What is the reason for the really tall rib raiser?

[Cy Soto]

I have noticed (mostly in trap shooting) that many of the shooters use these super-tall rib raisers. What is the reason to use these?

[a.roberts]

The more important part is that they're angled down towards the muzzle. The bird is rising (if it's falling, someone waited too long to get the shot off) so if the gun shoots high, just place the bird on top of the rib and pull. If the rib was straight(er)? like a field shotgun, the bird would have to be "covered" by the barrel. Or at least, that's what I had to see with a field shotgun.

As for the height, it's more comfortable. The head and neck can be straighter instead of all hunched up.

[Pat Miles]

The idea behind the tall ribs is that the shooter can see the bird earlier in it flight up out of the trap house. The eyes are higher while the barrel is lower and does not hide the bird. Some people shoot them very well while others have problems adapting. Some expect instantaneous results and are dissappointed.

Pat

[Cy Soto]

Ahh; now I understand... Thank you both for the explanation!

[Chills1994]

some ribs are adjustable for height too:

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: Because it looks cool If it is a unsingle(bottom barrel) on a O/U they do that to make the gun lighter and to lower the barrel to help with recoil. It is a trend now for sporting clays guns also. As stated above it keeps your head upright and eyes higher to help see the bird sooner. I am not good enough to tell the difference but if you want to give me one to try for a year or so I can report back to you Thanks, Eric

[Jaxshooter]

It also has to do with marketing. High end shotguns last forever with proper maintenance. You have to come up with something new and innovativeto sell guns.

[DanM]

WHAT? You wanted a gun with a higher rib? Okie dokie

Edited June 10, 2013 by DanM

[Irishlad]

It does give you a more "panoramic" view with the upright head/eyes.

In ATA trap with a high "hold", well over the trap house, you can see the bird better coming from underneath.

Common in Olympic Double Trap where you "intercept the first target...not much swing so to speak.

Disadvantage, IMHO, is you feel more "removed" from the barrel/line of sight.

But, to each their own !!!

Browning had a high rib sporting gun quite a while ago, discontinued it....now high ribs are back...for a while anyway.

[Sarge]

Helps also with heat waves coming off the barrel no?

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: Heat waves off the barrel? You must be loading some very hot loads and not watching the bird. Thanks, Eric

[JD45]

The heat waves are a very real thing. I shoot a low rib Citori, and I have had issues with heat waves a few times.

And yes, a tall rib unsingle really lets you see around and under the gun so much better. I want one for my next trap gun.

[Sarge]

100 degree heat and shooting 25 in relatively short order. Yeah, I have seen heat waves off of a barrel.

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: I guess I will have to look for the heat waves off the barrel. I have not noticed it shooting trap, 5-stand, skeet or even 3-gun. Thanks, Eric

[314shane]

Wow Dan nice 3200 I got one set up for skeet it has a Simon's rib on it. I shot skeet for a lot of years and a couple of world champs use a very tall rib the reasons are differant for all of them but all the explanations given here are valid. Imop its a good idea to have your head in a more upright position because it makes it harder to raise your head and being that your eye is the rear sight raising your head will cause you to shoot high.

[canuk]

...............with a high "hold", well over the trap house, you can see the bird better coming from underneath.

Common in Olympic Double Trap where you "intercept the first target...not much swing so to speak.

Ditto.

it allows you to hold a highter gun as you call for the target and look down and see teh target approaching below your POI. Otherwise teh barrels are in the way and you cannot see as well.

[cautery]

Mostly used for trap... "optimized" for rising birds.

I'm not a trap shooter... I shoot mostly sporting with a 34" barrel, but I also shoot skeet and trap with my sporting gun. Long barrel makes it tougher on skeet, but it works. Have to watch the swing... more effor tto start/stop swing...

In trap, I have absolutely no problems.

One the "head more upright" deal.... Head position should be a function of gunfit, not rib height. On a properly fit gun and a properly trained stance, your head will be perfectly upright and alighned so that your shooting eyes is the rear sight and hits the same point every time. If you are looking at the bird with a tiled head, you have fitting or stance issues.

