The information/advice below is from my book, Stock Fitter's Bible.
If you have questions, email me at rollin@stockfitting.com or call me at 920-464-0124 (Wisconsin).
Warning: This thread is long. You may want to have a drink and a snack handy.
Shooters come in a large number of sizes and shapes. There is little difference between the stock dimensions of most guns. For that reason, one size does not fit all. To a great extent, a gun's stock dimensions determine the shooting form that shooters use. Some forms are much better than others.
Fact: Men and women are shaped differently.
Fact: Women are often smaller than men ,as are many youths.
Fact: Women have proportionally slightly longer necks than men.
Fact: The average woman and smaller youths do not have the strength of average men.
Fact: Most guns have stocks designed for men who are 5' 10" tall and weigh 165 pounds.
Fact: Women of all ages are often visually cross dominant. Their dominant eye is often opposite their handedness (If they are right-handed, their dominant eye may be their left eye).
Eye dominance can also change toward middle age for male shooters and causes big problems when shooting shotguns with both eyes open, which is the preferred way of shooting moving targets with a shotgun.)
The above are reasons that the vast majority of guns do not fit smaller shooters. "Fit" describes how well a gun's weight and stock dimensions match a shooter's size, shape and strength.
The cross dominance problem compounds the difficulty many women experience when shooting a shotgun.
Common Problems:
- The stocks on shotguns are too long for many women and youths. This makes the guns feel too heavy due to so much of the weight being so far forward and makes them very awkward to swing.
- The "comb" (top surface of a stock on which the cheekbone is snugly placed) is often too far below the level of the gun's rib for smaller shooters. When the gun is mounted to the shoulder, the receiver or action blocks the shooter's vision of the rib.
If the cheek is raised to allow looking along the rib, which is required to shoot well, the eye will not be able to remain aligned with the rib during swings. Something much anchor the face and eye to the stock. That something is the cheekbone 's contact with the comb of the stock.
To make matters worse, the barrel-rise that occurs naturally when the gun is fired, can drive the comb, which also rises, into the cheekbone (ouch).
- The pitch (angle formed by the recoil pad and the rib (approximately 90 degrees) is often wrong for many shooters, especially women and youths. The bottom of the recoil pad sticks out too far and jabs them in the chest. Not only is this painful but it also increases the recoil-driven barrel rise so much that the cheek is injured by the comb, even when the cheek is making snug contact.
The pistol grip
- The size (radius or distance of the inside of the grip to the trigger) of the grips on stocks is often too large for the smaller hands of women and smaller youths. They must slide their hand up and forward on the grip, which then requires them to pull up rather than straight back on the trigger.
This is problematic because it is harder to pull the trigger up to fire the gun, and as a result, it shot timing is upset - knowing exactly when the gun will fire. Here is a possible solution: http://www.aodagrip.com.
- Guns are quite often too heavy for smaller shooters to mount and to swing easily and accurately. It may not feel heavy at first but it will seem to gain weight during an afternoon of shooting. A gun that is too heavy can also cause smaller shooters to shoot with too much weight on the back foot. This will significantly increase the recoil felt by the shooter, any shooter.
- Many smaller shooters complain that the forward wood on a gun, the forearm, is too large to grip easily with their smaller hands. This feeling is partially due to a misunderstanding of the purpose of the forearm. It should not be used to swing the gun left and right ,but rather, to support the weight of the gun as the upper body rotates at the waist and hips to move the barrel left and right.
It is usually best to support the gun with a somewhat open palm, gripping it only lightly to prevent it sliding off the hand as upper body rotation begins. A light grip also helps avoid "arm-swinging" the gun, which is likely to cause misalignment of the eye with the rib and destroy shooting accuracy.
Most smaller shooters can shoot most shotguns, regardless of their weight, barrel length and gauge. But when a gun does not fit, many will suffer excessive felt recoil, are likely to tire quickly, and will have difficulty hitting targets of any type. Put simply, shooting will not be nearly as enjoyable as it would be if the gun fitted the shooter.
Generally speaking, to shoot well, shooters need to use a good gun mount, stance (placement of the feet) as well as good body, head and neck posture. This is known as the shooting form. A good form promotes shooting success. A good form also helps reduce felt recoil (kick) and will delay fatigue.
In order to use a good shooting form however, a gun's stock dimensions and the its weight must match the size, shape and strength of the shooter.
