Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) In clay pigeon shooting I seem to have a recurrent problem - amongst others doubtless - of shooting too high. My gun is a Browning 325, unaltered in the stock from original dimensions. So far as I can make out, Brownings have less drop in the comb than the older Mirokus and most Berettas, so would a lower comb help me? I know I could in theory remedy the fault by simply cramming my cheek further down on the stock but I don't seem able to do this consistently. Should I try to put the bead just under the clay, even though we are always told not to look at the end of the barrel? I should add I have tried, rather briefly and cursorily, dry mounting a modern Beretta in my local gunshop, but, disconcertingly, it still seemed to leave my eye looking at too much rib. I am fairly average in height and build, so it is not likely to be a problem of physique or physiognomy. Any suggestions gratefully received. (I don't think I am a completely hopeless shot - I can achieve mid to high 30's kills out of 50 at our local superior 'straw bale' shoots - but this problem is really frustrating.) Edited October 6, 2014 by Cumbrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 In clay pigeon shooting I seem to have a recurrent problem - amongst others doubtless - of shooting too high. My gun is a Browning 325, unaltered in the stock from original dimensions. So far as I can make out, Brownings have less drop in the comb than the older Mirokus and most Berettas, so would a lower comb help me? I know I could in theory remedy the fault by simply cramming my cheek further down on the stock but I don't seem able to do this consistently. Should I try to put the bead just under the clay, even though we always told not to look at the end of the barrel? I should add I have tried, rather briefly and cursorily, dry mounting a modern Beretta in my local gunshop, but, disconcertingly, it still seemed to leave my eye looking at too much barrel. I am fairly average in height and build, so it is not likely to be a problem of physique or physiognomy. Any suggestions gratefully received. (I don't think I am a completely hopeless shot - I can achieve mid to high 30's kills out of 50 at our local superior 'straw bale' shoots - but this problem is really frustrating.) If it is 'physiognomy' then you have a real problem. You will not cure the problem by forcing your cheek onto the stock into a position that is not natural. My advice is for you to go to a shooting school and wear your normal shooting jacket and have an instructor coach you with a try gun which can be adjusted as you shoot. You will always shoot too high if you see too much barrel, or even any barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 If it is 'physiognomy' then you have a real problem. You will not cure the problem by forcing your cheek onto the stock into a position that is not natural. My advice is for you to go to a shooting school and wear your normal shooting jacket and have an instructor coach you with a try gun which can be adjusted as you shoot. You will always shoot too high if you see too much barrel, or even any barrel. Thank you. Yes, I am just beginning to wonder whether it may not be a problem with the cheek bone, even though I have never thought or been told that I had high cheek bones. I meant to write seeing too much rib', not 'barrel' in my original post (now corrected), but the net result is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 It's possible to do a quick check at home if you have a mirror at about head height. Do a few dry mounts (without forcing your cheek down) until you're happy that it's going smoothly (elbow up and the stock into the pocket) and then mount the gun and shoot yourself in your shooting eye in the mirror. Your eyeball should be sitting on, or possibly a little above, the rib. If you have clear 'daylight' between the two, then yep, some help from a coach or fitter is the answer. The same exercise is handy even for a well fitting gun as it lets you know what the correct fit looks like with regard to what you see of the rib. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Whereabouts are you? Location always helps a person receive help. If you are/were in my neck of the woods Hertfordshire, I would happily have a look at your gun mount and gun fit for you. Good luck Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Whereabouts are you? Location always helps a person receive help. If you are/were in my neck of the woods Hertfordshire, I would happily have a look at your gun mount and gun fit for you. Good luck Terry Cumbria!? I'll get me coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Whereabouts are you? Location always helps a person receive help. If you are/were in my neck of the woods Hertfordshire, I would happily have a look at your gun mount and gun fit for you. Good luck Terry Thank you for the kind offer, but I'm afraid I live (now retired) in Hampshire, near Romsey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Cumbria!? I'll get me coat. Hampshire resident through career (such as it was), marriage, and now retirement for practical reasons, but Cumbria (or, more accurately, Westmoreland, as it then was, until destroyed, along with other ancient English and Welsh territorial entities, by that humourless **** Edward Heath when he was - rather briefly - Prime Minister) by ancestry (to some extent), by upbringing (to some extent), and, above all, by sentiment and affection, which extends to all of the North of England. It's possible to do a quick check at home if you have a mirror at about head height. Do a few dry mounts (without forcing your cheek down) until you're happy that it's going smoothly (elbow up and the stock into the pocket) and then mount the gun and shoot yourself in your shooting eye in the mirror. Your eyeball should be sitting on, or possibly a little above, the rib. If you have clear 'daylight' between the two, then yep, some help from a coach or fitter is the answer. The same exercise is handy even for a well fitting gun as it lets you know what the correct fit looks like with regard to what you see of the rib. Thank you for the advice. I look forward to trying it out when I next unlock the gun cabinet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What sort of browning 325? the trap guns were higher in the comb (technically straighter) and what are you shooting? Sporting? Simple answer is get a lesson.... http://www.owlslodgeshootingschool.co.uk/clay-shooting-tuition.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What sort of browning 325? the trap guns were higher in the comb (technically straighter) and what are you shooting? Sporting? Simple answer is get a lesson.... http://www.owlslodgeshootingschool.co.uk/clay-shooting-tuition.html It's a sporter, 30 inch barrels, multi chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Go and see a good instructor/gun fitter and see what they think before you get the sander or wallet out at a shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 A good wood rasp and sand paper will sort it. Pattern it first as there is a method of 1/4" off comb adjusts x amount on the pattern plate, it will give you an idea as to how much you need altering. I'd just do it my self unless it was a high grade of wood as you can pick up another stock cheap enough if you got it wrong. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 A good wood rasp and sand paper will sort it. Pattern it first as there is a method of 1/4" off comb adjusts x amount on the pattern plate, it will give you an idea as to how much you need altering. I'd just do it my self unless it was a high grade of wood as you can pick up another stock cheap enough if you got it wrong. Figgy Sounds like good advice. By the way, just in case anyone is interested, the censored word, although admittedly a four letter one, that I used to describe Edward Heath was neither an obscene nor a blasphemous one, so far as I know. It begins with 'p' and rhymes with 'rat'. I have always found it useful in describing certain people, but perhaps I have been misusing it? I remember vividly how supporters of 'Herefordshire' took a magnificent red Hereford bull up to No.10 Downing Street and had him photographed outside as part of their campaign, which was successful. This was in 1974, wasn't it? I'm very glad that we still have Herefordshire but sad that Westmoreland was subsumed in Cumberland. At least 'Cumbria', fortunately, has an authentic ring to it, unlike 'Avon' or the various mutilations of traditional Northumberland in the North East of the county that the bureaucrats inflicted on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 For a long time it was Hereford and Worcestershire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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