salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
- 4,616
- 3,842
A few months ago I learned of an outfit called Upland Gun Company. They import Italian made side by sides and over unders starting at a little under 3K on the side by sides. I started investigating because I love good side sides but struggle with them as most are either neutral or have cast off for a right handed shooter. Basically I shoot 75% with a side by side on the range and little worse in the field Where foot work and balance is often lacking. With my left handed Benelli I shoot about 85% in the field. Im a bit of a hack with a shotgun and tend to aim them instead of pointing.
What intrigued me about Upland Gun Company is you select every feature, from barrel length, to single or double triggers, left or right hand stocking, finish, accents and stock dimensions. Some of the features are add-on. Wood grade, single triggers, interchangeable cokes for example. Left hand stocking is listed as an add on cost. I negotiated on that. Having the stock shaped to your dimensions is not an add on cost.
I had no idea what my dimensions are. Thought I was about 14.5 inches length of pull and knew I needed cast on to the stock as I’m left handed. Other than that, No clue. This morning I drove 2 1/2 hours from my home to Caldwell Idaho and met with a shotgun fitter who has been certified, I was thinking anointed by the end of the day, by British gun makers as having been trained up in the art of gun fitting. We spent an hour learning to correctly mount the gun. What was really interesting and worthy of an hour or two writing, was how closely tied to the various martial arts I was involved in this process was. In any event, every few minutes he was making adjustments to the gun. Then after about 20 proper mounts he went through and adjust the gun again.
Then we went out on the sporting clay’s course. I have shot sporting clays exactly one time prior. I was crushing the birds. I honestly told him I had no idea how I was hitting the birds, it was just happening. His response was “thats what happens when your gun fits” Then we started in on more difficult presentations. If I didn’t try to think about it I would hit, think too much I’d miss. A few more tweaks and some instruction it started coming together on report pairs, started hitting the ones I had been missing. Then it dawned on me, when I was hitting I had no recollection if I was seeing the rib or not or seeing the bead or not. Pick up the bird in my perifial vision mount, engage, hard focus and through the bird and shoot. Easy peasy.
If you’re interested in double guns, take a look at Upland Gun Company. If you’re going to buy one set up an afternoon with Joel Loftis and learn what gun fitting is all about. Thought I had a picture of the Try Gun but it’s not showing up or my final fitting sheet.
Best case my shotgun will be here in September, just in time for upland seasons.
My length of pull is 14 7/16, according to Joel not any longer at all.
What intrigued me about Upland Gun Company is you select every feature, from barrel length, to single or double triggers, left or right hand stocking, finish, accents and stock dimensions. Some of the features are add-on. Wood grade, single triggers, interchangeable cokes for example. Left hand stocking is listed as an add on cost. I negotiated on that. Having the stock shaped to your dimensions is not an add on cost.
I had no idea what my dimensions are. Thought I was about 14.5 inches length of pull and knew I needed cast on to the stock as I’m left handed. Other than that, No clue. This morning I drove 2 1/2 hours from my home to Caldwell Idaho and met with a shotgun fitter who has been certified, I was thinking anointed by the end of the day, by British gun makers as having been trained up in the art of gun fitting. We spent an hour learning to correctly mount the gun. What was really interesting and worthy of an hour or two writing, was how closely tied to the various martial arts I was involved in this process was. In any event, every few minutes he was making adjustments to the gun. Then after about 20 proper mounts he went through and adjust the gun again.
Then we went out on the sporting clay’s course. I have shot sporting clays exactly one time prior. I was crushing the birds. I honestly told him I had no idea how I was hitting the birds, it was just happening. His response was “thats what happens when your gun fits” Then we started in on more difficult presentations. If I didn’t try to think about it I would hit, think too much I’d miss. A few more tweaks and some instruction it started coming together on report pairs, started hitting the ones I had been missing. Then it dawned on me, when I was hitting I had no recollection if I was seeing the rib or not or seeing the bead or not. Pick up the bird in my perifial vision mount, engage, hard focus and through the bird and shoot. Easy peasy.
If you’re interested in double guns, take a look at Upland Gun Company. If you’re going to buy one set up an afternoon with Joel Loftis and learn what gun fitting is all about. Thought I had a picture of the Try Gun but it’s not showing up or my final fitting sheet.
Best case my shotgun will be here in September, just in time for upland seasons.
My length of pull is 14 7/16, according to Joel not any longer at all.
