Gun fitting advice.

[London Best]

I can’t say if H&H will be doing reductions during Jan/Feb or not. It certainly was a regular thing a few years ago.

I believe guns fitted with a through stock bolt are more difficult to bend, hence stock shims?  But I really know little about that type of gun. Myself, I would never have a gun with a fugly adjustable comb, but that’s just me.

[enfieldspares]

48 minutes ago, HantsRob said:

I know adjustments and maybe getting a london finish done after also will be on top and another several hundred. It would be a once in a lifetime (or at least once in a decade?) experience for me to get measured correctly, and tweaked when I lose this Christmas pudge

The after work such as adjusting bend, shortening (or lengthening) the stock should come in less than £150 depending on who does the work. In Hampshire I don't know who does. In the Midlands we are almost spoiled for choice as to my West I've Birmingham and to my East I've Elderkin in Spalding. Shortening is usually less cost that lengthening. 

Add on costs would be if you had the back of the butt (if left as wood or a wood extension added) chequered. I don't. Never have. Even on my Boss I had the back of the butt "scored". It's functionally better, easier to clean with a toothbrush and better holds down wire on a fence if you use the butt of your closed gun to do that. The other benefit is scoring is cheaper and the gun doesn't need to go to a "checkering man"!

In terms of finish usually the person doing the work will try to blend what he has done into the existing finish of the gun. If having a pad fitted of course that doesn't need blending in. Once on a lifetime is usually fine until you hit around sixty years old and you get fatter in the breast and thinner in the face. The only reason for my ten year second fitting was that reason. I was fifty-eight in 2015.

Edited December 28, 2022 by enfieldspares

[JohnfromUK]

27 minutes ago, HantsRob said:

If I needed to 'bend' it, would it be better to have a comb riser cut in for fitting, or just bend the stock to be unique to me?

When I had my Beretta (SO6) fitted, I had it bent.  However - there is a limit to how much bending can be done, and I think things like pistol grip (which my SO unfortunately has) and stock bolt (which my SO doesn't have) are factors as well.  The person doing the work will advise what they can achieve (and also where an alternative may be needed (such as a riser).

30 minutes ago, HantsRob said:

I think a solid stock is prettier, but adjustable helps with resale value.

I agree on the first point.  The second would be a 'turn off' to me - mainly because once fitted, no further adjustment is needed, but others may differ in their views.

[Rupert]

 

I went to  M.R and had one made very happy with the outcome especially around the hand.

[Westley]

On 23/12/2022 at 09:38, London Best said:

I paid £120 at Holland’s at Northolt eight years ago.

Go in Jan/Feb when they usually have special offer prices.

I paid the exact same amount in 1981 at Westley Richards,  BUT, that included altering the stock from left handed, back to right.  Oh and sending it back via Securicor. They wanted me back to try it before it left their workshops, but we had a few riots in Liverpool at the time and I was unable to get a day off to go for it.

[Downforce]

On 28/12/2022 at 10:13, London Best said:

I can’t say if H&H will be doing reductions during Jan/Feb or not. It certainly was a regular thing a few years ago.

I believe guns fitted with a through stock bolt are more difficult to bend, hence stock shims?  But I really know little about that type of gun. Myself, I would never have a gun with a fugly adjustable comb, but that’s just me.

Not now they won’t need to!!

[Downforce]

Just now, Downforce said:

Not now they won’t need to!!

I also agree with London Best always being right, it’s quite useful to skip the others and just read those posts 

I would also point out that there’s a bit of a catch 22 if you don’t own a decent gun  and have never been fitted how do you buy one without knowing what size would be at least close to comfortable/optimal for your frame and style particularly if you haven’t shot frequently/recently 

If you go and spend a decent chunk on getting a fitting then change your mount as you shoot more often you might find your fitted gun is no longer perfect fit (is that what happens or does the gun being well fitted help improve the mount I don’t know ?)

On the other hand if you buy a random gun that’s not the right measurement for you that could affect how you mount if you compensate then you go for a fitting with a potentially bad mounting/technique 

I think I’ll take the wifey to H&H to get her first expensive gun based on their recommendation as that’s probably the best way (do the fitting first)?

H&H are now part of Beretta I believe so I wonder what she might end with!!

Does that sound sensible??

D

 

[JohnfromUK]

11 minutes ago, Downforce said:

Does that sound sensible??

In order for fitting to be carried out properly, the shooter has to have a developed consistent gun mount and style.  No fitter can get a decent fit when the subject mounts inconsistently.

