Length of Pull ???

[queen_stick]

How do you know what's right for you?

I've never really payed attention to LOP until recently. I'm curious how you can determine what LOP would suit you best. You can't really shorten the LOP to see if you like it, then decide to change it back to a longer length because the that extra potion of the stock is now missing! I understand you can use spacers on the butt pad to lengthen the LOP, but how would you try a shorter LOP?

When shooting off a bipod especially, it's critical to make sure your cheekweld and your hold are very consistent from shot to shot. I think most people just pick the gun up and start shooting, adjusting their hold according to configuration of the gun. Maybe they would shoot better if they had a really short LOP, or extra long LOP? There's no way of knowing that?

 

[dreever]

Most rifles come standard with a 13.5 inch length of pull. This seems to be the "do all" for the vast majority, not exactly ideal.
I was always told put your arm in shooting position just like you would hold a rifle. Trigger finger bent just like it's on a trigger. Now measure from the tip of the trigger finger to the crook of your bent elbow. This will give you an approxmate LOP and you can adjust from there for what seems the most comfortable. Even though your measurement might dictate a longer LOP you may find the 13.5 inch "do all" just right. Good luck.

Danny

 

[watercam]

Any good gunsmith can measure the length of pull for your body with a stock jig made for just such a purpose. It is adjustable for lop, offset, drop at comb, etc.. Usually someone who fits shotgun stocks.

 

[Taildrag15X]

My F/TR rifle was fit with a shot gun stock jig, with my shooting jacket on and in prone.

Most adjustable butt plates like a Tubb should be set up "short", as in it is extended some, so that you can make it shorter if needed.

 

[Rust]

You have hit upon the exact reason my stocks have been equipped with 3-way adjustable butt plates in recent years. They finish at 12.5" with the butt plate fully in and I keep a T-handle allen wrench in my range/bench bag to set up the LOP at the range.

The stocks are also equipped with an adjustable cheek piece for good position and eye relief to the scope either prone or off a bench.

I also have an accesory rail installed so that I can place the bipod (for those rifles shot with a bipod) to where it handles recoil the best, and I've found it makes a difference. Whether that difference affects the rifle or the shooter for more consistancy I couldn't tell you but one rifle likes the bipod forward, one likes it about 3" further back. Balance of the rifle and recoil? Whatever, works for me.

At any rate, the more comfortable you get on the rifle the better you shoot. One of the reasons the 'tube guns" are getting more popular such as the Eliseo design. Adjustable everything.

 

[RandyD]

My competitive rifles all have adjustable stocks so that they can be changed to fit me in whatever position I will use the rifles. My competitive shotgun stock is fitted to me so that I have a consistent sight picture. As far as what length of pull to use on a hunting rifle, this is what i just learned. I just placed an order for a McMillan stock for a walking varmint stock and had a personal conversation with Dick McMillan about what length of pull to use. His advice was to start with the standard 13 1/2 inch length of pull and go a little shorter or longer based on what feels best, but basically when it comes to hunting stocks, the rifle can be shouldered under various conditions, various positions and while wearing various layers of clothing, so basically the user will adapt himself to the length of pull that is on a hunting rifle.