Custom Gun Fitting
Shotgun stock dimensions are crucial for wing and clay shooters as they directly affect the fit of the gun, which is essential for accuracy and comfort. These dimensions include the Length of Pull, Drop at Comb, and Cast, among others, and are tailored to enhance the shooter's performance. Custom gun fitting often addresses these measurements to ensure optimal comfort, alignment and control during shooting.
John Higgins possesses the expertise and experience necessary to customize your shotgun stock to match your precise measurements, making use of affordable aftermarket modifications. If you're interested in a gun-fit assessment or have any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about custom gun fitting. If your question is not included, please feel free to contact us; we are always eager to assist you with your inquiries.
Q. I just bought a new gun. How can I be sure it fits me?
A. The answer to this question depends on your body size and type. Most average shotgun stocks come from the factory made for a certain body size and type. If you have a short neck, wide face, are about one hundred and eighty pounds in weight and a man, the average factory gun stock might fit you.
Q. How can I check to see if my gun fits me?
A. There are three main points to check on your stock to see if the gun fit is reasonable:
Eye Position. Make sure when your cheek is down on the stock your eye is looking straight down the barrel rib. (use a mirror to check) The entire colored part of your eye must be sitting on the rib. For example, if you have a middle bead on the rib, this bead needs to be sitting under the front bead to form a figure eight. This will ensure no vision impairment. The eye position must not be too low nor too high, too low, you will miss under the target, too high, you will miss over the target.
Stock Length. Stock length is measured initially from the trigger to the center of the sole(butt). Stocks generally range from 9 inches to 16+ inches in length. Correct stance is important, make sure you try to avoid creeping your head sideways and forward down to the stock to find alignment. Your face contact point on the top of the stock (comb) must be approximately centered half-way between the heel (top of the butt) and the front point of the comb (POC). There is no hard correct length for a shotgun stock; it can vary somewhat depending on individual preference and what you are used to.
Cast Off or Cast On. Cast-off is for the right hander, cast on is for the left-hander. The cast on a stock is when the line of the stock is moved away from the line of the barrel. Correct stance is important, typically shotgun stance is more open than rifle stance, without the proper cast you will probably need to tilt and drop your head slightly to find alignment.
Q. I know someone who shoots well and has never had a fitted gun. Do I really need a fitted stock to shoot well?
A. The simple answer is no, many competitors and hunters shoot amazingly well with guns that do not fit at all. Shooting gun-up all the time, most shooters tend to wrap themselves around the stock to manually find alignment. Many shooters have shot this way for years and are happy not to change anything, nor should they. However, this is also why you see so many awkward stances and crouched leaning body positions. Most shooters have never experienced what a fitted stock feels like. With a fitted stock, the alignment will be automatic, your stance can be more relaxed and generally feels better. For many, a well fitted stock can increase your success from 10 and 40 percent.
Q. My gun appears to shoot high. Do I need to adjust my stock?
A. Not necessarily. During the gun fitting process your point-of-aim and point-of-impact will be checked to see if they match. Shooting high may not be a gun fit problem, it may be that the barrels have been specially regulated to shoot high. Alternatively, check the chokes, sometimes you will find a rogue choke that throws the shot pattern out of line completely. It is not unusual for shotguns to shoot higher than expected. Loads and chokes can alter the way a gun shoots, so it is best to check and verify performance using a good steel pattern plate.
