Drop the Gun

Stock height is the last of the main four stock dimensions. It’s probably the most important one too. I’m not really sure why. You’d think that cast, which governs how the gun shoots left and right, would be just as important, but shooters seem to be able to more or less compensate for cast that isn’t quite correct. It’s harder to deal with a stock that is too low or too high.

Low stocks cause me the most grief. When I mount a low stock, my eye goes below the rib and I can’t see anything. Not good. So I compensate by lifting my head to see things. Naturally that stops my swing cold. Also not good. If the stock is too high, I simply mount normally and hold under the bird. It isn’t perfect, but it’s not a total disaster either.

And just what is the correct stock height? I don’t have a clue. Casual stock fitters will test to see if your eye is centered just above the rib. In theory this should vertically center your pattern IF (note big “if”) that particular gun shoots in alignment with the rib. Some ribs, such as those on many trap guns, are built to make the gun shoot high, as is appropriate for built-in lead on a constantly rising trap target. Most field guns are set up to shoot 50/50 or perhaps as high as 60/40 (60% of the pattern above point of aim, 40% below). The latter setup is based on the theory that certain gamebirds are generally shot rising on the flush, so you want the gun to shoot a little high so that you don’t have to cover the bird. Many shooters like their target guns stocked a bit higher than their field guns because they have the time to cheek the target gun a bit tighter. In the snatch and grab of field shooting, the cheek is often not placed as firmly on the stock.

Sometimes stock height is influenced by the gun design. Over/unders, autoloaders and pumps tend to shoot to point of aim, but often side-by-sides can shoot a little low due to downward barrel flip when the shell ignites. That’s why side-by-side shooters often stock their guns a bit higher or, as with many American side-by-sides, the raised rib is higher at the rear than the front.

What are your proper measurements? If you don’t know, it might make sense to measure a gun that you shoot well and write them down for future reference. Stock height is measured from the extended line of the rib to the nose of the stock (the front bump on the comb) and to the heel of the stock (the top of the butt). Drop at nose is often called drop at comb, but that’s misleading as the entire top of the stock is the comb. Measuring is easy to do by extending a straight edge from the rib over the comb and then using a ruler to measure down to the nose and heel. A generic European measurement might be 1-3/8” drop at nose and 2-1/4” drop at heel, while the garden variety American height has been a little lower at 1-1/2” x 2-1/2”.

Your physical makeup and your shooting style determine your stock height. If you have a long neck and thin face, you’ll want a higher stock than someone who is full faced with a short neck. The long-necked shooter will tend to tip his head forward when he mounts, thus reducing the distance from eye to stock. He will need a higher stock to see over the rib. The short-necked man will hold his head more erect and increase the distance from eye to stock, thereby needing a lower stock to provide the same sight picture.

And then there is the question of a Monte Carlo versus a standard field stock. Ever wonder why target shooters like parallel stocks and hunters don’t? I’ll get to that in a few days when I figure it out.

That’s it for now. Boots off. Beer open.