[garrettwc]

Can someone explain this to me a little better. I know it has to do with the height and length of the stock.

How do you know what is right? If the gun you want isn't right, are there things you can do to change it?

[dbshabo]

I'm not sure about the comb but I think the length of pull is the distance from the trigger to the butt of the stock. You can buy buttstock extensions for most any rifle to make them longer. Guess you'd have to cut the stock down to make the length of pull shorter.

Shabo

[Steve Smith]

The comb is where it parts your hair.

[garrettwc]

The comb is where it parts your hair.

Cute. :p

Come on folks. I'm a total idiot when it comes to anything with a barrel longer than 4 inches. Help a guy out. I'm really trying to learn something here.

[Steve Smith]

It is all very mysterious. The best answer was in my earlier post.



























Not good enough, huh? (sigh)

The comb is where you put your cheek.

http://www.targetshooting.ca/reframerize.cfm?redirect=http://www.targetshooting.ca/glossary.htm

The height of the comb depends on how your face is built and your intent with the rifle. I would say that (generally speaking) the comb is correct if you place your face naturaly on the stock and you can correctly use your chosen sighting device. Of course, position shooting or bench shooting should be taken into account too.

[Art Eatman]

Comparing various rifles from a side view, you'll see that some stocks are more straight than others; some have a noticeable drop at the back of the stock. In the specs for a rifle, this is referred to as the "drop at comb", measured from the line of the bore.

The upper end of the butt is the heel; the lower is the toe.

Some stocks have a straight comb where your cheek is placed; others have a raised portion called a "Monte Carlo" comb. This latter is more suitable for a scope-mounted rifle, as it raises your head a bit so your eye is in line with the axis of the scope.

However, a stock with little drop at the comb can be suitable for use with a scope.

The more drop, the more the bore is above the center of pressure of the butt and the more the muzzle will rise with recoil.

Another term in stock shape is "cast off". Looking from above, this would be a slight angle for the rear of the stock to bend away from the line of the bore, away from your cheek. Again, this helps align your eye with the sights.

A rifle fits you properly when you can mount it to your shoulder with your eyes closed; upon opening your eyes the sights are right in line.

A proper length of pull is sort of a compromise. It is common for it to be the same as from the inside of your bent arm at the bicep to the inside of your trigger finger as it's curved in the firing position. This will vary with clothing, as a thick jacket will make this distance shorter.

Hope all this nattering helps...

:), Art

[garrettwc]

Ok, that helps. A couple more questions.

As Art said the drop of the comb can be very different. An AR15 by my observation goes straight back, while a 30/30 for example drops at an angle.

How do you compensate for the difference? Do you drop your head to the side more to get your cheek against the stock or what?

[hksw]

Here's one.

The comb is the top of the stock.

What is the bottom of the stock from the grip to the toe called?

[Steve Smith]

Well, if you notice, the sights of the AR are much higher than that of the lever gun in relation to the bore, but the lever gun's stock drops downward from the stock, both accomplishing the same thing with different methods. The AR just does it because the buffer tube has to be straight. As I said, the comb assists in alinging your Mk 1 eye-ball with the sighting device. Throw your head on the AR stock and look through the sights. Probably looks good. Do the same with the lever gun. Same thang, Puddintain.

You should not have to compensate if you are using original sights. If you are, the gun designers did a poor job, or you are the Elephant Man. If you add a scope, you will almost assuredly need a higher comb. Some gunmakers assume you will use a scope and the comb will already be quite high to accomodate.

hksw, belly.

[garrettwc]

Steve, I'll have to think about that one for a bit.

If I understand correctly then the purpose of the different stock angles and sight types is to keep the sights in line relative to your eye, the change in bore height is a by-product.

So is the purpose of those Olympic style stocks with all the adjustable pieces to fine tune the rifle to the individual shooter?

[Steve Smith]

So is the purpose of those Olympic style stocks with all the adjustable pieces to fine tune the rifle to the individual shooter?

WE HAVE A WINNAH!!!!

[Ed]

May be an old wives tale but I have heard, and read that the rather large drop on Tennessee and southern mountain rifles was so they could be shot from behind trees and such, by placing the butt on your arm. not the most accurate way to do things but better than an arrow in your head I guess.

[hksw]

Dang.

[garrettwc]

WE HAVE A WINNAH!!!!

:cool: I learned something new today. Thanks guys.