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Let’s talk shotgun balance and balancing a shotgun close to hinge pin. Let’s for the sake of simplicity say we now have a barrel heavy gun. Where do we add weight to the stock to balance the gun close to the hinge pin? Let’s say given that we have a gun with a stock bolt and we already have a huge hole in the Butt stock allowing access to the stock bolt. Is it best to add weight close to the stock bolt and therefor closer to the action?? Or, is it better to add weight closer to the butt pad? How does the difference in weight distribution change things given the same/identical amount of weight?

The closer to the butt plate the more mecanical advantage the weight will have. Thus less weight is required to balance the barrel .
The result is a lighter gun that is balanced.

bill

I totally understand your question, Buzz, and it’s an interesting one. Very similar question to placement of weight in my airplane. If I put 100 pounds in my aft baggage compartment behind the rear seat the plane will fly well. But the same weight placed near the tail would create a very dangerous aft of Center of Gravity situation. But 10 or 15 pounds near the tail would probably have the same effect on CG as the 100 pounds in the aft baggage compartment. So I surmise a weight in the buttstock near the buttplate would be much lighter than one closer to the action.

Do what you describe, Buzz, and shoot it as much as you can. Muscle memory is an amazing thing, and eventually, within a few shots, that memory will take over and you'll shoot it well I'll bet. I shoot an array of different guns for subguage events, and do fairly well. It helps if you can shoot a few targets with the gun before you start on the scoring targets. Works for me.

Absolutely imho!!! …..and for sporting clays and hunting guns too.

Thank you for responding to my question. I bought a 32” carrier barrel for my sporting clays gun. It weighs about 6 Oz more than my 12 ga barrel. I was hoping the weight would be a bit closer, but not to be. I’ve got another similar gun to my 12 that I’m going to set up for sub gauge and I may shoot some skeet with it too. So, I need to balance this barrel heavy gun and try to get it to at least feel better. I’m thinking a couple ounces of lead close to the butt pad may do the trick, but the gun will weigh about 8 Oz or so more than the 12 bore. As long as it feels good and is well balanced, I think it will be ok. It is what it is, but I wish the total weight was closer with the two guns.