4eyes Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Morning guys and gals. I have a bit of a problem that I'm after a bit of advice on. I have Browning 425 that I shoot pretty regular with. I bought it to replace the Bettinsoli I started out with, and after a while I'm now shooting quite well with it. Only donwside is that while hitting the target more than I used to, I keep bruising my cheek. Now I ain't no jessy, but looking like I've been in a fight all the time aint so good for work, so I need to sort it out. That, and the Mrs is getting pretty fed up with me telling eveyone that asks "its her, she beats me!". It has to be a gun fitting issue, but what aspect I'm not sure. So I'm left with two options: Flog the gun and get something else or have it properly fitted. If I flog it on I don't want a repeat so want to know whats wrong. So, does anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong to cause this (other than winding the Mrs up too much)? or have any idea how much its likley to cost to get the gun adjusted to suit? and on that note reccomend anyone in the Yorkshire area so I can work out if its worthwhile. If not then there may be a 425 Grade 1 in the 'for sale' section very soon... Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Bruised cheeks are always gunfit related, it can be anything from the pitch, the comb height, cast, the stock length even and no doubt other things besides. The most sensible route if you`re not very experienced yourself is to see a recommended coach/fitter otherwise you need to first shoot a mates gun of the same make that doesn`t cause the same problem. Once you find the right gun, lay it down beside and even directly on top of yours and really study the differences, it can be quite revealing . Then start experimenting, for example building up the comb layer by layer etc or have it lowered/altered once the source has been found. Edited August 30, 2011 by Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
what rabbit Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 this has recently happened to me i would come home from a 50 sporting clay session looking like id just been in a boxing match, mate of mine lent me a rubber slip on butt extension only increases butt length by about 1/2 inch shot with it for the first time on sunday, makes a world of difference, shot pretty wel & not a mark on me simple solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 It can be you are simply not holding it right, but more likely it is fit, related to the comb height, or the stock length, or both. I had desperate problems along these lines many years ago with a Beretta I inherited. This sort of thing leads to being gunshy, as you know it is going to hurt sooner or later. I would suggest a trip to a gunfitter asap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 So, does anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong to cause this (other than winding the Mrs up too much)? or have any idea how much its likley to cost to get the gun adjusted to suit? and on that note reccomend anyone in the Yorkshire area so I can work out if its worthwhile. If not then there may be a 425 Grade 1 in the 'for sale' section very soon... Cheers Steve Its not exactly in your neck of the woods but the gunsmith at Doveridge shooting ground can turn your gun into an adjustable stock for about £160 to give you an idea of cost. Going down that route will add some value to your gun if you decide to sell at a later date rather than permanently 'bending the stock' to fit which will detract the value. The cheaper root is stick on comb raisers or spacers / boots on the butt plate but these are useless if the comb and stock are too high or long . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Has it a hard butt plate, not rubber? If so it's probably sliding down your shoulder when you fire it and the comb will smack you in the face, as the gun recoils. Edited August 30, 2011 by BlaserF3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4eyes Posted August 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Thanks guys for the replies, certainly some food for thought. £160 is sort of in the realm of what I expected. Dove Ridge is not too far away so might have to bob down there next week and have a chat about it all. The 425 is a little longer than my previous gun but I was not aware that the stock length could have an impact like this. I assume the length, if too long would make the gun unwieldy and difficult to shoot, not beat me up. Any idea of a quick gauge to check the stock length and if its too long? Obviously the fitter would be able to tell me this, but I'd like to have some sort of idea to put me out of my misery this week. Also, good point about the butt plate. Recently only been shooting with a shirt on, not my shooting vest, so maybe there is something in that. I think an outing back end of the week is required (when the current bruise has died down a little. ) Thanks again. