Shotgun or Rifle Sizes- Tall people please.

H

hube1236

New member
When I shoot rifles, being a tall man, I usually have to contort my wrist and elbow all over the place to hold the gun correctly. This usually hurts my wrist alot to the point where I straighten out my wrist and let the gun slam into my shoulder or I fight the recoil with muscle. Any way I shoot, I end up missing or hurting. Shotguns, never live fired one, seem to fit my arm better.

Can I buy long arms in small, medium and large? Do people make stock adapters that do not alter the balance of the gun? While my next purchase will be a shotgun, if Gore is elected, I will be buying an assault weapon. But shooting and shooting accurately without pain are different animals. How do tall people on this forum 6'3"+ handle their arms?
 
One possible answer is to have a custom stock made for you. Hard core shotgunners do this all the time, and the more expensive gun makers often require that the prospective buyer have a "fitting"done by an expert fitter. Custom stocks aren't cheap but are worth it for that special gun.

The first O/U I evr owned I had to have the stock lengthened over an inch to shoot properly. I find that most rifles have stocks that are too short. This can be corrected by adding spacers behind the recoil pad, and most reliable gunsmiths can do this.

Another trick is to add stick on moleskin, sold to relieve the pain of blisters on the feet. You can stick on a sheet of this material to raise the point of impact if the stock is too low (this often is a problem if you add spacers to lenghthen the stock).

For shotguns you can purchase or have insalled adjustable stocks. I find them to be more of a PITA than a help but some folks swear by them.


Geoff Ross
 
Geoff gave good answers. In addition to adding spacers between the recoil pad and the gun, here are a couple of other ideas.

Some shotguns feel better than others. Try several before buying. For me Winchester 1300 feels the shortest. Remington 870 and Mossburg feel like the have a longer length of pull.

Second is that recoil pads themselves are available in different thicknesses. Look for a thicker one.

Thirdly, a fast correction on the cheap is what I did with my first shotgun purchased used at 14 years old (I'm 48). It was a Mossburg 185K Bolt Action 20 gauge. It was so old when I got it that the rubber recoil pad had hardened into a brick. Plus, I'm 6'3" and the length of pull was too short. I merely bought a slip on recoil pad and slipped it on right over the hard, dried out factory pad. I had recoil absorption and increased the length of pull for a couple of bucks and no tools.

Long guns are like most cars. They're made for the average man and not for us big guys.

RJ

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"Never turn your back on the crew."
 
The Brits had three different length stocks for their SMLE. Clever fellows those Brits. Lest we forget, during winter when heavier clothing is worn the shorter stock may fit and this makes the removable recoil pad an ideal alternative to an expensive custom stock.
 
Actually, it seems to me that a good coach could fix you up. Not meant in any way to be snide, but most of my buds are 5'10 or over. A close friend is 6'7 and I have yet to see any of them have a problem such as you describe. My shirt size is 18 x 36, so I do have an inkling of the problem.

In fact, I find that most stocks are too long for for most folks. (rifles) Mine are cut to 12 and 3/4 to allow for hunting clothes - but the short stock works well in a T-shirt too.

Hube, I think a coach could help you out on this one..

Giz
 
Giz, I disagree. Length of pull makes a big difference. Right fit isn't just a matter of coaching.

With all due respect,
The Captain
 
K80 is on the right track here. I am tall and have very long arms. Both of my shotguns, Benelli M1S and 870MM, have had spacers added between thew recoil pad and the actual stock.

This "adjustment" makes a huge difference. "One size fits all" just does not fly with long guns.

CMOS

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NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

CMOS's Site
 
Hube, give me your address and I'll send you all the 1" slices I've cut from my long gun stocks. No sense letting them go to waste. ;)
 
I can understand I am 6'5 but like many small guns anyway (love the M1 Carb.)

Try a Sweede 96 millsurp.

if you want to modify on the cheap try a slip on recoil pad, I have one on my Mexican 7mm cav carbine with 1 inch of high density foam "water noodle" inside it thus adding about 2 1/4 in to length of pull.
 
I'm 6'4" and find that most long guns have too short a pull (distance from trigger to butt). That, coupled with my eyesight and a strong cheeking reflex, makes for some interesting marks on my face.

I have to be carefull shooting my Garand -- lest I get a thumb in the face. The scope on my Savage 110 is as far forward as it'll go, and I can't cycle the bolt unless I drop the butt from my shoulder or rotate my head out of the way. My Mossberg 590 is just right, for what it is -- fast shouldering, but not for target shooting.

The standout is my STG-58 (Steyr-built FN/FAL) -- my gunsmith added 2+ inches to the stock (extended the stock, then added a Pachmyer Decelerator -- kept the same stock line, and it looks like it was meant to be that way) and it's right-comfy. 'Course, everybody else thinks it's waaaaay too long.

All that being said -- yes, you can get different-sized stocks, but most "standard manufacture" rifles are only available in shorter variants, not longer. If you want a rifle that is going to fit properly, you'll more than likely have to go to a gunsmith and get a custom stock. This may be more expensive than a "stock" rifle, but I think it's worth the money given that you'll never enjoy a rifle that you can't shoot well.

Incidently, I find "pistol grip" stocks exacerbate the "short stock" problem -- they cramp my wrist something fierce (hence the extra-long pull on my STG).


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The value of my life, my Rights, and those of my family are incalculable;
your life and your Rights, should you choose to threaten mine, are worth exactly $1.79 --
delivered 230gr at a time.
 
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