Proper measurement of stock dimensions

[Double Trouble]

Is there a specific "standard method" to measure stock dimensions ? Specifically, drop at comb (DAC) and drop at heel (DAH).

Here's how I measure them: Using a straight metal ruler, I lay it NEXT to the front bead, along the top of the rib. Then I measure the perpendicular distance from the ruler to the front-most part of the comb (for DAC), and then do the same at the "spur" on the Parker buttplate (for DAH).

Is this "right?" My letter claims my Parker has a DAH of 2 7/8", but in order to get that measurement, I need to measure it approx. 3/4 of an inch forward from the buttplate spur.

What is the proper/standard way ?????

Thanks guys !

John

[Pa SxS]

That's the way I've always done it. LOP I use the front trigger to the middle of the butt. Interested to see what others say.

[Double Trouble]

Thanks. I've heard that length of pull should be on a line parallel to the line of sight (the ruler). IE: Not the direct distance from front trigger to the middle of the buttplate. As a result, the "proper" way will be a tiny bit shorter than the "direct line" measurement. (But either way probably yields a VERY similar result...)

Others ?

[OH Osthaus]

length of pull is from the front trigger to the center of the buttplate/pad

your DAC and DAH are the best way without a specialty guage


example
http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/stockdimen.html

IMHO the drop at your cheek point is really the one that matters - that is where your rear sight aka eye goes

[Dennis]

I don't have a measuring gauge so I simply lay the gun (double barrel) upside down on a flat table. I measure from the comb of the stock to the table and then the end of the butt stock to the table. For length of pull I have never seen anything but measuring from the front trigger to the middle of the butt plate. I agree with Rick that the one that matters is the drop at comb. As your eye is the rear sight that gives the most important impact on your ability to hit what you aim at.

[Drew Hause]

1952 Purdey catalog

[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