Good Shooting Form
The shooter should stand with the body rotated no more than 45 degrees from the anticipated direction of the target. (Shooters attempting to shoot a gun that has a stock that is too long, often shoot their shotgun like a rifle with the shoulders nearly aligned with the direction of the shot. This is not good. One reason is because it hampers swings in the direction opposite the side of the gun mount.
To see clearly along the gun's rib and to help keep the eye aligned with the rib both vertically and horizontally during swings, it is best when both the head and neck are in a natural, erect, posture. The neck should not be leaned forward and require the cheek to be lowered to the comb.
Gun weight
The gun should be able to be mounted comfortably and be easily supported with the forward hand during a full day of shooting.
Keep in mind however, that heavier guns kick less than lighter ones. The easiest way to reduce recoil is to shoot shells with a reduced weight of shot. 3/4 or 1 ounce for 12 gauge shells, moving at velocities of 1100 or 1150 feet per second (fps) are quite commonly available. They recoil significantly less than shells with 1 1/8 ounce of shot with a velocity of 1200 feet per second (fps).
When the shooter is new to shooting or weighs considerably less than 160 pounds, shooting the lightest and slowest shells is a good idea, regardless of the gauge and weight of gun that is being used. There are even subsonic velocity shells available, but they are less common than 1 1/8 ounce shells with a velocity of 1200 fps, which until quite recently, was the most common 12 gauge clay target load.
Smaller gauge gun for a new shooter: A 20 gauge rather than a 12 gauge is sometimes considered for new or smaller shooters. However, generally, 20-gauge guns weigh less than 12 gauge guns. For that reason, shells with an equal weight of shot moving at an equal velocity will kick considerably more in a lighter 20 gauge gun than they will in a heavier 12 gauge gun.
When choosing a gun it should be one that can be comfortably handled and repeatedly mounted during a normal day's shooting, but one that is no lighter than required (unless it will be used only for hunting, when carry-weight becomes more important than smoother swings and reduced felt recoil).
The best advice for shooters, regardless of their size, shape and familiarity with shotguns is to make the gun fit, (since most guns have stocks designed for men who are 5' 9" or 10" tall and weigh 160 - 165 pounds).
The easiest way to get a gun to fit you is to visit a good stock fitter.With considerable luck, there will be one near you. He can change the stock's dimensions and allow the use of a good shooting form. The good ones will also teach a good shooting form and then change the stock's dimensions so it can be used when the shooter returns home. (You must remember to use it, though.)
How Well Does it Fit? The following will give you an idea of how well a gun fits:
The stock's "pitch" Pitch is the angle formed by the recoil pad or butt plate, and the rib (approximately 90 degrees).
Check the pitch: As the gun is being mounted and brought back to the shoulder with the barrel raised to a normal shooting height (Get someone to help support the barrel if necessary.), the whole recoil pad, top to bottom, should make simultaneous contact with the shoulder.
If the bottom "toe" of the recoil pad (or butt plate) makes contact very much before the top of the pad, the "pitch" on the stock is wrong and needs to be corrected. In other words, the angle formed by the recoil pad and the gun's rib needs to be changed to fit the shooter's shoulder conformation so the recoil pad or butt plate makes simultaneous contact. When the pitch is wrong, it can be corrected by either a stock fitter or by most gunsmiths.
Stock length - length of pull (LOP) Not that you care, but the stock's length of pull is the distance from the front of the trigger to the end of the center of the recoil pad.
With the gun mounted (ideally, with the head and neck in a normal, erect posture) with the finger on the trigger, the nose and the trigger-hand thumb should be separated by 1.25 to 1.5 inches. If there is much more separation than that, the stock is too long and needs to be shortened. (Grip radius or the size of the grip compared to the size of the hand affects the position of the hand and will also affect the nose/thumb separation.)
A stock that is too long will make the gun feel heavy and can make it awkward to swing. It may also cause the shooter to shoot with too much weight on the back foot It will result in increased felt recoil.
The "Drop at the comb" dimension The comb is the top surface of the stock upon which the cheek is placed when shooting. This drop dimension describes the distance of the comb below the level of the gun's rib.
With the gun mounted with snug cheek pressure on the comb, the shooter should be able to look along the surface of the rib (or, look very slightly down-onto the surface of the rib when the gun will be used for trap shooting and its rising targets).
Often, combs need raised for smaller shooters. This can done by having an adjustable comb installed (+/ - $250) or by adding moleskin or a comb pad to the top of the comb.
