It contributes a great deal to proper gun alignment and, if excessive, will cause the recoil to be more noticeable. A 1 5/8 inch drop at the comb, a 2 1/2 inch drop at the heel will prove correct for at least 95% of the shooters. For trap and skeet guns, a straighter stock is provided which means less drop at both the comb and heel.
Full Answer
Where does the stock go on a shotgun?
Length: The shotgun stock should fit such that the butt pad can be placed in the “pocket” of the shoulder-the high pectoral muscle well inside the shoulder joint. The chest and shoulders should be square, that is, perpendicular to the shotgun.
What are the measurements for a shotgun stock?
There are three specific measurements important in any shotgun stock. The measurements are "drop at comb," "drop at heel," and "length of pull."
How should a shotgun fit?
When the shotgun fits, both hands should work together smoothly, without one doing more or most of the work. This results in a smooth, consistent mount, which in turn is necessary for proper movement and aiming.
Can you shorten the stock on a shotgun?
Shortening a shotgun stock and fitting a recoil pad. A shortened stock is one of the more common firearm modifications encountered. Often a shooter will need a shorter length-of-pull because he or she has a smaller frame, is younger, or wants a faster handling firearm. In some applications, such as law enforcement,...
How long should my shotgun stock be?
Length of Pull It should be about two finger-widths or 1-1½ inches. A stock should be short enough that you can mount the gun without snagging it on your vest, but long enough that you don't have to pull it a long way back into your shoulder, which can pull the muzzle off target.
How is a shotgun supposed to fit?
0:364:54What is Shotgun Fit | Shotgun Tips with Gil Ash - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to close the gap between the nose and the thun thun knuckle by one inch. Not manyMoreYou're going to close the gap between the nose and the thun thun knuckle by one inch. Not many people know that talk to you again if you cut the gun bud off 1/4 of an inch.
How big is a shotgun stock?
The length of the stock, the butt plate and the angle of “pitch” The length of the shotgun stock is approximately 370 mm, but if you want to customize it, you will always need to consider the shooter's measurements.
How many inches does a shotgun barrel need to be?
18 inchesWhat's the Minimum Shotgun Barrel Length Required by Law? A shotgun barrel must be at least 18 inches in length as outlined in the NFA. Any shorter (seriously – any tiny bit shorter) than that and it is considered to be an SBS.
Is gun fit important?
If your gun fit is good then your shooting is more likely to be fluid and accurate. If it's wrong, then the gun won't point exactly where you want it to and your shooting may look tight and 'snatchy'. Furthermore a badly fitting gun may cause bruising under the shooter's cheek, on the jawbone, shoulder and forearm.
What is drop at comb and drop at heel?
Drop at Comb: extent of vertical offset between the top of the barrels (rib) and the comb of the butt-stock. Drop at Heel: extent of vertical offset between the top of the barrels (rib) and the heel of the butt-stock.
How long is a gun stock?
This is the LOP of the rifle. Write down the measurement. In case the LOP turns out to be too long or short, you'll need to know the measurement to determine if your stock should be trimmed or replaced. Most factory rifles have an LOP between 13.00 and 13.75 inches (33.0 and 34.9 cm).
How wide is a gun stock?
J.C. RIFLE STOCKLengthThicknessButt Width32 in2 in.6 in.812 mm51 mm152 mm
What is shotgun length of pull?
A: Length of Pull (LOP) on the shotgun or rifle is the distance from the trigger to the back center of the butt plate or recoil pad. LOP is one of the primary measurements in determining if the gun “fits” the shooter.
How short can my shotgun barrel be?
18 inchesCalifornia Penal Code 17180 PC defines a “short-barreled (or sawed-off) shotgun” as a one having either: A barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; or, An overall length of less than 26 inches.
Is a 14 inch shotgun barrel legal?
There are two reasons why you shouldn't attach a stock to your firearm. First, if you attach a stock while the weapon has a 14 inch barrel, it becomes an unregistered short barreled shotgun. Doing this without the proper NFA paperwork is a Federal felony, and carries with it heavy fines and a lengthy prison sentence.
Does length of shotgun barrel matter?
Barrel length is an important part of the gun's overall balance. Longer barrels tend to make the gun more nose heavy while shorter barrels make the gun more stock heavy. Shorter barrels are quick and longer barrels provide for more deliberate shooting.
Why Is Gun Fit Important?
Gun Fitting Terminology
- If cast, drop, pitch, length, comb, toe, rib and heel all make you scratch your head and want to run a mile, wait! Read on and all will become clear… Firstly, it will help if we break the above into two distinct categories. 1. The physical parts of the shotgun which are important to gun fit 2. The measurements between those parts The diagrams below will help you to understand the anato…
The Proof Is in The Pattern
- Most shooting grounds have a pattern plate which you can ask to use. The purpose of a pattern plate is to allow you to shoot at it from certain distances with different cartridges to see how it impacts your shot pattern. One other use of a pattern plate is to aim at the centre and see whether your pattern is high, low, left or right of where you think it should be. Where possible, try to make …
Summary
- Hopefully you now have more of an understanding about gun fit and how/why the different measurements are used and taken. There is no substitute for spending some time with a seasoned gun fitting pro and as mentioned a number of times in this article you should absolutely do this before having any alteration work carried out on your gun. If you have been wondering ho…