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doodlebug

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi folks. I wasn't sure if I should have put this in the General category, so if I screwed up somebody just move it. I've just recently gotten interested in shooting the shotgun. After 35 years of nothing but high power shooting, it seems kinda weird, almost like I'm starting over again. One of the reasons I never messed with the shotgun much was because I am cross dominant, and could never hit anything with it. I've got a fellow out at the local gun club who is going to be working with me in trying to overcome that problem though, and I'm anxious to give it a stab once again. My question however concerns the length of pull of a gun. I've got a Remington 870 pump that I'm starting off with, but it seems like every time I try to shoulder the gun, it catches me under the arm pit. I measured from the trigger to the center of the buttpad and it is 14 inches. Also, when I bring my face down onto the stock, I feel like I'm way back on the stock. Just doesn't feel natural. I've thought about cutting the stock shorter, but don't want to butcher the wood if that's not the real problem. How can I go about checking this to see if that is the problem? Is shortening the stock something that is done often to guns? Thanks for any advice you could give me. Ron
 
With your rifle background, the shotgun stock probably feels long as in my experience, shotguns usually have a longer length of pull then a rifle. I wouldn't cut the stock until you get a little more experience with your mount and refine your position. As a point of reference, I'm a 200# 6'er and shoot a 14-3/8" LOP. Other factors are the thickness of your clothing which changes according to the season, and the design of your recoil pad. I use a Pachmeyer (sp?) which has a hard rubber insert at the top of the pad to help avoid snagging. Hope this helps.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thank you Bill. I remember some of the boys way back when, used to put the stock of the shotgun in the crook/bend of their elbow, and if their trigger finger fell on the trigger pretty comfortably, they would call that a good fit. My finger doesn't even reach the trigger. If I stand up real straight, suck my belly in real tight, and stretch my neck, I'll reach about 5'7", so maybe my proportions are a little off. :lol: I don't intend to shorten it any time soon. I was just trying to get feel from you experts on how I should proceed. Thanks again.
 
Ron;

First, forget about the old, innacurate, ridiculous, absurd way of determining the corroce LOP using the length of the lower arm. It is as wrong today as it was when it was first muttered by someone who knew nothing about stock fitting.

LOP is affected by a number of things. Among them in no particular order are:

1. How directly the shooter faces targets (An oblique stance
will require a longer stock.)

2. The length of the shooter's neck

3. The amount of shoulder slope

4. The height of the trigger-elbow when shots are fired (The
higher the elbow, the higher will be the shoulder.)

5. The height of the gun mount on the shoulder

6. The horizontal positioning of the butt on the shoulder

7. The drop at the comb dimension of the stock (On a gun with
a comb that rises in the front, there is one place that
correctly positins the eye at the correct height relative to
the rib to achieve the desired point of impact.) This can
affect not the correct LOP but the best LOP given the drop
at the comb situation. http://stockfitting.virtualave.net
 
There is a website - Shotgun Report, which has a lot of usefull information on gun fit. It's written by Bruce Buck who writes articles for several shotgun magazines and is a highly respected person in the industry.
He has articles on the site covering virtually every subject and a search engine to help you find specific information.
Based on what you said, you may need to shorten the stock, I don't know.
Cutting is forever and I'd encourage you to be sure before doing anything. If the length is just slightly off, you have the option of recoil pads of different thicknesses.
The "Shotgun Report" site is excellent for this kind of information. Good luck.
 
Rollin and Lefty Bill both gave you good info. (Get Rollin's book, I haven't yet but it is on my to-do list)
I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to shorten it. For me, a little long is always better than a little short.
One thing I would ask is, how thick is the recoil Pad? If it is thick you can easily shorten the length of pull some by going to a thinner pad. Keep in mind what Rollin said. Unless you have a parallel comb,when you shorten the stock, your cheek will move forward and you will raise your eye/rib relationship and raise the point of impact. As one of the prior posters said, they make a pad that are rounded at the top. I see a lot of pads that are very pointed at the top and not very friendly to the low gun shooter.
You must also consider the type of clothes and how many clothes you are wearing. Are you wearing a shooting vest with a shoulder pad or a sweatshirt or jacket that can catch the recoil pad.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
When I mount the gun, I have to actually "push" it away from me and then bring it back in to my shoulder to keep it from catching me under the arm. That's with me mounting the gun pretty quick, as if trying to get on a bird real fast, and it's also with just a regular long sleeve shirt. The recoil pad is, however, real thick (almost an inch). I think I'll get a thinner one (recommendations?) and give that a try. Rollin's book is on my list as well. Thanks also for pointing me to the web sites. I'll check them all out. You guys are a lot of help and you are appreciated.
 
Ron,just to give you an idea.I am 5ft 5" and weigh 145 pounds.I use a stock that is 13 3/4" inches from the trigger to back of pad.You need at least an inch from where your thumb is on the stock to your nose,or else you will get punched in the nose when you fire it.If you can find a good shooting instructor or gun fitter where you are check with them and go by what they tell you. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of shotgunning. sj :D
 
Doodlebug: Let me tell you it is a sickness, until you figure it out in your own way. However, I have learned that your own way does not offer that many options. The solution to your problem is very SPECIFIC.

A lot of people have doubted Rollin Oswald, and his stockfitting tips. However, I have NEVER found one of his bits of advice to be in error.

Let me assure you, that your issue is not JUST about cutting your stock, and making it shorter. It goes far deeper than that.
The understanding of shotgun fit takes time, and I encourage you to take that time, because all success in shotgun sports rests in that reservation of time.

Also, remember that shotgun fit is one of the BEST excuses to purchase a new shotgun. I have met many a person who is unhappy trying to fit just one shotgun, but I have never met a person with a closet full of shotuns trying to find fit.

I am at the age of determination. You will never see an old guy with a closet full of shotguns afraid of death. At least, that has been my experience.

I wish you all a Happy New Year.
 
Ron;

Your mount procedure, although it may take a few milliseconds longer, is a good one. If more shooters mounted their guns as you do, there would be more successful shooters.
 
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