Had lesson today, gunfit question.

[whiskymac]

I recently purchased from a local gun shop after looking at fit of various makes a Silver Pigeon S field. The gunshop let me try several guns and the owner (who is a friend of a friend) insisted the Beretta was the best fit for me.

All great....well not quite. I had a lesson today with clays (first time) and the instructor initially checked my gunfit and said it was fine. He then checked again and reckoned the comb was too low on the gun and that it needs raising 10mm!!

This lesson was at a shooting ground with its own shop (not where I bought my gun) and the guy that worked there reckoned the most he could achieve would be 5-6mm movement and he advised me to go to an adjustable comb to get desired fit. I should point out that the instructor is not employed directly by the shooting ground, he travels all around the area giving lessons at various places.

He taped a piece of leather to raise my cheek on the comb and to be honest I didn't shoot all that well but then I am now unsure as to how the gun really fits or if it's just me needing practise. I now have a gunshop (and instructor INITIALLY) telling me the gun was ok and then stating that I need 10mm higher than the standard Beretta comb. My gunshop still thinks the gun fits pretty well.

Any thoughts on what I should be looking for regarding fit and would I be better just shooting with this gun for a few months and seeing how I develop? I am not intending to shoot thousands of clays, just every now and again perhaps once, twice per month to improve my shooting for the field.

 

Thanks.

[pin]

You want someone like catamong to advise really, however from posts here and personal experience I would say you want a little time shooting with the gun to get used to it before you do anything drastic to modify it - once you have settled a little with it, then get the fit checked again.

[steve_k]

if you look about on the net you can find sleves that fit over your stock to raise and extend practicly anything, i wood sugest u could try 1 of these systems. i have 1 in mind but i dunno were it was and i am annoyed that i cant remember! but 10mm is not really that much if you think about it. it is more than likely to be in your head, dont let it get to u, get in some more practice and i am sure that u will be killin clays really soon. good luck!!!

steve

[Ferretboy111]

I had the same problem with my new gun, i checked it by pressing my cheek on the stock and i had to lift my head to see the bead,,, concluding i needed the comb raised, so have gaffered a bit of carboard as a cheekpiece, not that ive noticed much difference in shooting it, but all the mags says it makes alot of difference.

 

Alex

 

Try it n see.

[Cranfield]

I would also suggest that you have a lot more experience with the gun, before making a decision.

 

Before I had any gun altered, I would want a minimum of two independant opinions.

 

Raising the comb of an "off the shelf" gun by 10mm is a lot, in my opinion.

[webber]

Before you consider having the comb raised, or buying another gun with adjustable comb; take the advise that has been offered.

 

Target sports offer a couple of add on products which you can fit to your gun without cutting wood, glue or screws.

 

You really need someone with the experience who knows what they are looking for, but 10mm sounds a fair bit, but is not unheard of.

 

Your profile does not state your location which would be usefull.

 

webber

[ChrisNicholls]

Shoot with it as it is for a while to see how you get on, then, as Cranfield stated, get a second opinion if things are not working out before you have any changes made.

[Andy W]

Been there done that with my 687, someone said I needed an adjustable stock so I purchased a stick on raiser which I used for a while then removed, I was always not sure about gunfit and after having a lesson yesterday with a different instructor he checked my gun fit and corrected me on my in correct mounting technique and from that point on my success rate on the crossers went instantly up.

 

Ask 10 different people you will get 10 different answers, a good instructor is invaluable. Do you dry mount in front of the mirror ?

[Dunkield]

Try shooting it at a pattern plate, that may help you decide who is right or wrong

[Lucky]

This is interesting,I went to my local gun shop last week and was told none of the guns I was interested in fitted me. The one make he suggested I buy was a Miroku,so coming out of the shop I was a bit dissapointed with the news but I thought I would get a second opinion. For a living I am a lorry driver so in the week I found myself right near the Oxford Gun Co, I rang to ask if there was anywhere to park up he said no probs so off I went.

