Gun fit 101

[@BirminghamBoxlock]

Excellent real world advice that is appropriate for the vast majority of shooters. David’s advice here is borne of experience both shooting and selling guns. I shoot a number of guns and between them there is variance in stock length. What they all have in common is that the comb height, cast and hand all suit my shooting and enable me to consistently mount from gun down and get the right sight picture without moving my head position. If I mis-mount it’s down to me, not the gun. Thank you David.

[@buckshotaaa]

I find pattern plates a good guide to evaluate the suitability of a particular cartridge for the gun. Yes, i know it's only a two dimensionally exercise and tells you nothing about the length of the shot string but it's a decent indication of how the pattern looks at range. Of course you'll get a better idea of fit if you go out on the range and mount and shoot a few different target presentations to see how the gun "feels" in real time but i've always found that a 90% fit can be had in the shop. There's more guns bought in the shop than the shooting school. I think "try before you buy" is the perfect way to get yourself up and running especially if you're a relative newcomer but it's not always practical to go down that route.

[@benstallard9924]

i had my 525 SL fitted by David at Oxford and its great, tried a number of guns/brands and ended up with the one that fits correctly, very happy!

[@TimTharp-pl6qp]

😅

[@charlessmith4242]

* IMO, one of the most critical measurements is not the drop at the point of the comb, but the drop at the point where you cheek your gun. In that cheeking area of the stock the top section of the comb could be made to run parallel for a short distance in order to accommodate added clothing or mismounting of the firearm. Length of pull cannot be overlooked, either. A guns length of pull that is perfect during summer will cost you birds during the winter due to the snagging of the stock upon mounting the gun, or the lowering of the eye because your cheek point has been set back along the sloping comb. Slip on recoil pads are not very aesthetic, but they are very functional when trying to reach a proper length of pull. Vitally important is the centering of the eye so it is looking squarely down the rib, and not looking down the right or left side of the rib. A well centered mid rib bead will help determine if your eye is not squarely centered. One can also take their shotgun and assume a shooting stance, now close the eyes and shoulder the gun, upon opening the eyes what do the eyes see, in relationship to the gun barrel. If the eye is not centered squarely down the rib, adjustments must be made. The eye is the rear sight. Now it is true that most people can make themselves conform to their shotgun, and in the clay shooting games, and even during certain bird shooting where the game is seen approaching at some distance, or departing in open terrain ( as long as there is ample time to make an unhurried shot ) an off the rack shotgun can work. But, molding oneself to a firearm for each shot is just another thing to remember to do, and not everyone can do that at each opportunity. Especially, in the bird field, when birds are encountered in the trees, or are flushing at the extreme limits of your capabilities. Striving for a shotgun that puts your eye squarely centered over the rib each time you mount your gun, is what everyone should aspire to accomplish. And yes, cast is also important as it makes the aligning of the eye so much easier.

[@richardminer1863]

I have yet to find a gun off the shelf that fits, all have neutral cast or cast on. Also most are made for people with no necks, comb to high. Also most stocks are to short by at least an inch. I'm 6' 185 pounds. Normal American build. I need 5/16" cast off, LOP 14.25" minimum.

[@RC-ed3sc]

Great Vid. I'm an instinctive wingshooter. I do shoot skeet, trap and 5 Stand, but I'm in it for the feathered game. At 70 y.o. I am finally, intentionally, shooting O/U guns with a 15" LOP and I'm having a blast (literally, figuratively and in the Biblical sense) with my new found and consistent accuracy. My entire previous experience has been with guns I inherited, or guns that were available - usually in the 13 5/8" LOP range and up. I live and do most all of my bird hunting in AZ, so extra clothes adding to my LOP isn't an issue. Both at the range and in the field, I'm enjoying consistent accuracy sans all the deep analysis. Instinctive shooting at it's best!

[@konstantinosdm4391]

Many shooters/hunters shoot with one eye open instead of both eyes open and this often leads to lifting their heads up when they are shooting at a incoming,going away or even overhead target

[@karlmurray4479]

As a novice and at the stage now where I want to purchase and have a fitting for my first gun moving forward into the sport i wondered what your advice would be on used or new gun for first time purchase and what should I be looking for in a used gun if so?

[@NarcisAdrianD]

Thank you, David!

[@peternairn4474]

I am a new shooter 10mths I have two second hand guns, A high rail trap, tends to be more variation in mounting and of course difficult on sport targets. A low rail sporter , more drop, seems to be regularly in same mounted position , and I hit way more sport targets, So will next try the trap gun on trap targets and see how it goes for what its intended

[@leozoupa7634]

Well said David!! All true!

[@richardtimms8733]

The thing he's conveniently avoiding is, a top end gun manufacturer for game shooting, let's say for example Boss, they cost in access of 100,000 new, the customer isn't going to shell this out without it fitting like a glove. Game shots are a different breed from club clay shots.

