Brian gave you excellent advice...

A close gun fit can be worked with....When it isn't close consistency is hard to find...One of the reasons a shotgun that fits perfectly is a pleasure to shoot...

A good fitting gun will take a lot of the uncertainty out of the process - the mount - the ADJUSTMENT to the gun’s fit - and finally the shot, if it’s not too late.

The ADJUSTMENT takes your mind off of the flight line of the target, be it feathered or clay, and you end up aiming instead of simply instinctively pointing your gun.



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That’s what I would tell myself when looking at a Parker I wanted. “Gun fit, if it even exists, is way overrated”, I thought. Then one day I bought a Parker that fit me like a glove and my shooting improved. Like Dean stated, I didn’t need concern myself with making any kind of adjustments. I measured that guns dimensions and won’t buy anything not the same or close.

Gun fit is only not important if ones basic fundamentals Re shooting are poor. In which case a perfect fit means little.

With sound fundamentals all will shoot better....when the shooter doesn’t have to adapt to the shotgun.

I am familiar with the concepts and practice of gunfit, having been "certified" by Bob James a while back. One of the best books on the subject is Michael Yardley's, a review of which is attached, along with an article from Sporting Clays magazine on the subject.

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My comments were general thoughts from personal experience.

If you mean Bob James from Montana, then years back I found him to be an extremely nice and knowledgeable individual, who had access to killer wood. Also watched him fit a shotgun for a gal I used to hang with.

Again years back I crossed paths with Yardley a couple times when he was over here and didn’t arrive at the same opinion. But he was young, perhaps he has matured.

Since we are now into fitters, I have yet to see the equal of John Whooly. He uses an adjustable try gun and fine tunes the fit not only on a plate, but also on targets. IMO well worth checking him out if one desires a fit.

Over the years, as I developed my thinking on the subject, I have been fitted by Woolley, Batha, Bilinski, James, Ash, and I don't know who else. I took their numbers and decided for myself what works best. John's numbers come closest to my ideal fit for a sporter, and Chris's numbers work best for game guns.

But I have come to be surprised at how I, a mere mortal, can still shoot pretty much any gun just fine. Shooting in competition is a different matter, and that may have more to do with the head than the eyes.

As for Yardley, I shot with him in Chelmsford, and he was pretty buttoned up, but I enjoyed his company, and he knows a good curry when he finds one!

If you want to get really good, you need to shoot one gun. That is what I have heard from the experts. Just shooting one gun is something I am not going to do.

Absolutely!
Where is the fun in that!

A good part of the pleasure in owning a number of nice guns is having the right one for the particular shoot you're headed for. Each year I enjoy the rotation thru the gun safes of the various gauges and barrel/choke combinations I own for different game. Who wants to carry an 8# 12 ga. on a quail hunt??
Guns are a bit like dogs, they're all a bit different. Get to know them and you'll shoot them well (or sell'em off). One that's a stranger may take a while in the field to "warm up". This DOES give your companions some entertainment at your expense!

And by the same token, isn't it fun to buy a gun for a specific situation?

Sometimes you buy a gun, just because you like it, although you aren't exactly sure how often you'll use it. Other times, you buy a gun to fit a particular niche.

It sure is. I have several guns for each situation in case one breaks down.

When hunting in South Texas "two is one, one is none". Applies to nearly everything from spare tires to underwear to whiskey bottles. Shotguns definitely included!

Well, the selfsame VH 16 that I purchased specifically for a northwoods grouse hunt developed a crack after 150 rounds of RST Ultra Lite cartridges (three-quarter ounce at 1100 ft./s.) I am very happy that it happened now, rather than in the grouse woods.

As long as it is in the shop, it will get a fresh rust bluing of the barrels and trigger guard.

Perfect example of why “one is none.”

Sorry to hear that news. I have a gun infirmary on top of my safe with a few needing wood work

There must have been a crack or flaw before tou shot it. RST’s would never be the source of the damage.





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I was not blaming the shells. I am a big RST fan.

That's plain bad luck! That may be a flaw in the wood hidden for a century or just the process of aging, changes in humidity over years, who knows. Heart breaker for certain.

Low humidity and a hot car - who knows. Maybe there was a hairline when I bought it, and I just couldn’t see it.

Presbyopia sucks!

I ended up having the gun stripped and cleaned, the barrels rust blued, and the chipped dhbp repaired. I think it turned out just great. If anything, the rust blued barrels set off what is remaining of the case coloring.
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Beautiful!

Well done!

Steven,
I purchased a parker vh 16 gauge that has been restored, 26" barrels, its the perfect grouse gun. Every time I take it out, my dog goes on point in the gnarliest thickest patch of woods a bird can find to hide in:) I purchased an older fox 16 gauge with 26" barrels that is original condition. That fox is in such good original condition that a well known gun shop said it was worth more than the parker that had been restored. For some reason its easier to carry the original fox than the shiny restored parker. Maybe I will change in the years to come, but that parker just looks new, I love both guns. I hope some day I can carry that parker just like I do the fox into the thick stuff. Congratulations on that gun, it came out nice.

Someone carried them when they were new, carrying them after a refinish is just a continuation of the story.....

That and there is no tomorrow guarantee....

Gun turned out well. With limited work done to it, appears the wise choice.

Harry,
I am getting closer to that belief, thanks for all your input in here, its appreciated.

Harry,
Just to show you I pay attention in here to all this good advice. Thats my parker vh 16 gauge that was refinished. Today Cash had 4 points in about 45 minutes. Two birds held, I have not been doing well this year on grouse. The parker is going to go out more often now.

It looks reallly clean and appears to have been taken care of. Even the screws look almost perfect.

I would not be embarrassed to accompany her to the field.

Sorry, but my prior post was regarding the 16ga that the ower was considering cleaning up / restoring.

PS. I love your brittany. Funny how they will never look at the camera!!!

It looks reallly clean and appears to have been taken care of. Even the screws look almost perfect.

I would not be embarrassed to accompany her to the field.