Gun Fit

[Tjstewart]

After receiving my certificate during the week I’m now on the hunt for my first shotgun, I hear gun fit is paramount, but also hear you can fit yourself to any gun, but to give myself the best possible start does anyone have a recommendation for someone to check gun fit (shotgun) and pattern plate in Scotland Glasgow area?

 

[Rasputin]

Fitting yourself to anything shotgun or otherwise is crap. It’s all about consistency and repetition if you’re making it hard for yourself the consistency and repetition won’t be as easy.

Get it fit. It’s money well spent

 

[Len the dog]

I wouldn’t worry about a pattern plate, in 50 years of shooting I’ve never known anyone do this. Gun fit however is very important, I have come to realise that my everyday knockabout doesn’t exactly fit me and is certainly making me miss more than I should, it has also left me with a big bruise on my shoulder and a sore cheekbone after a good session on the pigeons a few days ago.
If I use my ‘best’ gun, a sporter which fits me like a glove, I am a much more confident shot and rarely find myself thinking, “how the f*** did I miss that”, and certainly don’t suffer the beatings.
The only reason I haven’t used it regularly is that it’s heavy to carry around and in pristine condition, so I’m reluctant to put it down on the ground. That is about to change.

Don’t just buy the first gun that takes your fancy, try them for fit in the shop and if possible, also on the clays.

I am assuming that you haven’t done much shotgun shooting before, a lesson or two with a qualified coach may seem like an expensive outlay but will pay dividends for the rest of your life. I’ve seen plenty of shooters that have the worst shooting habits and consequently couldn’t hit a barn door at 20 feet, if they would just concede that they can’t shoot for toffee and get a couple of lessons, their shooting would be so much more enjoyable.

 

[Tim.243]

After receiving my certificate during the week I’m now on the hunt for my first shotgun, I hear gun fit is paramount, but also hear you can fit yourself to any gun, but to give myself the best possible start does anyone have a recommendation for someone to check gun fit (shotgun) and pattern plate in Scotland Glasgow area?

Are you Lh or Rh
Ask in the shop what cast the gun is and if they have a blank look (well they should know)
Consider not going in with light weight clothing as a winter coats and a couple of layers ad a bit
Both my Browning's are LH and the same length to the trigger.
A 32" barrel will handle far different to a 28 (I have 30")
Will you be using steel? then consider a 3" chamber

Fit is important but consistent (same place) mount is the key also feet position (being balanced)

 

[Len the dog]

Also, get checked for which eye is your master eye, this can make a huge difference if it is the ‘wrong’ eye.

 

[Tjstewart]

Thank you should have mentioned I am right handed, I’m also right eye dominant,,have came from target I am struggling to keep both eyes open,

 

[HistoricBore]

Note that over and under shotguns generally need less cast than side by sides. Are you after a 12 bore or a 20? 30" barrels are the trendy length at present, especially in a 20, but can be heavy in a 12 bore.

Do have a lesson or two first - I am going on Thursday.

HB

 

[Tim.243]

Thank you should have mentioned I am right handed, I’m also right eye dominant,,have came from target I am struggling to keep both eyes open,

Then lots of choices in gun shops for RH the old rule of thumb was stock in the crook of your arm and finger (at 90) around the trigger as a rough gauge way past then to short cant reach the trigger to long.

 

[Mike L]

I did a gun fit at Holland and Holland ( before you all shout ‘ moneybags’ at me it was a special deal at £120 for gun fit/pattern plate/40 cartridges) I personally believe it was money well spent. This is what you are given

 

[HistoricBore]

I did a gun fit at Holland and Holland ( before you all shout ‘ moneybags’ at me it was a special deal at £120 for gun fit/pattern plate/40 cartridges) I personally believe it was money well spent.

I did exactly the same at H&H six years ago, after 40 years of pistol and rifle shooting - excellent idea. There must be someone good in the Glasgow area??

HB

 

[Smellydog]

Nothing fancy to it.

Handle a gun.
Throw it up. Is your dominant eye looking down the rib centrally?
No, then put it back.
Yes, then how much of the top surface of the rib are you seeing?
All of it? Put it back.
A third of it? Good.
Now, shut your eyes and imagine a bird flying. Mount the gun on your imaginary bird and swing through.
Without dismounting open your eyes, is your dominant eye central over the rib with just a third or less of the top surface on show? Buy it.
If not start again with another.

 

[Tim.243]

Nothing fancy to it.

Handle a gun.
Throw it up. Is your dominant eye looking down the rib centrally?
No, then put it back.
Yes, then how much of the top surface of the rib are you seeing?
All of it? Put it back.
A third of it? Good.
Now, shut your eyes and imagine a bird flying. Mount the gun on your imaginary bird and swing through.
Without dismounting open your eyes, is your dominant eye central over the rib with just a third or less of the top surface on show? Buy it.
If not start again with another.