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Thanks guys for the replies, certainly some food for thought. £160 is sort of in the realm of what I expected. Dove Ridge is not too far away so might have to bob down there next week and have a chat about it all. The 425 is a little longer than my previous gun but I was not aware that the stock length could have an impact like this. I assume the length, if too long would make the gun unwieldy and difficult to shoot, not beat me up. Any idea of a quick gauge to check the stock length and if its too long? Obviously the fitter would be able to tell me this, but I'd like to have some sort of idea to put me out of my misery this week. Also, good point about the butt plate. Recently only been shooting with a shirt on, not my shooting vest, so maybe there is something in that. I think an outing back end of the week is required (when the current bruise has died down a little. ) Thanks again. Steve It unlikely that being a bit to long will cause this problem, much more likely a bit too short, but we can all keep speculating, if you are going for a fitting then hopefully all the answers will be revealed. A gun "Fitting" should not cost anything like £160, so that is a good starting point, dependant on the results you could be looking at less or a LOT more to make it fit. ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 It isn`t the being too long in itself that may be the cause, but because the longer the stock the lower the comb will be relative to the shooters face. This does not apply to parallel stocks but there are very few of those around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Have a look at this american dude explains it quite well for an american anyway :lol: Edited August 30, 2011 by tigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 A gun "Fitting" should not cost anything like £160, so that is a good starting point, dependant on the results you could be looking at less or a LOT more to make it fit. ATB! Yep £160 gets a adjustable comb fitted and is worst case scenario butt pad to length or shorten is £70-80 for £250 you can have fully adjusting stock but likely you'll need less than this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4eyes Posted August 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Thanks once again guys, starting to make a bit more sense now. I'll experiement a little over weekend with some comb risers (neoprene and tape for now) and see how I get on. If that does not work and I get time next week I think I'll be off down to Dove Ridge to have a chat with the gun fitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 There are a few lads on here that have had the conversion done and it’s a fantastic job, looks as good as my factory fit Beretta adjustable. The £160 is just one option for an adjustable comb and if the problem is solely gun fit (not a mount problem) then worse case this option should cure it, there is no point in travelling down if the price is miles out of what you want to pay. Hopefully he might be able to offer you some cheaper options and it’s not a wasted journey as you can always shoot some clays. linky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Check bruising comes from "bury-ing" your head into the comb, thereby bringing your cheek bone in contact with the comb. The stock should be fitting under the check bone in the soft part of the cheek. Often the butt placement is the only change needed, placing the gun higher in the shoulder and into the shoulder "pocket", created by lifting the elbow - and making sure the nose line is vertical not canted, may solve the problem. A study by the Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors some years ago lead to the conclusion that in at least 2/3rds of cases problems were purely the mount and stance, and no alterations to guns were required. Before you engage on stock alterations, see Andy Kirkland at Doveridge for a gun-mount lesson. Remember, a gun that has been "fitted" may still bruise if you are NOT mounting correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Check bruising comes from "bury-ing" your head into the comb, thereby bringing your cheek bone in contact with the comb. The stock should be fitting under the check bone in the soft part of the cheek. Often the butt placement is the only change needed, placing the gun higher in the shoulder and into the shoulder "pocket", created by lifting the elbow - and making sure the nose line is vertical not canted, may solve the problem. A study by the Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors some years ago lead to the conclusion that in at least 2/3rds of cases problems were purely the mount and stance, and no alterations to guns were required. Before you engage on stock alterations, see Andy Kirkland at Doveridge for a gun-mount lesson. Remember, a gun that has been "fitted" may still bruise if you are NOT mounting correctly. Very good advice :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4eyes Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks once again guys. A few bits to think about there. I'll have a go this week/weekend to see how I get on and come back with an update. The more I think about it the bruising has only happened latley, not since I got the gun. The only thing I have changed is what I'm wearing to shoot so I'm starting to think thats got more than anything else to do with it. I'll have a practice this week/weekend mounting up the gun and see if I can figure out whats wrong. If not, I'll arrange to go see Andy and get it sorted. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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