate for my barell chest when the butt was cut for the new plate.

I feel that it was money well spent. I patterned the gun and adjusted it to where it looked good on paper. (3 shots at 25 yards, full choke to see where the gun was shooting). Then went to a local competition.

I shot a personal best score at the competition. 50 singles, 50 doubles, 25 handicap. Smoke balled most of my targets, and didn't experience any cheek slap at all. Gun felt great..shot 112 out of 125.

Now I am a firm believer that gun fit is everything. If the gun isn't shooting where you are looking, your scores will be inconsistant. YYMV, but this has been my experience so far.
 
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