On trying out a few guns there,I was told the opposite and that I could try any used gun out before I brought it which I thought was pretty good.Doug told me that I wasn't mounting the gun as it should be and after a while things were coming together,I have found that gunfit is a hit and miss affair depending on who you talk to, is the dealer trying to flog you a particular gun because he has had it on the shelf for a while?

I find that now I'm more confused than ever because I dont want to buy the wrong gun.For my birthday my wife paid for me to shoot at a local club next sunday (60 clays) it will be interesting what they say there I will let you know.

 

Colin

[JohnGalway]

Before you consider having the comb raised, or buying another gun with adjustable comb; take the advise that has been offered.

 

Target sports offer a couple of add on products which you can fit to your gun without cutting wood, glue or screws.

 

You really need someone with the experience who knows what they are looking for, but 10mm sounds a fair bit, but is not unheard of.

 

Your profile does not state your location which would be usefull.

 

webber

 

I got my Beartooth Comb Raising Kit from them. Basically it's a sleeve that fits over your stock under which you can fit different thickness foam pads which come with the kit. I find it very good. Paid 35 Euro for it posted to the ROI. I'd try one of those to raise your 10mm before doing anything drastic to your gun

[whiskymac]

Wow thanks for all the replies folks.

Webber I live in the North West (Preston) area and amended my profile to show, I see you are St Helens.

Some great suggestions here, I guess the thing is that I am not convinced that I actually need the 10mm I have been advised by an instructor. Looking at the suggestions offered I think the best solution would be to shoot the gun with the stock as standard and get used to it. I think I will then try and have another lesson with a different instructor and if they also suggest gunfit to be an issue then go with some of the suggestions offered....foam pads, sleeves, etc.

Will I be able to tell pretty quickly when shooting the gun if I need that extra 10mm height?

Cheers all.

[Cranfield]

The big problem is, that if you consistently miss birds, there could be a few reasons, gun fit is just one of them.

The problem become worse if you intermittently miss birds (good one day, bad the next), with the same gun, ammunition etc.

 

Any adjustment to the gun fit (unless it is very dramatic, like 3" on the stock length), may not immediately have an effect.

Its rarely a case of missing birds........... swift adjustment............ then hitting birds.

It would be nice if life was like that.

 

As has already been suggested, persevere for the moment and see how your shooting progresses, if there are no improvements, get at least a second (or third) opinion.

[whiskymac]

The big problem is, that if you consistently miss birds, there could be a few reasons, gun fit is just one of them.

The problem become worse if you intermittently miss birds (good one day, bad the next), with the same gun, ammunition etc.

 

Any adjustment to the gun fit (unless it is very dramatic, like 3" on the stock length), may not immediately have an effect.

Its rarely a case of missing birds........... swift adjustment............ then hitting birds.

It would be nice if life was like that.

 

As has already been suggested, persevere for the moment and see how your shooting progresses, if there are no improvements, get at least a second (or third) opinion.

 

I agree that it could be any one of a few reasons if I am missing clays........especially with being new to the sport.......my technique needs much improvement I've no doubt.

I will persevere for a while and just see what pattern develops and whether any misses begin to form a pattern.

I didn't for a second assume that if I altered the gun I would automatically start hitting birds, I just wanted a little input regarding the advice I was given to alter/change my gun (which my gut reaction to was not to do it).

Thanks for the advice.

[Andy W]

Just a thought, are you starting out pre mounted when you call for your bird or mounting when you see the bird.

[wacker]

I recently purchased from a local gun shop after looking at fit of various makes a Silver Pigeon S field. The gunshop let me try several guns and the owner (who is a friend of a friend) insisted the Beretta was the best fit for me.

All great....well not quite. I had a lesson today with clays (first time) and the instructor initially checked my gunfit and said it was fine. He then checked again and reckoned the comb was too low on the gun and that it needs raising 10mm!!