Conversations on this subject with shotgun shooters I trust (one a former National Trap Champion) leads me to believe that the ribs are a trap crutch... Proper training will negate the need/desire for one.

[canuk]

Mostly used for trap... "optimized" for rising birds.

I'm not a trap shooter... I shoot mostly sporting with a 34" barrel, but I also shoot skeet and trap with my sporting gun. Long barrel makes it tougher on skeet, but it works. Have to watch the swing... more effor tto start/stop swing...

In trap, I have absolutely no problems.

One the "head more upright" deal.... Head position should be a function of gunfit, not rib height. On a properly fit gun and a properly trained stance, your head will be perfectly upright and alighned so that your shooting eyes is the rear sight and hits the same point every time. If you are looking at the bird with a tiled head, you have fitting or stance issues.

Conversations on this subject with shotgun shooters I trust (one a former National Trap Champion) leads me to believe that the ribs are a trap crutch... Proper training will negate the need/desire for one.

Lots'a crutches being used at the Olympics. But yes, you are right. If you are using a high rib gun and still holding a low barrel then it's nothing more than glitter in my opinion.

But I've never used one so maybe i'm missing out

[EkuJustice]

Nothing wrong with the longer barrels for skeet. Of your doing it right its not hard to get going and you don't wanna stop your swing. My skeet gun weighed approximately 11 pounds and swung very smooth and had no trouble starting the gun or shooting 3-4 5 doubles

[wacpa]

High ribs for trap guns are a common thing now. Most of the manufacturer's offer high rib configurations. There are several after market add on ribs available also.

[Bob Hostetter]

The general opinion then is that if you were going to buy a new trap gun, most would go with the high rib design?

[cautery]

I am not a trap specialist by any means...

But one of my best friends was a Winchester sponsored trap shooter for many years... She didn't use a raised rib... still doesn't.

I would never buy a "dedicated" trap gun... I would never use a "raised rib".
Personally, I think the raised rib is at best a marketing ploy, and at worst, an unnecessary crutch that rewards poor skill/technique. Just my opinion...

But of course, I also hold the opinion that pre-mounting the gun in ANY clay sport is a crutch as well...

IMHO... the BEST solution is to buy a good gun and have it PROPERLY fitted to YOU... I highly recommend Todd Nelson.

THEN, get good instruction and PRACTICE... this applies to ALL shotgun sports.

[Frankly]

^{First I tried a high rib made from flat black painted balsa wood to see what height worked best for me. I only shot a few rounds but got the sense that 3/4" was a good starting point, so I ordered a custom fitted add on rib that attached to my Beretta top single barrel with magnets. It was a very solid, acceptable set up especially when you consider that a good used high rib Beretta barrel can run $1200-plus, if you can find one.}

^{After a Summer of fooling around with it and being very inconsistent, I ripped it off and started shooting better immediately. I agree that the high rib gets your head up but for me it also tended to break my cheek weld. Perhaps if I had a coach yelling at me from behind I could have broke the bad habit? But as of now I like the traditional top barrel and modest rib design and I appreciate hunkering down on the gun and keeping my cheek glued. Maybe my posture isn't as good but I can control the gun better and it feels more instinctive versus with the rib I was tending to aim rather than point.}

^{Perhaps at the top level they see a benefit but they also have perfect form and coaching. For me, I've been watching the better local shooters and most have pretty conservative set-ups.}

Edited November 19, 2015 by Frankly

[314shane]

Frankly,

If you had an adjustable comb you could just raise it to suit the higher rib.

Look at the champs, most of them have adjustable combs or custom stocks made to fit them. There's probably a good reason for that.

[Frankly]

Frankly,

If you had an adjustable comb you could just raise it to suit the higher rib.

Look at the champs, most of them have adjustable combs or custom stocks made to fit them. There's probably a good reason for that.

Yeah my Dad has an adjustable rib and custom stock on a heavily modified trap gun. Makes 3-gun look like a bargain lol.

I have an adjustable comb so I can use that to affect POI too. For the amount I shoot trap that seems like best bang for the buck.