Recoil pads
Regardless of the type of clay target shooting for which the gun will be used, there should be a recoil pad on it. The effects of recoil are best avoided whenever possible. Good recoil pads reduce felt recoil and make shooting much more comfortable.
Barrel length
The barrel length of most hunting guns is usually no more than 28". The barrel length of many guns designed for clay target shooting is greater: 30" for pumps and semi-autos, 30" or 32" for over & under guns, and 34" for single shot, break open, trap guns.
Longer barrels offer longer sighting planes, which is beneficial. The additional weight forward of a longer barrel promotes smooth swings, which is also beneficial. Many smaller shooters however, are better off with guns having barrel lengths of 26" or 28" on semi-auto and pump guns, with a 26" on over & under guns being preferred by many smaller women since, although the action or receiver is shorter, there are two barrels to add forward weight.
Shotgun types
Of the different types of shotguns, semi-autos are considerably softer shooting (have less felt recoil) than any other design. Of the semi-autos, gas operated semi-autos are softer shooting than inertia operated semi-autos. Be sure to check when looking at semi-autos if reduced felt recoil is desired.
Choosing a gun
If at all possible, shoot a gun before you buy it. When this is not possible, most stock dimensions can be altered to fit most shooters (with the possible exception of the grip). Knowledgeable stock fitters can fit most shooters of course, but so can most gunsmiths if you can tell them what dimensions you want changed and by how much. (Shameless plug for my book)
There are also guns that come with an adjustable comb, and a few that have stocks that are specifically designed for smaller shooters. These slightly rare guns usually come closer to fitting women and youths than do guns that are designed for "average" men, the ones who weigh 160 or so pounds and are 5' 10" tall.
Considering everything before buying a gun, will reap big rewards, not the least of which is money saved by trading guns less frequently, trying to find one that can be shot comfortably and one that offers more rapid improvement with more shooting experience.
Take your time and consider everything type of action (semi-auto, over & under, pump). Shoot, or at least handle a gun before you buy it.
To get an idea of how well a gun fits, stand with your body rotated less than 45 degrees from an imaginary target and, with your head and neck in a natural posture. Slowly mount the gun with your eyes closed. Then open your eyes and judge how your eye aligns with the rib.
If you are new to shooting, this exercise will be considerably less valuable because you may not know what constituted a good gun mount.
Repeat the exercise but this time, mount the gun so that the top of the recoil pad extends slightly above your collarbone (no more than an inch). Be sure that it makes contact with your shoulder inside of your shoulder joint.
What you are trying to decide here is if the pitch is right and with your cheek on the comb, if the comb is the right distance below the level of the rib for you.
Dismount it and mount it again (with your eyes closed). With the gun mounted, open them. Is your eye aligned vertically and horizontally with the rib? If not, the gun doesn't fit well. You may be able to learn to shoot it, but you will pay a heavy price in felt recoil and shooting success.
If you are a new shooter, this exercise has only limited value. This is because your gun mount has not been practiced and as a result, is not yet correct and consistent. (There are a number of ways to mount a gun, some much better than others. With the barrel raised to a normal shooting height and the gun brought back to your shoulder is only one way and not necessarily the easiest way.)
Questions to ask yourself:
"How did the recoil pad make contact with my shoulder?" Did the bottom toe of the recoil pad make contact well before the top of the pad?
With my cheek on the comb, was I able to look along or slightly down-onto the surface of the rib?
Did I have to lean my neck forward and lower my cheek down to the comb? If I did, could I raise my gun mount on my shoulder just a little to reduce the neck lean and the cheek lowering? (Allow no more than about 3/4" of the recoil pad to extend above the collar bone.)
Ask someone to check the distance between the tip of your nose and the second knuckle of your trigger-hand thumb. Is it 1.5" or less? (The closer to 5' in height your are, the less separation needed, down to about an inch.)
If the separation is much more than 1.5", the stock will need to be shortened. (This would also be the ideal time to correct the pitch, if necessary.)
How heavy does the gun feel? Does it seem balanced between your two hands? (If not, can you move your forward hand farther forward or back to help balance the gun?) Could you mount it 25 or 50 times during a morning or afternoon's clay target shooting without becoming too tired to handle the gun without straining?
Take your time deciding
Don't be rushed by a salesman (or your significant other). This will be your gun and you want to feel good, physically and emotionally when shooting it. Your attention to detail when choosing a gun will improve your chance of getting the best gun, one that you will enjoy shooting for many years. So, do your best to make it happen the first time.
