Shepe Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 Hi All, I started shooting this summer, and overall Ive not been happy with the number of targets I've been hitting, today I went to attempt to get my gun fitted. Now I'm very strongly left eye dominant and have been shooting off my right shoulder with one eye closed. This was mainly due to before I had my license I was using my mates gun which was a right handed Beretta and thought when it came time to buy mine I'd get something similar. After about 10 minutes of the instructor/gun fitter looking at me and my mount he said that fitting my current gun to me wouldnt be possible and that I really needed to try shooting from the left shoulder to see how it went he then lent me a left handed gun to go and try on a very simple target. After a few practise targets when the initial strange feeling of firing out the left shoulder had gone the difference was night and day, not only was I hitting targets with both eyes open I was completely smoking them. I then persevered and carried on shooting from the left shoulder and I can see this is the way forward for me. Unfortunately I have a right handed cast Beretta 690 with an adjustable comb which I bought new in November, I'm looking at my options now and so far the 3 I have are 1) Sell the right handed adjustable stock and try and source a left handed adjustable one for this gun, looking at Berettas site they don't appear to sell them, Is anyone aware of anywhere I can part ex/sell just the stock. The main problem I can see with this is that the individual components of the gun all have the serial numbers matched up so I imagine this will invalidate the warranty/people will be less keen to do so. 2) Contact GMK directly and see if there is anything I can do to trade the stock with them for a L/H one hopefully with this route it would keep any warranty intact though I'm not overly convinced this is something that GMK would/could help with 3) Part Ex this gun take a loss on some of what I paid for it and top up the difference to buy a similar L/H gun 4) Get a custom stock made for this gun, realistically though this Isn't something I could do straight away and would leave me forced to shoot out the right shoulder for a fair amount of time before I could get the stock made I'm definitely kicking myself now for rushing out to buy a gun as soon as my license arrived and wish I'd gone to see someone first. It feels like the simplest solution is to take option 3, tbh though I'm not sure how much cash I'm going to have lost on the 4 months Ive had this gun now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wb123 Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 Will a stocker not be able to convert the right handed adjustable to a left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herby Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 Don't they open the other way for lefties? option 3 and buy second hand till you are sure what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 I'm not sure regards a stocker converting it, I'll have a search around tomorrow and see if I can speak to any. Does anyone have any recommendations of a good sticker in the south west? It looks like the top lever is setup right handed in most left handed guns unless you spend a lot of money on a custom built gun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
termin8r Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) As a single trigger o/u, the only difference for a leftie is that to open it, his thumb has to push the top lever instead of pulling it. I had both my shotties changed from right to left-handed and I don't see that it should be much of a problem for a good stocker to do yours. That said, if there is a warranty involved then option 2 would be my first choice. You could ask them if they would be prepared to do the job and maintain the warranty? Dennis at UK Gun Repairs is a time-served stocker - he's at Wellington if the firm is still going. (It must be about 10 years since he did my guns for me). edit: just found them... won't let me post the full link, but they're .co.uk Edited February 9, 2017 by termin8r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 I have to admit it wasn't really bothering me at all after say 50 shots, it all felt very unnatural in handling/loading the gun initially but soon came together. Yeah I have a 10 year warranty from GMK and I guess it definitely won't hurt to have a conversation with them. Seems the forum has blocked displaying your link though I have found them and Wellington isn't far from me, any rough ideas on what the cost would be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
termin8r Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 No idea on cost, I'm afraid... it's been a long time. There's a phone number on the website, so you can ask them for an indicative cost. I do remember at the time thinking it was very reasonable! Looks like it's a Taunton number, so they may have moved since I had dealings with them. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn2233 Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 http://www.####.