You need to have a sensibly 'close' gun (i.e. one of reasonably suited length to allow a clean mount, and reasonable dimensions to shoot without having to 'contort' yourself).  Any coach can advise on a 'reasonable' fit.  Then practice, practice and more practice until you are mounting consistently with the gun.

THEN and only then can a fitter assess the fit and possibly use a try gun and pattern plate to 'fine tune' such that putting the pattern where the shooter is looking is a natural instinctive action.

If the shooter mounts the gun inconsistently, the fitter will be wasting his and the subject's time (and money).

[Downforce]

46 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

In order for fitting to be carried out properly, the shooter has to have a developed consistent gun mount and style.  No fitter can get a decent fit when the subject mounts inconsistently.

You need to have a sensibly 'close' gun (i.e. one of reasonably suited length to allow a clean mount, and reasonable dimensions to shoot without having to 'contort' yourself).  Any coach can advise on a 'reasonable' fit.  Then practice, practice and more practice until you are mounting consistently with the gun.

THEN and only then can a fitter assess the fit and possibly use a try gun and pattern plate to 'fine tune' such that putting the pattern where the shooter is looking is a natural instinctive action.

If the shooter mounts the gun inconsistently, the fitter will be wasting his and the subject's time (and money).

So maybe go to H&H for some coached lessons and see what they have in the ballpark?

D

[JohnfromUK]

Just now, Downforce said:

So maybe go to H&H for some coached lessons and see what they have in the ballpark?

D

I have no personal experience of H&H, but before any fitter can fit a gun, the subject has to be sufficiently experienced to be consistent in style and mount.  That requires practice - lots of it. 

You may have a decent coach nearer than H&H for that initial part.

Lots of grounds have coaches who can get you started.  Not every ground has a really good fitter, try gun etc.

[Downforce]

55 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

In order for fitting to be carried out properly, the shooter has to have a developed consistent gun mount and style.  No fitter can get a decent fit when the subject mounts inconsistently.

You need to have a sensibly 'close' gun (i.e. one of reasonably suited length to allow a clean mount, and reasonable dimensions to shoot without having to 'contort' yourself).  Any coach can advise on a 'reasonable' fit.  Then practice, practice and more practice until you are mounting consistently with the gun.

THEN and only then can a fitter assess the fit and possibly use a try gun and pattern plate to 'fine tune' such that putting the pattern where the shooter is looking is a natural instinctive action.

If the shooter mounts the gun inconsistently, the fitter will be wasting his and the subject's time (and money).

The problem in the past is that she would be given different guns on different days depending on what wasn’t already in use like one time a 28G with a 13” LoP and another day she’d get a 20G with a 14” LoP for example 

So having to get different sight pictures and stances on different days to hit the clays 

I would just think at H&H they’re a bit more focused and potentially have more guns available 

Ive shot there before and they are very good luckily not that far from me either probably the same time as my “local” preference 

D

[JohnfromUK]

5 minutes ago, Downforce said:

The problem in the past is that she would be given different guns on different days depending on what wasn’t already in use like one time a 28G with a 13” LoP and another day she’d get a 20G with a 14” LoP for example 

Whoever you choose to go with, you should have a chat with any coach who you intend to use for several sessions to ensure the same gun is available when you have settled on one that is a near fit.

Most people would come to the fitting stage when they have sufficient practice and experience - which usually means a progressive path;

1. Have a lesson or three with a coach and get an idea of a suitable length, type/gauge, weight etc. that suits and get started with a mount and style.
2. Get a 'starter' gun to suit above - quite a modest second hand one should be fine
3. Get out and use that gun a lot and really develop that gun mount to be consistent.  This will inevitably take time and effort, but it is a good use of time and effort - and should be enjoyable as well.
4. Then - if you would like to take it further, explore having a proper fitting

In my case, I had been shooting for maybe 15 years before I first had a formal 'fitting' resulting in a gun being altered to suite 'me'.  However, my first gun (an old but decent Birmingham gun given to me for my 18th) was carefully selected by a very knowledgeable and experienced family friend to be a 'near fit' for me.  I still have that same gun (had it nearly 50 years now and it is over 100 years old now) and I still shoot as almost well with it as anything else - and it has never been altered in fit, but is a fraction short compared to my 'fitted' gun.

I know it sound a long route and possibly a bit 'negative', but it is really essential to have developed that consistency before fitting a gun.

[Downforce]

Thanks that’s good to know 

[retromlc]

I guess it could be argued that a gun fitted to a moderately experienced shot would enable them to maintain and perfect a consistent mount, whereas a poorly fitted gun will impede a consistent mount?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

They would be wasting their money if they didn't attain a consistent mount first.