Final question: Are you still awake?
If you have questions, email me at rollin@stockfitting.com or call me at 920-464-0124 (Wisconsin).
Warning: This thread is long. You may want to have a drink and a snack handy.
Shooters come in a large number of sizes and shapes. There is little difference between the stock dimensions of most guns. For that reason, one size does not fit all. To a great extent, a gun's stock dimensions determine the shooting form that shooters use. Some forms are much better than others.
Fact: Men and women are shaped differently.
Fact: Women are often smaller than men ,as are many youths.
Fact: Women have proportionally slightly longer necks than men.
Fact: The average woman and smaller youths do not have the strength of average men.
Fact: Most guns have stocks designed for men who are 5' 10" tall and weigh 165 pounds.
Fact: Women of all ages are often visually cross dominant. Their dominant eye is often opposite their handedness (If they are right-handed, their dominant eye may be their left eye).
Eye dominance can also change toward middle age for male shooters and causes big problems when shooting shotguns with both eyes open, which is the preferred way of shooting moving targets with a shotgun.)
The above are reasons that the vast majority of guns do not fit smaller shooters. "Fit" describes how well a gun's weight and stock dimensions match a shooter's size, shape and strength.
The cross dominance problem compounds the difficulty many women experience when shooting a shotgun.
Common Problems:
- The stocks on shotguns are too long for many women and youths. This makes the guns feel too heavy due to so much of the weight being so far forward and makes them very awkward to swing.
- The "comb" (top surface of a stock on which the cheekbone is snugly placed) is often too far below the level of the gun's rib for smaller shooters. When the gun is mounted to the shoulder, the receiver or action blocks the shooter's vision of the rib.
If the cheek is raised to allow looking along the rib, which is required to shoot well, the eye will not be able to remain aligned with the rib during swings. Something much anchor the face and eye to the stock. That something is the cheekbone 's contact with the comb of the stock.
To make matters worse, the barrel-rise that occurs naturally when the gun is fired, can drive the comb, which also rises, into the cheekbone (ouch).
- The pitch (angle formed by the recoil pad and the rib (approximately 90 degrees) is often wrong for many shooters, especially women and youths. The bottom of the recoil pad sticks out too far and jabs them in the chest. Not only is this painful but it also increases the recoil-driven barrel rise so much that the cheek is injured by the comb, even when the cheek is making snug contact.
The pistol grip
- The size (radius or distance of the inside of the grip to the trigger) of the grips on stocks is often too large for the smaller hands of women and smaller youths. They must slide their hand up and forward on the grip, which then requires them to pull up rather than straight back on the trigger.
This is problematic because it is harder to pull the trigger up to fire the gun, and as a result, it shot timing is upset - knowing exactly when the gun will fire. Here is a possible solution: http://www.aodagrip.com.
- Guns are quite often too heavy for smaller shooters to mount and to swing easily and accurately. It may not feel heavy at first but it will seem to gain weight during an afternoon of shooting. A gun that is too heavy can also cause smaller shooters to shoot with too much weight on the back foot. This will significantly increase the recoil felt by the shooter, any shooter.
- Many smaller shooters complain that the forward wood on a gun, the forearm, is too large to grip easily with their smaller hands. This feeling is partially due to a misunderstanding of the purpose of the forearm. It should not be used to swing the gun left and right ,but rather, to support the weight of the gun as the upper body rotates at the waist and hips to move the barrel left and right.
It is usually best to support the gun with a somewhat open palm, gripping it only lightly to prevent it sliding off the hand as upper body rotation begins. A light grip also helps avoid "arm-swinging" the gun, which is likely to cause misalignment of the eye with the rib and destroy shooting accuracy.
Most smaller shooters can shoot most shotguns, regardless of their weight, barrel length and gauge. But when a gun does not fit, many will suffer excessive felt recoil, are likely to tire quickly, and will have difficulty hitting targets of any type. Put simply, shooting will not be nearly as enjoyable as it would be if the gun fitted the shooter.
Generally speaking, to shoot well, shooters need to use a good gun mount, stance (placement of the feet) as well as good body, head and neck posture. This is known as the shooting form. A good form promotes shooting success. A good form also helps reduce felt recoil (kick) and will delay fatigue.
In order to use a good shooting form however, a gun's stock dimensions and the its weight must match the size, shape and strength of the shooter.
