anthonyjhallen Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) I hear folks talking about guns not fitting. I have never had one the didn't "fit" as far as I could tell. So my question. How do you determine if one fits or not? Thanks in advance. Edited April 25, 2014 by anthonyjhallen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openclassterror Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) If you catch the stock in your armpit, it is too long. If your thumb hits your nose when you recoil, it is too short. If it hits right or left of where you are looking, it may be you, or it may be cast-off is too much/ too little. In a nutshell. A British stock-fitter from Holland and Holland would disagree, but that is the simplified version. Pitch is the angle between the recoil pad and the rib, which affects how the gun moves (pitches) during recoil, and also how smoothly it mounts to your shoulder. Hardly anybody really ever "fits" their shotgun any more. Benelli and a few others include stock spacers which can be used to adjust cast and pitch, but since few people understand what the spacers do, they usually stay in the baggie in the bottom of the box. Edited April 25, 2014 by openclassterror Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdozer Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I had my Beretta 1301 fit for me, it made a big difference in poi/poa, but the biggest difference was the recoil reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJW Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) I need to dig up a link to Pat Kelley's article... Since a shotgun does not have traditional sights, the "fit" of the shotgun to your body is what lets you mount it consistently and hit what you aim at. The easy way to test fit is to pick a target at, sat, 20 or 30 yards. Start with your shotgun at hand but not mounted; do a low ready, for example. Look at your intended target. Close your eyes and mount your shotgun. Now open your eyes. You should still be looking at your target. If your front bead is not in line with that target, you need to do some fitting. A good fit will mean that every time you do that drill your eye will be looking through your bead at your target. billdozer also makes an excellent point that a properly fit shotgun will give you a solid cheek/stock/shoulder geometry that can help with recoil. Edited April 25, 2014 by CJW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyChris Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I bookmarked this the other day, might be helpful. http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/length-pull-matter/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 If you want to learn about fitting a shotgun, buy a copy of the "Stock Fitters Bible" by Rollin Oswald. Less than $25.00 on Amazon. Very good, understandable explanations as to what goes into fitting a shotgun. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncledoc Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 If you want to learn about fitting a shotgun, buy a copy of the "Stock Fitters Bible" by Rollin Oswald. Less than $25.00 on Amazon. Very good, understandable explanations as to what goes into fitting a shotgun. Pat Thanks for the lead..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I read Pat's article and did some fitting adjustments with my SuperNova. I really can't tell you how to know what needs to happen. I can only tell you when it doesn't feel right. Thus it takes me a long time and small adjustments to get it there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonyjhallen Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KY1911 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My M2 came with the shim kit. At first I shrugged it off: no one needs such things. I'd been shooting "stock" shotguns for 30 years and was always pretty decent. Finally got around to tinkering with the shims and BAM! Makes a world of difference in your poa/poi. But where it really helps is recoil management and the resultant quick transition to the next target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 http://www.multigunmedia.com/shotgun-fit.pdf Shotgun Fit^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodie Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I need to dig up a link to Pat Kellet's article... Since a shotgun does not have traditional sights, the "fit" of the shotgun to your body is what lets you mount it consistently and hit what you aim at. The easy way to test fit is to pick a target at, sat, 20 or 30 yards. Start with your shotgun at hand but not mounted; do a low ready, for example. Look at your intended target. Close your eyes and mount your shotgun. Now open your eyes. You should still be looking at your target. If your front bead is not in line with that target, you need to do some fitting. A good fit will mean that every time you do that drill your eye will be looking through your bead at your target. billdozer also makes an excellent point that a properly fit shotgun will give you a solid cheek/stock/shoulder geometry that can help with recoil. I pretty much did this exercise when I first got my Benelli. Except I wasn't aiming at a target in particular. I would close my eyes, mount the gun and open my eyes. I took notes on whether I was looking up the rib (too much drop.... stock too low), down the rib or over the rib and bead (not enough drop, stock to high, and whether I was looking to the left or right of the rib. After I had 10 sample points, I adjusted with the shims provided with the gun and now when I mount the gun I am seeing none of the rib and nothing but a perfectly centered bead. As stated above, a properly fit gun really shines when recoil comes into play. It's a challenge enough to shoot quickly and accurately when you are just combating the recoil. When you add in the fact that you have to reposition your head because the recoil knocked you off of your improperly fit gun, it makes it even harder. With a proper fit, you just move the gun to the next target and your head and eyes stay in the correct place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJW Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 http://www.multigunmedia.com/shotgun-fit.pdf Shotgun Fit^^^ Thanks, Pat. I Googled "pat kelley shotgun fit" but that link didn't come up, oddly enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop414 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 http://www.multigunmedia.com/shotgun-fit.pdf Shotgun Fit^^^ Pat, you should just put this in your signature line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambluemax Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 In addition to Mr. Kelly's article, it really is one of those things where you just know. Go to your favorite gun shop and lay them all on the counter side-by-side. You will feel a significant difference and will form a definite preference. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildot1 Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I need to dig up a link to Pat Kelley's article... Since a shotgun does not have traditional sights, the "fit" of the shotgun to your body is what lets you mount it consistently and hit what you aim at. The easy way to test fit is to pick a target at, sat, 20 or 30 yards. Start with your shotgun at hand but not mounted; do a low ready, for example. Look at your intended target. Close your eyes and mount your shotgun. Now open your eyes. You should still be looking at your target. If your front bead is not in line with that target, you need to do some fitting. A good fit will mean that every time you do that drill your eye will be looking through your bead at your target. billdozer also makes an excellent point that a properly fit shotgun will give you a solid cheek/stock/shoulder geometry that can help with recoil. Don't mean to disagree, but this only works if you are made out of granite. No human being can remain that still with your eyes closed and go thru the motion of mounting a gun and still be on target. What you are looking for is to mount the gun and get the correct sight picture. Now here comes the bear! You do not have a rear sight you will have to shim, pitch, shave,or add material to the stock to get to the correct point of impact. Bring the gun to your face not your face to the gun. Keep your eye on the rock and your head on the stock. FWIW Mildot After that it is all about the gun fitting you to hit the target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonyjhallen Posted April 26, 2014 Author Share Posted April 26, 2014 Thanks for squaring me away gents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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