[MLC]

I'm looking at a custom rifle and it has the length of pull shortened to 13.5".
I have no idea what the length of pull is on a standard rifle.
What is is average?
Is this rifle better for a wee man than a 6' 240# person like myself?

[Black Snowman]

That depends, if you're going to be shooting it in the dead of winter with layers and layers of clothing it might be better. If you throw it up, and it works, that's a good start. Everyone's built differant and the only way to know if it works for you is to try it.

The pull lengths I've seen quoted have been around 14.5" give or take about .5" but there was recently a thread about "youth" model 22s working very well for some full size adults and they can have a pull as short as 10".

[Onslaught]

Most off the shelf rifles will be in the 13.5" - 14" range.... I have no idea what the official "rules" are regarding LOP, but I personally would suggest holding it in realistic stances and positions and see how it feels to YOU.

I'm 6'3", 240 myself, and I like my LOP's short! 13" to 13.5" is my preference, although this new Savage 10FP I bought feels a bit short at 13". But then again, I'll be using it in a different way (mostly off the bench) than I do my AR or my shotgun.

[Sunray]

Friggin' mutants are everywhere. Anyone taller than 5' 6" is mutated. LOP is easily measured, for you, by putting the butt in your elbow, while wearing whatever you shoot in, and grasping the grip. If you can properly reach the trigger with your index finger, it's the right length.

[C.R.Sam]

Primary determinent is how it fits YOU.

Sam

[JShirley]

I'm only 66" tall, so most American rifles LOP's are way too long for me. On the + side, most COMBLOC rifle stocks work great!

[Jaywalker]

You really have to shoulder it to be sure. Thirteen-and-a-half is perfect for me - sometimes. I've found that the angle of your hand on the pistol grip alters the ideal length slightly, so raw numbers don't work for me all of the time. FWIW, the Remington 700 BDL fits me perfectly, and it's advertised at 13-3/8", IIRC. The old-style Ruger 77 at 13-1/2" is also perfect. Stock fit is very individual.

A couple of things you might want to consider are what it is and how you'll use it. A shorter length of pull will make a rifle easier to mount quickly by reducing the armpit snag possibility. On the other hand, a longer length of pull might tend to keep the rifle more firmly against your shoulder, lessening the effects heavy recoiling cartridges.

Jaywalker

[MLC]

I'm looking to purchase the rifle from someone on gunsamerica.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't an absurd LOP, like a Chipmunk.
If it is close to the Remington 700 BDL then I should be fine.
Thanks.

[El Tejon]

I'm 6'1", barrel chested and big shoulders and kind of lanky in the arms (yes, I know, I know, I'm built like a gorilla, however I can curl my thumb back so I can run on my hands and swinging from trees making the commute easier:D). I prefer short LOP, 12.5" is great.

MLC, Sam I Am has it. It depends on how you hold the weapon, your build and your preference. So much of shooting is software dependent, rather than hardware. A man loves a good gun, but knowledge must come first or one will not know what to look for in a weapon.

When I sold guns at a large sporting goods store during undergrad (Galyan's before their nationwide explosion--and all this was orchard), guys would come in and want to try a rifle. To a man they all held the weapon incorrectly and as a result they wanted longer LOP which stretched them out over the weapon or their thumb whacked them in la nariz causing pain or a flinch.

One guy bought a .270 off of us and came back in the next week saying that it was "far too powerful". "It nearly throw me on my ***." He was maybe 5' 10" and about 210 (gut). I had him demonstrate how he was holding it. Off balance, thumb on the port side, elbows wrong, etc.

I had him change his footwork, his arms and his hands and talked him out of demanding a refund or yell at the manager (the other salesman told him the .270/130 was "fairly mild"). Next weekend he came back smiling and bought more ammo off us and shook my hand.

One of the highlights of my "career" at Galyan's (let's not talk about the time I shot the crossbow bolt through the straw bales and into the boat pond after passing through the storage trailer).:D