Good Shooting Form
The shooter should stand with the body rotated no more than 45 degrees from the anticipated direction of the target. (Shooters attempting to shoot a gun that has a stock that is too long, often shoot their shotgun like a rifle with the shoulders nearly aligned with the direction of the shot. This is not good. One reason is because it hampers swings in the direction opposite the side of the gun mount.
To see clearly along the gun's rib and to help keep the eye aligned with the rib both vertically and horizontally during swings, it is best when both the head and neck are in a natural, erect, posture. The neck should not be leaned forward and require the cheek to be lowered to the comb.
Gun weight
The gun should be able to be mounted comfortably and be easily supported with the forward hand during a full day of shooting.
Keep in mind however, that heavier guns kick less than lighter ones. The easiest way to reduce recoil is to shoot shells with a reduced weight of shot. 3/4 or 1 ounce for 12 gauge shells, moving at velocities of 1100 or 1150 feet per second (fps) are quite commonly available. They recoil significantly less than shells with 1 1/8 ounce of shot with a velocity of 1200 feet per second (fps).
When the shooter is new to shooting or weighs considerably less than 160 pounds, shooting the lightest and slowest shells is a good idea, regardless of the gauge and weight of gun that is being used. There are even subsonic velocity shells available, but they are less common than 1 1/8 ounce shells with a velocity of 1200 fps, which until quite recently, was the most common 12 gauge clay target load.
Smaller gauge gun for a new shooter: A 20 gauge rather than a 12 gauge is sometimes considered for new or smaller shooters. However, generally, 20-gauge guns weigh less than 12 gauge guns. For that reason, shells with an equal weight of shot moving at an equal velocity will kick considerably more in a lighter 20 gauge gun than they will in a heavier 12 gauge gun.
When choosing a gun it should be one that can be comfortably handled and repeatedly mounted during a normal day's shooting, but one that is no lighter than required (unless it will be used only for hunting, when carry-weight becomes more important than smoother swings and reduced felt recoil).
The best advice for shooters, regardless of their size, shape and familiarity with shotguns is to make the gun fit, (since most guns have stocks designed for men who are 5' 9" or 10" tall and weigh 160 - 165 pounds).
The easiest way to get a gun to fit you is to visit a good stock fitter.With considerable luck, there will be one near you. He can change the stock's dimensions and allow the use of a good shooting form. The good ones will also teach a good shooting form and then change the stock's dimensions so it can be used when the shooter returns home. (You must remember to use it, though.)
How Well Does it Fit? The following will give you an idea of how well a gun fits:
The stock's "pitch" Pitch is the angle formed by the recoil pad or butt plate, and the rib (approximately 90 degrees).
Check the pitch: As the gun is being mounted and brought back to the shoulder with the barrel raised to a normal shooting height (Get someone to help support the barrel if necessary.), the whole recoil pad, top to bottom, should make simultaneous contact with the shoulder.
If the bottom "toe" of the recoil pad (or butt plate) makes contact very much before the top of the pad, the "pitch" on the stock is wrong and needs to be corrected. In other words, the angle formed by the recoil pad and the gun's rib needs to be changed to fit the shooter's shoulder conformation so the recoil pad or butt plate makes simultaneous contact. When the pitch is wrong, it can be corrected by either a stock fitter or by most gunsmiths.
Stock length - length of pull (LOP) Not that you care, but the stock's length of pull is the distance from the front of the trigger to the end of the center of the recoil pad.
With the gun mounted (ideally, with the head and neck in a normal, erect posture) with the finger on the trigger, the nose and the trigger-hand thumb should be separated by 1.25 to 1.5 inches. If there is much more separation than that, the stock is too long and needs to be shortened. (Grip radius or the size of the grip compared to the size of the hand affects the position of the hand and will also affect the nose/thumb separation.)
A stock that is too long will make the gun feel heavy and can make it awkward to swing. It may also cause the shooter to shoot with too much weight on the back foot It will result in increased felt recoil.
The "Drop at the comb" dimension The comb is the top surface of the stock upon which the cheek is placed when shooting. This drop dimension describes the distance of the comb below the level of the gun's rib.
With the gun mounted with snug cheek pressure on the comb, the shooter should be able to look along the surface of the rib (or, look very slightly down-onto the surface of the rib when the gun will be used for trap shooting and its rising targets).
Often, combs need raised for smaller shooters. This can done by having an adjustable comb installed (+/ - $250) or by adding moleskin or a comb pad to the top of the comb.
