doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LOP doubles vs. other

Who can help me understand LOP on rifles.....?

I see plenty of lever action and bolt action guns, new and unmolested, with LOP's of 13" or 13.5". Seems pretty short compared to what we see on shotguns.

Then I see double rifles that have LOP's similar to double shotguns - 14" and greater.

What's going on?

Most side by sides have double triggers, LOP is measured to the front trigger which is one inch further forward than the rear trigger which is in the position of a single trigger.

LOP on rifles is decidedly different than on shotguns. A good rule of thumb is better a shotgun stock a touch too long than too short, and better a rifle stock a bit too short than too long.

My shotgun LOP w/ straight grip and double triggers is 15 1/4" to the front trigger, and I can do well out to about 15 1/2". On a pistol grip stock, single trigger, 14 1/2 seems right, with 14 3/4 pretty good too.

On rifle stocks, I am happiest with a LOP of 13 1/2"; 13 3/4" is too long for comfort, yet 13 1/4" feels fine too.

OK...why is that? Is it because a rifle is usually mounted well in advance of firing? Or because you are squinting down the barrel?

And why are double rifles provided with LOP's like shotguns?

I believe the significant difference is stance and steady shooting position required of the more deliberate rifle shooting. In doing this, my rifles are much more steady tucked in toward my body more, hands closer (the thing defining my LOP is shortest that avoids my nose getting whacked by my thumb). Also interesting that target rifles tend to have shorter stocks, I believe, for these reasons.

To the double rifle/dangerous game piece, I'm postulating that the longer LOPs are because of important factors: recoil and a style that is less about precision and more about speed (more like shotgun style). Can't fully explain it, as I don't own a double rifle. My .375, a custom bolt rifle, has a 13 3/8" LOP and it feels perfect and is very fast. Others may be about to add more than I on this point.