Shotgun fit.

Finding a person that knows what they're doing and getting the proper fit is so important to shooting, regardless if it is hunting, skeet, trap, or sporting clays. I was glad to see that you've went through the process of getting it fitted. I have two shotguns that are fitted for shooting skeet, one for summer and one for winter with heavier clothing. The hardest thing in the world is to put a belt sander to a beautiful piece of wood because it doesn't fit after the fact. In today's world so many hunting guns are being purchased with synthetic stocks and it doesn't give you fitting options like wood. Good luck with a beautiful shotgun and enjoy. If you really think you should of ordered a 20 gauge, it can be in your future.
 
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salmonchaser said:
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.
Click to expand...
You found a good fitter. Not all are that way. Some will read off the measurements, tell you that's what you need, take your money, and that's all. The worst thing is to have the comb too low and have your eye buried behind the receiver. Then you simply can't see. I do quite a bit of fitting myself. The trip out onto the course when fitting is absolutely necesary. Especially with a shooter that is not strong right eye dominant. You can't really do it with a pattern board because you can cheat or aim. Even if you just mount the gun and fire at the board it won't be the same that you will do at a moving target. A good fitter will read shot cloud as you shoot at certain targets. Then make the necesary adjustments to put that shot cloud centered on target without the shooter having to make any conscious thought. Sounds like you found one worth his weight in gold.
 
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Pretty well crushing the birds but getting a little cheek slap. Never felt that before really. Talked to the fitter. He is horrified. Scheduled me in Boise to fix the issue Tuesday. They can make adjustments stateside to the stock.
 
salmonchaser said:
Pretty well crushing the birds but getting a little cheek slap. Never felt that before really. Talked to the fitter. He is horrified. Scheduled me in Boise to fix the issue Tuesday. They can make adjustments stateside to the stock.
Click to expand...
You can usually get rid of that by adding a bit of pitch to the stock. Some cut the stock to do it. Some use a pitch spacer. Some pitch the base of the recoil pad. I have done all three with great success. To figure out how much pitch is needed you can loosen the recoil pad and slide a quarter or Teflon washer between the top of the pad and the stock or put it on the top screw. Lightly tighten the pad and shoot the gun. Keep adding washers or quarters until cheek slap stops. Then measure. That measurement will be the amount of pitch needed. I usually cut around 3/16" of pitch into every stock I cut. That little bit makes a big difference in both cheek slap and with the toe biting into the pectoral muscle. The pectoral muscle thing is a big deal for women and thick chested men.
 
Turpentine said:
You can usually get rid of that by adding a bit of pitch to the stock. Some cut the stock to do it. Some use a pitch spacer. Some pitch the base of the recoil pad. I have done all three with great success. To figure out how much pitch is needed you can loosen the recoil pad and slide a quarter or Teflon washer between the top of the pad and the stock or put it on the top screw. Lightly tighten the pad and shoot the gun. Keep adding washers or quarters until cheek slap stops. Then measure. That measurement will be the amount of pitch needed. I usually cut around 3/16" of pitch into every stock I cut. That little bit makes a big difference in both cheek slap and with the toe biting into the pectoral muscle. The pectoral muscle thing is a big deal for women and thick chested men.
Click to expand...
Exactly what Joel said.
 
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