Recoil pads
Regardless of the type of clay target shooting for which the gun will be used, there should be a recoil pad on it. The effects of recoil are best avoided whenever possible. Good recoil pads reduce felt recoil and make shooting much more comfortable.
Barrel length
The barrel length of most hunting guns is usually no more than 28". The barrel length of many guns designed for clay target shooting is greater: 30" for pumps and semi-autos, 30" or 32" for over & under guns, and 34" for single shot, break open, trap guns.
Longer barrels offer longer sighting planes, which is beneficial. The additional weight forward of a longer barrel promotes smooth swings, which is also beneficial. Many smaller shooters however, are better off with guns having barrel lengths of 26" or 28" on semi-auto and pump guns, with a 26" on over & under guns being preferred by many smaller women since, although the action or receiver is shorter, there are two barrels to add forward weight.
Shotgun types
Of the different types of shotguns, semi-autos are considerably softer shooting (have less felt recoil) than any other design. Of the semi-autos, gas operated semi-autos are softer shooting than inertia operated semi-autos. Be sure to check when looking at semi-autos if reduced felt recoil is desired.
Choosing a gun
If at all possible, shoot a gun before you buy it. When this is not possible, most stock dimensions can be altered to fit most shooters (with the possible exception of the grip). Knowledgeable stock fitters can fit most shooters of course, but so can most gunsmiths if you can tell them what dimensions you want changed and by how much. (Shameless plug for my book)
There are also guns that come with an adjustable comb, and a few that have stocks that are specifically designed for smaller shooters. These slightly rare guns usually come closer to fitting women and youths than do guns that are designed for "average" men, the ones who weigh 160 or so pounds and are 5' 10" tall.
Considering everything before buying a gun, will reap big rewards, not the least of which is money saved by trading guns less frequently, trying to find one that can be shot comfortably and one that offers more rapid improvement with more shooting experience.
Take your time and consider everything type of action (semi-auto, over & under, pump). Shoot, or at least handle a gun before you buy it.
To get an idea of how well a gun fits, stand with your body rotated less than 45 degrees from an imaginary target and, with your head and neck in a natural posture. Slowly mount the gun with your eyes closed. Then open your eyes and judge how your eye aligns with the rib.
If you are new to shooting, this exercise will be considerably less valuable because you may not know what constituted a good gun mount.
Repeat the exercise but this time, mount the gun so that the top of the recoil pad extends slightly above your collarbone (no more than an inch). Be sure that it makes contact with your shoulder inside of your shoulder joint.
What you are trying to decide here is if the pitch is right and with your cheek on the comb, if the comb is the right distance below the level of the rib for you.
Dismount it and mount it again (with your eyes closed). With the gun mounted, open them. Is your eye aligned vertically and horizontally with the rib? If not, the gun doesn't fit well. You may be able to learn to shoot it, but you will pay a heavy price in felt recoil and shooting success.
If you are a new shooter, this exercise has only limited value. This is because your gun mount has not been practiced and as a result, is not yet correct and consistent. (There are a number of ways to mount a gun, some much better than others. With the barrel raised to a normal shooting height and the gun brought back to your shoulder is only one way and not necessarily the easiest way.)
Questions to ask yourself:
"How did the recoil pad make contact with my shoulder?" Did the bottom toe of the recoil pad make contact well before the top of the pad?
With my cheek on the comb, was I able to look along or slightly down-onto the surface of the rib?
Did I have to lean my neck forward and lower my cheek down to the comb? If I did, could I raise my gun mount on my shoulder just a little to reduce the neck lean and the cheek lowering? (Allow no more than about 3/4" of the recoil pad to extend above the collar bone.)
Ask someone to check the distance between the tip of your nose and the second knuckle of your trigger-hand thumb. Is it 1.5" or less? (The closer to 5' in height your are, the less separation needed, down to about an inch.)
If the separation is much more than 1.5", the stock will need to be shortened. (This would also be the ideal time to correct the pitch, if necessary.)
How heavy does the gun feel? Does it seem balanced between your two hands? (If not, can you move your forward hand farther forward or back to help balance the gun?) Could you mount it 25 or 50 times during a morning or afternoon's clay target shooting without becoming too tired to handle the gun without straining?
Take your time deciding
Don't be rushed by a salesman (or your significant other). This will be your gun and you want to feel good, physically and emotionally when shooting it. Your attention to detail when choosing a gun will improve your chance of getting the best gun, one that you will enjoy shooting for many years. So, do your best to make it happen the first time.
Final question: Are you still awake?
