Roundball shooting and stock fit??

[Snow on the Roof]

Considering a new smoothie but in the past I've never been able to shoot a roundball accurately using just a front sight. My wing shooting has been rather poor as well. While in discussion about this with a friend he said, " well, String Bean get a gun that fits those 4 foot arms..." That got me to thinking about how critical IS stock fit in relation to accuate shooting? I'm 6'5" with a lean build and fairly wide shoulders but my arms are only 40" not 48" :haha: . So if I had one built to my dimentions would, could I see an improvement in my shooting?

Snow

 

[Capt. Jas.]

For wingshooting, yes a fitted stock will improve your shots. It is critical to being able to shoot your best. That said, a good shot can take any gun that shoots straight and hit with it.

A few comments

1. It is probably more than an ill fitting gun that is making your wingshooting "poor". Eye dominancy is a big factor as well as correct instruction on shooting flying.

2. Even most of the cream of the crop gun builders do not know what constitutes correct fitting of the stock to the individual. Not dinging their talent but fitting is an animal all it's own and I don't really know many ML builders who are students of the craft.

3. Rear sights of a sort were not uncommon on original fowling pieces and then there's the option of the smooth rifle. These could suit your needs should you not be too serious about shooting flying.

4. Stock fit is not as critical to single projectile, aimed type shooting but it does enhance.

5. Most people who think they know if a gun fits them are mistaken and when they come "into the light" are very pleased and surprised.

6. Unless one is already a proficient wingshooter, the precision fine tuning of stock fit is not needed but basic stock needs of the individual must be diagnosed and corrected. A one time fitting session with a trained individual will get you a set of general measurements to take to your builder.

 

[wy0mn]

I feel that arm length (length of pull)is less important than neck length and shoulder slope. Especially when it comes to single sight or point shooting.
#6 :thumbsup:

 

[Snow on the Roof]

For wingshooting, yes a fitted stock will improve your shots. It is critical to being able to shoot your best. That said, a good shot can take any gun that shoots straight and hit with it.

A few comments

1. It is probably more than an ill fitting gun that is making your wingshooting "poor". Eye dominancy is a big factor as well as correct instruction on shooting flying.

2. Even most of the cream of the crop gun builders do not know what constitutes correct fitting of the stock to the individual. Not dinging their talent but fitting is an animal all it's own and I don't really know many ML builders who are students of the craft.

3. Rear sights of a sort were not uncommon on original fowling pieces and then there's the option of the smooth rifle. These could suit your needs should you not be too serious about shooting flying.

4. Stock fit is not as critical to single projectile, aimed type shooting but it does enhance.

5. Most people who think they know if a gun fits them are mistaken and when they come "into the light" are very pleased and surprised.

6. Unless one is already a proficient wingshooter, the precision fine tuning of stock fit is not needed but basic stock needs of the individual must be diagnosed and corrected. A one time fitting session with a trained individual will get you a set of general measurements to take to your builder.

Capt'n,
As far as wing shooting goes you are quite right. As a youngster I had no formal shotgun instruction. I was trained with a .22 using the old NRA target rifleman method. When the upland season opened I was handed a .410 and told "go get'um"!
What brought this discussion about was a missed whitetail doe at 20 yards with my current smoothbore which IS equiped with a rear sight. Age has taken its toll on my eyes and seeing the sights clearly with a rear sight installed is getting more and more difficult with each passing season. The front sight alone is still clear and with a longer barrel that improves more. I've tried differnt corrective glasses and low power "cheaters" with little improvement. The rear sight is mounted at 12" forward of the breech on my current smoothie which has a 13-3/4" LOP. With my breech loading shotguns I would buy the factory stock and install a recoil pad which would give me a 14-1/2" to 15" LOP which seems to work well. What I want is a smoothbore with no rear sight to obscure the front blade. One which comes to shoulder and cheek instantly without the ajustment I find required now and be able to hit to point at aim with a roundball out to 50 yards.


Simple Huh?

Snow

 

[ohio ramrod]

I also had a simular problem with my pedroseli sxs wing shooting, and the Tingly with round ball. Here ( I hope ) is a photo of my solution.Not fancy but effective! :hmm:

Wow! I got the photo to post on the first try! :thumbsup:

 

[Britsmoothy]

I never buy a shotgun without making sure it fits.

Try imagining a bird crossing and with your eyes shut mount and swing on the bird just as though you were in the field and stop. Now open your eye.

If the gun fits your master eye will down the center of the barrel/barrels maybe just seeing the last half of the top of the barrel. Anywhere else and you will struggle in the field.

The most common is the stock is to high which cause the shot to go high.

Bending a stock at the wrist is possible.

