[magoo]

The full story: I have an old Savage 67F pump 12. It shot well and I was usually able to hit where I was pointing it. BUT it had the original hard plastic butt-plate (ouch). So I spent the $$ and got a Pachmyar decelerator. measured 5 times, eyed it up 5 more times and cut the stock and got the new pad in place and straight. I noticed that the original plate actually was not on straight, and it had signs it was a home-brew job so I figured I fixed an old mistake. OK. So go out to pattern the gun today and it is consistently shooting left, 3 different loads. It shoots about 8-10 inches left at 20 yards now. Is straightening out the angle of the butt pad what caused this? I wouldn't think a soft pad would effect the POI or would it? I have the cut off piece from the stock and could duplicate the old angle if that would fix it; but before I start hacking and hewing again I thought I'd ask.

 

[magoo]

If I understand that definition of pitch correctly, no. I take it that means the angle of the butt to the bore in a vertical (as shouldered) plane. No this butt plate was angled left to right as having cast-off built into the butt rather than the stock? The "cheek" side (left) of the stock is ever so slightly longer than the outer (trigger hand) side. It is like when someone shortened this stock they cut the butt off at a 90 degree angle by laying the gun on a band saw table; but since the stock is tapered that means the angle is not divided equally between the faces. My eyeball inadvertently corrected this and I cut it truly flat with about 1 1/2 degrees at each side.

 

[magoo]

The patterning baord at my range has no bench. I may try some rounds off of X-sticks. It may be shooting where it ought, I could have been always flinching it right the way that plastic butt bites, though now I am holding-on better. I may whittle some wedges to try under the new pad to see if that tweaks it over.

 

[magoo]

Thanks for the hints. I tried shouldering it with my eyes closed and at first everything seemed good. After a few tries though I noticed I am mounting it close into my armpit, habit from muzzleloading days and steel horned butt. So as I mount it that way I am rotating the gun a little counter-clockwise. Though the bead was aligned with the receiver it was turned left a BCH. I won't get to the range till Sunday and see if I can figure how to hold this thing right. Will keep yins posted how it goes.