[@michaelclay6074]

Does placing a drinking straw on the rib and seeing if you can see through it when you mount help to see if the fit is good. Mick🇨🇦

[@meademedaughsr9088]

I'm 70 yrs old, been hunting/shooting my whole life. I have a very large head, 6ft tall, and left handed. Never found a gun that just tucked into place right. Has been a life of compromise

[@thatgearguy]

The trap operator 🤪

[@Jolly56Roger]

I think you miss spelt Trap !🤣🤣

[@johnandrosemarywyatt977]

I noticed when you put the guns to your cheek, your eyes stayed level. That seems to be important-at least to me. I don't think rolling your head over to get the eye over the barrel is a good thing. I also noticed that you always brought your gun to your face without moving your head - really good. A person's body will have a lot to do with fit. People with longer necks have the most problem (in my opinion) getting a gun that will let's the shooter bring the gun to his/her face instead of face to the gun. Thanks for a great video.

[@errisgloshfan]

Use tape, plenty of gaffer tape and keep at it until the targets turn to dust more often than not then take it to a person who can make the alterations and the biggest bonus is you learn loads about what works for you.

[@twinpotracer]

The problem is, there's so much bullshit is clay shooting in clayshooting it baffles new commers. For example, can't enter grounds without a license - that's the biggest hurdle!!! Then there's jokers like Cyril Brewster that claim they need a massively bent stock which is a joke!

[@JamesChurchill3]

For me, a gun thats 'close enough' is more than fine. I find something that doesnt fit quite right can end up kicking me in the cheek a lot, which isnt very pleasant.

[@3of11]

I disagree on the adjustable comb. I’ll ONLY buy a gun that has an adjustable comb. Up/down and left/right. Allows you to do this at home in front of a mirror. (Course in the USA we don’t really have British style shooting schools). Plus the adjustable comb allows me to make the “comb” perfectly parrallel with the rib. Thus I don’t get any change of eye positon if my head position changes due to added or reduced layers! And you should buy a LH gun if you are left handed. Mine is not only cast on but the palm swell is LH shaped. Very nice. And before anyone mentions low resale value… how do you think I afforded mine in the first place!

[@TMFShooting]

Another Great Video 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Thanks again!

[@AnthonyNewman-pq3el]

you missed one

[@Bunduki]

Good , sound advice , perfect stepping stone for the novice or the average club shooter, that is being bombarded with advice from fellow well meaning club members.

[@claudiopanizza4148]

Please traslate in italiano because for many player is moust important understanding your explication . i m sorry for my english.

[@RC-ed3sc]

Claudio, il tuo inglese è perfetto. Grazie!

[@TheDoctor46526]

And the muppets at TGS think your videos are pointless 😂😂😂

[@Jolly56Roger]

I seems to be . look at me I am smoking targets aren't I good 🥱🥱😴😴😌😌😛😛😜😜

[@THEHOLYNERF]

The point of buying from a shooting school is that you can test actually shooting it. You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it, so why bother buying a gun from a dealer without shooting it? Good, honest, advice. For those who don’t do BS, this is the reality of gun fit for the average Joe. 🙌🏻

[@MR12GAUGE]

What a rediculous statement- can get away with length over height, good luck mounting a gun smooth/consistently that is an inch longer or shorter than you need, which in turn effects height on a comb with drop, you can adjust height with cheek pressure, david mounts guns very low so he himself doesn't shoot guns that fit, cheek pressure, and correct length with right amount of cast for consistent shooting

[@THEHOLYNERF]

Bit rich coming from someone who shoots full choke at everything 😉

[@MR12GAUGE]

@@THEHOLYNERF whats choke got to do with fit

[@guy1234484]

A gun a quarter of an inch short I will take all day long over a gun a quarter of an inch low in the comb

[@MR12GAUGE]

@@guy1234484 a quarter of an inch - is what 6 mm, hardly short, most guns aren't considered short unless you are talking at least an inch

[@guy1234484]

⁠@@MR12GAUGEI’m not quite sure where you draw this idea that it takes an inch before a gun is considered short. When it comes to professional gun fitting, somewhere in the region of a 1/16 inch is the tolerance we’re talking. However, the fact that you have said that for a gun to be considered short means it needs to be an inch sort illustrates his point precisely. A few millimetres excess drop sees you looking right into back of the action or having to lift your head to see over it and losing contact with the stock. A few millimetres short or long and you can generally adapt your body around it.

[@mdreeder]

Why not shoot at a pattern board? You are slighting gun shops? What the hell?

[@kristiansierson5817]

The pattern plate tells how you hit the plate. Doesn't tell how you hit a moving target. Watching how various targets are shot and break tells a trained person how the gun fits.

[@Jolly56Roger]

I patterned my gun and ended up adjusting in when shooting clays again.

[@charlessmith4242]

@@kristiansierson5817 * Both have there place.

[@clv603]

Gun fit is important, but at a certain point it becomes pseudo-science because beyond the very basics it's inherently subjective.