Brits.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

I completely agree with Capt Jas. I have had the privilege to be fitted both at the Beretta and Perazzi factories for shotguns and what the professional fitters can do to make the stock fit you and allow you to shoot your shotgun without conscience thought borders on magic. Because of this I know the dimensions of the stock that fits me. I found a fowler that had the right dimensions and I can shoot that gun with either ball or shot without even looking at the barrel let alone the need for sights. If at all feasible getting fitted for a shotgun is a worthwhile investment.

 

[George]

Considering a new smoothie but in the past I've never been able to shoot a roundball accurately using just a front sight. My wing shooting has been rather poor as well.

Are you right handed and right eye dominant, Snow?

Spence

 

[Snow on the Roof]

Considering a new smoothie but in the past I've never been able to shoot a roundball accurately using just a front sight. My wing shooting has been rather poor as well.

Are you right handed and right eye dominant, Snow?

Spence

Nope Left eyed dominate, left side shooter. As a side bar I am naturally right handed and shot cros dominate until I was in my 40's when I started to loose my vision in the right eye.

Snow

 

[paulvallandigham]

Yes, get a gun stocked to your dimensions. You will find you need a Long lop, more down Pitch, and a resulting lower drop at comb, and heel.

It makes a difference if you are being fitted for a half moon butt plate, that will be placed in the upper arm, above your bicep, and below your shoulder joint, compared to a flatter butt plate that will be held in the pocket of your shoulder, closer to your neck. Most stocks will be longer with the half moon butt plates, than with the shotgun style flatter butt plates.

You shotgun shooting will improve the most, but if you use the same measurements for rifles( unless you are putting a scope on it), you will also do much better off-hand shooting with rifles. If you insist on putting a scope on any rifle, you will find that a long eye-relief, "Scout Scope", mounted on the barrel above the forestock, can be mounted lower, and be easier to see without a major change in the height of the comb. The Closer the scope is mounted to your eye, the higher the comb has to be.

I have had a couple of rifles, and my shotguns fitted to me, and boy, has it made a difference. I have a Win. M.94 30-30 I bought back in 1968, that just beat the heck out of me when I shot it. Then I had a gunsmith fit it for me, and he ended up extending the length of the stock by almost 2 inches. Every friend of mine who is 6'1" or taller, once having handled and fired that carbine, wants to steal it from me. That included a couple of friends who are 6'5" tall.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Dang! Now I wish I still had that try stock!

 

[gearheart]

Yes, get a gun stocked to your dimensions. You will find you need a Long lop, more down Pitch, and a resulting lower drop at comb, and heel.

It makes a difference if you are being fitted for a half moon butt plate, that will be placed in the upper arm, above your bicep, and below your shoulder joint, compared to a flatter butt plate that will be held in the pocket of your shoulder, closer to your neck. Most stocks will be longer with the half moon butt plates, than with the shotgun style flatter butt plates.

You shotgun shooting will improve the most, but if you use the same measurements for rifles( unless you are putting a scope on it), you will also do much better off-hand shooting with rifles. If you insist on putting a scope on any rifle, you will find that a long eye-relief, "Scout Scope", mounted on the barrel above the forestock, can be mounted lower, and be easier to see without a major change in the height of the comb. The Closer the scope is mounted to your eye, the higher the comb has to be.

I have had a couple of rifles, and my shotguns fitted to me, and boy, has it made a difference. I have a Win. M.94 30-30 I bought back in 1968, that just beat the heck out of me when I shot it. Then I had a gunsmith fit it for me, and he ended up extending the length of the stock by almost 2 inches. Every friend of mine who is 6'1" or taller, once having handled and fired that carbine, wants to steal it from me. That included a couple of friends who are 6'5" tall.

Exactly what Paul said. I am 5 foot and 18inches and no gun off the shelf likes me. I added 2 inches to my shotguns with much improvement and 1.5in. to my rifles (a little less 'cause a heavy winter coat is also in play). If you are tall then not doing this kind of thing means that you must put your face where the gun will beat it up in order to see where you're shooting. If the stock is not right you can still shoot OK especially hunting for a shot or two, but a long range session or a few rounds of skeet will lay a whuppin' on ya.

 

[Tinker2]

So if I had one built to my dimentions would, could I see an improvement in my shooting?

Snow

yes.

I can shoot most of my guns well but the guns that were made for me, fit
to me, are easier to shoot well with, so I do better.

My smooth bore round ball guns are fit different to me then my bird guns are.
One size fits all doesn’t do it for me.


Tinker2

 

[kansas_volunteer]

If you're dead serious about it, search Abebooks or other used book listing on-line for "The Shotgun Stock." It has everything you'll need to know about fitting a stock to the shooter. It's relatively rare, and will probably cost you in the neighborhood of $150.