What to expect with a Gun Fitting session

[DAVE_B]

Hi Everyone, Yes I am yet another New shooter.

 

I have had GC visit and its due any day. I have been shooting for only five months and am looking forward to purchasing my first gun for both me and the wife.

 

I am worried about gun choice and have read as many posts as possible on the subject. I am moving in the direction of a 525/725/MK38 (R/H 30") for me and most probably a SP1 (L/H 28") for my wife. I have lined up a number of these guns to try at next weeks Midland Show.

 

I am keen to more about what goes on during a Gun Fit session and if there are any recommendation as to where to go to be sure of a good professional service (I have heard some horror stories). I am based in Bucks but am happy to travel a reasonable distance if necessary.

 

Any advice greatly received.

[dougall]

A gun fit is a series of measurements,taken off a try-gun...a funny looking thing with lots of adjustibles.All the main top shooting grounds do it...Royal Berkshire/Holland & Holland/Bisley. You will shoot at a pattern plate and the instructor will make a few fiddles until the shot is hitting the right spot.

A fitting is however pretty meaningless if you do not mount the gun consistently as having the odd 1/8th of inch adjustment is useless if you stick the gun in different parts of your shoulder for each shot though.........!!? Best to spend your money 1st on practice/lessons of gaining a very consistent gun mount(the most important bit of shotgun shooting).

Historically a gun fit was done in order to provide your measurements to get a best gun tailor made for you. Brownings/Berettas unless you go up their range come a s standard size.Is your build wildly different to 'average?'. These days those that have fitting will often then get their gunstock adjusted/bent as they have a 'standard' gun.

I think Hollands are the best,a fitting with a lesson is about £140 and you will leave with a card with various measurements written on it.This you then pass to a gunsmith to carry out the work. The whole point of a fitting is so the gun points where you look each time you mount the gun....consider the fitting when you have the mount sussed.

Hope helps,

atb.

[BerettaSV10]

I don't think its worth getting a proffesional gun fitting until your gun mount and stance is consistent. You could well have it fitted now and in twelve months time you might need it re-fitting, though I doubt a good gun fitter will do it until you can demostrate that you are consistent in the mounting.

 

Find the best fitting gun off the peg, as if like me I started off with a browning, then found once I was consistent beretta's suited me better (not all beretta's though) and changed the browning about a year after starting shooting.

Edited September 11, 2012 by BerettaSV10

[Salopian]

Be very careful buying a gun, remember there are gunsmiths, instructors, and gun salesmen.

Salesmen are first and foremost interested in parting you from as much money as possible.

I would go to the Midland, have a good look around and then consider all your options, the deal of the day will still be available weeks later if you are sure that it is the right buy for you or your wife.Because you have no part exchange you will be in the driving seat. Based in Bucks you could visit Francis Lovell and get a fitting or Deadly Doug at Oxford gun. But have a few lessons first and get your gun mount consistent before having a full blown fitting with stock alterations, done properly that alone will cost you in excess of £100.

[Guest cookoff013]

there are stock alterations such as increasing the lop and increasing the cheek piece by just adding a pad. this isnt ideal,

but a decent gunfitter should be able to offer advice such as buy a pad "x"mm or "y"mm to extend the stock.

also to raise the comb by x mm to get the comb height to total of "z".

 

the only downside of this method, is its impossable to take away / reduce stock dimentions.

[Scully]

Have to agree with the others.I would forget about gun fit for the time being,and spend some money on lessons with a good coach.A good coach can't/wont necessarily fit a gun to you,but can advise which gun you should be looking at based on your build and how you shoot any given gun,but most of all they can teach you how to achieve a good,consistent mount with a moving gun.

I don't know whether you intend to shoot clays/game or both,but learning to mount a moving gun consistently well is desirable.I've seen some beginners shoot sporting with 'gun up'(birds only)and achieve satisfactory results,and if that's what they want to do,then that's fine,but the trouble starts when they get an invite to shoot live quarry,then the wheels drop off.

Learn to shoot well over the next 12 months or so,then see what you think about fit.You may be shooting that well you don't need to have it fitted.

[Tim Kelly]

Unless you're a very unusual shape you'll be able to shoot well enough with a standard gun. Most people have guns that aren't fitted to them, and they still hit stuff. Once you've become competant you can get your gun fitted if you feel it will improve things, but as others have said, unless your gun mount is consistant the fit will be different every time.

