stock straightening
 

Generally speaking, is it feasible or fraught with likely adverse consequences to buy a vintage gun with a 3 1/4-inch drop at the heel, and be successful either adapting your shooting to its passe dimensions or to have the stock subjected to straightening?

For some (myself included) gun dimensions seem to be critical to better shooting. To others not so much. I would go to a trap club and find out for myself if I could shoot the damn thing. I think if I really loved the gun I would bend my mind to adapt to it rather than trying to bend the wood.

I have a number of Parkers with drops like that. At first when shooting such guns I shot very poorly because I was uncomfortable having heard all the negatives spoken and written of such guns. Same with the stories that SXS don’t do very well at trap.
Well, I thought, if the shooters and hunters of the day when these guns were made could shoot the scores they did, it can’t be the gun, it must be the shooter.

I got very used to mine as soon as I adopted the mindset that it CAN be done.





.

When having a stock bent there is always the chance of breakage. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Then, there is the much higher possibility that the wood will eventually return to its original dimension ........ it has a "memory". Occasionally a bend will stay put, but often they return to at least close to the original dimensions.

As for excessive drop, I can shoot a shotgun with too much drop much better than one with too little. I refuse to float a bird way above the bead to make the pattern center it.

I have a lifter, 3 inches of drop, and I use one of tho lace-up comb raisers, and break clays just fine. Good luck.

I would not try it.

My first thought having watched you do it. Repeatedly.

Have used comb risers to good effect. Hard to say not seeing the gun and not being you. There are lace on and velcro attaching types and i have used both. I will look to see what i have and perhaps i can send you one to try.

Don't bend it. Much too much risk and if it breaks and you have to replace it, you're looking at spending over $3k for new wood. Live with it or get rid of it

We use a guy named Michael Orlan up in New England . I personally have never had it done but to each his own . I’ve got a Velcro wrap around thing with spacers you put underneath . That’s worked well for me .