Shotgun fit

[gibby 0]

Ok I was out with my new (second hand) shotgun for the second time on saturday.

Anyway I fired 3 boxes of cartridges (I was clay shooting) and very quickly (like within a few shots) it became apparent that the stock was hitting my cheekbone quite hard, to the point that I still have a bruise today.

 

Im pretty sure I was holding the gun ok, as I asked my mate to watch me shoot, also I was hitting the targets ok (half of the time ). The only problem was the stock hitting my cheekbone.

 

Can this sort of thing be resolved by getting maybe a 1/2" or 1" recoil pad? Or would this change the entire shooting characteristics of the gun? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am new to shotgunning. Ideally I dont want to change the gun as apart from the cheek pain I really like the gun and its exactly the type of gun I need for the shooting Im planning on doing.

 

Cheers in advance for any advice.

[Deker 3,478]

I had this problem really badly when I first used shotguns, looked like I'd been in the boxing ring after a shoot.

 

The problem may well be a combination of gun fit and mount, but it will guarantee be at least gun mount. Always difficult this one to resolve over a thread, make sure the gun is firm in the shoulder and you are looking properly down the rib. It's best if you can to have someone watch you, they will soon be able to tell you where you are going wrong. Get on top of this as quick as you can or bad habits will form which will be painful and hard to break!

 

Deker

[Guest Macnas]

Hard to say without seeing the gun or it being mounted. If you are an average sized person, then the LOP, length of pull, should be at least 14.5 inches. You measure this from the buttplate to the triggers.

 

If you are a taller fellow and have a long reach, then you need a longer LOP. Like you've already surmised, a recoil pad or stock extension would do the trick.

 

As a quick test, lie the gun along your forearm, with the buttplate tucked against your bicep. If the LOP is good for you, then your hand should be more or less spot on the grip and your fingers should reach the trigger comfortably without stretching (too long) or scrunching (too short).

Once you get this sorted out, you'll also be hitting more than half the clays thrown.

 

Another, 'though more rare circumstance is poor stock design. A gun that is too thick in the comb can punish the shooter, espcially if he/she is fullfaced (or chubby cheeked, if you prefer). A stock that has too much drop at heel, that is a stock that drops too far from the imaginary line that is drawn from the muzzles to the chambers and beyond, can make the shooter "get down" too much and the gun then kicks the crap out of him.

This is a common complaint with the older american guns like the Ithaca/Fox/Parkers.

 

A thick comb can be made more slender with careful woodworking. The low stock can be sometimes steamed/heated into a better shape or, more often, be artificially raised with a shop-bought comb raiser that sits atop the stock, or some shaped foam/similar firm spongy material strapped to the stock.

[gibby 0]

Thanks guys, I have just spent about 2 hours (although some of that was just chatting!) at a good mates with 3 decades of shooting under his belt trying to help me out.

 

The gun is 14 inches from trigger to butt. And Im 6 foot. However my mate got me to do that test with the forearm and the grip felt really natural with a little pressure on the bicep. Maybe my arms are too big :showoff:

 

Anyway the gun feels ok apart from battering my cheek bone all the time. Therefore Im inclined to say its a poor stock design of some description. Unless its just my mount. When theres no-one in the house Im going to spend a while just mounting the gun with snap caps in and trying to get it perfect. Then Ill go and shoot some clays at the weekend, concentrating on my mount. And try not to blow my cheekbone to peices this time.

 

Hopefully I can sort this out without changing guns or getting major adjustments.

 

Cheers for the advice so far guys,

 

Gibby

[MikeTheDog 153]

When I got a better gun a few years back I went and had a lesson with a guy that had a 'try-gun', then took the measurements to the gun maker so he could adjust the stock..