Shotgun stock too short? advise needed....

[bullmastiff 615]

I'm after a bit of help/advise.

 

I've been given a Lanber Shotgun as the owner didn't really use it anymore. I took it to the clay ground for an hours instruction and get the gun/me checked over before heading out and trying it on live quarry.

As soon as I mounted the gun the instructor said it's too short for me and it needs to be at least an inch longer in the stock, I thought this was unusual as I'm only a short arse! (5'6") and the guy I got it from is a bit bigger than me and almost got into the olympics skeet team in his earlier years so I can't see him using an ill fitting gun....

The instructor did say my eye was in a good position sighting down the top rib.

 

I was always told that if you put a shotgun into the crook of your elbow then the trigger should rest just in front of the first joint of your trigger finger, which this one does...

 

So before I go spending my money on a large buttpad extension or a second opinion by a different instructor I thought I'd ask on here.

Has anyone else had this? did it help your shooting to get the gun extended or not make much differance?

 

Also I didn't notice until I got home (kept a few of the empty cartridges as snap caps to practice with) the instructor was giving me 24g 7.5 steel shot to use. I checked my gun over but can't find a fleur on my barrels so I presume their not proofed for steel shot??? Will this not potentially damage the barrels even at those low velocities? Barrels are 1/2 and 3/4 choke.

[saintsman54 15]

Not sure if this will help but you can buy but pads that just slip over the end of the butt, made of leather and elastic. Thought this might give you a feel of how its like with a bit extra length. I bought a s x s that had a butt extension because I have quite a long neck. I find it more comfortable than a standard length stock.

[The one 8,524]

A rubber pad is the easiest option but you can fit spacer plates under the butt but a inch seems a lot

[Horseanhound1 0]

had the same problem with my lanber 20 bore it wasnt as much as an inch new butt pad sorted it

[Hawkeye. 26]

The arm length test is a rough guide but the arm need's to be bent at the elbow to 90 degree's, then the butpad should fit snugly against your upper arm with a comfortable hand grip , trigger resting half way from fingertip to first joint. If your eye is positioned correctly along the rib at present , by lengthening the stock your eye will be positioned further back on the stock , which mean's it will be lower in relation to the rib which might mean that you can't see your target clearly enough with the correct eye.

www.shootclay.co.uk , you might get some further advice there.

[SportingShooter 0]

One thing you haven't mentioned is how well you shot with the gun as it is and whether it was uncomfortable to shoot?

 

As said, you can buy extensions that slip over the butt of the gun which means there's no expensive gunsmithing involved.

 

As for the steel shot, ideally the gun should be proofed if the loads are "High Performance" steel. Standard velocity steel can be used in normal barrels without any problems as the shot is contained in a thick wad until it leaves the barrel.

 

The chokes shouldn't matter as the official advice by the cartridge manufacturers and proof houses is that if the shot being used is No.3 or larger then less than 1/2 choke should be used, smaller shot shouldn't damage the gun or cause pattern problems.

 

I still prefer not to shoot any steel through tighter than 1/2 though

 

SS

[Nik_B 3,790]

My Miroku manual states not to use steel through full or 3/4 choke. I'm not saying your lanber is the same but I would check first.

[bullmastiff 615]

Thank you all for the advice.

It's the first time I've shot with a shotgun in a long time, so only got about 20 out of the 50 clays (kept pausing my swing when pulling the trigger so missing them behind) Think it was more bad technique than bad gun fitment making me miss.

The Rabbits were easy enough as this was more instinctive shooting, it's the fast crossers left to right I kept missing....

The gun felt comfortable to shoot once in the shoulder properly, I had to concentrate on getting it into my shoulder comfortably, again I think this was more just out of practice than the gun not fitting me.

I've since been practicing mounting in front of a mirror and dry firing at points on the wall as I swing past them and the gun is starting to mount quickly and smoothly to my shoulder.

[Akeld 11]

Before starting any alterations I'd be tempted to try a slip stock extender to see how you shoot with it, If your shooting improves its simple enough job to add length either with a recoil pad or by adding and shaping a piece of wood, make sure the extension follows the line of the stock or it will look odd

[toby63 1,236]

  On 05/12/2012 at 07:49, SportingShooter said:

One thing you haven't mentioned is how well you shot with the gun as it is and whether it was uncomfortable to shoot?

 

As said, you can buy extensions that slip over the butt of the gun which means there's no expensive gunsmithing involved.

 

As for the steel shot, ideally the gun should be proofed if the loads are "High Performance" steel. Standard velocity steel can be used in normal barrels without any problems as the shot is contained in a thick wad until it leaves the barrel.

 

The chokes shouldn't matter as the official advice by the cartridge manufacturers and proof houses is that if the shot being used is No.3 or larger then less than 1/2 choke should be used, smaller shot shouldn't damage the gun or cause pattern problems.

 

I still prefer not to shoot any steel through tighter than 1/2 though

 

SS

i didnt think you could put steel through chokes more than 1/2 anyway no matter what size?

[Super Furry Animal 2]

If you're going to buy a rubber stock boot, make sure you don't go for the cheapest.

 

I bought a cheap one (about £8-00) for my Remington 870 and it ended up staining the stock!

 

Not sure how it happened, but you can clearly see the outline of the stock boot.

[SportingShooter 0]

  On 06/12/2012 at 18:07, toby63 said:

  On 05/12/2012 at 07:49, SportingShooter said:

One thing you haven't mentioned is how well you shot with the gun as it is and whether it was uncomfortable to shoot?

 

As said, you can buy extensions that slip over the butt of the gun which means there's no expensive gunsmithing involved.

 

As for the steel shot, ideally the gun should be proofed if the loads are "High Performance" steel. Standard velocity steel can be used in normal barrels without any problems as the shot is contained in a thick wad until it leaves the barrel.

 

The chokes shouldn't matter as the official advice by the cartridge manufacturers and proof houses is that if the shot being used is No.3 or larger then less than 1/2 choke should be used, smaller shot shouldn't damage the gun or cause pattern problems.

 

I still prefer not to shoot any steel through tighter than 1/2 though

 

SS

i didnt think you could put steel through chokes more than 1/2 anyway no matter what size?

 

You're right in that's what most people will tell you when you go to a clay shoot or even some gun shops, but the detailed cartridge manufacturer's and proof house advice I've read says it only causes a problem if the shot is larger than No.3 with modern standard or high velocity loads.

 

Since steel became popular, the manufacturers have encased the shot in a very thick plastic wad to protect gun barrels because steel is so much harder and won't deform like lead will when compressed at the choke.

 

I still wouldn't fancy using an older gun with 3/4 chokes and steel because metallurgy has moved on as well, so modern barrels are more resistant to wear.

 

I must say I err on the side of caution and use less than half for steel in all my guns but it's safe enough if someone was intent on doing so

 

SS