This lesson was at a shooting ground with its own shop (not where I bought my gun) and the guy that worked there reckoned the most he could achieve would be 5-6mm movement and he advised me to go to an adjustable comb to get desired fit. I should point out that the instructor is not employed directly by the shooting ground, he travels all around the area giving lessons at various places.

He taped a piece of leather to raise my cheek on the comb and to be honest I didn't shoot all that well but then I am now unsure as to how the gun really fits or if it's just me needing practise. I now have a gunshop (and instructor INITIALLY) telling me the gun was ok and then stating that I need 10mm higher than the standard Beretta comb. My gunshop still thinks the gun fits pretty well.

Any thoughts on what I should be looking for regarding fit and would I be better just shooting with this gun for a few months and seeing how I develop? I am not intending to shoot thousands of clays, just every now and again perhaps once, twice per month to improve my shooting for the field.

 

Thanks.

 

You should dry mount your gun in front of a mirror with your eyes closed a few times, then dry mount, open your eyes - your pupil should be just above the rib - how much above?? Well - dry mount as before, but get a friend to put a £1 coin flat on top of the breach - you should still be able to see the bead.

I wouldn't go chopping the gun about just yet. Regular pratice is the key here- if you can't make a clay club -Dry mount at home using the line of a wall and ceiling as a flight line.

[ferretmanabu]

If you're just starting out, I'd say forget about fits, chokes, shot load, size etc for the time being and just concentrate on having fun and getting better. Once you start breaking a few clays, you can work on all the fine tuning.

[whiskymac]

Just a thought, are you starting out pre mounted when you call for your bird or mounting when you see the bird.

 

Hi mate, I mount the gun when I see the bird. The instructor got me doing that after I started to hit a few clays.

 

 

 

You should dry mount your gun in front of a mirror with your eyes closed a few times, then dry mount, open your eyes - your pupil should be just above the rib - how much above?? Well - dry mount as before, but get a friend to put a £1 coin flat on top of the breach - you should still be able to see the bead.

I wouldn't go chopping the gun about just yet. Regular pratice is the key here- if you can't make a clay club -Dry mount at home using the line of a wall and ceiling as a flight line.

 

Thanks for that, I'll have a go tonight when I get home.

 

 

If you're just starting out, I'd say forget about fits, chokes, shot load, size etc for the time being and just concentrate on having fun and getting better. Once you start breaking a few clays, you can work on all the fine tuning.

 

Cheers, that seems to be pretty much the general consensus.

 

Thanks all. :look:

[the last engineer]

whiskymac, please dont take this out of context, the pound coin thing will work for one not for all, its about how the gun fits you, dont loose sight of the fun aspect at this stage, i beleive your just getting into it, shoot lots have fun, get a good feel for the gun ,,,,,,and YOU, if you look at the way you shoot differing birds the mount will alter to suit, find your comfort zone ( where the gun and you slot into each other for best results) keep at it, you will know when the time is right to go to the next level and look at gun fit.

 

not to put down the coin thing, but most single discipline shooters set up like that eg trap and bunker style shooting, the gun becoming an extention in the shoulder no large movements.

 

enjoy the sport first improove yourself next and enjoy it more :look:

 

 

Martin

[whiskymac]

whiskymac, please dont take this out of context, the pound coin thing will work for one not for all, its about how the gun fits you, dont loose sight of the fun aspect at this stage, i beleive your just getting into it, shoot lots have fun, get a good feel for the gun ,,,,,,and YOU, if you look at the way you shoot differing birds the mount will alter to suit, find your comfort zone ( where the gun and you slot into each other for best results) keep at it, you will know when the time is right to go to the next level and look at gun fit.

 

not to put down the coin thing, but most single discipline shooters set up like that eg trap and bunker style shooting, the gun becoming an extention in the shoulder no large movements.

 

enjoy the sport first improove yourself next and enjoy it more

 

 

Martin

 

Thanks Martin, that's exactly what I am going to do, just break clays for a while and find my feet before I alter anything.

Cheers.