Pros/cons of an adjustable cheekpiece

[Damfino]

Is it a matter of weight, personal preference, or other factors?

 

[chkunz]

The purpose of the adjustable cheek piece is to allow you to rest the weight of your head on the stock and be looking exactly thru the rear sight (scope or iron sight). With the proper cheek piece adjustment you will have the weight of your head on the stock and will not be using your neck muscles to hold your head up to get your eye in alignment with the sight. There is more, let me know if you would like more of an answer.

 

[lawrence97]

I like to have it and not need it than not have it and need it!
T-Rex put down the most important reasons to have it. It's preference and shooting style and they can always be removed if needed.

 

[Lapua40X]

Even though I don't put the weight of my head on the cheek piece, and don't recommend it, adjusting the cheek piece for a quick alignment with the scope and consistent "touch" of the cheek on the comb of the stock supports faster recovery following each shot.

 

[savagedasher]

I would think it has much to do with the stock and what discipline you are shooting. Shooting free recoil I never have my head near the stock. So only you can make that decision. :-\ Larry

 

[Mozella]

I would think it has much to do with the stock and what discipline you are shooting. Shooting free recoil I never have my head near the stock. So only you can make that decision. :-\ Larry

I recently took delivery of a McMillan stock which only comes with an adjustable cheek-piece even though I didn't want it. It's the type with a big notch cut into the stock which can be raised and lowered.

I don't use it, but I have found that removing it makes shooting free recoil easier. I can have a low scope mounting position and, by removing the cheek-piece, I can get my eye into just the right position without any danger of touching the stock with my cheek. Does that make it an "anti-cheek-piece"?

I have tested this rifle using a conventional "cheek-weld" position and I'll have to say that the built-in adjustable cheek piece is pretty nice and much better in both form and function then some strap-on device. That's true for other things too, but please no ..........um.......... Rachel Maddow jokes.

 

[Cold Bore]

Even though I don't put the weight of my head on the cheek piece, and don't recommend it, adjusting the cheek piece for a quick alignment with the scope and consistent "touch" of the cheek on the comb of the stock supports faster recovery following each shot.

I'm more in line with this answer than resting the full weight of my head on the stock.

A properly placed cheekpiece allows for consistency in head placement.

Some guys need them and some don't. A combination of stock size/design along with the size and shape of a shooters face (and neck), in conjunction with shooting style/position (my head and body have a much different relationship with a stock if I'm shooting prone versus off of a bench), can tell you that you need one, or you could get lucky and find a match that works just fine with a solid stock.

 

[Ggmac]

Gone are the days of custom , truly custom , fitted to you and only you gun stocks .

 

[chkunz]

Even though I don't put the weight of my head on the cheek piece, and don't recommend it, adjusting the cheek piece for a quick alignment with the scope and consistent "touch" of the cheek on the comb of the stock supports faster recovery following each shot.

I was referring to the conventional prone position (sling) where this is important to keep the muscles in the back of the neck relaxed and not straining to hold up the weight of the head for the entire match. I do not know if this applies to other disciplines like F Class but I am sure that consistency shot to shot is important in any case.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Ggmac, still available if you have the time & money, but the adjustables are a better choice, as the market has shown.

Would agree that it depends on your venue. In the short range BR game, you don't want to touch the stock at all, just touch the trigger when firing. One thing to keep in mind is any adjustable cheekpiece stock should be made so that the cheekpiece can be easily removed for cleaning the barrel & then put back in the same position.

 

[58weasel]

On a custom fitted stock, based on the encouragement of the Preacher, I "carved" one for myself.
Though it wouldn't win a beauty contest, it is my favorite stock.
Place for my fingers and thumb (right hand) behind the bolt.
A beaver tail type fore arm with a place for my left thumb.
Kept the bottom line of the forearm and butt stock parallel.
Put a "v" in the bottom of the butt stock to fit the rear bag better.
Just used my table saw; and a rasp and file bought at the local hardware store.
I get by without the adjustable cheek piece. Have a thin Peltor bag with walnut shells that gives me the adjustment, if it seems like that is helpful.
DIY works for me.

 

[Damfino]

Good information and insights. Thanks guys.

 

[boltman13]

If your stock allows you to place your cheek on it and look straight down the optical axis of your sight, and the cheek weld is comfortable and repeatable then you do not need an adjustable cheek piece. If not you do and adjust it to allow you to mount your rifle as above.

 

[Joe R]

Damfino
Is it a matter of weight, personal preference, or other factors?

My tube gun came with a cheek rest and I used for about a year. Then a guy told me to try without it and I did. I discovered that my groups/scores improved. So I took the cheek piece off and never used it again.

I recently had my new F-TR rifle built without a cheek piece and adjustable butt plate, that saved about 18 ounces in weight that I can use for a heavier barrel and still make weight. Some of those "extra eye candy" seem to be driven by financial incentives rather than shooting performance. YMMV.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[370bc]

Could I possibly add the same question in regards to an adjustable butt plate?
Thank You.

 

[chkunz]

Could I possibly add the same question in regards to an adjustable butt plate?
Thank You.

The purpose of all stock adjustments is to allow the shooter to obtain the best possible shooting position. If you are an experienced position shooter (standing, kneeling, sitting, prone) shooting a match rifle you learn how to take advantage of these features. If you are a service rifle shooter your life is simple, conform to the rifle as is, if you are a bench rest shooter you will have less need for these features. So it depends on your shooting discipline what is important to you and how to take advantage of what the rules allow. You did not say what shooting discipline your question applied to. If you will provide that information I am sure that you can get some great information that will be helpful. Best wishes.

 

[370bc]

Just shooting for coyotes now with a kimber montana in 243 win.
I see the custom rigs and wonder if the weight and cost would be worth it.
Mostly shoot from a low chair using a tripod shooting sticks ambushing coyotes.
I would like a long range set up one day tho.
Probably would shoot the same position. Prone position hurts my back after a short period of time.

 

[seymour fish]

Just shooting for coyotes now with a kimber montana in 243 win.
I see the custom rigs and wonder if the weight and cost would be worth it.
Mostly shoot from a low chair using a tripod shooting sticks ambushing coyotes.
I would like a long range set up one day tho.
Probably would shoot the same position. Prone position hurts my back after a short period of time.

OP, cheek piece height, if you are to derive any benefit, needs to be adjusted between positions, and anything short of a thumb wheel adjustment is a pita. You don't need it

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Sling is one thing. But in Bench or F-class cheek is a very hard thing to master. It is very common to flex a cheek muscle when the gun goes off and cause problems you will fight to fix. I really try to steer guys away from cheek pressure. I feel its even worse than shouldering the gun. Yes, the neck can get tired prone, but I bet you shoot better scores...

 

[BoydAllen]

I have a stock that has an adjustable cheek piece, a McMillan. The rifle is not one where the weight is an issue. After some thought I mounted the scope with rings that are high enough so that with the cheek piece all the way down, I can keep my face off of the stock, but it is close. If for some reason I want to have anywhere from very slight contact to to way more than I would ever need or want, it is all available. (The center of my scope is 1 1/4" above the top of the Picatinny base.) If I ever run into a situation where I want more clearance, all that I have to do is remove it, so the only issue that I can see is weight, and as I mentioned above, for this rifle, that is not an issue. Personally, for this rifle, I think that it is an advantage.