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Dennis has moved, but if you start at J26 on the M5 they're very easy to find - was there yesterday. For me, a visit would be my starter for 10, don't expect cheap but you can expect quality. PM if you want directions which you can then adjust to your starting point if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 All you need to do is to have the stock cast to suit you using it left handed. I'm left handed and the top lever is no problem at all. I did make a jig and cast one of my stocks myself but any good gunsmith should be able to sort it out. If you go on YouTube and have a look at the videos regarding gun mount by coaches like Chris Batha you can gun mount in front of a mirror to see where you are pointing the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 I'm not sure regards a stocker converting it, I'll have a search around tomorrow and see if I can speak to any. Does anyone have any recommendations of a good sticker in the south west? It looks like the top lever is setup right handed in most left handed guns unless you spend a lot of money on a custom built gun! Don't know where you are in the South West but give Ivan a call at Teague Chokes. Nigel has retired but still does gun fitting so you could combine the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchy trigger Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 I shoot from the left shoulder and have left hand cast guns now, but for years shot with a right hand 682, right handed Beretta's are normally straight enough that it doesn't matter, don't worry about the top lever most are right handed, my EELL's are and my b725, looking now for another, if one comes along and its right handed if it fits I will buy that, lots of lefties use right hand cast guns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Totally agree with the above statement. As a southpaw I used to have mine pulled and dropped but now I shoot with right handed guns- although my latest Browning Trap has an adjustable comb which has meant I was able to position it just right for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportingJohn Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 If you do decide to sell it, let me know as I'm in the market for a secondhand 690. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Forgive me for asking, but if you are shooting well with this gun on all clays, then why the need to alter or do anything to the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Im really not shooting well though my highest ever score is 59/100 but realistically I'm more often than not in the mid to high 30's without really knowing why I'm missing. To me everything looks fine then I pull the trigger and miss without really understanding why. After spending some time with a coach yesterday and him lending me a left handed gun he had me smoking clays with both eyes open, something I hadn't previously been able to do as I had always had to close my left eye. Given I haven't been shooting for all that long I'm going to swap to shooting off my dominant eyes shoulder. Thanks for all the replies above, I have spoken to UK gun repairs this morning and they have given me a couple of options 1) They can bend my current stock from RH to LH now this does come with a small risk on me that it could snap meaning I'd have to buy a new stock for the gun, I'm not sure how great the risk is of the stock breaking whilst being bent. I've also had a look online about stock bending and some people have mentioned that after a while their stocks have started to lose some of the bend put in so I'm not overly sure on this approach 2) They very helpfully spoke to GMK and questioned them about the warranty GMK have confirmed that swapping the stock wont affect the warranty at all. UK Guns are also happy to get the LH stock for my gun from GMK and then allow me to part-ex my RH stock with them for the LH one. I'm just mulling over what to do but think I'm heavily drawn to option 2 although it will cost me a little bit more up front I think in the long run it would be the correct way to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Ok no 2 sounds ok, but what if the new lefthand stock needs some bending. maybe a new lefthand stock with a raised comb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Sorry I should have clarified it will be swapping my current R/H adjustable stock for a L/H adjustable stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 I have a LH adjustable Beretta for sale, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 I've now ordered the LH stock for my gun and will be going to get it fitted next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Ok where are you in world? How much cast is on your current stock if very little you could shoot it from the left shoulder to ensure this is your choose Route then get it altered replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shepe Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Im just outside Shepton Mallet, tbh based just off that lesson and then proceeding to take a L/H gun out after the lesson for some practise it was very clear to me that I will be significantly better once I have put some more practise in from the left shoulder. I'm shooting this weekend and am going to alter my adjustable stock over so I can shoot off the left. Though I have now ordered the left handed stock and fitting with UK Gun repairs and will be going over next week to have it done. Even with the targets I missed I could tell where and more importantly why I had missed them something that I had been seriously questioning whilst shooting off my right as up until now the site picture has looked fine and its been a real struggle to workout what I was doing wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Sounds a good solution and Dennis and Brian will look after you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Sounds like you are all sorted shepe I went through a similar experience some years ago, the soone you swap shoulder the better. Practise mounting as often as you can to build some muscle in the left shoulder and if shooting off the left tomorrow use 21g carts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
termin8r Posted February 10, 2017 Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Glad you got that sorted! A wise decision, I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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