doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stock Length

Homelessjoe,
I'm of camp of moderation on the LOP issue. I neither subscribe to the "long as possible" camp nor the "short as possible" camp.

I don't like "as long as possible" because it is slow to mount, it promotes bad form by tending to rotate the shooter to a more sideways stance, and it increases the 'swing inertia' making the gun act more muzzle heavy (sometimes good, sometimes not so good).

I don't like "short as possible" because it can lead to the gun coming off the shoulder during doubles (but then, if it comes off the shoulder it's shorter than possible...right?)

But overall, I want to be able to face the target and mount the gun naturally without undue manueavering.

A lot of wind is blown in the direction of "longer is better". It "reduces recoil"(for no reason that I can imagine), to it "points better"(why?). Yet almost without exception every picture I see of one of the current Sporting Clays hotshots has their thumb almost touching their nose. I shoot 14" LOP. I'm 5'11". I never get my nose bumped, seldom feel any cheek chop, have never "felt" more recoil after shortening the stock to suit my preference. I have, on rare occasion, had the stock jump off my shoulder after the first shot on doubles but only when I was holding it too lightly. I shoot low gun on everything except trap and shorter definitely mounts easier. One very skillful lady Sporting Clays shooter has her stock so over-long her cheek is just about on the recoil pad. I believe she shoots well inspite of this, not because of it. She regularly beat Billy Gianquinto on the early "Pull" shows but he's a punk with more excuses than talent. I have read several "experts" state that most people will shoot better with a stock that's just a bit too short than one that's a lot too long. That's MO, as well. JL

Perhaps your problem is not LOP but proper shooting form and head position. I too am 6'3" and 200lbs. I had the same problem with the bruised cheek for many years. I tried shorter and longer lengths of pull and many types of pads but I still walked away after 100 rounds of trap or clays with a goose egg on my cheek.

It wasn't until I was told that I was bringing my face down to the gun rather than bringing the gun up to my face that the problem went away. When I lowered my head to the stock I cocked my head slightly to the right over the stock and every time I shot - BANG! And once that started it was difficult not to flinch on subsequent shots.

When I was taught to position my head and face properly on the stock, my eyes were horizontal to the ground, I saw and was able to pick up the birds much better and my scores went up and the pain factor went down immediately.

Try having somebody check your mount.