joshua1
member
Reged: 21/07/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
Hi,
I have owned a shotgun for a number of years but really only used it for rough shooting and only then not very often (I mostly use a 10/22 rifle).
I recently went clay pigeon shooting with a friend and used a 12 bore Baikel shotgun. However, I was not really getting on with the gun and after about 25 rounds I have ended up with a large bruise on my cheek. I had to hold the gun tight to my face to be able to line up the sight properly. Why is this? it was suggested that the stock was too short.
There are two questions I have, I realise that I am going to need to get fitted for a new gun, however I am left handed and my dominant eye is my left eye, will I need to get a left handed shotgun? or can I use a normal right handed shotgun?
What do you suggest, I dont care too much about what way the shells are ejected, I just want to make the gun feel more comfortable and not catch my cheek.
What type of shotgun would you advice around the £300 mark. I dont mind going second hand.
Many thanks for reading this.
|
Alastair_Balmain
stranger
Reged: 18/08/2006
Posts: 96
|
|
Hi Joshua,
Welcome to the forum — I hope you get the answers you're looking for.
Firstly I would recommend getting down to the CLA Game Fair this weekend at Blenheim as a starter. You'll see the largest range of shotguns all in one place on Gunmaker's Row, and there'll be any number of people available to give you advice with quite a few of the guns on offer with a try before you buy facility on the clay line.
But turning to your question more specifically, my brother is left-hand left-eye dominant, while I am right-hand right-eye dominant and we have both swapped and changed the same guns for many years. He often says that he would like to get the stock cast off on one of the guns so that it suits him better, but I do think that up to a point you can cope and adapt your shooting stance if you have a gun that you use regularly. It's not an ideal, but for many people getting a gun specifically tailored to fit them is not a priority — just ask the majority of Browning and Beretta's customers.
I would imagine that stock length is, to an extent, more of a critical issue. With a gun that's too short or too long you will exacerbate any cast issues in the stock.
I take it you are talking about a semi-auto and not an o/u or a s/s? Generally, I think they tend to come with fairly straight stocks anyway (especially laminate models) but one that may be of interest to you is the Webley & Scott 810 semi-auto. For £469 you can get a left-hand stock (left ejector as well I think), which is just £20 more than the r/h model. I realise it's over your budget by a bit, but you would be getting a specific left-hander's gun. Have a look at Lewis Potter's review on the Shooting Times site and see what you think.
Are there any left handers out there who'd care to share their experiences?
Alastair.
--------------------
Alastair Balmain, Deputy editor, Shooting Times
|
joshua1
member
Reged: 21/07/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
Hello. Thanks for the advice. As well as an auto I would also consider an over and under. From what you have written it seems to me that it is a stock length issue that is giving me all the problems. I will try to make it to the show.
Many thanks again.
|
ROBERT6500
member
Reged: 21/09/2007
Posts: 136
Loc: SOMERSET
|
|
Speaking as a coach, if you are left handed and have a dominant left eye, then buy a left handed gun if you want to be any good, otherwise you are going to handycap yourself from the start.
|
JohnMc
member
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 23
Loc: Near Bristol
|
|
I am right handed but left eye dominant and decided early on that the easiest way to deal with it would be to shoot left handed. So when I went to buy my first shotgun I bought a left handed one. It feels much more comfortable when mounted and at the end of the day if it is more comfortable you should shoot better with it.
Good Luck
|
JohnS
member
Reged: 23/07/2008
Posts: 12
|
|
These are really all excellent and informative opinions and questions (for which I'm grateful). Many years ago, when God was in His Heaven and the National Service kept louts like me off the street, I just about invariably came away from the range with a black (right) eye. Finally, one day my platoon sergeant said, "Come 'ere, you 'orrible little man," and showed me how to keep my thumb out of my upper cheekbone while aiming and firing. It worked wonderfully. There was no magic to it. I just had to stay aware that this was what I had to do. The other "process" he encouraged was the both-eyes-open, point-and-shoot approach. Later, on civvy street, I practised this method with my air rifle, snap shooting at strategically (and safely) placed targets. It seemed to work very well. Now, at least, I can do a bit more than simply alarm flushed birds.
|
ROBERT6500
member
Reged: 21/09/2007
Posts: 136
Loc: SOMERSET
|
|
Hello JohnMc, you made the right choice in the end then. How you getting on with it all ?
|
joshua1
member
Reged: 21/07/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
UPDATE: Hi Everyone. I went to the clay pigeon club again today and had a go with my dads Lamber shotgun. Again I started suffering with a bruised cheek. After the shoot I went down to my local gun shop in Sheffield. I got them to have a look at the fit of the gun and they informed me that the stock was too short and would also need casting. Obviously I don't want to cast my dads gun.
I've decided i'm looking for an left handed over and under (second hand) in the price range between 300-500 (maybe a bit more if it was a nice gun). The gun shop suggested that I bought a second hand shotgun and had the stock recast from right hand to left hand. However, it was suggested in another gun shop in Sheffield that casting a stock may not be permanent and eventually the stock shape would change back to the original shape.
Can anyone suggest a good place to get a left handed over and under shotgun in the South Yorkshire area? And could anyone give me a bit more information about casting of stocks on second hand shotguns?
Many thanks for all the comments.
|
ROBERT6500
member
Reged: 21/09/2007
Posts: 136
Loc: SOMERSET
|
|
Casting of stocks, DON`T DO IT.
Just keep looking, there are thousands of left handed guns out there.
I would hazzard a guess that you are a big lad by the info your giving us. If you are that would explain quite a lot of why you get these problems. Hang in there for a TRUE left hander and fit a stock extension butt pad on it if needed.
|
JohnMc
member
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 23
Loc: Near Bristol
|
|
Hi Robert,
Yes it is all going well, picked up a Browning 525 in the end. And so far it seems to be helping me hit the higher scores.
I think in a few months time I might expand the collection to include a trap gun too. As I have tried the discipline a few times now and quite enjoy it.
Out of curiousity what is wrong with recasting?
Thanks
John
|
ROBERT6500
member
Reged: 21/09/2007
Posts: 136
Loc: SOMERSET
|
|
It`s expensive, and can mark the stock. I was told only last week about another stock that had a nasty water mark on it when it came back and it was on a grade 5 Miroku that was brand new. They can also go back to near the original shape, thats very common, it`s not worth the grief. The gun you want is always out there, you need to be a little patient and do not buy the first pretty thing you see.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
