Proper measurement of stock dimensions

[Double Lab]

John;
I have a couple of english guns and yes they are stocked pretty straight with very little drop at heel. They shot mostly driven, overhead incoming birds and those dimensions allowed for a better view of the bird with a built in lead. Just my theory.

[B. Dudley]

Dennis,

That is usually how I measure drops as well. Upside down on a flat surface. It is important though to make sure the sight bead is off the edge of the surface, since it can effect the measurement by quite a bit.

I too have noted a couple of original Parker's that the actual dimention measurement was a bit off from order records. Maybe by 1/8" or so.

Actually, I think that depending on the gun, the method of using the ruler extension off the rib is more accurate since if the rib is concave, it will give a different measurement than resting on a table. But, unless the rib is a French swamped style or something, the difference in measurement will be very little.

And the actual point that you measure at makes a difference. As you say, the measurement at the tip of the heel could be different from the dimension at the spur.

[Double Trouble]

Thanks guys - that Purdey chart certainly spells it all out ! I'm always surprised that I seem to shoot guns with more drop better than "typical" (modern) drops. I have a modern gun with 1 1/2" & 2 1/2" drop, and I don't shoot that as well as my Parker hammer gun with approx. 1 3/4" and 2 7/8" drop. (I'm only 5'-8" if I'm wearing shoes, so I would think I wouldn't need much drop or length of pull...) My cheek hits the stock approx. 6" back from the front trigger, so that's where I like to measure in order to compare gun "fit." Most of those old English guns have so little drop - how in the world did anyone hit anything with them ??????

[Bruce Day]

If you are trying to measure a Parker, Parker catalogs at the back give specific instructions for measurement.

They also provide standard stock dimensions for those curious.

[Drew Hause]

This helped John, but was hard on the aligner-fella

[Kevin McCormack]

In copying the c. 33,600 individual sheets of paper that made up the surviving Parker Gun records at Ilion in 1999, I doubt we ever saw more than 1/2 dozen Order Book notations that gave all of the classic 3-way measurements for a 'true' custom stock-dimensioned LOP; e.g., heel, midpoint, and toe lengths from the trigger.

Drew's Purdey chart via David Trevallion shows how it's done 'to the max', so to speak. Subtle differences recorded in precise lengths and angles to the shoulder and breast muscles are recorded and duplicated in the best fitting stocks, especially in women, including cast on or off, down- or up- pitch, and, in the case of the middle measurement, "yaw" taken into account in how the person mounts, shoulders, and cheeks the gun at the "moment of truth."

For an easy, visible example of how production guns are compensated for the above variables, just look at a diehard trapshooter or sporting clays fanatic's stock fitted with one of the modern "twist and shout" adjustable pads. ('Twist' as in "I'll smoke his butt" next time and 'Shout' as in "Damn! I missed it again!!")

[Paul Harm]

John, you'll find if you put more weight on the front foot you'll be leaning forward with your head " stuck out " and need less drop in the stock. Now if you stand more upright with the weight equal on both feet your head will also be in the natural position - " up right " - and you'll need more drop. Of course, you can't lift your head to see if you hit a clay because your head is already up. All my guns have 2" DAC and 3 1/8" DAH. Try leaning forward like a modern shooter and all you'll see is the receiver. It's all what style you shoot. I shoot gun down and stand upright. A lot of drop fits me. Paul

[Double Trouble]

That makes sense. I do tend to shoot with equal weight distribution & my head in a more upright position - no wonder I like more drop. Plus, I think I tend to lift my head - so if it's already "up", I can't lift it much more !

Thanks to all who commented on this string - I appreciate it !