i heard that a shotgun's pitch (which was defined to me as how much the barrel strays from a vertical line when the butt is placed on the ground) affects the amount of perceived recoil... i just added stock spacers on my mossberg 500 to raise the comb and in effect reduced the pitch to almost none. (i got the gun as a hand-me-down and when i fit it, all i saw was the rear of the receiver). as i would have it, this should reduce the recoil, right? and if that is true, it seems like every shotgun variable that reduces recoil (autoloaders, low-velocity or low weight rounds) has at least one draw-back. does lessening the pitch have one? thanks ~eric
shotgun pitch?
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I just found out on this board that changing the pitch will alter your point of impact and might make it more difficult to hit your intended target. I am in the process of moving the buttstock angle of a 20 g down with the information that I have gained here.
Hi. Is the pitch the angle of the barrel relative to true vertical, when standing on its end, or is it the angle between the barrel and the top edge of the stock?
If its the former, then changing angle of the butt plate would change the pitch. If the latter, then putting in shims between the stock and the action would change the pitch.
I always thought it was the latter.
If it's the former, then too much pitch the wrong way would cause one end of the butt plate (or recoil pad) to prong into your shoulder, but wouldn't really change where the gun points. Digging in to the shoulder would hurt, and increase felt recoil for sure.
If its the latter, the shims would change where you point, high or low, and might change the amount of cheek-slap. If the comb is parallel, then it would slap the cheek less, making the felt recoil a lot better. Take out the pitch all the way, and you have to really scrunch down to sight along the barrel, sort of like sighting down a broomstick.
I'd suggest reading up on Rollin' Oswald's posts. He's got the whole stock shape thing figured out.
And rather than buying a new $2000 gun, I think I'll buy his book on stock fitting.
-- Quackster
If its the former, then changing angle of the butt plate would change the pitch. If the latter, then putting in shims between the stock and the action would change the pitch.
I always thought it was the latter.
If it's the former, then too much pitch the wrong way would cause one end of the butt plate (or recoil pad) to prong into your shoulder, but wouldn't really change where the gun points. Digging in to the shoulder would hurt, and increase felt recoil for sure.
If its the latter, the shims would change where you point, high or low, and might change the amount of cheek-slap. If the comb is parallel, then it would slap the cheek less, making the felt recoil a lot better. Take out the pitch all the way, and you have to really scrunch down to sight along the barrel, sort of like sighting down a broomstick.
I'd suggest reading up on Rollin' Oswald's posts. He's got the whole stock shape thing figured out.
And rather than buying a new $2000 gun, I think I'll buy his book on stock fitting.
-- Quackster
Joined
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7,182 Posts
Pitch: the angle formed by the gun's barrel and the end of its recoil pad, often slightly less than ninety degrees. In this country pitch is measured by standing a gun on its pad with the action/receiver in contact with a vertical surface. (For a basis of comparison, a 28-inch barrel length is standard.) The gun's pitch is the distance from the end of the barrel (or at the 28-inch point) to the vertical surface. It is almost always a positive dimension.
This is from Rollin Oswald's (member) gunfitting guide.
Do a search on his name for gunfitting advise or buy his well written guide.
This is from Rollin Oswald's (member) gunfitting guide.
Do a search on his name for gunfitting advise or buy his well written guide.
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