Your BP gun is to slow.....as the bird behind might fly into the string of tin tacks...

 

[enfieldspares]

I did a gun fit at Holland and Holland ( before you all shout ‘ moneybags’ at me it was a special deal at £120 for gun fit/pattern plate/40 cartridges) I personally believe it was money well spent. This is what you are given

I've two of those one by Ken Davies in 2004 and the other by Nathan Dooley in 2015 as in those ten years I've gotten fatter in some places and thinner on others. It is well worth the money spent! My AYA Yeoman Ejector would probably suit MIKE L too the stock measurements are similar.

 

[Mr. Gain]

First, I can't speak as to good places for gun fitting near Glasgow.
As for other aspects...
1. Fit matters. When having a gun fitted take clothes of a thickness that corresponds to the conditions in which you expect to shoot it. If you want to decoy summer pigeons as well as shooting January pheasants, consider a modern gun with butt-pad spacers.
2. Coaching is money well spent. It pays to get the good habits ingrained first, not the bad ones!
3. Do shoot on a pattern plate! You want to know if your gun shoots low, flat or high, and how the cartridges you use pattern from different chokes. Note: this testing is different from shooting at a plate as part of gun fitting, and would be done after buying the gun. Get a steel plate and some line marking paint and do it at your leisure (assuming you have a permission with a suitable corner).
4. Consider investing in one of Aimpoint's rib-mounted red-dot sights. They are good for transitioning from rifle shooting, forgiving of inconsistent mounting, and excellent for building your visualisation of what the correct relationship between the gun and the target should be.

 

[Smellydog]

Your BP gun is to slow.....as the bird behind might fly into the string of tin tacks...

You'd think so but actually there isn't that much in it leading wise.
I switch between muzzleloader and breech loader reguly with no issues.

 

[Donkey Basher]

I did a gun fit at Holland and Holland ( before you all shout ‘ moneybags’ at me it was a special deal at £120 for gun fit/pattern plate/40 cartridges) I personally believe it was money well spent. This is what you are given
View attachment 380299

Didn't exactly this 20 or so years back.

Start with a 'dry fit' to get the basic dimensions sorted.

Then off to the pattern plate for some adjustments based on how you mount the gun - this is a crucial part of the process as it gives a true indication of how you mount & shoot.

Finally, some fine tuning as you go round & shoot various stands throwing a variety of sporting clays.

Don't recall what I paid but it was money very well spent.

 

[chriswjx]

I don't know if he does gunfitting like they do at Holland and Holland, but I have been told a great many good things about Mr Graham MacKinlay in Dumbarton - - Graham Mackinlay & Co

 

[The Singing Stalker]

If you are normal size, then it is easier to find something to fit. If you are not, then you need to get measured.
Perhaps Cluny guns or Edinburgh rifles could advise you on t someone who will fit you.

 

[Tjstewart]

I wouldn’t worry about a pattern plate, in 50 years of shooting I’ve never known anyone do this. Gun fit however is very important, I have come to realise that my everyday knockabout doesn’t exactly fit me and is certainly making me miss more than I should, it has also left me with a big bruise on my shoulder and a sore cheekbone after a good session on the pigeons a few days ago.
If I use my ‘best’ gun, a sporter which fits me like a glove, I am a much more confident shot and rarely find myself thinking, “how the f*** did I miss that”, and certainly don’t suffer the beatings.
The only reason I haven’t used it regularly is that it’s heavy to carry around and in pristine condition, so I’m reluctant to put it down on the ground. That is about to change.

Don’t just buy the first gun that takes your fancy, try them for fit in the shop and if possible, also on the clays.

I am assuming that you haven’t done much shotgun shooting before, a lesson or two with a qualified coach may seem like an expensive outlay but will pay dividends for the rest of your life. I’ve seen plenty of shooters that have the worst shooting habits and consequently couldn’t hit a barn door at 20 feet, if they would just concede that they can’t shoot for toffee and get a couple of lessons, their shooting would be so much more enjoyable.

Thank you, yes just new to shotgun shooting,

I don't know if he does gunfitting like they do at Holland and Holland, but I have been told a great many good things about Mr Graham MacKinlay in Dumbarton - - Graham Mackinlay & Co

thank you I’ve just sent them a email

 

[Heym SR20]

I don't know if he does gunfitting like they do at Holland and Holland, but I have been told a great many good things about Mr Graham MacKinlay in Dumbarton - - Graham Mackinlay & Co

Graham has fitted a couple of guns for me - does a very good job.

Gun fit is important, but being taught to shoot well is also very important. There are many ways to shoot, and a lot will depend on what you want to achieve. There is a world of difference between shooting walked up game, wildfowl on the foreshore, driven phaesants, sporting clays or olympic trap.