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dslew

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I recently purchased a used Trap Beretta DT-10 and I have some questions on the set up of it before visiting my stock fitter. When shouldering the shotgun, I see about 2mm of space between the front bead and the midbead. I have heard conflicting philosophies (opinions) or how I should be able to view the beads when shouldering the shotgun. Should they be one over the other like on any other field/ or sporting shotgun, or I am I supposed to use only the front bead to point, and use the midbead only as a guide? Some people have said that I should see much more rib on a trap specific shotgun than a regular field or clay shotgun....I don't know which to believe.

I tried lowering the adjustable stock as low as possible and adding the necessary cast on the adjustable Monte Carlo stock, but I can't really adjust my sight plane any better. I tried patterning the shotgun today and if I push my cheek down really hard on the stock to line the beads up, I shoot about 70/30% on the board. I can't seem to comfortably shoulder the gun and line the beads up.

Intuitively, I think I need to have my stock fitter reshape the monte carlo stock to make it about 1/4 " lower so that my sight plane with line up directly parallel with the rib, and the beads one over the other. I can then adjust the POI using the front rib adjustment. Are my thoughts correct?

Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me.

Regards,
Doug
 
You basically answered the question your self. You should see the front bead stacked on top of the middle bead (some times called a Figure eight). In order for this to happen as to what you described you would have to lower the comb ever so slightly. You mentioned that you have an adjustable comb but can't seem to get it low enough. I don't know which way is easier to do on your gun, but you can take a little off on either the top or bottom side of the removeable piece of comb. I've done it both ways to achieve the same result. A good stock fitting guide can be found at www.stockfitting.virtualave.net Good luck
 
Hi from Down Under :)
I only shoot trap and Berettas :lol:
I have a quick question about your DT10. You say it has a monte carlo stock and I wonder if it is an X Trap model with the high rib?? You really need to see Rollin Oswald's Stockfitting Guide BEFORE you attack it.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Hooligan,
I purchased the Beretta Trap Bottom Single Combo. It is quite a nice shotgun, I just have to set it up correctly. I downloaded Oswald's book on shotgun fitting and it is a really written book on the very subject I am having difficulty with.
I am seeing my fitter tomorrow and I am going to have him reshape the adjustable comb. I think that should take care of my challenge.
 
dslew said:
Hooligan,
I purchased the Beretta Trap Bottom Single Combo. It is quite a nice shotgun, I just have to set it up correctly. I downloaded Oswald's book on shotgun fitting and it is a really written book on the very subject I am having difficulty with.
I am seeing my fitter tomorrow and I am going to have him reshape the adjustable comb. I think that should take care of my challenge.
Very nice gun and I am sure you will be very happy with it when you get it set up to suit you :) I have a small problem also with the comb height on the monte carlo stock on the X trap. The comb is just a fraction too high for me as I have a bit more distance between the bottom of my cheekbone and my eye than the majority. For me to look flat along the rib of any gun I need 41mm drop at the comb (parallel comb) and the Beretta will not go below 38mm. I can shoot this OK however it puts the POI to high for my liking which for trap is around 70/30. Trap Berettas are normally set up at the factory with a rib which gives a POI between 60/40 and 70/30 when the rib is
flat. Whilst I do not like to cover the target I am not a believer in floating it too high as then it becomes necessary to compensate for vertical lead as well. Shooters vary a lot in this regard. I am sure a good stock fitter will get you sorted out but you really need to spend some time and shoot the gun with him and to make him aware of what you want regarding POI.
One of the biggest problems a good fitter has is that the client needs to have a consistent gun mount for any of it to be of much benefit. :) Good stock makers and fitters are pretty scarce here ( I only know of one about 200K away) and with help from Rollins book I have mostly done my own. Enjoy the DT10 and I hope you run a hundred pretty soon.
 
Doug,

Before letting your stock fitter remove a quarter-inch of wood to lower your comb, ask him about having an add-on rib installed. This is a better fix for many shooters because it doesn't require lowering your head even farther to place your cheek on the comb, which can invite head raising.

Lowering the pad with a stock adjuster as you discovered, has virtually no effect on the height of your eye above the rib. The cause of your problem is your low cheekbones, the same problem I have had since starting to shoot many years ago.

The need for vertical stock-adjuster adjustments relates to the length of a shooters neck, the height at which the gun is mounted and is an unfortunate way to compensate for a stock of the wrong length. http://stockfitting.virtualave.net
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Rollin,
Thanks for the reply. I read your syllabus on stock fitting and I found it very informative. I met with my stock fitter on Monday and these are the changes that I am making.

1) Shortening LOP about 1 inch
2) bending the stock to add about 3/8" cast, and bending the stock inferiorly 1/4".
3) Adjusting the pitch on the stock and adding a Nelson Pad adjuster.

We discussed adding a rib extension on the gun, but I think I would prefer the route just because I need to make alterations to the stock anyhow.

After everything is all said and done, I think I should have a much better fit, and I will have much more adjustablity on the stock to modify POI and fit later as I improve.

Regards,
Doug
 
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