[B725]

The Oxfordshire Shooting School on 11-12-13 October are doing gun fitting while you wait.£165 inc stock alterations,pads and extensions extra.

[bedwards1966]

While gun fit is very important, and getting a gun fitted may be well worth the money, I too would start by getting a bit of practice on something that is close.

To begin with, your mount will be very variable, and until you have shot enough to get this to be the same each time getting a gun that fits you perfectly won't be possible, nor will it help much.

You should be able to find something available as a temporary measure until your well practiced with mounting it. Get someone who knows what they are talking about to keep an eye on how you mount the gun as your learning, then you can progress.

[DAVE_B]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It seems the route to take is have a good look around and find the gun closest to my shape, size and pocket and work with it until my mount is consistent. I am told that I need a pretty long lop so guess that should be done up front but leave other alterations until I know what I am doing. I am still looking forward to the midland show and trying as many guns as time allows. We are really enjoying getting into this new sport and really want our own guns to give us more flexibility.

 

We are having at least a lesson a week at the moment, trying a few different grounds. We have been to Oxford Gun Company, Hornet Shooting Ground, College Farm, Honesberie to mention a few. But I guess we are getting to the point that we need to settle on someone to become our regular trainer going forward.

 

Does that all make sense?

[hillmouse]

Near enough is good enough until you are good enough to always be near enough. Then get it fitted.

 

Seriously, a good gunfit is always good, IF you always mount the same.

 

Lessons to establish a good balanced stance and then practice mounting with a gun that is pretty close or altered with pads etc.and then fine tune at a later date.

 

Pattern plating and shooting can be done with a gun altered with fag packets and sticky tape if the end result is a comfortable consistent mount and a pattern going where you are looking, then get it properly measured and altered to suit.

 

Easier to add than subtract on comb height and LOP for first fittings, but a greet gnarly rasp and a saw can cure excess wood.

[DAVE_B]

Wonder of Wonders! GC arrives only 5 days after FAO visits. Well done Thames Valley.

 

Also arrived today is probate for my late Father's estate so I am now funded and certificate - I just need to calm down and not make an absolute *** of myself by rushing a purchase especially as I am at the Midland Show both days.

 

Hope to try plenty but probably won't buy anything this weekend but "very soon" after.

 

[Dunkield]

Looking at your location you could do a lot worse then get along to Churchill's, handle a few of the guns they have in stock and ask if they feel they fit you OK (I would make it clear you have no intention to buy at the time first)

[HDAV]

Have a look at the video here http://www.iancoley....ge_2227002.html

 

a reasonable fitting off the peg gun is probably a good idea until you're consistent with the mount and then getting it tweaked is a good idea. I wouldn't pay ££££ for a fitting unless have a bespoke made gun until your very consistent/committed.

Edited September 13, 2012 by HDAV

[Gordon R]

You might get a fitting session - good or bad, but it won't take account of the future - how you mount your gun or changes in your weight.

 

I would buy a gun with an adjustable comb and possibly an adjustable butt plate. That should be enough to fit anyone and have a very good resale value.

[DAVE_B]

Hi Everyone that helped.

 

We had an excellent two day visit to The Midland and managed to try quite a selection of 12b O/U thanks to Matt at Premier Guns and Simon/Clive at Doveridge. They offered many suggestions and gave much needed point of use advice.

 

We both ended the day with a better idea of what would work best for us. then came the difficulty finding the guns we wanted; as usual my needs were not so strange.

 

I had decided that the route forward would be a B725 S1 Sporter, 12b, 30" R/H; but as is so often the case Victoria's needs would prove to be difficult to source; a B725 Hunter, 12b, 28" L/H it took a while but thanks go to Nick Hollick at Honesberie to locating both with then being available for a fitting this Saturday.

 

Needless to same we are both very keen and can hardly wait. Thanks again for the help from all of you and all of the other threads I read. We look forward to contributing in the future and most importantly enjoying the sport.

 

Dave

[B725]

The B725 is a great gun,and if you wish you can join the Browning Owners club but it will cost £15 a year.They send you some bits and bobs but nowt special and there is the Browning forum which is soooooo quiet any way good luck with the new guns.

Edited September 17, 2012 by B725