When you fire a rifle (or a pistol) it’s a given that the sights should be adjusted correctly. A shotgun, however, does not normally have a rear sight but you effectively create one as the face comes into contact with the stock comb. If the stock fit is wrong, it is like moving the rear sight of a rifle or pistol up, down or sideways – it will affect shot placement profoundly at the target. With a shotgun, other factors may impact your sighting, most notably your eye dominance and mounting technique. They all interact and may alter where the shot charge ends up.
Addressing gun fit in isolation is never enough; ‘dry fitting’ a gun in a shop is inevitably incomplete. There is always a need for further testing, ideally at both pattern plate and clay targets. Even if your eye is looking straight along the rib (as it should for most people) and the basic physical fit of gun to shooter seems ok, undiagnosed eye-dominance issues can cause you to shoot to one side of the mark. Similarly, a poor gun mount may cause various errors of impact as well as making it difficult to access and remedy gun fit properly. They are all connected. They need to be understood and dealt with together.
Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av The Field.
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Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av The Field.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners