Stock Drop is dependent on shooting style. Two basic styles are recognized in stock fitting considerations. Open faced or closed face. Europeans tend to shoot open faced ,or "heads up" simply touching the comb with the chin. Americans tend to shoot closed face, cheek firmly on the comb. The majority of the shooting schools teach open faced shooting, it is a faster target acqusition. The above pictures are examples of open faced. Early
English and American stocks tend to have excessive drop by modern standards. Cast off or cast on as well as twist, were seldom considered in early firearms. Ventilated or raised ribs not only helped with heat dispersal, but also created a dependence on sighting plane. Instinctive shooters seldom if ever see the bead, they mount and shoot. For us non-instinctive shooters we rely on the bead or beads for mount confirmation.
Bottom line is , if you choose to shoot early dimensioned guns, you need to shoot Open Faced and ignore the beads.
Brad
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